"In Journey from the Land of No Roya Hakakian recalls her childhood and adolescence in prerevolutionary Iran. The result is a coming-of-age story a...
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reviews
Jan 16, 2010
Caroline
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As a young student in America, Roya Hakakian observed the skewed perception Americans had of Iranians. At first, she laughed at assumptions of a Bedouin upbringing where camels were used for transportation, but soon, she grew frustrated with the inability of her peers to understand the Iran she loved. During the summer of 1999 while working as a reporter, she received a phone call from a New York Times journalist who wished to hear her perspective on the political situation in Iran. Begrudgingly
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Aug 03, 2009
Chip
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Well written, understated and powerful... a rare memoir that transcends to the level of literature. In fact, "Journey" reminds me of "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man." If you're looking for a diatribe or hate-fest, don't bother with this book - the author clearly loves the memory of her home and homeland, and carefully balances all the positive things that Tehran was with the bleak reality that Tehran has become. Like Ms. Hakakian and the protesters currently struggl
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Aug 12, 2011
I found this book very interesting - I had some knowledge about what has happened in Iran, but very little about Jews living in Iran. I found her writing style very "airy" (some have called it "lyrical") - her background in poetry shows. I sometimes felt like her expression of her emotions in reaction to events in the book was really the tip of the iceberg in terms of what she was feeling - I got the intensity of what she felt more from reading of her resulting actions rather
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Oct 08, 2009
Patrick
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A poetically written piece of work about Roya's coming-of-age in Revolutionary Iran. It chronicles Roya's adolescent experience within the Shah's oppressive regime and the way it denied Iranian civil liberties/freedom of expression, to its downfall by Agha and the subsequent celebration, to the even more oppressive theocratic regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Theocratic regimes are the worst regimes because not only is it dictatorial but it makes religion compulsory, so the only outlet to
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Dec 02, 2008
Mehrnaz
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If you are a westerner who is a little bored with his or her routine and marvelously comfortable life looking for "exotic" things to happen right in front of his/her eyes; this book is NOT for you.
If you are interested in history unfolding itself with its tiniest details to leave you awestruck with an array of incredible events so that you feel a little of emotion in your otherwise numb emotional system; this book is NOT for you.
If you easily get bored by people More...
If you are interested in history unfolding itself with its tiniest details to leave you awestruck with an array of incredible events so that you feel a little of emotion in your otherwise numb emotional system; this book is NOT for you.
If you easily get bored by people More...
Jun 05, 2011
Emily
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This was a beautifully written book about one girl's experience of the 1979 revolution in Iran. It is so hard to imagine living in these kinds of circumstances, rulers being overthrown & such strict laws. It was so interesting to learn about the Jewish perspective of this time period -- I had no idea they were persecuted & treated so horribly by their fellow countrymen. I loved seeing those few shining moments when Roya was encouraged and as she developed her talents.
My only complain More...
My only complain More...
Jan 28, 2009
Megan
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This is similar to "Reading Lolita in Tehran" but the author is Jewish, which makes her an outsider during the 1979 revolution when she is 12 years old. She is able to bring me right into her house as she listens to her cousin talk on the phone, discovers the limitations imposed on her because she is a girl, and investigates what is happening in her country when no adults will give her a straight answer. My heart aches for her family and her neighbor's family as she describes the chall
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Jul 16, 2009
Denise
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Interesting book. I had no idea that there was a very large Jewish population in Iran. This book is the view of the revolution of 1979 from the viewpoint of a young Jewish girl. She was very caught up in the revolution and welcomed the Ayatollah Khomeni along with the rest of the country. Freedoms may have been restricted under the shah, but nothing like what happened when the Ayatollah took power! It's an interesting look at how freedoms can be slowly taken away and you don't really notice
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Aug 27, 2007
Catherine
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Ethnic studies taught me that no history can be truly understood without hearing the voices of the people who lived it, in their own words. The story of Roya Hakakian's journey as a young Iranian girl growing up in the streets of Tehran is a compelling argument for the first person perspective. I have read many histories on the Middle East and its various successes and crises -- but they are usually from either a (1) mea-culpa-like, hand-wringing, the U.S. is the source of all bad things POV or
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Aug 08, 2011
Best book I've read all year. I've read many books that take place in the Middle East but this was the 1st book I've read about being a Jew in a Muslim country. Fantastic story. Very thought provoking. I highly recommend to anyone who wants to gain insight into this culture that our country is constantly at odds with. People are people no matter where they live.
Aug 08, 2011
Best book I've read all year. I've read many books that take place in the Middle East but this was the 1st book I've read about being a Jew in a Muslim country. Fantastic story. Very thought provoking. I highly recommend to anyone who wants to gain insight into this culture that our country is constantly at odds with. People are people no matter where they live.
