Rating: 
Summary: Be glad you live in Amerca!!!
Review: I will be as objective as I can be on this book. I also saw the movie when it first came out. I lived in India for a short time over 20 years ago. At the time, I thought there were double standards there. I was also naive enough back then to marry an Indian. He was also a doctor. I was quite young at the time and I married against everyone's disapproval. When I married him, I thought I had it made. Little did know I would go through so much mental torture for an indefinite period. We did well when we were living with his parents. As soon as we came here, I saw his other side or should I say his true colors! He had never been in this country and he only got here because of my family sponsoring him. It just became a game of use and emotional abuse for him. I got torn away from my own family for a long time because of him just like Betty lost communication with her family because of her abusive husband. I have been free of this person for many years now. The only reason I hung on as long as I did is because I take wedding wows very seriously. Please don't get me wrong, Indians are nice just like everyone else, but some of the husbands' attitude with women have a lot to be desired.When I saw what happens in Iran, I felt that Indian rules are much more tame. I mean there is no comparision. The Indians are very lenient by Iranian standards. This whole Purda business is for the birds as far as I am concerned and the fact that Betty was a Christian and not a Muslim makes it totally unnessary. It is not just in Iran that women are treated as subcitizens, it is in the other Mideast countries as well. I had to read Princess Sultana's Daughters for a course I took and it was just plain sick. Even Saudi Royalty women get abused and they are treated like doormats. From what I read, it is not Mohammed who decided that women are less than men, it is the men who decided that. I don't give any cultural excuse for Betty's husband for the fact that he changed upon reaching Iran. Essie tried her best to make the situation more livable for Betty. To me, it makes no sense that Betty's husband was great to her when they were here and then over in Iran, he slaps her and beats her and threatens her. I have a lot of admiration for the gentleman who tries to help Betty. Betty showed a lot of bravery on her part.
This true account makes me wonder about the girls I knew who got involved with Iranian guys they knew back in college. I hope this did not happen to them. I lost touch with these girls because as you see I had my own story going on. These girls were dating these guys during the revolution and they did not like what was happening in their country. When you read this book, you will just be glad that you are here and not in the Mideast.
Rating: 
Summary: Contents both good and bad
Review: A divorced woman with two sons, Betty met Moody while he helped treat her for migraines. The start of their affair was as fair tale romantic asit can get, but after marrying him, she discovers different sides of him. Another source of tension is his support of the newly reinstated Islamic Republic of Iran, and his numerous "nephews"from Iran who came to visit Moody, each more vile & unpleasant than the one before him. Then, Betty agrees to go on a two week vacation to Iran with Moody and their daughter Mahtob. As it turned out, the two week vacation because a year and a half struggle to get herself and her daughter out of Iran. The story of her struggle is fascinating - a process in which Betty learns how to cope in an unfimiliar environment, and how to deal with shadowy conspirations, while staying loyal to her daughter (Betty could've left Iran much earlier and much more easily if she were willing to leave Mahtob behind, at least temporarily(. On the other hand, the book showa a lot of cultural and personal intolerance. While Betty was more than willing to admit certain Iranian individuals were good people and that the Islamic religion had its good side, the Iranian culture was described as bad simply because it was so far removed from the American culture. We are all so used to our own culture and settings that we tend to forget that other cultures might have evolved differently than ours, and that many people don't have the benefits we have. This attitude also appears in Betty's description of other people. Somehow, the only Iranians she seems to like are westernized and are wary öf the Iatolla's reig over Iran. People that are typically Iranian, or women (such as Ellen) who tried aclimating to their lives in Iran are described in a cery negative light. While I'm sure Betty has more than enough reasons to resent Moody, I'm doubtnig whether he was as mentally unstable as Betty describes him, or whether cultureal & attitude differences might have been the cause of some of his 'symptoms'. The overall impression I still have of this book is that it serves as a very good cautionary tale about inter culture marriages. It urges the reader to reconsider the romance in these situations, and to learn more than a few exotic recipes about the others'culture before commiting to a marriage or a trip to a foerign country - Brtyy, for instance, hadn't realized she was an Iranian citizen until it was too late.
Rating:
Summary: Somewhere in the Middle
Review: I just recently read the book Not Without My Daughter. I own the movie and have seen it many times. I agree with the person who said we weren't there and cannot say it didn't happen, but I also agree with the people who have positive things to say about Iranians. When I was a teenager, during the time that Betty was in Iran, two very sweet Iranian college students took my Italian cousins out to dinner and a date and they treated them very good. They were very polite to my cousins and my cousins had a good time. I think there are good people in every culture and every society. Another good book that shows the positive side of Iran and it's people that I highly recommend is Honeymoon in Purdah an Iranian Journey by Alison Wearing.
Rating: 
Summary: A Novel by a Western Mullah!
Review: A clash of cultures becomes evident when an extremist finds herself in the midst of restraining action. Iran is a smelly country, but it is the smell of warm-blooded hearts that pound in love. Of course you can't smell anybody in the west because you might get sued if you get closer than five feet to anyone. I urge anybody who is interested in knowing anything about the country to travel and observe for themselves. Not everything is as superficial as it is fed to us through the mainstream media.
Rating:
Summary: Pure nonsense
Review: I am an Iranian and a proud one. I am 14 years old and have read the book. I couldnt believe what I was reading. How can she describe a country, that is so beautiful and warm-hearted, dirty?
