From one of Iran’s most acclaimed and controversial contemporary writers, his first novel to appear in English—a dazzlingly inventive w...
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reviews
Jan 21, 2011
Albert
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Within the pages of Censoring an Iranian Love Story you will find not one story, but two. The first is a simple tale of love between a Iranian man and woman desperately trying to find their way to each other in a society where romance is taboo. The second follows the writer of the first story, a harried man trying to craft a meaningful tale without incurring the wrath of totalitarian government censors. But as the book progresses the two tales mingle in such a way that the lines between them bec
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Jan 17, 2011
Jennyreadsexcessively
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Here’s a good novel of an Iranian novelist whose careful writing of a love story must pass inspection from the powerful censor at the Ministry of culture and Islamic Guidance. This novel has an original, playful style. The author addresses his characters directly, but sometimes they have a will of their own. The love story-within-a-story doesn’t amount to much, but it’s clear from this novel’s viewpoint that how could it? Every possible scene of the man and woman trying to get to know each other
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Jul 22, 2010
the book Censoring an Iranian Love Story is a testament to how precious intellectual freedom is. The author, Shahriar Mandanipour is “one of Iran’s most acclaimed and controversial contemporary authors” (from the book jacket) and this is his first book translated into English.
The novel is basically two stories. The first is the story of the author attempting to write a story that will be acceptable to the censor at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. The second is the stor More...
The novel is basically two stories. The first is the story of the author attempting to write a story that will be acceptable to the censor at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. The second is the stor More...
Dec 12, 2009
Andy
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Very intriguing book. Written by an Iranian author now living in United States. The actual novel is in boldface and the parts that would be censored are crossed out. In between the novel is narrative from the author that fills in Iranian history, literature, politics and author's conversationwith Iranian censors who is reviewing the book,which I assume are based on actual censoring the author suffered when writing and living in Iran.
My favorite scene. Sara and Dara are together for one More...
My favorite scene. Sara and Dara are together for one More...
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Oct 04, 2009
Alyce
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The premise of this book was enough to have me very interested from the outset despite my concerns that it would devolve either into dry exposition of the facts or overly emotional preaching for its international audience to 'do something'. Thankfully, 'Censoring an Iranian Love Story' largely avoids both these pitfalls.
As most other reviewers have noted the plot meanders between different layers of characters, with Shahriar obviously invoking images of Shaherazade in Arabian Nights. More...
As most other reviewers have noted the plot meanders between different layers of characters, with Shahriar obviously invoking images of Shaherazade in Arabian Nights. More...
Aug 03, 2009
Leanna
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The premise of the Shahriar Mandanipour’s novel Censoring an Iranian Love Story is intriguing. The narrator is an Iranian author, and the book alternates between the narrator’s thoughts, the story he is writing, and the story he wishes he could write. Everything the narrator thinks and writes is influenced by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, which must approve (and will censor) the novel before it can be released for publication.
The narrator’s protagonists are Dara and S More...
The narrator’s protagonists are Dara and S More...
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Sep 14, 2010
Jim
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If it were not for the fact that the great Joseph Heller didn’t die until just before the turn of the century, I would swear that he (or some portion of him) was reincarnated into Shariar Mandanipour, because his Censoring an Iranian Love Story was as weirdly enjoyable to me as was Catch-22. Mandanipour tells a story of a writer trying to craft a romance while having to deal with the oppressive censorship of a fundamentalist Islamic bureaucrat. The writing is witty, funny, critical, sarcastic, a
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Apr 13, 2010
Mulmens
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It's insane the way the readers are led to believe tha this book is about a love story when it isn't. Then again, it is. Alternating between realist narratives and the perceived main narrative, Mandipour blurrs the lines between fact an fiction. Throughout the novel we're taken down many avenues of socio-political critique, but constantly reminded that this book is a novel. It is an attempt to do what cannot be done. The distinction between 'art for art's sake' and 'functional art' seems to be i
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Mar 20, 2010
Bart
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This novel began with such authority and creativity that it was a great disappointment to come to the midway point and find a dull rendition of more postmodernist cleverness and special effects.
