This is my first book that I've read by Jasmin Darznik. I received a copy from NetGalley. Forugh Farrokhzad was an Iranian poet and filmmaker. This book is a fictional interpretation of her life (but is based on things like interviews, letters, films, etc.). Honestly, I am not very involved with poetry so I didn't have any starting knowledge about Forugh. What I enjoy about historical fiction is that it can transport me to places and times that are completely new to me. Life of an Iranian woman in the mid 1900s is quite different from the life I live and I wondered quite a few times throughout the book what life is like for modern Iranian women. This novel told the story of Forugh's life as a daughter, sister, friend, lover, wife, mother, etc. I would be interested in looking into her poetry and letters.

This book is inspired by the life of Iranian poet Forough Farokhzad, who died in 1967 in an auto accident at age 32. The author, an Iranian American, does a stellar job embedding Forough's poetry throughout the novel. I found the story engaging and tragic. Forough could not live by the traditional Iranian moral code thrust upon her. She tried her hardest to live her own truth, as a "fully human being" and it came at a very high cost. Forough's poetry is still popular today, more than 50 year's after her death. I found her writing spare, honest, intimate. I highly recommend this book, especially for historical fiction fans.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review "Song of a Captive Bird"
by Jasmin Darznik. I did not finish this book. Knowing what the content of this book was about, I was not prepared for what the first few pages would lead to. I was deeply disturbed by the content that I read. This book is probably fantastic but after reading how her mother took her to get violated by strange women to see if she was a virgin, I am out,.

This is a powerful and inspiring storyline. The book was rather long though, and I began to lose interest near the end

This is one of the best books I think I'll read all year. You really think you're reading what is almost a diary of Farugh Farrokhzad, and learning so much about Iran during the 50s and 60s. I had no idea who Farugh was before reading this book, but know a decent amount about Iran's political history. This opened my eyes to the status of women and feminism during that time. I cannot recommend this book enough.

This was a beautifully written novel. I am somewhat ashamed to say that I had never heard of Forough Farrokhzad prior to reading this novel. I now want to purchase her books and devour those. While reading, it was so hard to remind myself that this was a novel and not an autobiography because that's how it reads. It's so well done that I lost myself in the writing on numerous occasions. The story is a slow, detailed build, which can sometimes be irritating but was not in this case. I also loved the author's note at the end that explained why she was so drawn to Forough's story and why she chose to alter or leave out pieces of information altogether.

Okay, so I'm one of those that doesn't enjoy poetry. :). However, I do enjoy learning about other countries, cultures, history, and people. Darznik captured all of this (pun intended) in her fictional book, written as a memoir, of Forugh Farrokhzad. Although there were a few points in which the storyline moved too slowly for me and I often wanted to shake Forugh for her naivety and romanticism (blech!), I admired her grit and resistance to adhering to the status quo and stringent expectations of women within her country. I did feel, though, that she was only afforded this ability to rebel and to focus on her art by being financially supported by others. This aspect did greatly reduce the image of a true struggling artist and woman trying to make her mark in my mind. Regardless, as often occurs when I read such books, I want to know more about Forugh, and the imprint she has left in Iran...and for all Muslim women. I will definitely be googling, in the next few days, to learn more about this trailblazer and intriguing individual.
Thank you Netgalley for gifting me this advanced copy of this very worthwhile read.

A young url growing up in Iran discovers her voice even though the Iranian culture continually tries to quiet it. Though she made some hard decisions and suffered the consequences, she was an amazing poet that wouldn’t hear the criticism of being a poetess.

This is an amazing and heartbreaking story of Forugh Farrokhzad, a poet in 1950's Tehran, someone I was not familiar with and am now looking into reading some of her works. The struggles she went through growing up in Tehran as a woman and trying to be something other than a wife and mother are astonishing, especially for someone like me who grew up in the United States and never having those limitations and expectations put on me. I started reading an advance review copy received through NetGalley but after publication, I continued by listening to the incredible audiobook narrated beautifully by Mozhan Marnò. An incredible book very well done by Jasmin Darznik. I'm looking forward to reading more books by this author. I highly recommend Song of a Captive Bird. This one is definitely going on my Favorites-2018 shelf.

With beautiful language and description, Jasmin Darznik masterfully evokes the life of Forough Farrokhzad, a fascinating Iranian poet who lived a short but inspiring life. Darznik manages to include real life events and cultural notes in an eye-opening way. The novel might cause a reader to reflect on how to best live a bold and courageous life.

