Between Two Worlds: My Life and Captivity in Iran

by Roxana Saberi

On the morning of January 31, 2009, Roxana Saberi, an Iranian-American journalist working in Iran, was forced from her home by four men and secretly detained in Iran's notorious Evin Prison. The intelligence agents who captured her accused her of espionage—a charge she denied. For several days, Saberi was held in solitary confinement, ruthlessly interrogated, and cut off from the outside world. For weeks, neither her family nor her friends knew her whereabouts.

After a sham trial that made headlines around the world, the thirty-one-year-old reporter was sentenced to eight years in prison. But following international pressure by family, friends, colleagues, various governments, and total strangers, she was released on appeal on May 11, 2009. Now Saberi breaks her silence to share the full account of her ordeal, describing in vivid detail the methods that Iranian hard-liners are using to try to intimidate and control many of the country's people.

In this gripping and inspirational true story, Saberi writes movingly of her imprisonment, her trial, her eventual release, and the faith that helped her through it all. Her recollections are interwoven with insights into Iranian society, the Islamic regime, and U.S.-Iran relations, as well as stories of her fellow prisoners—many of whom were jailed for their pursuit of human rights, including freedom of speech, association, and religion. Saberi gains strength and wisdom from her cellmates who support her throughout a grueling hunger strike and remind her of the humanity that remains, even when they are denied the most basic rights.

Between Two Worlds is also a deeply revealing account of this tumultuous country and the ongoing struggle for freedom that is being fought inside Evin Prison and on the streets of Iran. From her heartfelt perspective, Saberi offers a rich, dramatic, and illuminating portrait of Iran as it undergoes a striking, historic transformation.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Iran, Biography, Middle East, Politics, Biography Memoir

336 pages, Hardcover

First published April 15, 2010

About the author

Roxana Saberi moved to Iran in 2003 to work as the Iran correspondent for the U.S.-based Feature Story News. She filed reports for organizations such as NPR, BBC, ABC Radio and Fox News and was working on a book about Iranian society when she was arrested on January 31, 2009. Saberi was later sentenced to eight years in prison on a trumped-up charge of espionage. In May 2009, an Iranian court overturned the sentence, and she was released.

Since her release, Saberi has joined others in bringing attention to the situation of human rights in Iran. Saberi has spoken at several human rights events; written articles published in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and Chicago Tribune; and been interviewed on news programs of organizations such as FOX News, ABC, NBC, CBS, BBC, CNN, PRI, NPR, and C-SPAN, as well as shows such as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Saberi has received the Medill Medal of Courage, the Ilaria Alpi Freedom of the Press Award, the NCAA Award of Valor, a POMED (Project for Middle East Democracy) Award, and an East-West Freedom Award from the Levantine Cultural Center. She was named one of Jaycees’ 2011 Ten Outstanding Young Americans and was honored by the Japanese American Citizens League as an “Outstanding Woman.” In September 2011, she was chosen as a “commended” artist for the Freedom to Create Main Prize.

Saberi’s book, Between Two Worlds: My Life and Captivity in Iran, was published by HarperCollins in March 2010. Saberi was also a co-writer of No One Knows About Persian Cats, a film-documentary about underground music in Iran.

Saberi grew up in Fargo, North Dakota, the daughter of Reza Saberi, who was born in Iran, and Akiko Saberi, who is from Japan. She was chosen Miss North Dakota in 1997 and was among the top ten finalists in Miss America 1998. She graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, with degrees in communications and French.

Saberi holds her first master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and her second master’s degree in international relations from the University of Cambridge.

Reviews

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"'Roxana,’ Bahman said gravely but quietly, ‘I know what this regime is like. If you fight it, you can’t win. These people are dangerous and have no pity for people like you. If you don’t do what they say, they will keep you in prison for years, and who knows what will happen to you then. If they want, they could hurt or even kill you.’"



I remember picking this book off the non-fiction new release shelf of my public library in 2010 and thinking about how brave I was. I’d just started reading non-fiction, and I hadn’t even made it to memoirs. I’d mainly dabbled in true crime narratives, which was as close to keeping with my weekly diet of forensic and coroner programs. Saberi’s beautiful face called to me. I’ve always had an interest in Middle Eastern culture, especially that of Iran and its ancient roots going back to Cyrus. Unfortunately, I didn’t get past page 90 before I had to return the book and later forgot about her–that is until two years ago when I found a copy of her book in new condition. Score! Now I've finally finished it!

