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deschatjes's review against another edition
5.0
Fabulous story - particular its' treatment of how strong women are suppressed and silenced. It may seem of a time and place of the past but it is just one variation of how many societies silence the voice of women. The audiobook is well read.
lovelykd's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't know anything about Forugh Farrokhzhad before reading [b:Song of a Captive Bird|35574989|Song of a Captive Bird|Jasmin Darznik|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1517225907s/35574989.jpg|53678825], but felt compelled to learn more about her after reading this beautifully written story by Jasmin Darznik.
Forugh is a woman living in Tehran during a time when a woman's value is judged by her maternal and matrimonial performance. Women are not valued for their thoughts, or actions, outside the home,and any movement they make towards progressiveness is shunned or severely punished.
It is within this climate of patriarchy Forugh's journey out of captivity begins.
She goes against what is acceptable, and fights for her independence (spiritually, creatively, emotionally, and physically) because she believes it is not she who is wrong, but the world around her that is failing to acknowledge its own closed-mindedness.
The tale Darznik weaves leads feels lovingly crafted and you can't help but adore the care and empathy with which she writes about this early pioneer of feminism.
This is a marvelous story, with a bittersweet end.
Forugh is a woman living in Tehran during a time when a woman's value is judged by her maternal and matrimonial performance. Women are not valued for their thoughts, or actions, outside the home,and any movement they make towards progressiveness is shunned or severely punished.
It is within this climate of patriarchy Forugh's journey out of captivity begins.
She goes against what is acceptable, and fights for her independence (spiritually, creatively, emotionally, and physically) because she believes it is not she who is wrong, but the world around her that is failing to acknowledge its own closed-mindedness.
The tale Darznik weaves leads feels lovingly crafted and you can't help but adore the care and empathy with which she writes about this early pioneer of feminism.
This is a marvelous story, with a bittersweet end.
readingwithathena's review against another edition
4.0
4.25/5
When I first started reading Song of a Captive Bird last year, I disliked it. Not in a simple, more realistic "I'm not in the mood for this right now," kind of way, rather with an intense, bought at full price, Goodreads I trusted you kind of way. It was unfair, to say the least. Luckily for me, that "bought at full price" thing encouraged me to keep it on my shelves until I was in the mood for it.
The driving force of this novel is famed Iranian Poet Farough Farrokhzad's poetry and her pursuit of freedom. Her entire life is laid out for the reader to observe, nothing is spared. It was this extraordinary attention to detail that originally turned me off the book. Why was it necessary to know the classical layout of a traditional Persian garden? But the more I read, the more I understood that those details explain the world that created, rejected, and ultimately killed Farough.
Farough's story isn't simple. Jasmin Darznik weaves a tale so complex, you can't write Farough off as a tragic figure born in the wrong time, nor a devilish fiend intent on turning the world on its ear. She is written as a real person, with real passions and mistakes, sadness and sin. My greatest remaining complaint is that after such a detailed story, the last decade of her life feels rushed. Though the book is nearly 400 pages, I wouldn't have been peeved if it went over. Still, I can't fault it too terribly. A book I once ranted to my sister about left me in tears when it was over.
When I first started reading Song of a Captive Bird last year, I disliked it. Not in a simple, more realistic "I'm not in the mood for this right now," kind of way, rather with an intense, bought at full price, Goodreads I trusted you kind of way. It was unfair, to say the least. Luckily for me, that "bought at full price" thing encouraged me to keep it on my shelves until I was in the mood for it.
The driving force of this novel is famed Iranian Poet Farough Farrokhzad's poetry and her pursuit of freedom. Her entire life is laid out for the reader to observe, nothing is spared. It was this extraordinary attention to detail that originally turned me off the book. Why was it necessary to know the classical layout of a traditional Persian garden? But the more I read, the more I understood that those details explain the world that created, rejected, and ultimately killed Farough.
Farough's story isn't simple. Jasmin Darznik weaves a tale so complex, you can't write Farough off as a tragic figure born in the wrong time, nor a devilish fiend intent on turning the world on its ear. She is written as a real person, with real passions and mistakes, sadness and sin. My greatest remaining complaint is that after such a detailed story, the last decade of her life feels rushed. Though the book is nearly 400 pages, I wouldn't have been peeved if it went over. Still, I can't fault it too terribly. A book I once ranted to my sister about left me in tears when it was over.
savannahldarr's review against another edition
4.0
This was a beautifully written novel. I am somewhat ashamed to say that I had never heard of [a:Forough Farrokhzad|8447137|Forough Farrokhzad|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1428592275p2/8447137.jpg] prior to reading this novel. I now want to purchase her books and devour those. While reading, it was so hard to remind myself that this was a novel and not an autobiography because that's how it reads. It's so well done that I lost myself in the writing on numerous occasions. The story is a slow, detailed build, which can sometimes be irritating but was not in this case. I also loved the author's note at the end that explained why she was so drawn to Forough's story and why she chose to alter or leave out pieces of information altogether.
I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.
I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.
siobhan_shamlian's review against another edition
4.0
4.5. Blew threw this one in one sitting. Story of freedom, sin, and the role of a woman in conservative Iran interwoven with poetry. 10/10 would recommend
ali_mw's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
readinchic's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I literally could not put this book down. Before reading this I didn’t know much about Iran’s issues and developments in the 1940-1960s. I loved being able to learn some history about the area through this tale. I really connected with the main character’s fight between wanting to do what is expected her but instead going in the direction her heart wants. It’s not only a novel about a woman’s journey through life but a tale of women and how no matter your choices the world will judge, but the impact left is worth the trials you may face.
mcmoon's review against another edition
5.0
A beautifully imagined life story of the Iranian poet, Farough Farrokhzad. I loved Darznik's choice to use the first person perspective here. I read Farrokhzad's poetry in college and loved it, but I didn't know much about her life before reading this book. The novel has a melancholic yet spirited tone. It explores topics such as the modern history of Iran, women's rights, and the purpose of art, yet there's a lot of vulnerability in the storytelling, and the book feels personal. As a poet, I also took away many inspiring insights about writing and life. Fictional biography at its finest...