PTPI Blog

Rosanne Rosen, PTPI’s Senior Vice President of Operations, bravely volunteered to share her thoughts on the first discussion questions.  Her answers are below.  We are eager to hear your thoughts and opinions.  Join the discussion and leave a comment!

1. Would you recommend this book to others?  Discuss your reasons.

I would definitely recommend Reading Lolita in Tehran to anyone.  Our book club members found some initial challenges with the book since none of us had read Lolita and weren’t as familiar with some of the other works of literature mentioned in the book.  However, what I found fascinating was more Nafisi’s dialogue about life in Iran, the struggles women face and their absolute desire for education.  Growing up in Kansas, education was a right and going to college was expected.  There was never any doubt about ‘if’ I would go to college, it was just ‘where’ and what career path I would choose.

I often wondered while reading the book, what would I have done in a similar situation?  Would I have been involved in the protests?  Would I have just ‘gone along’ to not create trouble or problems for myself or my family?  I don’t think one can answer that question with real honesty unless faced with the absolute consequences the women in Iran face.  We started reading this book while the election protest was taking place in the streets of Iran and I couldn’t help but stare at the pictures of the young women bravely protesting and wonder what their lives were like and feeling more of a bond with them than I ever would have before reading the book.

2. What were your initial reactions to the book?  Could you relate to the author or did you more closely relate to one of her students whose lives we became more involved with as we progressed through the narrative?  What were your impressions of the correlation between famous works of literature and the daily struggles of life in Iran?  Would you have joined the book club knowing the risks involved with being a part of the club?

I enjoyed the book from the beginning and would love to meet Nafisi.  She was articulate, passionate, and encouraging to her students and the kind of teacher every student wants.  I felt somewhat of a kinship with her as we are very close in age.  In the beginning of the book when she talks about the events leading up to and during the Iranian revolution, I couldn’t help but think about the Iranian students I shared classrooms with at Drake University.  We were friendly; however they had their clubs and I had mine.  Our paths didn’t cross except in the classroom.  Never once can I remember did I ever take the time to explore with them the details of their life in Iran.

I do remember one conversation with one of the Iranian students that she didn’t know if she would ever go back to Iran.  I know I’ve changed since I was that 18-year-old young woman more interested in my own studies and social life; however, now looking back with the wisdom of time, how I wish I had invited her to lunch, coffee, to my dorm room, somewhere to learn more about her and her life in Iran.  It’s difficult to say whether or not I would have joined the book club knowing the risks.  I’d like to answer with a resounding YES!  However, in reality, I am only basing that on my own set of values, beliefs, traditions which have been instilled in me since childhood.

The opinions expressed by PTPI staff and other book club members are entirely their own and are not necessarily the views of  People to People International or that of PTPI’s Officers, Board of Directors and Board of Trustees.