- Paperback: 160 pages
- Publisher: Arcade Publishing (Jan 12 1995)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1559702702
- ISBN-13: 978-1559702706
- Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.6 x 1.2 cm
- Shipping Weight: 181 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #412,482 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
This resonant book portrays the ugliness of fundamentalist Islamic mob justice in Khomeini-era Iran. Sahebjam, an Iranian journalist based in France who has written critically of the regime, returned to his homeland under cover in 1986. While visiting a small town he calls Kupayeh, he learned how an innocent 35-year-old woman had been stoned to death for supposed infidelity. His thorough reporting, based on a further visit to the village, reconstructs Soraya's life and killing with much dialogue and interior monologue. Soraya gave birth to nine children in 14 years and her husband Ghorban-Ali also turned to prostitutes. He became involved in shady business deals and began to associate with Sheik Hassan, a criminal who was appointed Ayatollah Khomeini's local representative. When Ghorban-Ali, having fallen in love with another woman, accused his wife of infidelity, villagers lied to aid him and Soraya was left with no support in the town. Her two eldest sons sat on the male tribunal that declared her guilty, and she was stoned by a mob that included her father. This book refuses to let such horror go unremembered.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
YA-While Sahebjam, an expatriated Iranian journalist, was in his native land on assignment for a French publication in 1986, he recorded this account. Zahra Khanum is an old woman whose niece Soraya was but one of over 1,000 people who were stoned to death in Iran in the last 15 years. Set solidly in a fundamentalist village, the story of Soraya's less-than-honorable husband; the false mullah, Sheik Hassan; and the events leading up to her stoning are relayed. The manipulation of government, church, and society by dishonorable persons; the lack of proof and villagers' support to save Soraya; and the mob mentality of the townspeople on the fateful day are all made clear. Students, parents, and teachers might want to discuss this work with Shirley Jackson's short story, "The Lottery," or with historical events such as the Holocaust or the Salem witch trails. A powerful work that should generate thought in all of its readers.
Barbara Hawkins, Oakton High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Barbara Hawkins, Oakton High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellant book that needs to be read by more Americans,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Stoning of Soraya M.: A True Story (Paperback)
Well written, factual and horrific account of how, in many countries today, religion has been twisted to suit the needs of certain people, namely men. Having lived in a few Muslim countries, I can factually state that this sort of event is not that uncommon. It is, however, uncommon, and most likely unknown in the Western world. The reason this book is so good is that hopefully it will bring more exposure to what is happening in these third world countries. Maybe by exposing it more and more, it will, eventually, be eradicated.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Unrestrained ignorance brings out the worst in human nature.,
By
This review is from: The Stoning of Soraya M.: A True Story (Paperback)
Reading The Stoning of Soraya is a nightmare trip into unrestrained depravity. Some passages are so horrible that this reader skipped over them. The society that produced this event has a dark side that most of us would not even want to think about. Thank God I live in the United States. The next time I read some fuzzy nonsense about accepting all cultural diversity, I am going to remember this book
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
A tragic story not unheard of in other parts of the world,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Stoning of Soraya M. (Hardcover)
You will be shocked by this sotry if you have basically adhered to la-la land stories and main stream best seller novels. Otherwise if you have travelled and have read other similar tragic stories and crimes committed again woman in most parts of the world, this is just another barbaric tragedy. What I found amazing was the review of the American reader who wrote that next time he/she hears "fuzzy nonsense about accepting all cultural diversity" he/she will remember this book.... How typical of an American to judge and comment on a culture and cultural diversity by just reading one book about it. Aren't similar crimes happening on a daily basis all over the world? If I remember correctly from living in the States for 7 years, New York City used to be called the world's murder capitat. Are gang rapes and murders that unheard of in the States? This book is not about an acceptable ritual or custom in Iran; this book is about dark crimes committed against single individuals.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
Most recent customer reviews |
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
