This is not the book to read if you want to learn about Iranian women or Islam. I was not surprised to find that the author's only connection to Iran is that her husband lived there until the age of ten. She is certainly allowed her own opinion of Iran, but is clearly misinformed on many counts. For one thing, "all good Muslim men" do NOT dream of meeting a limitless supply of virgins in heaven. And, although women in Iran do have fewer freedoms than they do in the U.S., they are allowed creative expression. Fitzgerald claims that female artists are not allowed to perform in front of men. I have seen this happen with my own eyes. I have seen female musicians performing with men onstage in Iran. I have seen artwork by female Iranians, and I have seen them acting on Iranian television. I do not pretend that the Iranian government is not corrupt, because it is in many ways. However, the way they portray Islam is false. At the time of the Prophet Muhammad, when the Muslims of Saudi Arabia were living in Medina, they had a covenant with the Jews who also lived there. The Muslims never forced Islam on the Jews. Also, when Muslims ruled Spain, Jews there had a great life of freedom. Just because Iran made a mistake in interpreting Islam, does not mean that that is what Islam stands for. I am one of so many Muslim women who wear hijab out of choice. I know Iranian women here in America who wear chadors out of choice as well. It is not seen as a restraint. Just because the character of this book feels chained because of the veil, does not mean that the rest of the Muslim women do. We see it as freedom from a world where women are seen as sex icons, and as a way of demonstrating our religion and fear of God. That does not mean that we cannot have fun, as the author of this book claims. On the contrary, women (besides in Iran) who wear hijab are allowed as much freedom as those who don't. Of course, we can't drink alcohol, but then neither can men. There are things that Muslims are not allowed to do, but those restrictions do not include listening to music or talking to men. What especially angered me about this book was that, while repeatedly trashing wearing a veil or being religious, the author makes a number of Islamic references. There is a moment where Tami says “Inshallah”. What Fitzgerald conveniently failed to do was tell readers what that expression means. It is an expression used by Muslims all over the world that means “God willing”. Tami says that a certain thing will happen if God wills it, which is not something a very non-religious person would say. This is a person who openly hates and refuses Islamic customs such as wearing a hijab or abstaining from drinking. She goes to Las Vegas because it is known as the land of sin. To her, freedom is drinking, wearing revealing clothes, using excessive amounts of makeup, getting boob jobs, and going to clubs and bars. These things do not sound like freedom to me- they sound like things that anyone with an ounce of moral standings would want to stay well away from. Islam, in making those actions unlawful, is not restraining anyone. If people would try to understand Islam instead of condemning it, they would be able to see that there are reasons behind the restrictions- in truth, we are protected from harmful lifestyles. We, in fact, are free.
Beautiful cover! The lady is pretty, and I love the Arabic words going across. I love cross-cultural books, I'm glad I picked this one. This book was recommended by a cousin of mine, she actually told me about it a few years back - I've tried looking for this book in the beginning, but I couldn't find it anywhere. Afterwards, I had forgotten about it. Recently, I remembered and finally, I discovered it in Barnes & Nobles! I bought a bunch of books using my employee discount as a bookseller, here is the review. Anyway, this was a neat story. I liked it, I was hooked after the first chapter. I thought Tamila was a sweet, innocent girl trying to find herself in this journey - the romance and love story with the Caucasian American was adorable. I was scoring for them hehe.. This book does have a sequel, as it ends on somewhat of an open note.At times I felt the narrator Tamila's hatred for Iran's political status was too extreme. In this novel, they make it sound as if every woman in Iran is oppressed and no woman wears the hijab as their choice. I don't agree that every woman is oppressed, some women probably like being covered. The author of this book is married to a Persian man, so of course she couldn't understand the land of Iran perfectly, and I do feel it was biased. Tamila is not religious at all, yet she uses some Islamic words.The stereotypes in this novel weren't necessary, but I actually liked this novel. I would rate it a 4 out of 5 stars.
What do You think about Veil Of Roses (2006)?
For those that know me, I am clearly interested in cross-cultural books regardless of culture. This was a very thought-provoking story about one Iranian woman's adventures in America for the first time. It is a thought-provoking book making one look at just how lucky we are to live in America and makes you really see how much the littlest things can mean to someone who has no freedom. Freedom is explored in so many possible ways that it reminds us what we take for granted and what it truly means to be free. I don't always enjoy a happy ending - it totally depends on the story, but the entire way through this book I hoped there would be one... It's up to you to find out whether the protagonist gets her happy ending or not.
—Dee
http://librinpantofole.blogspot.it/20...Una lettura che ho trovato davvero piacevole per quanto la trama sia ovviamente scontata, un romance del quale sin dall'inizio si può intuire il finale. Ciò che però mi ha colpita e che ho trovato molto originale è la capacità dell'autrice di trattare, in maniera delicata e con un tocco di leggerezza un argomento difficile quale la condizione della donna e le differenze tra Oriente e Occidente. Mentre passeggia per le strade di Tucson, Tami ci strappa molti sorrisi, i suoi occhi sgranati davanti ai micro-completini di Victoria's Secret («A me pare che questa Victoria nasconda ben pochi segreti.» ^^), lo stupore per le promozioni e gli assaggi gratuiti, il primo giro in scooter, le scarpe col tacco e le magliette che lasciano scoperto l'ombelico. Tutto per Tami è nuovo e straordinario... sì perché in Iran le donne devono portare l'hijab, nascondere i loro fluenti capelli, coprirsi il corpo e l'anima, imparare a essere invisibili. Laura Fitzgerald ci racconta un pezzettino di storia della Persia e lo fa davvero con cognizione di causa, tanto che durante la lettura ho pensato più volte: «ma questa autrice è davvero americana?». Sì lo è, per quanto sia sposata con un iraniano, e forse proprio per questo motivo riesce a descrivere così bene l'incontro con l'altro e il tema dell'integrazione. Lo stile è scorrevole e arguto a tratti malinconico e i personaggi davvero ben costruiti. Ho amato in particolare i compagni di classe di Tami, vivaci, divertenti e irriverenti, ciascuno con una storia di immigrazione alle spalle. Una storia romantica con un tocco di originalità.
—Jerry (Libri in pantofole)
Mahmoud wrote: "I agree with you. As an Iranian the best book I read anoint Iran by a non-Iranian author is "poet and pahlevans", by Marcello Di Cintio."Thank you for the suggestion! I will check it out!
—Mary Beth