Saberi, of both Japanese and Iranian heritage, accepts a job as a journalist in Tehran for an American reporting group. Raised in Fargo, North Dakota, Roxana jumps at the opportunity to learn more about her Iranian roots and culture. Knowing minimal Farsi and next to nothing about the culture/regime, she is soon adopted into the city, and falls in love with its people, by extension her people. While there, she decides to write a book about Iran that will give outsiders a true view of life there from various points of view. She interviews hundreds of individuals from all parts of the country, and from all walks of life. After six years and with her book nearly complete, Roxana is set to return home to the United States, work on getting her book published, and decide what direction her life will next take. What she isn’t prepared for is sudden detainment, interrogation, and imprisonment at Evin prison under trumped-up charges of espionage just months before her departure.

One of my favorite summer reads last year was Maziar Bahari’s Then They Came for Me, about his imprisonment at Evin prison following his journalistic reporting about the 2009 campaign elections. This one was equally wonderful in that it was told from a female journalist’s perspective. Unlike Bahari, Saberi was not kept in solitary confinement for her whole stay, and as a result, her accounts about the various female cellmates warmed and broke my heart. All of these women were courageous, and I found this book to be uplifting. I experienced similar feelings to Saberi upon her release by proxy, having met each of these women:

"My tears were of both joy and sorrow: joy at my freedom but sorrow for the prisoners of conscience I was leaving behind, who were being punished simply because of their peaceful pursuit of basic human rights or for their beliefs."

[Negin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this 2.5 stars, but am rounding up to 3 Stars - since I'm feeling generous.

As someone born in Iran and especially as a Baha’i, I was looking forward to reading this book. I knew the basics of the story. Roxana Saberi, an American journalist, the daughter of an Iranian father and a Japanese mother, moved to Iran in 2003. She worked as a journalist until her press credentials were revoked. She continued to remain in Iran, while working on a book about Iranian society, which has yet to be published. In 2009, she was arrested on charges of espionage, and was released a few months later.

While in prison, her cell mates for some time were two Baha’is. That’s the part that interested me the most. One remembers to not only appreciate the freedom that we all have, but I also felt inspired by their strength and fortitude, not just the Baha’is, but also other fellow prisoners.

This book could have been written in a more compelling style. There was an overall sense of detachment and blandness. Pictures would have helped. There were parts that were just irritating me for some reason. Maybe it was all the back and forth about whether she should tell the truth or not. It got quite repetitive. The afterword was interesting.

All in all, there are some things about this book that don’t sit right with me. I believe that any non-Iranian, who chooses to live in Iran, never mind visit, can’t be too right in the head. With an Iranian father who has obviously preferred living in North Dakota, and being fully aware of the instability there, she was stupid and naïve. Who does that? Who in their right mind goes to Iran, then after having one’s press credentials confiscated, chooses to still remain? I mean, come on! If I was willingly living in a society like that, then had my press credentials taken away, I’d be on the first flight out. Something wasn’t right. She could have worked anywhere. I have little compassion for any non-Iranian who willingly goes to Iran, just as I have little compassion for those who are stupid enough to go to North Korea and other risky locations. I had similar feelings when I read A House in the Sky a few years ago, although that was far worse than this. Why visit and remain in a country that lacks human rights, has no clear legal system, and imprisons people for the most arbitrary reasons? Not only do I think that it’s naïve and stupid, but I also get frustrated by people like this, who put their families and loved ones through unnecessary hardship and worry. I think that it’s selfish and irresponsible.

My favorite quote:
“I envied her for her faith, which had kept her strong and helped her resist the same pressures I had surrendered to … This woman, I realized, loved God so much that she feared disappointing Him more than she feared death.”

