Prisoner of Tehran: One Woman's Story of Survival Inside an Iranian Prison

highly recommended

love it could not put it dowmn read it in 2 days

Very Moving!

I was moved when I read this book. I cannot imagine the anguish the writer went through. Always reminds me of the freedoms I have here in America. Thanks to the author for writing her story.

Very enlightening view of what it means to live under such diabolical restrictions.

I found this book very moving and frightening to think of a world where this kind of life would be the norm. Well written and absorbing. I'm glad she has a much better life now and escaped from this tyranny.

THANK YOU MARINA; ENJOY . . .

My immediate impulse after turning the final page of PRISONER OF TEHRAN was to sit down with the author, Marina Nemat, and thank her for sharing the profoundly intense, personal, and moving account of her time as a political prisoner in Iran's notorious Evin Prison. Unfortunately, being thousands of miles from her Canadian home, and having never met Ms. Nemat, this review must, alas, suffice.

Thematically, the book conveys that violence, in the name of vengeance, only begets eternal violence. In fact Ali, a main character and an interrogator for the Islamic Republic, was actually a prisoner himself at Evin Prison, a "guest" of the Savak, the Shah's secret police. During his time at Evin, Ali was tortured in the name of the Shah's government. Ultimately, Ali did the same for Ayatollah Khomeini's theocracy.

The book's pacing alternates between a thriller's relentless momentum and the sweetness of a young girl's coming-of-age--much of it leavened with numerous heart rending episodes from the author's daunting adolescence. Each time I laid this book down, I couldn't wait to pick it up and learn the resolution to so many harrowing dilemmas.

The author also did a masterful job of construction, seamlessly interweaving her arrest and imprisonment with the back story of her life, her family members, and several of the book's pivotal characters. The intimate, charming, and craft-laden telling of Marina's interior narrative--coupled with the adept and sincere sketches of the characters, made me feel as though Marina was telling me her life story face-to-face, on a park bench or leaning against a kitchen island.

As the book gathered steam I not only rooted for the protagonist (Marina Nemat), but as a guy grew oddly unabashed about the constriction of my throat and tears the books many, many emotional interludes elicited. On my scale of gut wrenching empathy, the book rates 5 out of 5 boxes of tissue. Seriously, though, PRISONER OF TEHRAN tugged at my humanity as few tomes have lately.

Bravo and kudos abounding to this book, its author, and to any of you who purchase it. Guaranteed, PRISONER OF TEHRAN will prove an exciting, touching, and engrossing read. You'll learn many fascinating things about Iran in its current form of Islamic Republic, much about the culture and foibles of Iranians, and perhaps a few things about the capacity of people to display compassion under horrific circumstances.

Again, thank you Marina Nema; enjoy your hard won freedom and the redemptive power of your memoir.

A Horror to Survive

I just finished reading this book. It was absolutely amazing!! In our lives, many times we think we have it hard -- but Marina's life was absolutely incredibly horrific! Even her words cannot fully describe how she felt being arrested and in prison and what she went through on a daily basis just to survive. An incredible read.

Beautifully written memoir

Not only is this story captivating and spellbounding, it's very well written as well. Beautiful imagery and deep emotionality make this book one of my favorites.

Thank You

Marina Nemat has given us her own account of her time as a prisoner in Evin and of how it affected the rest of her life. She had to comprimise her faith to protect the people she loved . She had to comprimise everything she believed in. She showed so much bravery in her time at Evin and in her retelling of the story. I think she deserves an enormous thank you!

AMAZING !

I read this book 3 times. I haven't read something this good in along time I enjoyed reading about her life

Fiction better than reality?

This book would be more interesting if it told the truth. It's not a memoir, but a fictionalized account which has provoked angry reactions amongst people who were actually incarcerated in Iran during these years. Not very honest.

Heartbreaking and uplifting

One of the most moving stories I have ever read. Marina Nemat¿s strength, courage, and compassion are astounding.

Heartbreaking Story

This memoir is amazing. Being a Christian and reading about Marina Nemat's struggle with Christ or death has made me rethink what I really consider a sacrifice to be. Coming from an American Christian culture, I cannot even begin to understand the type of faith a Christian in a Muslim country must have. Anyone who reads this book will find their own morals questioned. And yet, Prisoner of Tehran is not even all about religion. This is Marina Nemat's story. A deep read, but so worth it.

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