Really interesting, really intense! I struggled to keep up with some of the references as I have little knowledge of Iran's history but thought it was a very insightful place to start.

A fascinating book sharing stories of Tehranis living, working, loving, and dying in Tehran. The book offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of the rich & poor that few Westerners would otherwise be able to grasp.

A really interesting book that has inspired me to learn more about Iran.

https://chyneyee.com/2017/02/09/city-of-lies-love-sex-death-and-the-search-for-truth-in-tehran-ramita-navai/

The history and politics of the country were strongly engaged in this book. I trust the author has sufficient knowledge in those areas but putting them in words might not be her strength. Sometimes, I’m not sure whether the complexity lies on the character’s life or how the story being told. I tend to lose the direction of the story easily as there were too many political and historical explanations involved in each story. I would prefer the author includes a mixture of positive and negative side of the city instead of just only focusing on the dark side.

My first foray into creative nonfiction, this collection of short stories follows eight characters/people in south Tehran, which is the lower class section of town. Having never been to that part of the globe, this gave me a lot to think about and really helped illustrate some facets of that city in ways I hadn't understood before. If you're looking to learn more about what everyday life is like for some people in Iran, pick this book up. I liked flipping to the back after each story to learn about where the author got her facts to create the characters.

So, so engaging. I had no prior knowledge, really, of Iran at all, but despite this I felt so interested in what the book was saying. Having read the author's notes at the end, it seems she took a rather liberal approach to the truth, but perhaps this is the standard with "journalistic" non-fiction? Either way I can't complain, it was a riveting read.

One of the best books I've read in a long time. Structurally brilliant, with incredibly moving and poignant episodes. I am fascinated by Tehran, and this is a very good place to start in uncovering this elusive city. I will not be forgetting any of these characters any time soon.