Customer Reviews

Honeymoon in Purdah: An Iranian Journey

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Iran is such a closed society that any glimpse inside it is especially fascintating. Alison Wearing has done a great service by allowing us to meet the real people of Iran, whose kindess, hospitality, craziness, and so forth show them to be as human as one would suspect. Especially interesting are individual Iranians' feelings, pro and con, about the Islamic revolution, and the author's experience of their culture and observations about it: After months of wearing the restrictive and horribly uncomfortable clothing required of Iranian women, she finds she is not immediately ready to remove it after leaving. The book is also enourmously entertaining. Includes one of the funniest ping-pong matches ever.

As an Iranian growing up in Canada, I seldom found accurate representations of the people of Iran. It seems that those who make the most noise are the only ones heard, so it was often painful to see the only portrayals of Iranians to be of ignorant, Western-hating, backward militants. The book and movie "Not Without My Daughter" presented Betty Mahmoody's tragic experience with a close-minded family, and the movie showed scenes of villages that were meant to represent major cities in Iran. It is no wonder that I've always had to work hard to prove myself against these stereotypes. It's a shame that many westerners believe Ms. Mahmoody's story to be representative of every Persian family. This book is such a refreshing change. I could relate to every thougth and action that she wrote of, and I found myself laughing out loud at parts, and crying at others because of their familiarity. I hope that westerners read this book without the cynicism of some of those who have reviewed it here, and believe that a people can be that hospitable, that kind, and that misunderstood. I pity those who have such a jaded view on humanity and on Iran, that they attribute Wearing's accounts as fictitious attempts at humour, instead of what they actually are: A true portrayal of most Iranians' warmth toward their guest.

Being an Iranian, I have never thought that describing the Iranian people would be an easy job. Alison Wearing has done an absolutely amazing, an accurate job in introducing this almost forgotten nation to the world. The book is extremely entertaining and funny. Makes all of us want to go on the same journey as she did.

Let me start by saying that my father is Iranian, and that I have visited Iran several times. I believe that this book captures a lot of the spirit of Iranians. I recognized patterns of behavior in the people described by the author from my own experiences with the Iranian half of my family both in Iran and here in America. I found several misrepresentations in the stories, though. Taking a three day bus trip from Turkey is one way to enter Iran, but the author never mentions that you can get a flight to Tehran from many European cities that only takes a few hours. She makes the entire country seem almost impossible to access. She completely glossed over her time in Tehran, where life is often drastically different than in the smaller cities she visited. Her references to people's lack of furniture made them seem poor, when in fact, it is part of the culture to eat and sleep on the floor. I have two female cousins in Tehran who are doctors, but the average reader would probably think that such a career choice was impossible for Iranian women if this was the only book they read about the country. Overall, this was an interesting read, but I don't recommend it as a comprehensive guide to Iran. Read it if you already know some facts about Iran and want to get a feel for the people.

As a person who reads a lot of books about the Middle East, specifically about Middle Eastern women, I was delighted to find that this book wasn't written with a strong political agenda. I was beginning to get tired all the constant railing about the hijab in most books, and even though Alison Wearing does complain about it, she also describes the feeling of comfort and safety it affords her, probably mirroring an ambivalence many Iranian women have.
I don't agree with the first reviewers criticism that the book implies that the only way into Iran is by bus, and that it makes Iranians look poor because they have no furniture. The author was obviously an adventurous sort who preferred taking the bus, and would people so graspingly poor that they couldn't afford furniture be able to lavish gifts and food on strangers in the way she describes? She's describing the home habits of a specific group of people in one part of a very big country.
I loved that the book emphasized the intensely hospitable and friendly nature of the Iranian people she met- an element I've found sadly lacking in books that focus on what is wrong with modern Iran. The book has its flaws (when Wearing gets poetic, she sounds a little silly; fortunately this is rare), but her honesty (she knows when she's being culturally insensitive, and doesn't gloss over it), ability to laugh at herself, and gift for recreating plausible dialogue more than make up for it. Not a history book, but a fun, very funny, and touching read. Good gift book.

As an Iranian, I was amused by this book. Yet, it is not a book which I would recommend to a non-Iranian seeking to learn about Iran. The author had a very interesting journey through Iran,full of humurous, strange, and frustrating experiences. Yet, either she did not understand our rich culture and heritage,or she was unable to convey it to her readers. The aspect of the book I did appreciate, was the author's ability to portray Iranians as the warm, hospitable, kind, and generous people which Iranians are, contrary to the perception of many Westerners. If you are Iranian, don't expect to learn anything new, but you will find many of the encounters entertaining. If you are non-Iranian, and you are going to read only one book about Iran, I would not recommend this particular book.

