A look into modern Tehran through the eyes of eight very different points of view. The main thesis of the book here, which you can guess by the title, is that lying is part of the culture. Not maliciously but for survival. Lies by omission mostly. My knowledge of Tehran is rather limited so I found this book fascinating. A lot of these stories are sad and frustrating but there is a lot of joy and hope and defiance as well.

This topic is definitely one I am immediately drawn to as I love to learn about different countries and cultures. I have enjoyed numerous non-fiction books based on the Middle East and I figured I would likely enjoy this one as well. Unfortunately I disliked the writing style, the only link to the stories was that they were all in Tehran, but it desperately needed a grounding force such as the author. If the author had interjected herself or more explanations etc. I think it would have been more enjoyable. Quite frankly all the stories started blending together and felt more like Tehran soap operas than anything else. I don't enjoy soap operas, perhaps if you do you'd like this more. Also, the library did not have this available in any form but audiobook, I think had I actually been reading it myself it may have felt less like soap opera vignettes of Tehran. I may try again if the library ever gets an e-book but for now I am more than happy to move on.

I can't get past the fact that the profiles are composite characters and the detailed scenes, dialogue and inner thoughts are at best, after the fact and "as described." That kind of sourcing strikes me as too loosey-goosey. I want to read a book about real life in Tehran, but this isn't it.

The Farideh chapter and Epilogue were my favorites. While the book had its highs and lows, I found it interesting, if a little bit depressing. Farideh was probably the chapter that made it more nuanced and hopeful, and it really did make going through the rest of the book worth it.

** Books 97 - 2018 **

3,2 of 5 stars!

It is story compilation about people who living in Iran. The most shocking one is about crazy the prostitute is and it somehow reminds me a lot with Indonesia in Order baru's era when people doesn't have any freedom to speech and suddenly they just disappeared and being punished to voice what they thought

Thankyou Big bad Wolf 2018

L'auteur, journaliste anglo-iranienne, nous donne à voir une Téhéran secrète, pleine de faux semblants, cruelle et moderne. Un regard intéressant sur l'Iran contemporaine. Elle y dépeint une ville désespérément sombre, qu'elle dit pourtant aimé. Les appendices sont aussi intéressants que les témoignages, racontés comme des nouvelles mais tous nés de parcours rencontrés par la journaliste.