Sarah Zakeri's story about Reading Lolita in Tehran

Growing up in the north-east, half Scottish/half Iranian, I have always felt proud to be Scottish. Any glimpse I caught of Iran, through the news or otherwise told of a terrifying and hostile place where minds were closed, open only to a single ideology, and where women were slaves to their husbands' whims. The thought of it instilled a great, nauseating fear in me. How could women live like this? And then, studying English Literature at university, my mind being opened to many ideas, cultures and histories, I felt pity for those, such as women in Iran, who were only exposed to one idea, one rule, one way of living. I couldn't understand how a country, once so rich in culture, could now be so culturally barren.

Then, just after leaving university, while browsing in a bookshop, the incongruous title of this book caught my eye. Reading Lolita...in Tehran - surely not. But there it was, bringing together two aspects of my life which had seemed entirely separate. The book was a revelation. Not only was there one Iranian woman with a love of Englsih Literature, there were lots! And they were just like girls here - gossipy, quick-witted, bitchy, clever, romantic, with dreams and ambition and a passion for life, love and friendship. I learnt several things - that even in the face of oppression, sexism and fundamentalism, passion can still exist, and, trite though it sounds, that it really doesn't matter what race, colour or nationality you are, literature is universal and indeed you can feel yourself to be any nationality you like, if you feel an affinity with that culture. Nafisi does a marvellous job of showing how literature is a culture in itself that can reach out to all nations, and she also taught me that being half-Iranian is not something to be frightened by. Nationality and race are things that should be worn proudly but also lightly, for the human spirit will always transcend political divisions.

I also learnt that the combination of coffee, ice-cream and walnuts is worth a try...