This book is fictionalized memoir of Iranian poetess, filmmaker, and feminist Forugh Farrokhzad. I applaud the author for her efforts to highlight this talented, brave woman, however the writing seemed amateurish and was filled with cliches. Worst of all, Forugh was portrayed as so selfish, vain and seemed to be writing more for praise then to try to help anyone else, that I could never find a way too admire or care about her.

Song of a Captive Bird by Jasmin Darznik

Song of a Captive Bird is the fictional telling of the life of renowned and controversial Iranian poet, Forugh Farrokhzad. Darznik researched the life of Forugh, delving deeply into her poems and film making to capture her essence and create a story that would bring the poet to life. And that’s exactly what Darznik did. The world building was so well done in this novel, along with detailed character development and mixed with the history of a changing Iran, I found this story to be incredibly interesting. As someone unfamiliar with Forugh’s work, I found myself really intrigued by her story. I found myself looking up information on her and feel inspired to read more of her work.

I thought the choice to use first person narrative with this story was pretty risky. Because I am unfamiliar with her work, I can’t say if Darznik was able to match the tone and personality of Forugh in her writing, but fans of Forugh might be more critical of the writing. I can only attest to Darznik’s ability as a writer and her writing style. I found her writing to be enjoyable. I was invested throughout the novel and experienced plenty of emotions regarding her life and experiences. I thought this book was well done.

Wow! This book is just plain great story-telling!! I could not put down!

This historical fiction novel tells the story of Forugh, a famous Iranian poet and filmmaker from the 1950s. I actually didn't realize this was based on a real person until after I finished the book, but this woman definitely lived an extraordinary life in a time when women were still being silenced. While the subject is fascinating, I found the writing to be a little clunky. Transitions were rough and many parts felt repetitive. I'm inspired to read more about Forugh, but probably wouldn't read another novel by this author because I just didn't click with the writing style.

Thank you Random House Ballantine and Netgalley for the e-galley of this exquisite book! All opinions are my own.

What a passionate and beautiful examination of the potential of resilience and strength of the human spirit when shackled and tormented by nearly every element of one's life. Forugh was an incredible woman with the mind-boggling ability to follow her spirit's needs and artistic impulses at a time and in a place where just being a woman could mean living a micro-managed, option-less existence with terrifying consequences if even a perceived mistake was made. Her desire, hunger and need to create art when everything about her circumstances seemed to conspire against her are viscerally inspiring.

Iran is in turmoil and transition - politically, socially, culturally - at this period in history. Women are subjected to horrible abuse - verbal, physical and otherwise and upheld to impossible standards of decorum. The spark that led Forugh to explore the root of her humanity and communicate through her poetry comes from seemingly no impetus except for her own sense of self-knowledge.

And the trials that she is put through are truly heart-rending and inhumane. This book took me a little longer to read - even having to put it down for a few days at a time and escape to lighter fare - because I was trying to comprehend her ability to rise up in the face of such violent restriction on her life.

Reading this book at a time when Dystopian feminist explorations are in vogue, was especially eye-opening. As Darznik creates the world of Iran at this time, we have insight into a time and place that is just modern enough to recognize and imagine our own lives fitting into it, and just horrifying and removed enough that it feels like a creation of speculative futuristic fiction.

*3 words: enduring, fierce, human

*what i loved: this completely foreign and inspiring look into life as an Iranian woman in the 30's and 40's. of particular note: Darznik creates a fictional female companion for Forugh out of a conglomerate of real-life characters and the beautiful friendship depicted left me aching for an individual word in our language to describe that singularly unique thing that is a strong female friendship.

*what i questioned: I do wish I had seen some more sympathetic male characters in this book. at times it felt like the depiction of men in this society at this time was only reinforcing a cliche that we are working hard at this current point in history to dispel and move away from.

*overall rating: 4.3 stars

*Find my bookish posts and reviews on IG @mlleboaz.bibliophile !

I did learn a lot about Iran as I read this book. It is no secret that life as a woman was never easy in Iran in the 50s.

Song of a Captive Bird is one book where it is safe to judge the contents by its gorgeous cover. Inspired by the book her mother brought from Iran to American when she immigrated to the United States, author Jasmin Daznik tells the fictional tale of the legendary "poetress" and filmmaker Forugh Farrokhzad. Daznik drew me into Forugh's extraordinary life of courage and conviction while revealing what life was like for Iranian women in the 1940's and 1950's. The book explores issues of motherhood, women's rights, freedom of expression, and the role of art in an unstable political climate. While typically not a reader of poetry, I felt that the verses interspersed throughout the book added depth, insight, and credibility to the telling of Forugh's story. While the story paints the picture of Furough as a feminine hero, the book also gives honorable mention to the unwavering support of her friend, Leila.

