Reading Lolita in Tehran

Shirley J.             Adult Non-Fiction                 Teaching and reading American classics in Iran under Sharia Law - the interpretation of Islamic religious texts applied to law particularly as applies to women

Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi   400 pages

Reading Lolita in Tehran is the true story of a courageous teacher who brought western titles to study in her classes.   Concepts in The Great Gatsby, Pride and Prejudice, Lolita, Washington Square, Daisy Miller and others were considered immoral by Islamic standards and were therefore considered dangerous ideas to be teaching.   Also, having lived in Tehran in the days before the Ayatollahs took power,  Nafisi and her family had experienced a time of greater freedom when women did not have to cover up with the chador the long scarf covering their hair, neck and arms so as not to entice men.   Nafisi refused to wear the chador in her classes and lost her job teaching at Tehran University though when she was asked to teach at another university in Iran she made it a stipulation that she did not have it during classes.  They argued she had to wear it grocery shopping and everywhere else why object to wearing it in class but it was a matter of principal to her and a small victory against the politics going on.  Though she still contended with a male student who fought against the immorality of the characters in the stories as the Great Satan.  It went so far that the Great Gatsby was actually put on trial with Nafisi defending his character.   The female students met at her home for greater security from prying eyes and ears so they could speak openly without fear of retribution for their boldness.  Though a male student stalked them trying to be allowed to be a member of the study group.   Not all of her students survived, some were jailed for their views, it is a very well told account of times prior to, during and after the rigid regimes in place in Iran and how the introduction of literature had a lasting effect on a group of women daring to read forbidden books.   I recommend this to mature teens, as it is a lengthy story, on up.    Well written by an exceedingly brave woman.