A Parisian-born journalist of Iranian descent describes the 10 years she spent in Iran after the death of her grandfather in 1998, charting her personal life as well as her involvement with rising political protest in which young people rallied for more freedom. This activity puts Minoui at risk, and soon her press credentials are confiscated, and she thinks she is being surveilled by the government.
This fascinating look at Iran, written with a journalist's attention to detail, presents a series of short vignettes that balance the narrative's sense of urgency and seriousness with the courage and defiance of those engaged in activism and reform ... A wonderful choice for readers of history, current events, and fans of Marjane Satrapi's graphic memoir Persepolis.
Like a documentary film, the book unravels the political and social incidents which happened during three periods: the post-revolution and the pre-reform era, the reformists and Khatami’s presidency, and the post-Khatami’s presidency and the Green Movement ... One of the things which I really liked about I’m Writing You from Tehran is Minoui’s deep bond with Persian poetry, especially Hafiz, the classic Persian poet who influenced Goethe ... What I like about I’m Writing You from Tehran is its myriad female characters ... The combination of these women gives the book a distinctly feminine infrastructure. Characters like Niloufar and Leyla reflect a Westernized image of Iranian woman ... I might not have the same political views as Minoui, but nevertheless I feel connected to her. I too like the idea of a country, of thinking beyond boundaries, and Hafiz’s poetry.