Much of the purpose of this narrative style, it seems, is to encourage a reader's empathy with how unpleasant it must be to live in Iran. Mission accomplished. But at some point, one has to ask: If it's a bleak existence that no sane person would choose, why would any reader wish to spend 12 More...
Much of the purpose of this narrative style, it seems, is to encourage a reader's empathy with how unpleasant it must be to live in Iran. Mission accomplished. But at some point, one has to ask: If it's a bleak existence that no sane person would choose, why would any reader wish to spend 12 More...
May 23, 2011
اگر از من بپرسید کی هستم، میگویم: من یک نویسندهی ایرانی هستم که از نوشتن داستانهای تلخ وسیاه، داستانهای ارواح با راویانِ مرده، با پایانهای محتومِ مرگآور خسته شدهام. به عبارت دیگر، من نویسندهای هستم که در آستانهی پنجاه سالگی، دریافتهام که دنیای به اصطلاح واقعیِ اطراف ما، به اندازهی کافی مرگ و تباهی و اندوه دارد، و من حق نداشتهام که با داستانهایم شکست و ناامیدیهای بیشتری به این دنیا اضافه کنم. در میان داستانها و رمانهای من مردهای هستند که آنها را از بدن و شجاعتهای نداشتهی عاشقا
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Jul 17, 2009
Leslie
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I appreciated the creative risk Mandanipour takes in this novel. He writes about a writer writing a love story, so the narrative switches back and forth between his love story and his process in writing the story. Central to the novel is the fact that Iranian censors make it nearly impossible to write a real and affecting story of love, so the writer in the novel tries to trick the censors through using archaic Persian metaphors and vague stream-of-consciousness descriptions of less than proper
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Nov 02, 2011
Natella
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This was hands down the best piece of metafiction I’ve ever read. Not only do you get into the head of the author, but the characters he creates are also complex and interesting. On top of that he tackles the problems of writing in Iran currently, in an interesting and witty manner. There’s a censorship character, Porfiry Petrovich[yeap, Dostoyevsky's], and we see the narrator anticipating what Petrovich would cross out, as he himself crosses sections and words out. The basic plot is the author
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Jan 26, 2010
maha
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القصص الايرانية، تشبه السعودية في أمر، هو أن أغلبها يميل للوصف الكئيب الممل عن الحب والعذاب،
ولكن القصة هذه منعشة، فقد كتبت بأسلوب كوميدي ساخر!
يحاول الكاتب أن يكتب قصة حب ايرانية، ويساوم موظف هيئة الرقابة الايرانية على تمرير كتاباته، ولكن هذا الموظف لا تفوته فائتة، فهو يدرك كل المعاني السيئة واللا اخلاقية بين الأسطر! يحكي الكاتب عن المقاطع المحذوفة في روايته،وتحذلقه في تمرير افكاره بين السطور
قصة الحب ليست المحور الاساسي في القصة بقدر ما هو وصف الفكر الايراني على مستو More...
ولكن القصة هذه منعشة، فقد كتبت بأسلوب كوميدي ساخر!
يحاول الكاتب أن يكتب قصة حب ايرانية، ويساوم موظف هيئة الرقابة الايرانية على تمرير كتاباته، ولكن هذا الموظف لا تفوته فائتة، فهو يدرك كل المعاني السيئة واللا اخلاقية بين الأسطر! يحكي الكاتب عن المقاطع المحذوفة في روايته،وتحذلقه في تمرير افكاره بين السطور
قصة الحب ليست المحور الاساسي في القصة بقدر ما هو وصف الفكر الايراني على مستو More...
