reading lolita in tehran

I finally finished my first book of 2010: Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi. With my busy schedule, it's been harder to find time to read. I finally decided to start waking up earlier, so I can read in the morning before Sam wakes up. Anyhow, I'm glad that I sacrificed sleep in order to read this book. It's really engaging and thought-provoking.

Nafisi is a literary scholar who used to teach English in Tehran. Her book is a memoir of her experiences in Iran, particularly centering on when she began a class at her house to discuss forbidden Western literature. Her love for literature is apparent, not only in her writing style but in the way she discusses some of her favorite books (e.g. Lolita, Washington Square, Pride and Prejudice and Daisy Miller). I especially enjoyed when Nafisi went off on scholarly tangents, like the chapter when she compared the structure of Pride and Prejudice to an eighteenth-century dance.

The other fascinating aspect of this book revolves around the issues of female oppression and discrimination - particularly those that were prominent during Nafisi's time in Iran. It was interesting to read Nafisi's comparisons between life in Iran and the characters/themes of Western novels. Her memoir was a real eye-opener to me. Although I was aware of the oppression and discrimination that Nafisi described, I never thoroughly considered the psychological effects such oppression. It was really interesting to read a first-hand account from a woman who lived through such experiences.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves reading or is interested in Islamic/Middle Eastern issues. (Thanks for recommending this book to me, joolee!)