Saturday, March 25, 2006

Disappointing Read


Azar Nafisi’s book Reading Lolita in Tehran came highly recommended to me because of my admiration of “The Kite Runner”, but I can't honestly say I enjoyed it. It wasn't quite what I expected. I guess I expected more of a traditional memoir, with details about Tehran and Iran after the Islamic revolution. There are some of these details in the book, and they do shed some illumination on what life in Iran was like during the 1980's and 90's.

Something about the woman annoys me so much that I felt at times she was using this book as a means for her to come to terms with herself and how her own life had changed rather than enlighten the public of the struggles in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

I must say that this book is a Western biased account of the middle east and addresses political and social structure of Iranian society in an awfully biased way. To me, Nafisi isn't really "native". She might be Iranian, but where has she been for most of her life is in USA.

One interesting point about her "veil game": After 15 years teaching in Iranian Universities and of course wearing veil, Nafisi suddenly discovered that "University is not a grocery store" and she shouldn’t wear veil!

I consider myself so patient that I could go on till the very last page.

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Hope Floats

  • How can I be so certain of something I can’t name? “I’m lacking something,”. Fear, distrust... different sides of the same coin. It’s a fact that people will hurt and disappoint you, just like they’ll fill you with joy and laughter. It’s just a matter of levels and degrees and how much one can handle. I fear I can’t handle much, the heart I carry in my chest tells me as much.
  • Weakness shames me, scares me and angers me. But above all, it depresses me because I don’t know how to cast it aside. It’s one of those things, one of those moments, I think, that can’t be over thought, that demands action and faith.
  • Yesterday, I had a funny feeling that I was talking to a younger version of myself.
  • Someone in your life who finishes your sentences for you, articulates your wishes and demands... Would you love him or hate him?
  • As I watched "Pride and Prejudice" two days ago, my favorite novel of all times , a poem kept running through my mind. I don't remember by who or that line towards the end...and I have been wondering if there's any real Mr.Darcy... hopeful huh ? :)
  • It's been a year since I started blogging here... Just thought to let "me" know :P