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Jul 30, 2009
Bookmarks Magazine
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"Critics agree that Censoring is a tour de force -- for the right reader. The novel is not a traditional love story; rather, it is a postmodern metafiction that, with its convoluted narration and literary high jinks, reminded a few of Charlie Kaufman's film Adaptation (with nods to Barthes and Borges). Readers become privy to Mandanipour's crossed-out lines, which provide a sense of the country's strict edicts. But even without the additional lines, Censoring is powerful in its exploration
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Nov 24, 2009
Erin
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This writer is beyond creative. I am amazed at the imagery he can produce with the limited ways he is allowed to express himself. This book is at times funny and at other times frustrating. At all times it is an eye opening journey to a world that I really know absolutely nothing of. I learned that I am much more like an Iranian girl than I ever would have supposed. I also learned a little about Iranian literary history. Also, this book a great lesson in creative writing. As an aspiring M
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May 22, 2011
Radiya
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Censoring an Iranian Love Story was strange, confusing and quietly brilliant...
From the title, you can assume the book is about a love story. Well, it is and isn't. I never realised how big the 'censoring' part would play in the story. I haven’t actually read a book like this before. I'm kind of torn between how I feel about the novel: I liked and disliked it. The story goes through two different tales: the love story of unmarried, virgin adults Sara and Dara (adorable names IMO) and the au More...
From the title, you can assume the book is about a love story. Well, it is and isn't. I never realised how big the 'censoring' part would play in the story. I haven’t actually read a book like this before. I'm kind of torn between how I feel about the novel: I liked and disliked it. The story goes through two different tales: the love story of unmarried, virgin adults Sara and Dara (adorable names IMO) and the au More...
Sep 22, 2009
Eric
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This novel is an innovative look at how an author writes a novel under the assumption that censors will slash most sections of the work. It is easy to follow the author's transition from the story of Sara and Dara that he wishes to receive a publishing permit (it is in bold text with occasional markup), to the story he wants to tell and why he can't write certain scenes when he has to receive approval from the censor Petrovich. Some of the best non-bold passages describe some of Iranian censorsh
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Dec 20, 2009
William Thomas
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what began as a breath of fresh air, something new and bold, with an intriguing perspective and a brilliant idea, soon became tedious, meandering and self-indulgent. by page 100 i was slogging through it praying for the end. just as salman rushdie's Fury and some of the later paul auster books, this one seems to have been written for no other purpose but for the author to hear himself speak, and verbosely and profusely, about his own life and his own thoughts, pressing them into the minds of the
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May 05, 2011
Julie
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jul 12, 2009
Stephanie
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Fascinating read. This book is defiantly written for non Iranians. The author spends a lot of time explaining Iranian history and significance to certain uses of lexicon. There are also quite a few literary references which I love because they allow the author to explain a lot in just a title or phrase. The actual love story is very short the real story is how an author tries to write such stories with the knowledge that he is forbidden to do so. Interestingly it seems to me that the censorship
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May 29, 2011
Amanda
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I listened to this in the audiobook format and the two narrators were excellent. I can't imagine not listening to them. Their voices are still stuck in my head and I find myself narrating some of my actions in their voices.
This book was interesting, strange, and in the end kind of disappointing. It's a prime example of magical realism at work. Over time the author (who is trying to write a love story despite heavy censorship) becomes intwined in his own story. There's also some weird s More...
This book was interesting, strange, and in the end kind of disappointing. It's a prime example of magical realism at work. Over time the author (who is trying to write a love story despite heavy censorship) becomes intwined in his own story. There's also some weird s More...
Dec 22, 2011
Poupeh
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interesting attempt at metafiction.
great idea of intermixing and layering a story a writer is writing and the reality of his life. Wonderful idea to present the reader with information about Iran in a report-like manner, which wouldn't be possible otherwise.
However, I don't think the idea has been very well carried out. For example, the censorship cut-out pieces. I also question whether the cliche-ness of the story the writer is writing is on purpose.
And the cover... the man and More...
great idea of intermixing and layering a story a writer is writing and the reality of his life. Wonderful idea to present the reader with information about Iran in a report-like manner, which wouldn't be possible otherwise.
However, I don't think the idea has been very well carried out. For example, the censorship cut-out pieces. I also question whether the cliche-ness of the story the writer is writing is on purpose.
And the cover... the man and More...
