She Asked for It

Sarah's asking for opinions on two books: Life of Pi and Reading Lolita in Tehran. I'm having trouble posting my comment over there. I think I hit a word limit. So here's my response.

I like what Margalit says in her comment about Reading Lolita. And I'm not well-read in the two areas she mentions - the classics or non-fiction lit by Muslim women. While reading it, I felt that I would enjoy the book more if I had read more of the classics. It's really not a book about reading groups or even about books, though. It's a book about the Islamic revolution in Iran and the effects of the revolution on thinking women from many different backgrounds. Nafisi merely examines that period of time in her life and her friends' lives through the lens of classic literature. If you're going to read it, don't get hung up on remembering names of the characters or the books under discussion. I kept slowing myself down trying to remember all that before moving on to the next chapter. Don't. You'll get reintroduced to the books and the women again and again with plenty of detail, so you get to know them all very well eventually - without having to try too hard.

I think you know that I loved Life of Pi. I wrote about it here. My mom thought it was so-so. My friend Melinda led a book group at church that read it, and I think half of the folks in that group didn't even like it enough to finish it. And you have to finish it. The end is essential. Overall, I'd say you will like it if you're ambivalent about religion - if you're interested in and fascinated in the beliefs and myths of different faiths but have as many questions about faith as you do answers. If you are dogmatic about having faith or absolute about not having faith, or if you don't like to think about the effects of faith on our lives, then you probably won't be as interested. You also have to be prepared to spend some time on a boat. With a wild animal.

Comments

[Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah]

For some reason, my blog thought you were spam. You have been re-cleared. I don't know what akismet's problem was.

I have decided to read "Life of Pi" as soon as I can borrow it from somebody. Unfortunately, we are totally iced into our neighborhood right now.

[Barry]

Right now, I'm reading "Life After Death" by Deepak Chopra. Chopra insists there is scientific proof that even when our body stops functioning that our spirit continues to live (possibly infinitely) and we move to a higher plane of awareness (not heaven -- at least yet -- but awareness). He even cites string theory and other modern physics ideas to support his claims.

[Stan]

I loved "Life of Pi". Really original book with a great ending.

[jen]

I'll try Life of Pi since Stan recommends it. I'm hooked on Stan's booklist and awed that he has read so much.
Totally off subject, where are these muslim women whenever violence errupts? Are they hiding in their bookclubs? Whenever TV shows violence in Iraq and neighboring countries all you ever see are men walking around. Where are all the women?