This autobiographical book by Azar Nafisi tells of her life in revolutionary Iran. The main premise is centred around a book group she starts for some of her female students, where they discuss books that they wouldn't be able to read elsewhere in Iran. The book is partly literary review, and part autobiography. The literary review element of the book is much stronger towards the start of the book, where Nafisi discusses Nabakov's Lolita in great detail. I found this part very interesting, despite having not read the book already. It did however inspire to read the book in the future (it also had the same effect with some of the other books covered, such ...  Read the complete review

Azar Nafisi recounts her experience of the Iranian regime under Ayatollah Khomeini through this artfully constructed memoir. The lives and education opportunities for people, particularly women, in Iran were vastly changed after the revolution and accession of Khomeini in 1979. When working in her university as a literature professor becomes untenable, due to constant state interference, censorship and restrictions on women, Azar Nafisi desperately needs an avenue of self-expression. She secretly arranges meetings with a small group of her female students to discuss literature. Here they have the opportunity to briefly escape from their realities, removing ...  Read the complete review

We all read daily about events that occur in foreign lands but it is very difficult to know what is fact and what is propaganda. We all like to think that what we read in the media is something like the truth but only when you read a first-hand account do you get a glimpse of how things are. Iran, Zimbabwe and North Korea are prime examples. Such secretive societies work hard to obscure the true workings of their regimes. For instance, what is the truth about the "election" of Ahmadinejad? Did he, as his opponents claim, steal the election, Bush Jr style, or was he truly elected by the majority will of the people? What really goes on ...  Read the complete review