book data
850 ratings, 3.94 average rating, 154 reviews
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published
February 15th 1991
by St. Martin's Paperbacks
binding
Mass Market Paperback, 420 pages
setting
Unknown
isbn
0312925883
(isbn13: 9780312925888)
description
In August 1984, Michigan housewife Betty Mahmoody accompanied her husband to his native Iran for a two-week vacation. To her horror, she found herself...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 1070)
The untruths begin with the cover of the book, which features the image of a woman who is dressed in a manner which is decidedly not Iranian. So, even before you have read a single word, you have been given an image that is not authentic.
The book is carefully packaged to cater to the American people's fears and prejudices. Also, the book isn't an isolated phenomenon. It's a product of a veritable cottage industry of horror stories and black-and-white portrayals of Muslim societies (Persepoli...more
The book is carefully packaged to cater to the American people's fears and prejudices. Also, the book isn't an isolated phenomenon. It's a product of a veritable cottage industry of horror stories and black-and-white portrayals of Muslim societies (Persepoli...more
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Read in May, 2005
The undertone of racism permeated this book. It was very hard to get through because of this. While at times I did feel for the situation the author was in, it was hard to sympathize with her on other occasions because she just seemed so judgmental. I understand she was angry and frustrated and had been through a lot; it probably would have been a better book had she given it some space for perspective. The story is no doubt interesting, but it could have been written better.
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I have read this book twice and it is my all-time favorite book. I first watched the movie - one of those you catch by chance on a rainy day. I thought it was good. Then one day I saw the book and could not put it down! I could not believe some of the things I was reading. I was in shock! This was probably around 1999/2000.
The second time I read the book, probably around 2003/2004,I was reading it as an Iranian man's wife. I still loved the book and this time I knew a whole lot more about th...more
The second time I read the book, probably around 2003/2004,I was reading it as an Iranian man's wife. I still loved the book and this time I knew a whole lot more about th...more
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I can't believe people are still reading this book! I read it years ago when it first came out and had a difficult time putting it down. Not because it is great literature, or because it is an intelligent, thought-provoking book about a culture few Americans take the time learn about, but because William Hoffer is capable of writing a light, fast-paced, adventurous story. I felt Betty Mahmoody acted very irresponsibly. She endangered her child by staying with a mentally unstable man, not to ...more
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11 comments
I know there was cheesy movie made about this book, but the real story is absolutely incredible. It was facinating to learn about the way of life in Iran, and especially about how women are treated. I was amazed by this woman's perseverence and bravery. You'll be inspired!
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Such a harrowing story! After years of marriage and a beautiful child together, Betty agrees to travel with her husband to Iran to visit his family. There he becomes a completely different person, and refuses to let her and their daughter leave. At one point she is literally held prisoner by her husband, and her journey out of Iran with her daughter actually turned her hair gray.
This isn't completely a catalog of how awful Iran is, though. She gives its beauties their due, and also det...more
This isn't completely a catalog of how awful Iran is, though. She gives its beauties their due, and also det...more
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Read in July, 2004
recommended to Naima by:
My dad ,i found this book from belong to my dad'srecommends it for: My familys,My bestfriends
At the time i about 13’s in 2004 - I found an old book called “Not Without My Daughter from belongs to my dad’s, so after that I was started reading, I realized I couldn’t put it down. I spent plenty of time in my room to reading this book until I read it in the ending 2 day later)... I yelled of joy “Yes”! I’m so glad for her and her little Daughter to go back home safely and sound...For me I couldn’t believe that’s in fact true story like that....
I actually grateful that I...more
I actually grateful that I...more
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Great true story of an American mother marrying an Iranian. They move to Iran and they become captives in the husbands home - as women have no rights there. The mother goes to great lengths get both her and her daughter out of the country.
She is one of the reasons we now have laws in the US where parents cannot take children under 18 out of the country without a certified letter from the spouse.
She is one of the reasons we now have laws in the US where parents cannot take children under 18 out of the country without a certified letter from the spouse.
