Sheer courage. Review on Not Without My Daughter - Betty Mahmoody

This is probably one of the most inspirational books I have read. When I say the book is brilliant, I do not mean I have now formed an opinion against a particular religion or country and am egging Betty on against the Iranians and am feeling sorry for every woman living in Iran. I dont look at Betty Mahmoody's story as a personal attack on the people who made her life difficult- but as an act of courage against a system which she found claustrophobic and impossible to live in.

What would you do if you realise the man you married was not only a weakling with no courage to go against his family - your husband's family looked down upon every custom, every value you have beieved in - they hate your country and somehow believe that taking out their anger on you is their way of showing their hostility against your countrymen. How would you react if you are expected to meekly change every aspect of yourself - from your clothes to your speech, curb your spirit and even your freedom. Most of all how would you handle your daughter being taken away from you, to be brought up by the people you have now grown to hate and fear.

What did Betty Mahmoody do? Like I said in the title - she displayed extreme courage and resilience. I shuddered at the thought of her looking for a way out of Iran, desperation making her forget caution at times. I marvelled at her stand of not leaving the country without her daughter - even though it was more dangerous and I applauded her character of being in control of her sanity, of her mind and not bowing down to her 'fate' as her husband ordered.

If we just look at this book as of a woman who married a man who wasnt of her religion , who had faith her husband and hence went for a month long holiday to Iran to meet his family, who was in for a rude shock when the month became two which became three and ultimately was told it was a lifetime, who was completely confused at the hostility displayed to her by the family, who tried her best to adjust but refused to take the injustices and the attitude given to her, who fought for her right to do what she wants to do in life, we'll understand the lesson Betty wants to give us.

Everybody will have a different interpretation of the book, everybody will get a different lesson out of it, but I personally believe that its a book which is not to be missed - just to admire a woman's fight for her daughter and her life.

My friend who gave me the book thought it was betty's fight against Islam..I dont believe it...putting myself in her situation, If I marry someone and go to stay in a different country and am expected to forget my background and am instructed to become a different person for the rest of my life, and am forced , with dire consequences if I refuse, I dont think I am against the country. I would fight against something which I just cannot accept and adjust to.

There are women in Iran who are perfectly happy living the way they do - but Betty wasnt one of them and she rebelled without fear - and thats what I found admirable!!