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't put this one down, like many of the other reviewers. I remember seeing the video footage of Saberi as she was being held, and it was really interesting to see the other side of the story. I think probably the two most striking things about her story have to do with the other prisoners, and the irrationality and paranoia of the Iranian government. When we learn about the recent history of Iran through Saberi, the thing that stands out is how forcefully the government comes down on differences, or anything that could become a threat to the regime, no matter how innocent. In this way, Iran has been ruining itself. Well, its current government has been ruining it. The people themselves just seem to be trying to get through it. The question is, how long will it be before the madness ends? I hope not long. These are a sensitive people who have been kept down far too long.

It's a miracle Saberi, or anybody else, really made it out of Evin, the prison where she was held. I guess if there's one thing that this book is missing, it's more of a picture of why Saberi loves Iran -- the culture, the way it looks, and the way it feels to her. That would give us more of a context for it all. Still, a totally gripping book, and one that will make you shake your head for lots of different reasons as you read along.

[Tova · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was a tough book, I adored it on so many levels but it deals with a lot of difficult topics. It is incredibly painful to see how many people are denied freedom and basic human rights. I'm glad I read this and I look forward to reading more Middle Eastern Non-Fiction. This book almost made me cry three times. Roxana has so much courage and I am so happy that she was able to tell her story.

Review can be viewed
here!

[Serge Neck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember when Roxana Saberi was in the news. She was an Iranian-American reporter who had been detained by Iranian authorities, and the U.S. State Department was pulling diplomatic strings to negotiate her release. For many people watching the news, this was just another story of a reporter who had somehow run afoul of the Iranian government's inscrutable laws, and who would, after a few scary moments, be reunited with her family. I knew better. But I did not know nearly enough.

I had heard that Ms. Saberi was being held in the notorious Evin prison, a prison known for its torture and its unusually high "accidental" death rate. I knew something of Evin because, as a member of the Bahá'í Faith, I was aware that a growing number of my Iranian coreligionists were being jailed in Evin for no other reason than that they were Bahá'ís. Some had received prison sentences as long as 20 years. I had heard of the appalling conditions in that prison and the brutal interrogation techniques, sometimes involving torture, that were used to induce prisoners to recant their faith or make false confessions. I had heard how 4 or 5 prisoners were forced to share a cell no larger than a walk-in closet, with nothing but a thin blanket separating them from the cold and filthy concrete floor. But notwithstanding all of those stories, it was not until I read Ms. Saberi's first-hand account of her ordeal in that prison that I started to catch a glimpse of the true horrors my spiritual brothers and sisters are experiencing, and the mortal danger to which they are daily exposed. Although Ms. Saberi is not a Bahá'í, she shared a cell with two Bahá'í women for a time and was subject to similar treatment.

Ms. Saberi tells her story with a realism and attention to detail that transports the reader directly into the interrogation room with her menacing captors, into the dank cell in which she is kept in solitary confinement, into the surreal "court room" with a cantankerous judge who had already decided her fate before she walked in. But what struck me most about this book is Ms. Saberi's courage. She showed remarkable courage while imprisoned with no plausible hope of release, but writing about her experience in the first person and exposing her darkest moments and deepest fears to the world was no less courageous an act. Her story manages to be both honest and visceral.

Reading this book will open your eyes to the incestuous relationship between an Iranian intelligence community that has slipped into a paranoid delirium and a judicial system that is so broken it has abandoned all pretense of justice. Add to that the harsh realities of Evin prison, and what emerges is the epitome of the Kafkaesque nightmare, a nightmare from which, for a growing number of prisoners of conscience, there seems to be no waking up.

I highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to gain a better understanding of the level of perversity to which the current Iranian regime has sunk, and the countless innocent victims it has caught in its snare. The book itself is masterfully written and a fast and captivating read.

[Jaylia3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

After six years of living in Iran, the country of her father, while doing interviews and research for a book she planned to write Roxana Saberi was roused from sleep and hauled out of her apartment for hours and then days of unrelenting hostile questioning in January 2009. Charged with espionage, she spent more than 100 days in the notorious Evin prison, sometimes in solitary confinement and never with more than a blanket on the floor for a bed.