May 01, 2010
Puni
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i really enjoyed reading this book.
i was initially intrigued by the title when i saw the book displayed on the library shelf, and then when i saw how the sentences were crossed out by the author himself to self-censor the story, i decided to borrow the book.
the first half of the book was so funny, in a dark way. i can imagine how creative Iranian writers & artists have to be, living in a country of such extreme conditions.
after reading the end of the book, at first i was confus More...
i was initially intrigued by the title when i saw the book displayed on the library shelf, and then when i saw how the sentences were crossed out by the author himself to self-censor the story, i decided to borrow the book.
the first half of the book was so funny, in a dark way. i can imagine how creative Iranian writers & artists have to be, living in a country of such extreme conditions.
after reading the end of the book, at first i was confus More...
Apr 20, 2010
Nick
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A very difficult book to describe, because it tells the story of writing a story, which itself is constantly censored. This is illustrated by switching between bold face type (the "final" story), crossed out passages (unsuitable for you to read) and regular type (the author communicating to you directly). Rather than having any extensive plot, it focuses on the relationships between the author, his censor, the reader and the lovers themselves. Beautiful descriptions appear constantly
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May 26, 2009
Tracy
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This novel is - it's the story of telling a story, wrapped up in an almost fairy tale narration. The author-within is trying to create his perfect - and publishable in Iran - love story, but ...
This is an exercise in the literature and history of literature in Iran, the political elements, the nature of telling a story and how the story can get away from you, the process of censoring and editing. And it's a story of love, the love for the characters within for each other and the lo More...
This is an exercise in the literature and history of literature in Iran, the political elements, the nature of telling a story and how the story can get away from you, the process of censoring and editing. And it's a story of love, the love for the characters within for each other and the lo More...
Jul 07, 2011
Wan Ni
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A delightful tale of publishing a love story in conservative Islamic Iran. The narrator is the author who self-censors his work, knowing writing otherwise will result in his book being heavily censored by the authorities. He thereby reveals the tricks of language Iranian writers use to hoodwink authorities. Another thread of the novel is the love story itself; the classic formula of girl deciding between rich suitor and poor love of her life. Throw in the strict Islamic law of Iran, their clande
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Jun 01, 2009
Anna
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Shahriar Mandanipour’s ambitious, digressive novel “Censoring an Iranian Love Story” starts from a thorny question: How do you write a love story when it’s illegal for your protagonists to be alone together? The book is really two narratives, feeding into each other but typographically distinct: that attempted romance, and the author-surrogate’s tortuous endeavor to write it in the government-stifled publishing climate of modern-day Iran.
The narrator struggles to honor multiple responsibil More...
The narrator struggles to honor multiple responsibil More...
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Jan 15, 2010
Marieke
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i liked this more than three stars but not quite enough for four stars. it was fun to read...like getting inside the head of a writer and getting to understand a writer's relationships with his characters, and, in this case, his censor. there were some aspects of it, however, that didn't quite hang together enough for me, which is why i didn't give it four stars...for instance, if haruki murakami had written it, i would have "gotten it" but in this case i didn't quite "get" s
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Apr 28, 2011
Erin
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Unlike anything I've read before. On the surface it is two stories - the one that the author is trying to write and the story of the author. The love story is quite literally censored in the book, though we can see what the author would write if he could get away with it. Interesting to see the process of the author being influenced by his characters and how they escape his control. At first, the writer seems clever in his self-censoring and wordplay to get around the official censors but as he
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Sep 02, 2010
Annie
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I think the masterful organization of this novel was a key factor in my ultimate enjoyment of it. I also appreciated that he neither overemphasized nor over-explained his metaphors. They were subtle and beautiful.
My only disappointment was the ending, which was simply on account of my literary ignorance. The ending involves an allusion to One Thousand and One Nights, which I didn't even realize was an allusion until it was revealed in the last section of the novel. A Google search does More...
My only disappointment was the ending, which was simply on account of my literary ignorance. The ending involves an allusion to One Thousand and One Nights, which I didn't even realize was an allusion until it was revealed in the last section of the novel. A Google search does More...
