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Summary: I never read travel books...
Review: ... however, as a required reading for a class I am currently enrolled in, I am extremely glad that my instructor chose Honeymoon in Purdah! Wearing promises and delivers beyond the expectations outlined on the back of the book/jackets.
Can't wait to read more about Wearing's travels around the globe!
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Summary: Breath of fresh air
Review: A pleasant surprise of a book. I was aware of the generous nature of the Irani people, but never have I seen it put so eloquently before. The stories told are not just fun but they seem to touch the soul to give an awareness of what's missing in the west. With so many negative stereo-types of the Irani people, it is like a breath of fresh air to finally see the true colors of what these people are all about! They have a sense of what is important in life - Family, Friends and even Strangers - PEOPLE over THINGS. This seems to be a consistent theme throughout the middle east. The people will take their last tomato from their garden, slaughter their only goat and give their company the best of what they have to offer. Their sense of joy comes from watching those around them be sated. I can't recommend this book enough! It is especially easy to read and would be a good book for a young adult as well as the sophisticated reader. Plenty of laughs as well.
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Summary: A trip behind purdah
Review: 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!!
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Summary: She Didn't "Get" It
Review: Alison Wearing attempts to present an ancient and complicated culture from the perspective of a five month visit. Wearing hejab is not all that is necessary to not offend. I lived in Iran for two years and was amazed at her lack of sensitivity to the culture. She never lost her Western eyes, nor realized that often she was an object of fun to her hosts. I hope that those who read this book realize that there are many better on the subject. Iranians are a complex people, not the clowns of this book.
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Summary: Happy Happy Iran
Review: Alison Wearing gives us an incredible insight into the life and customs of the Iranian people. Her book allows us a view to life in the aftermath of the revolution and the Islamic religion in its essence.
The hospitality with which Wearing was met throughout her journey in Iran is fascinating and almost overwhelming. It shattered a lot of my prejudices. Wearing's book left me with a sense of Iranians as warm and colourful with strong, deep souls. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it gave me a lot of laughs, smiles and sighs. I look forward to reading more of Alison Wearing's other adventures.
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Summary: a storytellers travels in Iran
Review: Alison Wearing has a gift for finding the humour and humanity that surround her. I have read some of her shorter works before and am a fan and was not disappointed in this, her first book. I too found myself laughing hysterically, and deeply touched by the people whose portraits she paints with her words. Her companion in the book, Ian, is a good sidekick as the less than politically conscious traveller and their "marriage" is made even more funny by their obvious lack of chemistry - hardly surprising given he is gay. This book is a powerful account -not of the politics that put up walls around people and their culture, but of the generousity and humanity of the people that welcomed her into their homes and hearts. It is a good read, I read it in one sitting...and thoroughly enjoyed it and learned from it as well. It is personal...it explores real people and real lives - and I can't think of words better spent. Thank you Alison.
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Summary: Refreshing change from melodrama
Review: 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 weary of books that railed nonstop against hejab, 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. I might be biased because I'm more familiar with Iranian culture, but these things didn't suggest that to me. The author was obviously an adventurous sort who preferred 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? i think the above reviewer was a little oversensitive about how Iranaians are portrayed.
I loved that the book emphasized the intensely hospitable and friendly nature of the Iranian people- an element I've found sadly lacking in books that just like to focus on what is wrong with the culture. The book has its flaws (when Wearing gets poetic, she sounds a little sily, but fortunately this is rare), but her funny voice, honesty (she knows when she is being culturally insensitive, and doesn't gloss over it), and gift for writing believeable dialogue more than make up for it. A fun, funny, and touching read.
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Summary: An accurate representation of a misunderstood people
Review: 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.
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Summary: Yes and No
Review: 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.
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Summary: THE BEST BOOK ABOUT IRAN I HAVE EVER READ
Review: As an Iranian-American, I try to read all the books that are published about Iran or are written by Iranian writers in exile. However, I have never ever enjoyed reading any book as much as I loved this one. I had to recommended it to my sister, mother, boyfriend, and many girlfriend and they all share my opinion. Thank you Alison for making it possible for me to think about Iran with pleasant memories. Finally there is a writer with open mind to write about the pople not the mullahs, the politics or Islam!
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