The Good Daughter

Book:  The Good Daughter
Author:  Jasmin Darznik
Rating:     5 (1-5)

Review:

Okay... I know, I keep rating everything 5 stars!  But to be fair, I am mainly picking books out of random interviews I m hearing on NPR to and from Zoe's school, so they are already getting recognition.
This book had me hooked.  I couldn't stop reading it--it was just too interesting.  My heart broke for this woman, Lili--the author's mother.  Her story is insane--- talk about a survivor.  Married off at 13, beaten by her new husband (26 years old and a sadist), pregnant 2 months after the wedding, and whisked away to a derelict horrible part of town because her grandmother-in-law (who was rich) didn't want to have to see her "getting fat".
I also learned so much about Iranian culture and found it fascinating.  (Well, Iranian culture set against the 1950s/60s backdrop, anyway).

One author's quote on the back of the book sums up the feeling I had:
"Darznik's deeply affecting memoir about her mother, lili, illuminates the complexity of Iranian women's lives as few books have ever done.  Once you read this book, you will see Iran and Iranians with new eyes.  A brilliant debut." 

Ultimately, I was totally entranced by this woman's story.