"By writing in a woman's voice I wanted to say that a woman, too, is a human being. To say that we, too, have the rights to breathe, to cry out, and to sing." Many thanks to Ms. Daznik and Ballantine Books for introducing me to Forugh's beautiful voice and for illuminating the challenges she encountered to have it heard. Thanks also to NetGalley for the ARC of Song of a Captive Bird in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars!

One of those books that haunts you long after you've finished reading. The writing is extraordinary, and the story even more so. Not to be missed.

I will admit that the title, and the instant connection that I found to Maya Angelou’s autobiographical I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings piqued my interest, but I’m also intrigued by the differences and similarities in people all over the world. Darznik used poems, letters, film and interview texts from Farrokhzad’s life to craft a story that feels as if it could be biographical, if freely drawing from her imagination. An Iranian immigrant herself, Darznik’s mother smuggled volumes of Farrokhzad’s poems out of the country, and the ties to ‘home’ and a fascination with the woman was born: resulting in this novel, freely sharing poems and moments with us.

From the start, I saw the affinity the author had for the subject in the very present voice of Forugh, each moment is clearly presented with emotion and clarity that brings the moments to life for the reader: and the natural curiosity that one would expect of a young woman finding her way in the world, seeing and questioning the rules and imbalances, and finding the courage to continue to question where others simply submit. Darznik managed, in varying degrees, the voice of the poet without overlaying a more ‘western’ judgment to the moments, allowing the reactions to feel real and plausible. By the author’s admission, many of the events are imagined, as Farrokhzad’s family is thought to have destroyed most of her personal papers – a not uncommon reaction to a life that was constantly at odds with their own traditions, beliefs and quiet existence amidst the political tumult of the time.

In the short time that Forugh was on the earth, just 32 years, her time was spent learning, questioning and finally defining an existence that was full of possibility rather than restriction. The restrictions of tradition, of expected, of religion and political stricture: her choices were bold and daring, and uniquely dangerous. Full of questioning looks, family and societal censure and the refusal to remain in the background and mute, as was expected (and demanded) of women. The inclusion of the poetry shows a growth and understanding of the world, the one she inhabited and the one she was working to create: the emotions and growth in understanding, viewpoint and strengthening of her voice are all clearly apparent. Here is where there is often a slight disconnect – the real words of Forugh tend to show a maturity as the poetry is revealed that is often not reflected in the prose that is not of her words. A small miss, that while apparent, only provided (for me) a sense of real tensions overriding her life and choices, often bringing these moments forward with a sense that feels less interior voice and more third person. It was an interesting shift in the dynamic while reading, for sure, and one that often had me rereading a poem with a different eye.

Poet, documentary maker, feminist in a place that wasn’t welcoming to any sort of dissent or individual voices raised to show flaws, discrepancies or limits, the story engages as it teaches: strength, courage, imagination and a desire to self-define a life, however short, by one’s own views of what should be, not what is. The strongest lesson here for me is not the struggle, nor the hurdles overcome but the true desire to be seen and loved as a complete person: female, curious, talented, intelligent and bold. A wonderful introduction to a poet with a voice that spans the chasms of difference to show the similarities.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href= https://wp.me/p3OmRo-9DD/”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Jasmin Darznik debuts her incredible and beautifully written portrayal of Forugh’s Farrokhzad’s life and legacy. Though I am familiar with several Iranian writers and poets, I was not knowledgeable about Forugh. I so enjoyed learning about this timeless poet and after devouring this novel, I was compelled to read more of her works.

Darznik gives the reader a glimpse of Forugh’s youth and her poetic beginnings; she had always been a willful child. She was fearless and almost oblivious to the divergence between how the different sexes were regarded in Iranian society much to her parent’s chagrin. She willed herself to be more than what her parents or her society desired for her.

The reader learns how at a young age, she fell in love with her cousin, Parviz and was forced into a marriage that never met her expectations. Forugh not alone and yet free, began writing poetry again – strengthening and honing her craft.

Nasser reignited her passion and her desire. Forugh pushes the poetic and societal boundaries writing without a pen name. The novel ebbs and flows with her trials and triumphs, the discovery of her true self through her poetry and her effort to share her truth with her readers.

Though the Darznik probably took some liberties, the story is so compelling and so well written. I hope this novel will spark a new generation of readers.

I received an advance review copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.