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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
This book had me engrossed from the first page. I could not put it down. Marina weaves memory with the reality of her time in prison very deftly. For me it has been an important revelation about the plight of young political prisoners in Iran. The writing is spare and beautifully precise, capturing the moral dilemmas of her situation and of young adult life as well as the images of the prison and her home.
While I found the story of interest the structure was one that I often do not like to read.
The book is an interesting personal history. I liked it, but after watching one of her speeches, I am having my doubts about her.
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Someone in class lend this to me to read back when I was in high school. We used to share the books amongst us and when one is done the other takes turn. I remember I was happy to see the title mention Tahran because I’m half iranian (didn’t live in Iran, just happy to know more about the place and connect more with the iranian branch of the family), but as I started reading I was taken aback by how saddening the contents were. It’s a very grim reality that can easily happen. When new forces want to take over they ban knowledge and books, place harsh punishing laws, instill fear and use violence to break the spirit of the masses and make them abide. The mention of imprisoning others under the tag “political prisoner” really sent shivers down my spine, as this tactic has been seen in many points of history when people were taken forcefully or used to disappear. Even right now many countries are suffering from these things. Also, the horrors people face and in this instance women face under these groups or organizations is chilling. We won’t be able to tell or imagine the extent of suffering they had to go through or endure. It’s a good way to remind yourself that wherever you look, suffering is similar, that many of us can understand or have lived these struggles. We should stand together because we all have suffered and might suffer under similar organizations or governments.
Now, around 4 years later, maybe I should pick it up and reread it but honestly, the dread I have felt ever since I have picked the book never went away and I feel reminded of it whenever I stare at the state of the world. But in the end it’s important to learn so that we don’t push the cycle further.
Now, around 4 years later, maybe I should pick it up and reread it but honestly, the dread I have felt ever since I have picked the book never went away and I feel reminded of it whenever I stare at the state of the world. But in the end it’s important to learn so that we don’t push the cycle further.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Miscarriage, Torture, Violence, Police brutality
Hope-tinged memoir of a fairly terrible youth spanning Iran's revolution against the Shah, the rise of the fanatical theocracy that followed, and the Iran-Iraq war. The author, a Christian teenaged girl at the time, is sent to the notorious Evin prison and only saved from execution because a smitten prison guard wants to marry her--by the way, if you say no, bad things will happen to your family and boyfriend, but don't worry, baby, I'll make you happy. What follows is the author's struggle to cope with her feelings of survivor guilt, her forced marriage, her uncertain place in the world, and what (if anything) she can possibly do to help others suffering under the new regime.
Though terrible things happen, the author somehow manages not to make the story overly dark; if at times this makes the story seem a little cleaned-up, on the other hand it makes it more bearable for sensitive readers. The dream-sequences felt a bit odd to me, but gave a sense of continuity by the end. The story kind of petered out at the end, too, but events wrapped up fairly well despite that. A fairly fast and sometimes thought-provoking read that gives a good look into human folly in general and political events in Iran in particular, without the dark or brooding atmosphere such a story could easily have had.
Though terrible things happen, the author somehow manages not to make the story overly dark; if at times this makes the story seem a little cleaned-up, on the other hand it makes it more bearable for sensitive readers. The dream-sequences felt a bit odd to me, but gave a sense of continuity by the end. The story kind of petered out at the end, too, but events wrapped up fairly well despite that. A fairly fast and sometimes thought-provoking read that gives a good look into human folly in general and political events in Iran in particular, without the dark or brooding atmosphere such a story could easily have had.
I enjoyed reading the personal perspective, although it was understandably disturbing at times. Intriguing story.
I knew virtually nothing about Iran before I read this book, and it was an incredibly enlightening read. A wonderfully written, powerful memoir.
It was the cover that drew me. The inky colour of the niqab and the soft eyes behind seemed to hold a story of triumph. Marina Nemat was subject to a difficult, unjust and cruel life and her memoirs really open up her struggles of belonging and resentment. It must be hard to consistently believe in a God that would see you punished so wickedly for wanting to be a maths-studying-Christian in Tehran. I was appalled at Marina's treatment and saddened by the dark relationship with Ali. How she found the strength to go on is absolutely beyond me.
To separate myself from the literature world and read this as pure fiction it is gripping, violent and heartwarming without a doubt. But as a true account of life in Evin Prison, it is horrific and I really wish the UN would step in and put an end to the cruel and unnecessary torture.
To separate myself from the literature world and read this as pure fiction it is gripping, violent and heartwarming without a doubt. But as a true account of life in Evin Prison, it is horrific and I really wish the UN would step in and put an end to the cruel and unnecessary torture.
I was given this memoir, and never would have selected it to read on my own. Although it was moderately interesting, there isn't enough content about Iran or its struggles to make that the reason to read it. The writing style is quite dull and it feels false to have such unemotional writing about the tragic events in her life.
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced