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dani_nzd's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
lizzycatslibrary's review
2.0
I have really mixed feelings about this book. Seeing as it is a best seller you would expect it to be amazing but I have to say that I was not impressed with the writing style at all. It seemed forced and strangely put together... something you would not expect from an author who is so highly educated.
In addition to that the book seemed to be filled with so much propaganda that it was hard for me to ignore it and focus on the authors memoir without feeling that she was trying to push a particular viewpoint on her readers. It gives a false view of the religion of Islam by associating it with the dictatorship that has been formed in Iran. To anyone who reads it who knows nothing about the religion of Islam it could be very misleading.
I do not think that it is coincident that it is as popular as it is at this particular time in the United States. With the politics that are going on it is the perfect blend of propaganda in order to encourage certain political actions.
In conclusion, I wish I had liked the book more. It is always disappointing when you find a book that is highly esteemed to be less than satisfying. I have read far better books and really did not feel this one deserved the amount of praise that it has been getting.
In addition to that the book seemed to be filled with so much propaganda that it was hard for me to ignore it and focus on the authors memoir without feeling that she was trying to push a particular viewpoint on her readers. It gives a false view of the religion of Islam by associating it with the dictatorship that has been formed in Iran. To anyone who reads it who knows nothing about the religion of Islam it could be very misleading.
I do not think that it is coincident that it is as popular as it is at this particular time in the United States. With the politics that are going on it is the perfect blend of propaganda in order to encourage certain political actions.
In conclusion, I wish I had liked the book more. It is always disappointing when you find a book that is highly esteemed to be less than satisfying. I have read far better books and really did not feel this one deserved the amount of praise that it has been getting.
amberacks12's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.75
A very fascinating read. I am glad I chose to listen to the audio as it is narrated by the author. Her beautiful Persian accent and emotion as she read about her life in Tehran along with the books she loved added to the beautiful experience of reading this book.
It is quite long, but I felt that I could have gone on listening to Nafisi teach about classical literature and how it relates to Iran forever, something I didn’t know I needed to learn about.
Enjoyment: 4.75
Educational value: 5
Emotional impact: 4.5
=4.75
It is quite long, but I felt that I could have gone on listening to Nafisi teach about classical literature and how it relates to Iran forever, something I didn’t know I needed to learn about.
Enjoyment: 4.75
Educational value: 5
Emotional impact: 4.5
=4.75
bookph1le's review
4.0
It took me a while to read this, not because it was bad or I disliked it, but because I was really in the mood for reading for entertainment, and this is a book that needs to read and be digested. It made an impression on me and, as much as it's a book about the lives of a set of women in Iran, it's also a book with some very universal themes, particularly in this country where women are having to face those who would take their rights away. I may or may not write a more complete review later, but I will say that this is a book that begs to be read by those who have their toes right up to the line and are trying to convince themselves that taking that step is not going to carry them over the cliff, that they can straddle the edge with perfect comfort.