This was a very interesting fictional biography of a figure that I had never heard about in a country and time period that my knowledge of is extremely limited. The thing I love about historical fiction is that you can learn so much in an interesting format that reads like a novel rather than a textbook. This book definitely fits that bill. I had a very cursory education on Iran and its history and I believe a lot of my memory of that has been shaped by the world we live in today and what the world was like as I was going through school. Because of this knowledge I am always trying to learn more about the world and this book is an excellent glimpse into a very tumultuous time of Iran's history and what it might have been to be a strong willed intelligent woman there. Forugh's life was not an easy one and she had to make decisions in life situations that I can barely imagine. After reading this fictional tale of her life I will be searching out her poetry. I look forward to seeing what more I can learn about this remarkable woman.

This is a spectacular piece of writing. Jasmin Darznik's book Song of a Captive Bird is historical fiction which was inspired by the life and the poetry of Forugh Farrokhzad and Iranian woman, traditionally raised and expected to follow and abide by the societal norms of being seen and not hear, modest, obedient, submissive and loyal. She defied the expectations of her parents and of society and wrote in the hope of escaping those restrictions. She was rebellious and to avoid her bringing shame to her family her father married her a very young age. She was now someone else's responsibility, some one else's property. She continued to write even after becoming a mother, the necessity to do so being more urgent and more necessary for her wellbeing than ever before. Once discovered her husband divorced her, ashamed of her rebellion. Her poetry is beautiful and is scattered throughout this novel. This is a book about feminism and the unwillingness of women to have their wings clipped regardless of the consequences of their actions.

Beautifully written account of the life of Iranian poet and filmmaker Forough Farrokhzhad. It was a bit of a challenge for me to stick with at times, but the book takes us on an incredible journey through her life. Definitely recommended, particularly for those who love poetry.

A fictionalized account of the life of Iranian poet and filmmaker Forough Farrokhzhad. We follow from her childhood and how she bristles and fights against the imposed role of women in 1950s Iran. She even pees off a roof in the alley like her brothers to show them what she can do. She marries for love, has an affair, gets committed to an asylum by her husband, but is freed by her sister. She lives a poets life a filmmakers life and breaks into roles and spaces previously reserved only for me. In one life we see all this injustice mirrored in her beautiful soulful poetry that is scattered throughout the book. Poetry frees her, releases her frustration, and gives her strength. Her poetry costs her dearly, but writing for her is like breaking. She cannot live without it.

The poetry was so good and her life was so inspiring I found her poetry works and bought them. The book got me back into poetry reading and I am all the better for it.

This novel is a fictional account of a real life person I had never heard of, Forugh Farrokzhad, a trailblazing female Iranian poet born in Iran in the 1930s. I found the descriptions of her life and life in Iran very interesting, though at the same time the book felt a little slow and for some reason I found it a little difficult to engage emotionally with the book. However, the writing was lovely. 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4.

Truthfully, it was hard to stick with this book. I started and stopped many times but I felt like I had to keep going. It just didn't engage me for some reason. I loved the plot and thought it was an inspiring story. The poetry was beautiful and so was the writing, I just didn't connect with it as much as I expected. I think many other people will enjoy this book and I don't think it is bad in any way.

Song of a Captive Bird is the story of the life of Forugh Farrokzad, an influential and controversial Iranian Poetess and film director, who experienced much in her short 32 years of life. I didn’t realize that this was a historical fiction novel about an actual person until I read the author’s note at the end.

I was drawn into her story at the beginning immediately, and couldn’t put this book down. But, at the halfway point, it slowed for me. The descriptive writing took me to Iran in the early 1950’s and I felt like I was there. My favorite books sweep me to another time and place. After quite a few more chapters, the novel drew me in again until the end. Forugh’s story is a tough tale to tell and imagine, but the author did a great job.

A beautifully captivating story of an independent woman living in Iran in the mid-century, a time when women were not supposed to have a voice at all.

Compelling, beautiful, mesmerizing, lovely novel that will remain in my mind and heart for a long time. Thank you, NetGalley.

This was a hard novel to read. It is very graphic filled with disturbing images. However, it did an excellent job in portraying what life was like for a woman living in Iran. Forugh is a woman who does not fit the norm of the society. She has a rebellious spirit. Her poetry has shocked many. This, she is a strong historical figure. She reminds me of Aphra Behn, a woman who also shocked her society. This novel is an inspiring read that is filled with detail. However, this is a novel for mature readers.

Song of a Captive Bird is a fictionalized historical account based on the life of Iranian poet Forough Farrokhzad. Written by Jasmin Darkznik, released 13th February, 2018 by Random House Ballantine, it's 401 pages and available in all formats.
Though it is a fictionalized account, the author has clearly done exhaustive and meticulous research. The narrative is seamless and engaged me from the beginning. This was a really difficult book for me to read. As a westerner growing up in the 70s-80s, I was never directly confronted by the overwhelming sexism and casual cruelty experienced as a daily part of life of women in Iran in the early part of the 20th century.

Forough was an outspoken poet and activist during a time and place when women simply weren't given the option to be anything other than wives and mothers. Much of the narrative of this book centers on her childhood to young adulthood and her chafing anger at the harsh realities for women in pre-revolutionary Iran. I've read much of Farrokhzad's poetry after reading this book and it astounded me how razor sharp and strong and desperately sad much of it is even after 50+ years.

She was a fascinatingly complex, flawed, strong soul and Jasmin Darznik does credit to her life. This is not a book I will forget in a hurry.

Five stars

Thank you Net Galley for sending me an ARC of this book. This is typically not my style of book read. I found it a little difficult to read it continually. It is the story of a female poet and her struggles in a society that didn't allow women the same freedoms as men.
I don't think that this book is an easy read or a read for everyone but I am glad I took the time to continue with it.

