Reviews

Women Without Men: A Novel of Modern Iran by Persis M. Karim, Jocelyn Sharlet, Shahrnush Parsipur, Kamran Talattof

Only show reviews with written explanations

sunskyleia's review against another edition

Go to review page

informative reflective tense medium-paced

4.75

reflectiverambling_nalana's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

As a novel that puts into focus the various roles and conditions facing women in Iran that unfortunately seems too relevant all these years later, it pains me to say that while this is a work that I understand the significance of it really wasn't a reading experience I enjoyed. Mostly, it was a matter of writing style. For a culture that I've known to be enamored with poetry, and in fact there is a bit of a joke of that very thing within the novel, there was a very blunt and plain approach that may have meant to counter the absurdity of the magical realism matters or just as easily been an issue of translation. The fact that it didn't mesh well and I honestly couldn't tell you which probably is the issue itself.

Ironically, while in the end I understand most of the reasons certain journeys ended in the fantastical ways they did, the lack of commitment to either the whimsical or the brutal truth of things left it being jarring in a way that wasn't just to draw attention to the issues. I also am a little uneasy that huge decisions made my the women this story is about still came down to a man's insight and decision.

I do appreciate that it showed different perspectives of how women under the social confines might find a way to be, to live, to find their various goals and fulfillment. i can absolutely see why the assertiveness would make this a banned and revered work within Iran. So I can't give this a lower rating. But, if I'm honest, I enjoyed the author's note about inspirations and her life far more interesting and compelling.