Honeymoon in Tehran

Two Years of Love and Danger in Iran

By: Azadeh Moaveni

Narrated by: Carrington MacDuffie

Azadeh Moaveni was an American reporter in Tehran in 2005 covering the rise of Ahmadinejad when the unexpected happened - she met her soul mate, fell in love, and became pregnant. Facing an uncertain future and hiding her pregnancy from the religious authorities until she could marry, Moaveni was spied upon; her phone, tapped. Shortly after giving birth, she leaned that she would was soon to be arrested and sent to the notorious Evin prison.

This is a powerful, poignant, often funny, but ultimately harrowing, story about a young woman facing her future in a very dangerous place.

©2009 Azadeh Moaveni (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[A] story of coming-of-age in two cultures, [written] with a keen eye and a measured tone." (Publishers Weekly)
"This perfect blend of political commentary and social observation is an excellent choice for readers interested in going beyond the headlines to gain an in-depth understanding of twenty-first-century Iran." (Booklist)
"A rare, rich glimpse inside a closed society." (Kirkus Reviews)

I wish the narrator was actually Iranian

What did you like best about Honeymoon in Tehran? What did you like least?

Most of pronunciations were wrong and the I did not like the narrator's reading.

Brisk, Informative, and Entertaining

I highly recommend Honeymoon in Terhan to anyone with an interest in current Iranian politics and/or the story of a fascinating woman.
It is less about love than about negotiating a modern relationship in a country whose government is attempting to will the nation and its people back in time.
The author rarely slides into self-congratulation or pity (as can happen in memoirs) so, when it does occur, these instances stand out.
The narrator's voice is pleasant, and her Arab and Persian pronounciations are spot-on. My only issue is that all of the men sound exactly the same. All told, it is a small complaint for a book that is perfect for a long car ride or for working out at the gym,

The narrator is not right for this book.

This is my first review and I haven't even finished the book yet, but I am so annoyed by this reader that I almost feel like abandoning the book. I wish they could have found a reader that would not botch the pronunciation of the words, her intonation is just wrong for the voices of Iranians.

Well witten, Average Narration

As someone who grow up in Iran, I relate to the story. It provides details & perspective for someone who has not seen the country.
It would be nice if the narrator could pronunce the Persian phrases correctly. Despite her efforts, the pronunciation of Persian phrases are either not correct or sound awkward.

An Interesting but not Compelling Book

I downloaded this book without knowing a thing about it or the author. It is well written and the author has the advantage of being Iranian-American. Although the story is not particularly compelling, and it is never "gripping," it is nevertheless an insightful glimpse into contemporary Iran and what it is like to live under a theocracy. If you are not interested in contemporary Iran, however, this book will probably not hold your interest.