I loved this book. It was a delight and a privilege to experience Iran through Allison Wearing's eyes and ears, through her warm heart and beautiful mind. She limits herself to writing only what amuses, entertains, edifies, enlightens her readers, and never never bores--sharing her frustrations, hilarity, surprises, confusion, fear, joy, fatigue, admiration.... Iran's people treat her well and win her affection and respect, and she in turn treats them with the utmost respect and openness; yet she clearly conveys the difficulties and drawbacks of daily life there. She wears Hejab for five months (the black coverings of Muslim women) and sympathetically investigates and illuminates the lives of Iranian women. Wearing's writing style is simply the best--present, funny, thoughtful, gentle, informed, with stories and characters that are irresistable. I appreciate her political and cultural sensitivity, and am very grateful that she took me along on her journey..... I plan to recommend this book to my book club!

I was pleasantly surprised by Alison Wearing and "Honeymoon in Purdah". The title leads the reader to expect another "Western woman marries Islamic man & faces culture shock" book, but in reality the subtitle is much more apt: "An Iranian Journey".

Ms. Wearing visited Iran in the mid-90's as a tourist, not a newly married wife of an Islamic man. Although immediately plunged into the restrictiveness of fundamentalist Islamic culture through the necessity of "hejab" (veiling), Ms. Wearing remained open to the people she met & the spontaneity of 3rd World travel. Her joie de vive shines through every encounter.

As I read this book, I kept turning to my partner saying, "Wow, listen to this! These people are so nice!!" Everywhere Wearing goes, people she meets go out of their way to make her comfortable, show her their favorite sites, take her into their homes for meals, & drive her wherever she wants. Time & again a chance meeting leads to someone abandoning their plans for the day & taking Alison Wearing under their wing. Even while waiting at a train station in 110 degree heat, broiling under her bourka, tired & angry, a stranger suddenly appears & hands her a tray of food! Personally, I was ready to jump on the next plane to Iran!

So, don't pick up "Honeymoon in Purdah" if you're looking for more anti-Muslim propaganda. If you're in the mood to be surprised, delighted & entertained, this is the book for you!

This is absolutely one of the most unbiased, open-minded "outsider" views on modern-day Iran that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Alison Wearing went into Iran with an open mind and an open heart, and a double dollop of tenacity and courage. She emerges a person who has viewed the country the news media doesn't want us to see. This is the country of total strangers who invite you to stay and dine at their house; of people who are concerned with whether you find the restrictions of their country pleasant or stifling; and, the story of other ex-patriots who have made their home in this land, and how they view it as outsiders who have become insiders, as much as possible.

There are fascinating stories in this book, including the author's day spent escaping the stifling heat of the city with nomads in the mountains, including a 12-year old girl who is married but unable to consummate the marriage since she hasn't finished puberty. In Shiraz, Wearing meets a British woman who is raising her teenaged daughter with her Iranian husband. She bemoans her nieces in England who are struggling with teenage pregnancies, while her daughter is getting straight A's and planning for college. Not every story is positive, including the incident on the bus to Syria, which raises Wearing's ire. But, people are people no matter where you go. And, the majority of people she meets are a far cry from what anyone would expect.

I highly recommend this book, and have loaned my copy to several people so far. It tells things I experienced as the wife of an Iranian in that country, but is even more interesting because Alison Wearing is truly viewing this world as an observer.

After devouring "Honeymoon in Purdah" by Alison Wearing I felt like I've had a trip to Iran after being away for three years. It is by no means short of brilliant. Not even Iranians could do any better trying to depict a true picture of Iran's soul.

The book unfolds layers of wonderful humor, pure wisdom, innocent curiosity and warm heart of an extraordinary young writer who is brave and humble enough to leave herself trusted in the hands of stranger Iranians. She never regrets it. Her style is naked of any artificiality, pompousness and judgment. She narrates her story in a manner you think she is sitting with you in your living room chatting over a cup of tea and takes you with her behind the scene into local homes to hear their stories from their mouths, using their own words. She leaves you to judge for yourself and draw whatever you can or want from her book.

Wearing is after discovering the soul of this nation and what she finds is absolutely beautiful, yet quite peculiar. She is trusted by the natives like an old friend. They offer her their hearts and let her feel the warmth. They look straight into her eyes and let her read the passion.

While reading it, I cried with her and laughed with her, she is a superb narrator.

Do I recommend it? OOOHHH YYYEEEAAAHHH! RRREEEAAADDD IIITTT!!