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3 comments
Read in January, 2008
I read this book last night and can't stop thinking about it. I know a lot of people REALLY hate it...and it isn't friendly towards Iranians in the least (often unfairly so). But it really made me think...what would I have done...what else could Betty have done...I think there were probably faults on both sides, but I really did think it was an engrossing book.
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9 comments
Chilling book about the parental abduction of a child to Tehran and a mother's journey to rescue her daughter.
I know this is a true story, however, I have such mixed feelings about it. Since 9/11, the anti-Muslim sentiments in the U.S. have been so high - I don't mean to promote a book that would add to that, however, this is an important story.
I know this is a true story, however, I have such mixed feelings about it. Since 9/11, the anti-Muslim sentiments in the U.S. have been so high - I don't mean to promote a book that would add to that, however, this is an important story.
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Read in July, 2003
recommended to La Petite by:
Amazon.comrecommends it for: People who like page-turners
I read this in three days, totally couldn't put it down.
When I went to the States last year, I totally felt it my right as an American to on-demand this film and eat some chocolate chip cookies and drink some Bud Light.
God Bless America ... and FUCK YEAH! :)
In all seriousness, though, entertaining, chilling read.
When I went to the States last year, I totally felt it my right as an American to on-demand this film and eat some chocolate chip cookies and drink some Bud Light.
God Bless America ... and FUCK YEAH! :)
In all seriousness, though, entertaining, chilling read.
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3 comments
Read in January, 1998
I read this book in high school. It was scary how it exposed me to the slavery that can be marriage in other countries, and the thought of marrying someone who may not be who you think they are. A gripping true tale, about the boundless love of a mother.
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Read in January, 2006
a book banned in islamic countries, had to make a special order for this one. a true story of a mother's love for her daughter, Betty Mahmoudy is a good story teller. The book gives an insight to how women and children are treated in Muslim countries.
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Read in September, 2007
I was a little put off by the way the author categorized everything Iranian as "bad" and everything American as "good."
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a subjective opinion about a country and its ppl based on one case!what a pitty...!
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17 comments
Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
My friends
I saw the movie version of this book a few days back.
I'm going to read it asap.
I'm going to read it asap.
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Read in January, 2001
Oh! I had forgotten about this book. I couldn't put it down. It's about an American woman who marries a guy from Iran, and goes to visit his family (in Iran). Problem is, he doesn't let her go home. And she has no rights. And he takes her passport. And she can't escape! But then, she figures out a way to escape... but she can't, because she won't leave without her daughter. (Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention she had a daughter, too.) Finally she does this brilliant daring escape across some frozen m...more
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Read in July, 2008
Upon the first page Mahmoody's distain and contempt for Iran is evident. She only (begrudgingly) admits to there being "decent Iranians" in the latter part of the book when she's trying to escape. I think she could have been a little more convincing by consealing some of her hostility as she illustrates the time of her apprehension before they touch down in Tehran (it just feels racist and unjustified till they arrive and feels like she's playing off the American readers' own prejudice...more
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Read in January, 2006
This book scared the tar out of me. I felt like there was a level of melodrama in the telling, but that every ounce of the melodrama seemed justifiable. If a minute fraction of any of that had happened to me, I'd tell it like a total drama queen, with fifty exclamation points. It gave me a scary insight into what life is like behind the turban curtain, and I almost wished my ignorance back (I know that's awful.) When the author had to remove her own IUD out of fear, that's when I about lost it. ...more
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Read in July, 2001
recommended to ♡ Eva ♡ by:
my Dadrecommends it for: EVERYONE
This book really opened my eyes as a teenager to a much larger world than I knew existed then. The things this woman had to go through to stay alive and get back to her country with her daughter are literally UNREAL. It's scary to think you could fall for a man who would actually trick you into a marriage and then STEAL you and your daughter and force you to live in confinement with daily abuse and all the while his family stand by and watches, not to mentions helps, because it's their religon? ...more
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