Prisoner of Tehran

One of the first comments about "Prisoner" of Tehran was "I enjoyed this book; is it ok to use the word enjoy for a story that includes torture?" This page turner is written with just enough detail to comprehend the very difficult situations the author experienced and yet the overriding theme is focused on relationships with prison mates, interrogators, family and a love interest. The story is set in Tehran during the Iran/Iraq war providing an insider's view of the oppressive actions taken by the government. Marina chronicles her life as a young girl in a less than warm and loving family. She is grateful for her grandmother as a positive influence on her growing up years. The action that led to her arrest seemed minor to those of us in a more tolerable culture. Her bravery and survival skills, as well as a bit of luck, kept her alive when execution looked imminent. Her reaction to a forced marriage, which was accompanied by her husband’s loving family, was reflective of her teenage view of the situation. The man who married Marina saved her life twice, while losing his own, and his father secured her freedom from prison. Her subsequent marriage to the love of her life demonstrates her strong will to defy oppressive government action. She made the ultimate statement of disagreement with her county by successfully leaving it to live abroad. This book begs for a sequel about a very strong, passionate and loving woman as she creates a new life in Canada.