I received an advance reading copy of this book with thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux via NetGalley

I read primarily to learn, and I have definitely gained knowledge from reading Minoui's work. I knew incredibly little about Iran and it's politics prior to reading this and whilst I'm not an expert, I'm happy that by reading this I've been able to learn a little about Iran the country and it's people. Definitely not an easy book to read, but it made me feel so grateful and thankful to live where I live, and to lead the life I live. I cannot fathom being in similar situations that Minoui faced, but I undeniably share the pride that she exudes for her home country. She grants us an insight into a country during a period that was tough for it's people and portrayed by the western media in an prejudice light. Highly recommended if you're searching for insight regarding the Middle East from a firsthand account; more specifically the relations between Iraq and Iran between 2000-2010.