Her interrogators pressured her to make false confessions, threatening her by saying she would never be freed and could be executed if she didn't "cooperate". After a while she decided to try going along with them, but the more she lied in an effort to placate them enough to secure her release the more they demanded. Roxana was deeply ashamed of the lies and worried about damage they might cause but in the most affecting part of the book she is able to regain feeling of control and self-respect after being inspired by the example of fellow prisoners--women who were locked up for their religious or political beliefs--to change her strategy and tell only the truth even in the most threatening circumstances. A hard to put down story

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was something about this book that was hard to read. The story was interesting - an American writer in Iran getting arrested and accused of being a spy for the US government. Between Two Worlds covers Miss Saberi's time in captivity as she is interrogated.

Even though the story was interesting, I found I had to force myself to finish the book. The narrator seems distanced from the events themselves which makes me feel distant from her story. The events are told in past tense and are constantly interrupted by long explanations of Iran's culture, policies, or political history. These explanations yanked me out of the story as I struggled to understand Iranian politics.

Most of the reviews are glowing but I felt the book was flat and I could not get emotionally involved. That was disappointing, as Miss Saberi had a great story to tell.

[Olga Kowalska (WielkiBuk) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Albert Camus once said: to be free means not to lie. Be truthful to yourself, to your beliefs and convictions. However, sometimes a long journey to freedom begins with a lie - to protect oneself, to protect one's family. Just as Roxana Saberi did. And she fought through injustice to liberation.
An amazing book about one woman's determination, her fight with terror and the story of truth.

[Camber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fascinating on several accounts. First, the techniques used by Saberi's captors to intimidate and coerce her are frightening and telling. Near the end, she begins to see through their techniques and realizes that they are really all about power. I also found it interesting that the regime is so obsessed with maintaining their absolute power, and justifying their hatred toward America, that they will incarcerate people they know are innocent and force false confessions out of them.

Secondly, the other people that Saberi met in prison are absolutely remarkable. At one point, they ask her to tell the world that not everyone in Iran is about nuclear power--that there are good and religious people there, many trying courageously to resist the current regime. Saberi gains a lot of strength from these women, and feels ashamed that while so many of them stayed strong and resisted their captors' attempts to force them to lie, she gave in after only a few days and lied like they told her to. But because of this, she later decides to recant her false confession and eventually goes on a two-week hunger strike. It is a wonderful lesson on fear, and Saberi, once paralyzed by her fear, learns to hold it back and refuses to fear what her captors will do to her. In so doing, she finds God even as things seem to get worse.

This book was captivating and very informative about Iran. I recommend reading a wikipedia article about Iran before reading the book--there are a lot of references to previous Iranian leaders, the Iran-Iraq war, and the Islamic revolution in the book.

The writing isn't amazing quality, but reads more like a journal. In a sense, that's what the book is--a journal of her captivity.

[Marek · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's easy to criticize your own country and the way it's run when that's all you know. This story of Roxana Saberi's experiences in Iran sure made me grateful I live where I do and enjoy the freedoms I do.

Miss Saberi is an American citizen and she was born here in the United States to an Iranian father and Japanese mother. As an adult, she finds herself in Iran as a journalist. She lives there for six years and comes to love the people and the culture. But because of the hardliners who run the regime, she loses her press pass and is forced to find another way to make her living. She begins researching for a book about Iran, something that will give readers a more complete picture of Iran and the people who live there, to help educate people and undo their biases. As a result, she interviews and researches over 60 people. She's always felt safe doing this, as gov't officials have never approached her before to instruct her to do any differently.

Until early one morning some plainclothesman enter her apartment and take her into custody for "spying on Iran." It turns out, Iranian officials have been monitoring her for months, if not years. So begins Roxana's experience in Evin, a prison just outside of Tehran.

This book his eye opening and it brings to light the unethical ways the regime keeps people incarcerated for months and even years simply because they feel their hard line Islamic ideologies are in jeopardy. These people simply want a more peaceful and tolerant country in which to live, but because of the few radicals who run the country, they are punished.

Roxana's story is disturbing, unsettling and perspective changing.

[lisa_emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book earlier this year. I found it riveting and I'm glad I read it. I've been very curious of different views of Iran- a country that has an important affect on world politics (not always for the better). What I enjoyed about this book is Roxana's humanity. She does not write a tome of her heroism, but instead she is not afraid to show her vulnerabilies and her fears. She also shows the absurdities of her captors- but more interestingly, she focuses on her fellow prisoners. This is the highlight of the book- the stories of these other women prisoners. I should go back to this book to bring forth the details of their stories. I was touched and impressed by the clear thinking and strenghth of these other women. And Roxana gives credence to how she was inspired by their strength. She is witness and gives a voice to these people we would never have a chance to know.

[Anisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roxana's ability to recreate emotions and situations was very strong. There were many moments that brought me to tears (of joy and sadness) because I could relate with how she was feeling in the moment.
I was so happy she spoke of the two Bahá'í women who she was in prison with. Her description of how positive they were and how accustomed they have become was very encouraging. These women are STILL imprisoned (for 7 years) even though Roxana is out. I thank Roxana for telling their story and raising awareness about the persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran.
Her story is one of great emotional and psychological suffering one should never have to endure. She exhibited great strength during her captivity. Throughout the book, she was able to tell her story while still reaching her goal of sharing with others the current state of society in Iran.

[Annalise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating look at an Iranian-American journalist's time spent in prison in Iran during 2009. She tells her story well; when I had to put the book down I couldn't wait to get back to it to see what would happen to her next, even though I knew she was eventually freed. I also liked her depictions of her various cellmates. It was very interesting to see this side of the Iranian regime. It can't help but make you appreciate America and the freedoms we enjoy (and take for granted)!

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much that I ended up reading it twice within a short period of time. Roxana Saberi's inheritance of her father's writing skills coupled with her extensive education in journalism and linguistics, make her a natural writer at heart. Although over 300 pages, 'Between Two Worlds' is a very quick read simply due to being one of those rare books that's very hard to put down, especially if one is somewhat familiar with the details of the writer's arrest and captivity. Also, the book will certainly appeal to her numerous international fans and those who admire Saberi's unwavering humanitarian work. Roxana's embracement of her Iranian roots and her resulting confidence in herself as a true American are quite refreshing when compared to other first-generation US children of foreign-born parents, many of whom choose to dishearteningly suppress and hide their background. Saberi's book skillfully navigates the reader through the physical, emotional and spiritual trials that she faced as a result of her unjust captivity in Iran. She also shines an honest light on the struggles of her brave cellmates that do not have the fortune of being a US citizen nor benefit from international attention toward their cases. While fully claiming her Iranian heritage, she never caused me any doubt regarding her complete allegiance to her county of birth, the United States.

Roxana takes you through all the stages of fear, self doubt, regret and ultimate redemption with the humble honesty of a person who's had an epiphany as a result of the ordeal she lived through, and proudly ended up with a lifelong conviction to be a free voice for the politically oppressed. The book was a magnificent read, having been written with the expertise of a trained writer as opposed to a journalist. Throughout the stages of her captivity, her reliance and faith in God almighty, as opposed to a singular religion is heartwarming and quite uplifting. The only thing that left me wishing for more was that as a reader, it felt natural to seek some closure regarding some of the subjects that were left open-ended, such as her post-release emotional condition, the challenges she faced during her re-integration into the west (subsequent to living in Iran for six years) and the fate of her relationship with her boyfriend (while a very popular search on Google, oddly no information is available on this topic). I felt that since the book was published nearly a year after her release, there was sufficient time to conclude that these were obvious topics of interest to her followers.

Overall, I consider 'Between Two Worlds' to be an excellent book and I keep recommending it to family and friends, eagerly doing so since this book is not only a testament to the triumph of the human spirit over adversity, but also a homage to the plight of the Iranian people today, whose rich culture, proud history and political situation are also touched-upon in this great work by Ms. Saberi, without losing focus of the story. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to new works from this author, including her original book on Iran's people, which happens to be the project she was working on prior to her arrest in 2009...

[Mr. Olvera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many have read 1984, more still know the premise, and most have at least heard of it. That said, what we might do if we were in the position of Winston Smith - the protagonist of 1984 - is not a situation that anyone in a right state of mind would submit themselves to. Now this is not to say that Roxana Saberi, who had entered Iran in her mid-20s as a journalist, did. She was, however, a sufferer of much of the same mental agony as anyone who is devoured by governments that do not value individuals as they should.

So what to say? The story starts quickly enough with Roxana going through her final days of freedom with increasing paranoia and terror until that moment when she is finally arrested in her own home.