Oct 01, 2011
Erika
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A coming of age story in pre-revolution Iran. Roya talks about political uprisings, but is for the most part sheltered in her Jewish family, until the actual revolution in 1979. Lovely descriptions and prosaic writing, but it leaves out quite a bit of the political history of the time. But of course the story is told through the eyes of a 9 year old.
Sep 19, 2011
Peg
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Non-fiction account of the author's Iranian childhood during the revolution. Being Jewish and female made her daily life especially precarious, and - as a child - there is much that is mysterious and that she only gradually understands. Eventually, she left Iran and became a journalist and documentary filmmaker in NYC. Recommended by Nazrin.
Aug 05, 2011
A very interesting read, providing an insight into the years prior and following the Iranian revolution from the perspective of a young Jewish girl. Interesting not only for Roya's personal account, but also because I knew little of what 'normal life' means for people in Iran. I'll definitely be reading more books about the region.
May 11, 2011
Kerri
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i really liked this book. not being a huge fan of the middle east, i finally caved and read this biography. i learned a lot from it that has helped shape some interest into the middle east now. again, glad i read this book. i think it would be a good book discussion.
Nov 24, 2009
S
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I really enjoyed this book and am suprised I had not heard more about it. Written by an Iranian Jewish woman who was about my age during the Islamic Revolution of Iran but was much more aware of what was actully going on in the streets not only because she comes from a pretty intellectual family, runs around with friends that are from Islamic families and talked about what was going on but she was acutely aware because of the intervention in her all Jewish school by the Islamic Republic.
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Aug 13, 2009
Amy
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I'm sure it sounds corny, and a little more right-wing than I'd like, but reading this book made me feel so lucky to live in America. It's the second book I've read set in Iran, and I continue to be terrified out of my mind by these stories. Her writing was beautiful, and I loved that I learned a few new words along the way.
Jun 07, 2008
Elizabeth
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Again, not what I thought it would be. I'm not yet sure I'm even going to finish it because I keep waiting for something to happen... more details about the revolution or more depth into its impact. I don't know if it's her writing style, or if it's because she was a child that it's consequently egocentric, but as I'm reading it, I'm sort of thinking "so what?" It's a little boring I guess. The title suggests more would be happening 3/4 of the way through the book.
Updat More...
Updat More...
Jun 27, 2010
Amazing account/coming of age book authored by Hakakian of the Revolution in the late 1970's in Iran. Learned first hand how the large Jewish community perceived and reacted to the turmoil. Good read.
Oct 30, 2010
Jolene
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I loved this book. It was poetic and honest. I am glad to have read such an honest account of what life was like in Iran during the time of the revolution. I would recommend it to anyone.
Sep 13, 2011
Tara
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Beautifully written reflection of a girl growing up during the Iranian revolution. Great way to learn about the history and also connect to a personal story. Loved the writing style.
Jul 21, 2009
Suz
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Memoir written from a child/young adult's point of view about growing up as a Jew in Iran, both before and during the revolution of 1979, and her and her family's ultimate exile to the US.
Mar 04, 2009
Nancy
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This is the memoir of a young Jewish girlhood in revolutionary Iran (the departure of Shah, installation of Khomeini government and rise of Islamic fundamentalism).
Apr 11, 2011
Cknot1sk
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i've read quite a bit about life during the revolution, but this book was the first that highlighted life as female jew. fascinating!
Jul 25, 2008
J B
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Even though I've recently been immersed in tales of the Muslim world, both inside America and out, I was moved by this book. It's about the experiences of a Jewish woman living in Iran before, during, and after the revolution that brought the Shah to power in the 70s. It's very interesting to learn about the progressive country that was Iran before things changed. I found this book because the author recently wrote an article about the persecution of Baha'is that is ongoing in Iran today. Sh
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Jul 30, 2009
Salisbury University's New Student Reader Community selection. Author scheduled to speak on August 27, 2009.
Jun 15, 2009
Jennifer
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Fascinating account of revolutionary and post-revolutionary Iran by a young Jewish Iranian woman.
Jan 28, 2010
Sherry
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A lovely book and a really enjoyable way to get an inside view of Iran.
Jan 12, 2008
John
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I confess I was slightly bored by the first half of the story: pre-teen Jewish girl's life in pre-Revolutionary Tehran; that section does make a point that opposition to the Shah was widespread, far from just a radical Moslem "thing". Second part (post-Revolution) is much stronger, though the story ends as the family makes the final decision to emigrate, with a "teaser" that the story of their journey might be forthcoming as a sequel; there is an epilogue telling of the "
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