I really wanted to love this book, but...

Dapznik is a gifted writer--particularly her ability to describe. But what she was unable to do for me was create a character I loved and was able to root for. So many terrible things happened to the main character, but I wasn't drawn in to the emotion. Same with the plot. At one point she was in a terrible bind and her car was cut off by police and the very next sentence was "In jail I had a lot of time to think." She skipped entirely something that would have created sympathy and understanding for the character. I ended up simply quiting half way through the last chapter. I just didn't care.

3 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Captivating

I was mesmerized by this book; at times a biography; at times a novel; always respectful of the legacy of Forough Farrokhzad. I was unaware of most of the story, having moved to Iran at the young age of two in 1964. We lived in the small oil town of Masjid-I-Sulayman until we moved to Tehran in 1968, after Forough’s death. I had met the author Jasmin in Northern CA at a conference for Iranian Women. That’s where I bought the hardcover book, to support a fellow artistic Iranian-American woman (I’m a female Iranian-American architect). Now after hearing the audible book, I have such a tremendous understanding of our home country, the limitations under which Forough was raised, the reasons for her rebellion and the impact she left on the future generations of women; not only for her poetry and films, but mostly from this book, I truly understood the woman Forough. The narrator was very familiar with Persian terminology and kept a steady voice throughout, whether reading about a passionate love scene, a scary encounter, a heart wrenching moment or a confused mind. Even though I grew up in Iran for 15 years of my life, there’s so much I didn’t know until I read this book. Thank you Jasmin for opening our hearts by sharing this daring story with us.

3 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

A Mesmerizing Story

Song of a Captive Bird
Jasmin Darznik

A mesmerizing story of a brave woman seeking the freedom and independence to write heartfelt and brilliant poetry

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SUMMARY
Song of a Captive Bird is a fictional account of Iran’s most infamous and iconic woman poet, Forugh Farrokhzad. She was a literary sensation, and acclaimed filmmaker, who was both loved and hated within her country. A country she loved and would never leave. The book follows her turbulent life, from her controlled and abusive childhood, though her oppressive teenage marriage, the birth of her son, her passionate literary career, her affairs of the heart and her death in a car crash in 1967. Forugh came of age in the 1940’s and 1950’s, at a time of upheaval in Iranian history.

The novels opens one morning, with her mother forcing a bruised and battered Forugh to a clinic in the poorest and dirtiest district of Tehran, the bottom of the city, for a virginity test. It’s an experience which leaves the sixteen-year-old Forugh shaken and forever changed. ‘It was the end of her girlhood and the true beginning of her life’. She begins writing poetry to capture her father’s attention, who at first is amused by his daughters efforts. But as Forugh continues writing her black-eyed father withdraws his support, and he marries her off to Parviz, who rejects her on their wedding night. She is unhappy in the marriage, and in living under the roof of her domineering mother-in-law. Shortly after her son is born she sneaks back to Tehran in an naive effort to have her sensuous poetry published. Her first poem “Sin” is published under her own name, which set off an avalanche of life altering events.

“When I left my father and then my husband I lost my name and I was no one. But there was freedom in this, to be a woman on my own, it made me strong and it made me the poet I wanted to be. I knew many poets whose lives have nothing to do with their poetry. They were only poets when they sat down to write. They would finish a poem and then turn back into greedy, shortsighted, miserable, envious people. Well I could never believe in their poetry because I could never believe in them.”

REVIEW
Forugh’s character was so well-developed that you can’t help but have empathy for her. You could feel the pain from her father’s kicks, you can feel her dank and sweaty sheets in the hospital, and you could feel her heart racing as she ran from the machine gun spray. This story of Forugh’s quest for independence is both breathtaking and admirable. The writing is beautifully lyrical and captivatingly descriptive. It is a breathless ride that skillfully transports us not only through the story, but specifically to that time in history, and to a house in Tehran with a garden full of lush roses, jasmine, honeysuckle, and dahlia blossoms.

Lovers of feminist, literary and historical fiction will appreciate this book about a female poet whose name in Persian means ‘eternal light.’ The author, Jasmin Darznik used Forugh’s poetry, letters and films to create this powerful fictional account of a rebellious but brave woman. Darznik is a professor of English and creative writing at California College of the Arts. She came to America from Iran in 1978 when she was three years old. She is also the author of The Good Daughter: A Memoir of My Mother’s Hidden Life. Publisher Ballantine. Publication Date February 13, 2018.

“ Remember its flight, for the bird is mortal.” Forugh Farrokhazd

2 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Biographical fiction is always a challenge—

The author’s dedication to her subject is impressive and the first half or so held me fairly enthralled. Then it went a bit off the rails as the focus shifted to her lovers, and the book started to sound bit like a Harlequin Romance. I really didn’t need to know what she was wearing all the time, or what a man’s lips looked like the first time she saw him. On balance though, a worthy listen, especially if you want to get a feel for what Iran and it’s major city Tehran were like before the 1979 revolution. And an admirable reader- I chose it because the sample promised a solid performance.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Great book.

This was an outstanding book. Really moving and so well written. I went through it in about three days. Couldn't stop.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Grieving the "close" of this book

One of the most powerful, extraordinary books I have "read". Beautiful narration. Historical fiction but the author did such amazing research and had so much passion for the real life of this woman.

Thank you

Thank you very much Jasmine for great writing and Mozhan for great narration. Looking forward to more from you both

Excellent!

Beautifully written, as beautiful as the poetesses poems. so much compassion and warmth. I highly recommend the book.

This book was so beautifully written

This book was so beautifully written. The narrator did a perfect job bringing the story to life

Worth it

I couldn't stop listening. Such a rich and beautiful piece of historical fiction! One of my favorite books so far this year!