Premium Members Get 10% Off and Earn Rewards Find Out More
Jasmine and Stars: Reading More Than Lolita in Tehran
In a direct, frank, and intimate exploration of Iranian literature and society, scholar, teacher, and poet Fatemeh Keshavarz challenges popular perceptions of Iran as a society bereft of vitality and joy. Her fresh perspective on present-day Iran provides a rare insight into this rich culture alive with artistic expression but virtually unknown to most Americans.

Keshavarz introduces readers to two modern Iranian women writers whose strong and articulate voices belie the stereotypical perception of Iranian women as voiceless victims in a country of villains. She follows with a lively critique of the recent best-seller Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books, which epitomizes what Keshavarz calls the "New Orientalist narrative," a view marred by stereotype and prejudice more often tied to current geopolitical conflicts than to an understanding of Iran.

Blending in firsthand glimpses of her own life—from childhood memories in 1960s Shiraz to her present life as a professor in America—Keshavarz paints a portrait of Iran depicting both cultural depth and intellectual complexity. With a scholar's expertise and a poet's hand, she helps amplify the powerful voices of contemporary Iranians and leads readers toward a deeper understanding of the country's past and present.

1111242992
Jasmine and Stars: Reading More Than Lolita in Tehran
In a direct, frank, and intimate exploration of Iranian literature and society, scholar, teacher, and poet Fatemeh Keshavarz challenges popular perceptions of Iran as a society bereft of vitality and joy. Her fresh perspective on present-day Iran provides a rare insight into this rich culture alive with artistic expression but virtually unknown to most Americans.

Keshavarz introduces readers to two modern Iranian women writers whose strong and articulate voices belie the stereotypical perception of Iranian women as voiceless victims in a country of villains. She follows with a lively critique of the recent best-seller Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books, which epitomizes what Keshavarz calls the "New Orientalist narrative," a view marred by stereotype and prejudice more often tied to current geopolitical conflicts than to an understanding of Iran.

Blending in firsthand glimpses of her own life—from childhood memories in 1960s Shiraz to her present life as a professor in America—Keshavarz paints a portrait of Iran depicting both cultural depth and intellectual complexity. With a scholar's expertise and a poet's hand, she helps amplify the powerful voices of contemporary Iranians and leads readers toward a deeper understanding of the country's past and present.

25.95 In Stock
Jasmine and Stars: Reading More Than Lolita in Tehran

Jasmine and Stars: Reading More Than Lolita in Tehran

by Fatemeh Keshavarz
Jasmine and Stars: Reading More Than Lolita in Tehran
Add to Wishlist
Jasmine and Stars: Reading More Than Lolita in Tehran

Jasmine and Stars: Reading More Than Lolita in Tehran

by Fatemeh Keshavarz

Overview

In a direct, frank, and intimate exploration of Iranian literature and society, scholar, teacher, and poet Fatemeh Keshavarz challenges popular perceptions of Iran as a society bereft of vitality and joy. Her fresh perspective on present-day Iran provides a rare insight into this rich culture alive with artistic expression but virtually unknown to most Americans.

Keshavarz introduces readers to two modern Iranian women writers whose strong and articulate voices belie the stereotypical perception of Iranian women as voiceless victims in a country of villains. She follows with a lively critique of the recent best-seller Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books, which epitomizes what Keshavarz calls the "New Orientalist narrative," a view marred by stereotype and prejudice more often tied to current geopolitical conflicts than to an understanding of Iran.

Blending in firsthand glimpses of her own life—from childhood memories in 1960s Shiraz to her present life as a professor in America—Keshavarz paints a portrait of Iran depicting both cultural depth and intellectual complexity. With a scholar's expertise and a poet's hand, she helps amplify the powerful voices of contemporary Iranians and leads readers toward a deeper understanding of the country's past and present.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780807859575
Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press
Publication date: 02/01/2009
Series: Islamic Civilization and Muslim Networks
Edition description: 1
Pages: 192
Product dimensions: 5.80(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Fatemeh Keshavarz is Roshan Institute Chair in Persian Studies at the University of Maryland. She is author of four previous books, including Reading Mystical Lyric: The Case of Jalal Al-Din Rumi and a volume of poetry.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction: What Does the Elephant Look Like? 1

1 The Jasmine, the Stars, and the Grasshoppers 13

2 The Eternal Forough: The Voice of Our Earthly Rebellion 33

3 My Uncle the Painter 59

4 Women without Men: Fireworks of the Imagination 85

5 The Good, the Missing, and the Faceless: What Is Wrong with Reading Lolita in Tehran 109

6 Tea with My Father and the Saints 145

Recommended Reading 167

Index 169

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

The image of Iranian women as pitiable victims will not survive publication of Jasmine and Stars. The rich stories at the heart of this book are a testament to the power of culture in shaping today's world, and to the role of women in creating that culture. Drawing from both literature and memory, they depict a vibrant, complex society eager for a new relationship with the outside world.—Stephen Kinzer, author of All the Shah's Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror

From the B&N Reads Blog
Page 1 of

Customer Reviews