Iran Awakening by Shirin Ebadi

Title: Iran Awakening: A Memoir of Revolution and Hope

Author: Shirin Ebadi

First Published: 2006

No. of Pages: 256

Synopsis (from B&N): "The moving, inspiring memoir of one of the great women of our times, Shirin Ebadi, winner of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize and advocate for the oppressed, whose spirit has remained strong in the face of political persecution and despite the challenges she has faced raising a family while pursuing her work.

Best known in this country as the lawyer working tirelessly on behalf of Canadian photojournalist, Zara Kazemi – raped, tortured and murdered in Iran – Dr. Ebadi offers us a vivid picture of the struggles of one woman against the system. The book movingly chronicles her childhood in a loving, untraditional family, her upbringing before the Revolution in 1979 that toppled the Shah, her marriage and her religious faith, as well as her life as a mother and lawyer battling an oppressive regime in the courts while bringing up her girls at home.

Outspoken, controversial, Shirin Ebadi is one of the most fascinating women today. She rose quickly to become the first female judge in the country; but when the religious authorities declared women unfit to serve as judges she was demoted to clerk in the courtroom she had once presided over. She eventually fought her way back as a human rights lawyer, defending women and children in politically charged cases that most lawyers were afraid to represent. She has been arrested and been the target of assassination, but through it all has spoken out with quiet bravery on behalf of the victims of injustice and discrimination and become a powerful voice for change, almost universally embraced as a hero.

Her memoir is a gripping story – a must-read for anyone interested in Zara Kazemi’s case, in the life of a remarkable woman, or in understanding the political and religious upheaval in our world."

Fiction or Nonfiction: Nonfiction

Comments and Critique: This is an absolutely wonderful book. The style is engaging and conversational, and you can't wait to find out what happens next. That sounds somewhat flippant, given that this is nonfiction and tells of life in a totalitarian state, but it's true. The author relates numerous individual stories of friends and clients, and each time you hope that the person's story will have a happy ending. Unfortunately, most do not. But on the positive side, you also see how so many don't give up hope, don't succumb to despair, and try to keep living by their principles the best they can.

As an American, I can scarcely imagine living in a country such as Iran, especially being a woman. But this book helps me to remember that a country's leadership is not always representative of its citizens and that all countries, no matter how bleak the political and social landscape, have positive features and that there are people that love that country and consider it home. In addition to this, the book makes the point that Islam is not in itself a dangerous or discriminatory religion; rather, it is the extremists' interpretation of the religion that makes it so. This is so important to remember these days, and so easy to forget, despite the fact that the same could be said of any religion.

The author also does an excellent job of giving a concise but clear overview of 20th century Iranian history. For someone too young to have paid attention to world events at the time of the Iranian revolution, this was especially helpful. The book takes the reader through 2003 and I am curious to find out more of what has happened to the author since then.

Challenges: 999 ("Dewey Decimal"); Dewey Decimal; Support Your Local Library; World Citizen