Book of the Week

‘White Torture’ by Narges Mohammadi

Reviewed by Anna Maryam Smith

“They will put me behind bars again. But I will not stop campaigning until human rights and justice prevail in my country” - Narges Mohammadi

Narges Mohammadi’s White Torture is a collection of interviews that capture the brutal, inhumane, and unfathomable conditions that women in the Iranian penal system are forced to endure. White Torture, the title of the book, is a noun used to describe forms of torture in which individuals are subjected to sensory deprivation and isolation from others - also known as solitary confinement. Mohammadi has sacrificed her freedom to fight for the abolishment of white torture and continues to do so to this day.

Each of the chapters in this book captures the lived reality of a different woman’s experience in an Iranian prison - many in ward 209 of Evin Prison (the primary housing site for political prisoners in Iran). The stories Mohammadi transcribes are powerful and critical. They are stories of women who have fought tirelessly for Iran to be a place where women can exist freely and be whoever they wish.

I’ll admit that it took a while for the gravity of Mohammadi’s words to properly sink in. I have had the privilege of experiencing an existence and an upbringing that hasn’t been fraught by the harsh and brutal realities of women in Iran. For my entire childhood I have heard stories of Iran, most through a loving and nostalgic lens. A lens that is tinted by detachment and a longing for an Iran that once was. Mohammadi brings to light a reality that is often entirely censored and hidden: a reality in which women are brutally punished for being themselves, for speaking their minds, for fighting for liberty.

I have a huge amount of respect for Mohammadi, Afsharzadeh, Daemi, Zahtabchi, Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Shahriari, Shahidi, Tabatabai, Kiani, Mohammadi, Moradi, Nouri, Yadollahi, and Amiri, for so selflessly offering their stories to us and for continuously fighting for freedom and human rights for women everywhere.

Zan, Zendegi, Azadi.

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‘Violeta’ by Isabel Allende

Our dear friend Catalina sends her regards from an amazing trip to Patagonia with this review of ‘Violeta’ by Isabel Allende, so naturally, that is our book of the week!

Happy reading and happy Friday!

‘Isabel Allende’s “Violeta” is an epic family saga that takes us on a journey through the tumultuous 20th century in South America. This beautifully written memoir-like novel delves deep into the life of Violeta, a woman born into aristocracy, as she navigates the shifting sands of history.

Set against a backdrop of changing regimes and global upheaval, Violeta’s story spans continents and decades. From the fall of nobility to the Spanish flu, the Great Depression to the shockwaves of WWII, her life is a mirror to the world’s transformations.

While seeking refuge in the steppes of Patagonia during the Great Depression, Violeta enters a loveless marriage with a German immigrant. However, a significant portion of her life becomes intricately entwined with that of Julian Bravo, an enigmatic private pilot involved in drug smuggling, connected to the mafia, the CIA, and the oppressive Pinochet regime. This connection ensnares her in a toxic and abusive relationship that spans decades.

The themes of queerness and feminism run deep, woven into the fabric of her life story, alongside the harsh realities of abusive relationships and political activism during a dark dictatorship era in Chile. Allende masterfully touches on the hermetic Germany settler colony in Chile, which served as a torture center for dissidents during the dictatorship, adding a chilling layer to the narrative.

“Violeta” is not just a tale of personal struggles; it’s a testament to a woman navigating the ever-changing world around her. Motherhood, trauma, and abuse are hurdles she faces head-on, while also surviving the tumultuous political changes in her homeland.

Isabel Allende’s signature style of epic storytelling blends romance and resistance seamlessly, making “Violeta” the perfect escapist novel. It’s a mesmerizing journey through one woman’s life that mirrors the profound changes in Chilean and Argentianian history.’

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‘The Christmas Orphans Club’ by Becca Freeman

We close out our reviews for the year with a Christmas edition from one of our most prolific readers and reviewers, Lotte ❤️🙏🎄

‘Christmas time calls for Christmas reads! So, pick up ‘The Christmas Orphans Club’, get a cup of tea and get to know Hannah and Finn, and their chosen family of friends in New York.

Hannah and Finn have spent every Christmas together since college. Hannah is an orphan, and Finn disowned by his family when he came out, but Finn has gotten a job in LA and will be moving – so this Christmas has to something very, very, very special, and Hannah starts to kind of panic.

It is a story that jumps back in time to relive their Christmases together and with different POVs. It works really well and creates the right kind of holiday nostalgia that gives the book the right kind of Christmas feeling.

It is not all fun, presents, and Christmas, but also a serious story in creating your kind of family based on friends and create your own traditions with these people. The feeling of feeling ‘left over’ when everyone else returns home for Christmas, then what do you do?! Hannah and Finn create their own family, and their own Christmas traditions, and both pick up a friend along the way, so it becomes a family of four. Thus, there are also highs & lows during the years – not only Christmas gone wrong, but also fall outs in friendships and love.

The book reminded me of ‘Book Lover’ by Emily Henry in its vibe, and it is also a book that I could see being turned into another Christmas movie – but one of the good ones😉 – now get the book and cozy up for a good read.

Merry Christmas!’

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Book of the Week

‘The Island of Sea Women’ by Lisa See

There are books that keep popping up, in conversations, in bookclubs, in enthusiastic reviews years after they were published. This week’s book is one such title, and I have a feeling that Catalina’s review below will resonate with many of you and bring back wonderful memories.

‘Set on the Korean island of Jeju , ‘The Island of Sea Women’ introduces us to an extraordinary matrifocal community of haenyeos, women divers women divers who form the bedrock of their families' sustenance. We learn about their unique way of life, their respectful relationship to the ocean and the environment, their family dynamics, and the unwavering bonds of female friendship.

Spanning decades, the story follow the intertwined lives of Young-sook and Mi-ja, two friends and haenyeos, against complex historical events from the backdrop of Japanese colonial rule to post-Korean War tensions. As the story unfolds, See delves into themes of colonialism and nationalism, meticulously illustrating their profound impact on communities and the ways they sow division among people.

Essentially, "The Island of Sea Women" symbolizes the unwavering resilience of women amid upheaval, beautifully depicting survival amidst relentless change. The book is a profound journey through community strength and the remarkable courage of women in the face of history's toughest tests. 🌊📖

I was completely engrossed, experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions while reading this meticulously researched story. Its impact stayed with me for weeks!’

Happy reading!

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