From there, she is taken to the political prison, Evin, which is the dreaded (sometimes final) destination for many political prisoners. It is at this point that we, as readers, suffer through the terror of trying to argue with the unreasoning and (eventually) trying desperately to do or say anything to end the nightmare. As you might have guessed, like Winston - and this is the last comparison I'll make - her will breaks.

Now what makes this book so interesting for myself and, arguably, for anyone is the points that one can draw from this book. In end, Roxana works to redeem herself and, despite having already crumbled under the terror looming over her, she makes the best effort she can to stand for the principles she valued. Moreover, she learns to draw from the strength of those around her and accept confidences from those that she can while also attempting to repay kindness as best she can is a place where its hard to even dream.

[Isis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy read, in simple, straightforward language and with a mostly linear structure which I appreciate after having read too many memoirs with ponderous flashbacks. Saberi seems very honest and real, if a bit naive and even selfish at first.

Early in the book she "confesses" to made-up charges that her interrogators pressure her into, which made me dislike her more than a little. I mean, come on, Roxana, you've been in prison for what, a week? Don't you have any backbone? But then she discovers her backbone (and regained my respect) through interactions with other women prisoners, and through her meditations on God and the Koran, and her own self-examination and realization that she would rather die in prison an honest woman than implicate friends with invented stories. It is her growth as a human being in the prison, not just the account of the horror of being arrested and detained on the whims of a theocratic, xenophobic, gynophobic society, that makes this worth reading.

[James Kittredge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a breezy ready (I finished it in a day), but that doesn't mean it is without quality or substance. On the contrary, Ms. Saberi's book is an excellent example of personal, long form journalism. She details her experiences at the hands of her captors with humility, honesty, and, as far as I can tell, a lack of varnish. Additionally, she provides valuable insight into the socio-political climate of modern day Iran. This is the kind of information to which more Americans should be exposed, but are not. All in all, i found this to be a worthwhile read.

[Haru · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to succeed in life, this book is for you. As long as you are human beings, you run into some difficulties in life whether they are life-threatening or a bit challenging for you. Roxana knows how to be courageous enough to survive any life-threatening incidents. Even if you are dealing with your business, big projects, school assignments, relationship, you need to have courage. Without it, your knowledge won’t help at all. The book is about what's happening in the world, especially in Iran. That is also true. But it contains more than that.

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was just alright... It's an informative book, but I thought it was a little bland. Not that I wished she had been, but she wasn't physically abused in the jail, and she really wasn't in there for very long. I don't mean to sound insensitive, and maybe it's cause the last book I read was Unbroken (unbelievable true story!!), but this story was a little boring. Also, she never says what happened with her and her boyfriend/fiance after her release. Follow up could have been better, and pictures would have helped.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a story! She went from being Miss North Dakota and a top ten finalist in the Miss America project to being a journalist in Iran and then finally a prisoner in Iran. This book is the story of her captivity and it captures the reader from the first. I enjoyed meeting her in person and hearing her speak about her life in Iran as well as reading the book! I recommend it to those who might be interested. (2010)

[Ara Stepanian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, I was following Roxana's situation day by day, and always thought to what is behind the scenes of this story, and when I read this book, I could feel every moment of her life in prison, I can understand what she said completely, I am from Iran, and know how they treat their prisoners. I recommend this book to our fellows who like to know about other cultures and countries.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend this book to my goodreads friends, eagerly doing so since this book is not only a testament to the triumph of the human spirit over adversity, but also a homage to the plight of the Iranian people today, whose rich culture, proud history and political situation are also touched-upon in this great work by Roxana Saberi without losing focus of the story.

[Carolinia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book I have picked up and put down often. It is an enlightening and heartening read - well written. The subject, however, is not light and tends to rile me up as I read. Not a book for before bed or for a lazy day. Highly recommended for discussion and cultural, political information.

