Reading Lolita in Tehran 6

It took a long time to finish the book, but in the end it was worth it. I didn't like it at the beginning, but towards the end, all of the lessons and things that affected her life really made me think about how much easier life is in America. It seems unfair that women in Iran have to go through life nervous that someone will arrest them because their fingernails are too long, or a couple of strands of hair are peeking out of their veil. It wasn't only the women that had a tough time, Azar went to a concert that was highly controlled by the Islamic Republic. "Only they weren't allowed to sing; they could only play their instruments. Nor could they demonstrate any enthusiasm for what they were doing: to show emotion would be un-Islamic" (300). Things like this frustrated Azar, and even me, in the fact that she lived in a completely controlled life. Nothing would be of value if everything is to be controlled like this. I would go crazy in a society like this. In the end, Azar leaves Iran with her family to find a better place in America. In the end she expressed more of her dislike towards Iran, thinking about some of the situations she was in would make her throw up. "I can't live like this anymore. Every time something like this happened, I, like many others, would think of leaving, of going to a place where everyday life was not such a battleground" (313). Once she leaves, most of her students in her secret class leave too. I found out that Nassrin actually didn't die, she just left before the class pretty much split up. Most of them still keep in touch today. I liked this book because it showed me how special of a bond some can make in the toughest of times. I recommend this book, although it starts off boring, it's worth it in the end.

Reading Lolita in Tehran 5

I am currently reading further and further into Azar Nafisi's mixed up life. The revolution is starting to get more and more dangerous and there are more bombings. She says she was not afraid for most of the time, but some bombs definitely scared her, especially the ones that hit close. She went back to teaching at another University after being convinced by her "magician" which is a character I don't really understand but he gives her advice. She likes it and continues describing many works of fiction that have presented themselves in her life.
The themes that are present in the book right now are to have no fear and to hold onto what you believe in. Like I said earlier, Tehran was getting much more dangerous and violent due to the revolution going on between different political groups.
"Attention, attention! The siren you hear is the danger signal. Red
alert! Leave at once and repair to your shelters!" I wonder at what
point in my life, and after how many years, the echo of the red siren-
like a schreeching violin that plays mercilessly all over one's body-
would cease in my mind. (185).
This really hit home for me because usually I'm not just casually walking home from school when a siren goes off telling me to hurry up and get home so I won't get hit by a bomb from a war that i'm not even fighting in. The revolution took a big toll on everyone living in Tehran at the present time. But that was because many people fought for what they believed in. "I remember one day when my leftist students had canceled classes, protesting the fresh murder of three revolutionaries, I was walking downstairs when they caught up with me" (95). There was always propaganda everywhere around the University and there were many arguments held on it's grounds. Some people that Azar taught at the University were murdered because of what they believed in. I can't wait to finish the book I am finally starting to like it because now there is SOME conflict!

Reading Lolita in Tehran 4

Wow, my book is finally starting to get more interesting! Instead of just talking about the way she lived her life through books, she started commenting on the outside world and what was going on in society. She was a professor at the university in Tehran while political groups were the main focus. There were arguments and fights every day, depending on what group you belonged to. It was very hard for her to go through these things, because as the groups became more violent and threatening, rules changed for women such as that it was mandatory to wear headresses. People would even "cancel" classes to protest something that their group did not believe in (224). Life at the university was very chaotic, and eventually she did not agree with some of the rules being put in place that she just stopped coming to teach so they expelled her.

"After each revolution several thousands of the corrupt elements are executed in public and burned and the story is over. They are not allowed to publish newspapers" (235). This time that she was describing and living in seems unreal to me. She goes through her day as if it is normal; people running around with guns ready to release bullets at the sound of disagreement. This situation right now is somewhat like America's involvement right now in Iraq. I don't know very much about our involvement in Iraq except for the fact that the Iraqis do not like our being there. That was the same with the Iranians in the time of America's involvement there. I really enjoy reading this right now because she is describing all of the passionate people about their political group and what they did about their dislikes on what was happening in society.