What wonderful lyrical writing is found in this book! It was just a joy to read in spite of the many difficulties and challenges faced by the Forough, the storyteller. Her story is told in first person, and you certainly can feel a sense of her perspective and emotions as she describes her experiences. I learned even more about the Middle East and Iran as well. In reference to the title, the bird (Forough) may be able to be captured, but it will not stop her from singing her song.
This was an excellent window into the life of women of the 40's and 50's in a rapidly changing Iran. Today in many ways, things are probably even more repressive. Certainly women are still not given the same rights and opportunities as men. In Forough, we find someone who wasn't willing to accept this. She challenged the system and gained a degree of freedom through her poetry and life style, yet inevitably paid the price. I was enamored by the telling of her tale, and as such recommend this book to people who have an interest in the oppression and inequality of women. I also recommend it for readers of historic fiction that enjoy stories of different lands and cultures.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

So sorry! I really wanted to like this and finish it but, it just wasn't for me. Her homelife was so fucked up and I wanted to read her growing into brilliant poet and falling in love. It was just so dense and so much to take in. I wanted to, but I can't make myself finish it. Maybe another day.

SONG OF A CAPTIVE BIRD by Jasmin Darznik received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal. This debut novel definitely deserves attention and it will entertain, shock, and inform readers about the history of Iran and about the life of controversial poet Forugh Farrokhzad. Darznik herself was born in Tehran and uses Farrokhzad's writings, films and interviews to illustrate her feminist spirit in this fictionalized account. Farrokhzad's loneliness and rebellious nature in the face of an oppressive society are evident throughout the book: "'Besooz o bezaaz' went the timeworn injunction to brides. Burn inwardly and accommodate. If I told anyone my troubles, I would have been met with exactly this phrase." Ultimately, Farrokhzad's story is both sad and hopeful:
A day will come when your eyes
will smart at this painful song.
You'll search for me in my words
And tell yourself: my mother,
That's who she was.
-from "A Poem for You"
(Dedicated to my son, Kamyar, with hopes for the future)
Although Farrokhzad died young (just 32) in a car accident in 1967, her writing lives on and was banned in Iran for at least 10 years after the 1979 Revolution. SONG OF A CAPTIVE BIRD could be a very interesting book group title (publisher's reading guide link below), especially given its feminist theme and many connections to other cultures and works like the poetry of Sylvia Plath and the current day Landays of Afghanistan.

Related links:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/pulling-back-the-burka-a-glimpse-of-afghan-life-through-poetry https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/555992/song-of-a-captive-bird-by-jasmin-darznik/9780399182310/readers-guide/

I received this from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

A well written and thought provoking fictionalized account of Iranian poet Forugh Farrokzhad.

4☆

Dear Fellow Readers,

For fans of historical fiction, I have a book for you. If you asked me, I would tell you that I am not particularly a fan of historical fiction but that isn’t true. I seem to read a fair number of books that are classified as historical fiction. Part of the reason is the book clubs I belong to but then sometimes I get intrigued by the subject matter.

Song of a captive birdSong of a Captive Bird is different from other historical fiction books I have read. First of all, it takes place in Iran in the 1940s and 50s. I know nothing about this era in Iran. The book tells the story of Forugh Farrokhzad. She was a poet and was famous for inspiring feminism in Iran.

The story is told from her perspective and starts as she is growing up in a family where her father rules with an iron fist. She is different. She questions authority and tries to please her father with her poetry. She reads voraciously and tries to imitate the poetry that her father admires. Her spirit leads her not to want to do what a “good” daughter would do. As a result, she was seen by others as not a good candidate as a wife.

And then she falls in love at 16. She sees an older cousin and works to gain his attention. She strains the rules by meeting him in the alley and exchanging notes. Then she completely tears it by meeting him in a coffee shop. Her disobedience is discovered and there is a rather graphic scene where her virginity is validated but not without consequences. Before she knows it, she is married to him and he spurns her.

She continues to write poetry and dares to escape to the city to try and sell her poetry. This leads to an affair that ruins her marriage and she loses her son.

Her father rushed her into the marriage and then when her affair becomes notorious, has her committed. She is saved by a friend and goes to live with the friend in seclusion.

At the same time, there are winds of change Iran. The Shaw has opposition and there are those that think that there is too much Western influence in the country. The secret police watch overall and are swift with their form of justice.

The book is based on the author’s review of Forugh’s poems, letters, films, and interviews. It is an interesting look at Forugh’s rebel spirit and the times in Iran.

Thanks for reading!

I loved that this novel introduced me to the poet Forugh Farrokzhad, whom I was not familiar with, and sent me down a deep rabbit hole of research and learning. (Which is what a great book has the power to do!) However, The story itself felt more like the tapas of Farrokzhad's life than the full meal.

Song of a Captive Bird is a well told biographical novel focused on Forugh Farrokhzad, a ground breaking, tradition busting poet in Iran (during the coup, before the Islamic revolution). Her poetry is lovely, aching, and at times erotic and her film (The House is Black) is a gem of new wave cinema and her story (as told by Jasmin Darnik) no less intriguing.

Jasmin Darznik's "Song of a Captive Bird" is a beautiful and powerful fictional portrayal of the Iranian poet, Forugh Farrokhzhad, who lived during the years of the Shah's rule. The reader is transported to a different time and place and journeys with Forugh as she navigates and rebels against the challenges of the restrictions and expectations of an Iranian woman. I strongly recommend this work of historical fiction, and thank Net Galley for the opportunity to read this novel.