As far back as she can remember; Azadeh Moaveni has felt at odds with her tangled identity as an Iranian-American. In suburban America; Azadeh lived in two worlds. At home; she was the daughter of the Iranian exile community; serving tea; clinging to tradition; and dreaming of Tehran. Outside; she was a California girl who practiced yoga and listened to Madonna. For years; she ignored the tense standoff between her two cultures. But college magnified the clash between Iran and America; and after graduating; she moved to Iran as a journalist. This is the story of her search for identity; between two cultures cleaved apart by a violent history. It is also the story of Iran; a restive land lost in the twilight of its revolution. Moaveni's homecoming falls in the heady days of the country's reform movement; when young people demonstrated in the streets and shouted for the Islamic regime to end. In these tumultuous times; she struggles to build a life in a dark country; wholly unlike the luminous; saffron and turquoise-tinted Iran of her imagination. As she leads us through the drug-soaked; underground parties of Tehran; into the hedonistic lives of young people desperate for change; Moaveni paints a rare portrait of Iran's rebellious next generation. The landscape of her Tehran — ski slopes; fashion shows; malls and cafes — is populated by a cast of young people whose exuberance and despair brings the modern reality of Iran to vivid life.
#878370 in Books 2011-09-13Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.13 x .93 x 6.36l; 1.16 #File Name: 1584659254260 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Beaumarchais; the author of Le Barbier de Seville; spent his own fortune to support our War of Independence by procuring weaponsBy Gisella PatharkarI have been an instructor of French language and literature but never knew about the amazing life Beaumarchais; author of Le Barbier de Seville; led. And I never knew that thanks to his truly very great efforts to ship war supplies to aid Washington in his fight for independence he was able to beat the British. Beaumarchais had to create a company and arrange things in such a way so as not to arouse suspicion by the British. General Washington's army was on its last legs; with no more weapons to speak of. Beaumarchais never got refunded for the expenses he incurred and to this date there are no streets; nor statues in the U.S. to acknowledge his efforts thanks to which the U.S. gained its independence from Britain.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. What a remarkable life!By Emily C.This historical figure that I had never known about played a tremendously key part of the success of the American revolution. He was an honorable genius. He lived in Paris during the French Revolution and saw firsthand the insanity of the mob.. What a fascinating true story!15 of 15 people found the following review helpful. A part of American history you never knew but shouldBy markl_meA very readable and enjoyable biography of a man most Americans do not know; but should. A true Renaissance Man; Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais was a skilled watchmaker; a playwright; a composer; a merchant; a diplomat; a spy; a philanthropist and more. But most importantly to Americans; he played a crucial role in influencing the outcome of the American War of Independence.This book is highly recommended to anyone with a modicum of interest in American or French history; and it makes me eager to read other works by Harlow Unger.