[Flo Borgia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Il racconto di una giornalista arrestata e detenuta in Iran per 'spionaggio' dice tanto sulla situazione politica del paese.
Roxana Saberi viene arrestata per la sua attività di giornalista o forse per i suoi contatti con esponenti che vengono ritenuti una minaccia dal regime. Ma quello che è più assurdo è che anche le intenzioni più sincere vengono interpretate a suo sfavore.
Roxana deve fare i conti con la sua coscienza, deve scegliere tra la verità e la libertà: la confessione falsa che vogliono i suoi accusatori (che coinvolge persone innocenti) o la verità che la condannerà al carcere?
Accanto a lei, le altre detenute per motivi politici diventano una fonte di ispirazione e forza, perché ognuna di loro ama il suo paese e pensa di dover lottare per cambiarlo, per renderlo migliore.
La vicenda è interessante, in particolare per chi conosce poco la realtà iraniana, e non si rende pienamente conto di quanto le storie come quelle di Roxana Saberi siano comuni. Ed è intessante anche il lato umano che si rivela, la forza, la fede che caratterizza sia Roxana che le altre donne, una fede limpida che niente ha a che fare con i precetti rigidi imposti ma che parla di perdono e comprensione.
È tutto assurdo quello che le succede, le accuse, gli interrogatori, le minacce, ma allo stesso tempo sai che è vero, mentre la politica oscura la giustizia, mentre anche gli stessi funzionari che la interrogano sembrano avere scopi diversi.
Per quanto ritenga che vada letto per conoscere e capire, non è una lettura facile, non tanto per i contenuti, che me li aspettavo, ma per qualche ragione non riesce ad arrivare davvero alle emozioni e a far arrabbiare. È un po' asettico, distante e poco chiaro nel far capire quanto le procedure legali che vengono seguite siano quelle previste dalla legge iraniana o no.

[Susie Chocolate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had wanted to read this book since I was very familiar with the author and her reporting. Ms. Saberi was a regular contributor on NPR Radio and I remember last year, when it was reported that she had been taken into Tehran's infamous "Evin Prison". Having grown up in Tehran, I am very familiar with the macabre, high walls of that prison and since I was a child, we always knew that dark practices lay within, either during the reign of Reza Shah Pahlavi and his secret service (SAVAK) or after the Revolution with the Revolutionary guards.

I misread the title thinking that the author was going to talk a little bit about her life, previous to being taken prisoner and then about her captivity. The entire 300 pages is dedicated to a step by step detailed account of her days in prison which makes for a bit of a dry read. I had read a previous book about a woman's stay in Evin prison, but this one does indeed lay out in great detail, the lack of rights a prisoner is given. It is apparent that Ms. Saberi has great respect for the Iranian people, their customs and warmth and she draws a very vivid picture of her other prisoners and the endless kindness and generosity they showed her.

This kind of novel, of course, for me, an Iranian-American is difficult to read since it paints a clear picture of the scare tactics this oppressive regime uses and I fear most Westerners will read this book and take this as the way the Iranian people operate. What must be kept in mind whilst reading this book is this is how the current Islamic Republic of Iran's government operates and not the Iranian people, who (of course I am totally biased :) are among the warmest and kindest people I have ever encountered.

[Tess Mertens-Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe because I just finished "Unbroken", I found this memoir a bit vanilla.
Roxana is an Iranian /Asian woman who was living in Iran writing a book about the country. She was interviewing people of various walks of life, when she is arrested and accused by one of her interviewees that she was a spy for the US.
This book is her journal of her captivity and release from prison. The US get s involved, she staged a hunger strike, and her parents come from South Dakota to help.
She is released, and along the way she meets a variety of women from various walks of life who are imprisoned for their beliefs or for bogus reason such as hers.
I didn't feel much a of connection between Roxanna and her fellow prisoners.
It was OK, seemed more suspenseful from our side watching the US dignitaries trying to get her released.

[Mai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book over two nights. I couldn't put it down. Saberi does a great job of explaining the cultural, political and religious aspects of Iran in the context of her captivity. It also gave me a new appreciation for the freedoms and rights we have in the United States.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating account of journalist Roxanda Saberi's 100 days in Iranian prison. Written without bitterness or recrimination, Saberi shows a love for the Iranian people and country of Iran while calling out it's corrupt leadership.

[leigh booth · Rating 2 out of 5]

very good so far,,,,,finished this book a while ago,,,,, it was ok, started out good then got not boring but just a little too long,,,?

[Beth Pratt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, but in a way it was hard to read. Not that the writing wasn't good, but just the fatigue induced by ongoing outrage at the injustice of it all.