My Life as a Traitor: An Iranian Memoir Paperback – 6 January 2009
by Zarah Ghahramani (Author), Robert Hillman
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (30)
At the age of twenty, Zarah Ghahramani was swept off the streets of Tehran and taken to the notorious Evin prison, where criminals and political dissidents were held side by side in conditions of legendary brutality. In this richly textured memoir, she tells the terrifying, inspiring story of her time in prison. My Life as a Traitor celebrates a triumph of the individual over the state and is an affecting addition to the literature of struggle and dissent.
Print length
256 pages
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Review
"[Ghahramani] records, in harrowing detail, the dire consequences of indulging her defiant 'pink-shoe sensibility..." Ghahramani writes in a spare, eloquent prose style that reflects both her child's view of the world before arriving at Evin and the pared-down perceptions of her prison experience." --The New York Times
"In Ghahramani's graceful, chilling memoir, her naiveté gives way to fearless insights about her country and herself. Questioning the status quo made her a traitor to a fundamentalist regime, but in this searingly honest, brave book, she's nothing short of heroic." --People
"[Ghahramani] recounts her beatings with dignified anger in this vivid, sometimes horrifying memoir... Her strength: she doesn't let outrage overtake the striking feminine vitality of her storytelling." --Entertainment Weekly
"Chilling... Riveting... Like the best-selling graphic novel series Persepolis, My Life as a Traitor is compelling for its seemingly unvarnished glimpse at the experiences of an ordinary young woman in post-1979 Iran.... The memoir illuminates truths about inflexible and dictatorial regimes." --San Francisco Chronicle
"Married and now living in Australia, Ghahramani has had time to reflect. In this memoir, she does so, evoking both the beauty of her culture and the horror of its regime." --New York Daily News
"We think something like that could never happen to us. But it happened to Zarah Ghahramani just a few years ago in Iran." --Philadelphia Inquirer
"Graphic and powerful as her treatment of torturous imprisonment is, Ghahramani retains an irrepressible lightness... Her straightforward style, elegant in its simplicity, has resonance and appeal beyond a mere record." --Publishers Weekly
"Ghahramani's shockingly honest recollections grimly complement Marina Nemat's account of her ordeal at Evin in the early 1980s... reminding us of how little has changed for women in Iran." --Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Zarah Ghahramani was born in Tehran in 1981. After her release from prison, she moved to Australia. My Life as a Traitor is her first book.
Robert Hillman is a journalist and novelist who has traveled widely in the Middle East.
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My Life as a Traitor: An Iranian Memoir
My Life as a Traitor: An Iranian Memoir
Product details
Publisher : Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication date : 6 January 2009
Language : English
Print length : 256 pages
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From other countries
B. Tupper
5.0 out of 5 stars Two worlds in conflict
Reviewed in the United States on 9 October 2008
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This book is an overwhelmingly sensitive personal insight into the conflict between tyranny and freedom. It deals directly with the inherent tension between the impulse to personal liberty and the drive to control. While dealing primarily with the unspeakable acts of a tyrannical regime, it also shows that tyranny does not require government, but it can exist wherever one person tries to force control on the thoughts and actions of others, even within one's own family. One is reminded of the vicious outbursts on the Huffington Post and MoveOn.org against anyone who disagrees politically. There is little distinction in basic motivation between those in the US government who want to impose the "Fairness Doctrine" on radio talk show hosts in order to shut down opposing opinions and the torture chambers in the Evin Prison under the Ayatollahs. The only difference is in the methods chosen to achieve the desired effect.
Zarah's story should remind us how tenuous is our hold on freedom and liberty. It has been said that a free society is always just one generation away from tyranny. The zealotry of Zarah's cousin shows how deadly ideology can become when it tramples on the rights of others.
This is a beautifully written book. Although it is plain that Zarah had some help with the English language, the spirit of the book is just as obviously entirely her own. With all of its inherent terror, it is also deeply optimistic in that it portrays how the spirit of ancient Persia remains vital and provides a well of resistance that no violence by the Mullahs can ever completely extinguish. This must become essential reading for all people everywhere who cherish freedom and personal responsibility.
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S. L. Parker
4.0 out of 5 stars Hard to Believe............
Reviewed in the United States on 7 November 2008
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that there are still places in the world where such atrocities still exist against women and those who speak out for their freedoms. Zarah Ghahramani gives us a glimpse at her life as a 20 year old college student who wants to learn more about the world and new ideas that don't exist in the one she's living in which ultimately lands her in the infamous Evin Prison in Iran where she is tortured daily.
This should be required reading for all that take the freedoms that we have in the good old U.S.A. for granted. My only fault with this book was the ending. I wanted to know more of the family reaction after she was released, how she managed to get out of Iran and how her new life is progressing.
Highly recommended!
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DazzlingPepper
5.0 out of 5 stars A young woman's life before and during her confinement at Evin Prison.
Reviewed in the United States on 19 February 2011
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
What a beautiful, moving and emotional memoir! Ms. Ghahramani writes in detail about her days spent at Evin Prison. She shares with her readers her honest thoughts and feelings - she holds nothing back. How wonderfully Ms. Ghahramani intertwined her chapters - those about her horrifying days as a prisoner with those about her childhood and even some history of Iran.
Well written, interesting and a page-turner. After holding my breath throughout the book, I finally let my emotions go at the very end and cried uncontrollably.
I would love to find out more about what Ms. Ghahramani's life was like after she went home - about her healing process and when/how did she leave Iran.
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Mel
5.0 out of 5 stars Love love love this book
Reviewed in the United States on 17 February 2012
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Heard about this book from NPR and do not regret buying it. I liked that it was not slow to start as some books can be. I'm not a frequent reader and this book kept my interest throughout and made me want to pick it up every night to read a few more chapters until it was finished :)
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Jamie Lohmeyer
5.0 out of 5 stars A really great read, tying in a period of physical torture ...
Reviewed in the United States on 2 December 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
A really great read, tying in a period of physical torture to her life which led her to be imprisoned by the Iranian regime. It really humanizes the plight of the Iraniian people.
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Digna Cassens
5.0 out of 5 stars my life as a traitor
Reviewed in the United States on 21 May 2008
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This is an excellent, touching and mesmerizing story of courage and suffering. Ghahramani reveals her innemorst feelings throughout in a disarming way. Well written and interesting from the first to the last page. Brutality and torture are described vividly, yet not in a crude or brutal way. A good read and a must for everyone.
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K
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow... what an amazing story
Reviewed in the United States on 19 February 2018
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This book gives perspective to how lucky we have it here in the US.
I’m wondering if Zarah is WonderWoman...
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Howier
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Voice and Style
Reviewed in the United States on 8 September 2012
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
My Life As A Traitor is told in a great voice-- engaging, insightful, and even entertaining in spite of the horrific details of imprisonment and torture. The author comes across as extremely sympathetic and intelligent.
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Sarah
1.0 out of 5 stars One Star
Reviewed in the United States on 19 July 2016
Format: Audio CDVerified Purchase
Missing disc number 7!!!!!
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Sandra Hudson
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on 20 July 2015
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Professional and quick.
Thanks.
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Beatrice Sarver
5.0 out of 5 stars My life as a Traitor
Reviewed in the United States on 2 March 2008
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I could not put this down. I finished in a day and can't wait to pass this one to a friend. The human spirt is stronger than we can imagine.
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