I dont know where she was, when she was excperiencing this situation, maybe at her house in America, but definitely not in IRAN! Thats's all, a mental person who was a patient of her own husband has to say. How can a man that skinny hit his elephant-sized wife? That woman could have eaten him with one bite. Anyone who believes this story is as stupid as she is. And if she has gone through all of this, if she hates her ex-husband so much why in the name of good is she still called Betty MAHMOODY? I wouldnt recommend this book to anybody and if I could I would burn that book and never put it in this world again. Its pure NONSENSE!
Rating:
Summary: Read this if you want a good story, not a documentary
Review: The main thing I never understood about this book: why does Ms Mahmoody condemns his ex-husband's attempt to separate their daughter from her when she is doing the very same thing to him? I gave it 5 stars because it is a good novel. Novel, not documentary. It is as interesting and authentic as Gone With The Wind. When I was fourteen years old I loved the book but even then it seemed too tabloid to be true. Actually she hasn't even got the mind to write her book herself and it seems she hasn't even supervised its writing. An advice to Mr Hoffer in case he wants to write something like this: at least be sure that the facts mentioned won't contradict each other (like why did the sister-in-law go to the public bath when she had a bathroom at home). Betty lived with this man for more than ten years. It seems unbelievable that she knew almost nothing about his culture. She also admits in the very beginning of the story that she has prejudices against Iran. Now if I were married to someone from a different culture I would try to learn as much about his culture (and religion, home country and family) as I can (unless I'm a good American patriot who knows that outside the US there's nothing that's worthy of knowing). Just one more thing in addition: I think Betty's keeping her hated husband's name is just another marketing trick, she knew that with an exotic sounding name on the cover of the book people will expect a story like this. To anyone who have read this book or intends to read it, I'd recommend Taraneh Bahrampour's "To See and See Again: A Life in Iran and America". Please read Ms Bahrampour's book, it's like reading Alex Haley's "Roots" after Gone With The Wind. It shows a new perspective. And a good book, really.
Rating:
Summary: Understandably Biased
Review: First, the book was not necessarily well written, but then, this kind of book doesn't have to be well written to get its point across.
Biased, yes, but understandably so. Many of the reviews that follow claim that Betty Mahmoudi has presented a one-sided, bigoted, prejudiced, etc., etc., view of life in Iran (in 1984). But, here are some facts those reviews ignore:
1) Betty wanted to GET OUT OF IRAN! If Iran is so great, why didn't she want to stay? I also notice that most, if not all, of the people who are criticizing the objectiveness of this book are Iranians who are not living in Iran (they are Iranians living in Canada or in the UK - go figure)!
2) Betty's desperation to get out of Iran is the only justification she needs to do whatever it takes, legal or otherwise, to accomplish her objective. If she had the support and cooperation of a loving Iranian host/family, then she would not have needed to resort to smugglers.
3) Whether or not Dr. Mahmoudi made Betty stay in doors because Iran it is dangerous for a woman to walk the city streets of Iran or because he was afraid that Betty would try to escape, it doesn't matter. Both scenarios are bad.
4) Criticisms about this story (and I understand much of it may be exaggerated, but this is Betty's story and not yours, my friend) are mostly coming from the lucky people who are not actually living the horror that Betty had to go through. Is this story biased? Yes! Is that bias understandable? Yes! Is Betty a somewhat culturally ignorant bumpkin? Yes. You can put any kind of positive spin you want on life in Iran, but the bottom line is that many more people are trying to get out of Iran than are trying to get into Iran. Another story that carried a somewhat similar theme of Americans who don't do well in foreign places is "Daughter of Danang" ( http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/daughter/ ), which really made me feel more sympathy for the Vietnamese people than for the immature and insensitive American girl who returned to Danang, her birthplace, for a family reunion of sorts.
Rating:
Summary: Understandably Prejudiced
Review: First, the book was not necessarily well written, but then, this kind of book doesn't have to be well written to get its point across. Biased, yes, but understandably so. Many of the reviews that follow claim that Betty Mahmoudi has presented a one-sided, bigoted, prejudiced, etc., etc., view of life in Iran (in 1984). But, here are some facts those reviews ignore:
1) Betty wanted to GET OUT OF IRAN! If Iran is so great, why didn't she want to stay? I also notice that most, if not all, of the people who are criticizing the objectiveness of this book are Iranians who are not living in Iran (they are Iranians living in Canada or in the UK - go figure)!
2) Betty's desperation to get out of Iran is the only justification she needs to do whatever it takes, legal or otherwise, to accomplish her objective. If she had the support and cooperation of a loving Iranian host/family, then she would not have needed to resort to smugglers.
3) Whether or not Dr. Mahmoudi made Betty stay in doors because Iran it is dangerous for a woman to walk the city streets of Iran or because he was afraid that Betty would try to escape, it doesn't matter. Both scenarios are bad.
4) Criticisms about this story (and I understand much of it may be exaggerated, but this is Betty's story and not yours, my friend) are mostly coming from the lucky people who are not actually living the horror that Betty had to go through. Is this story biased? Yes! Is that bias understandable? Yes! Is Betty a somewhat culturally ignorant bumpkin? Yes. You can put any kind of positive spin you want on life in Iran, but the bottom line is that many more people are trying to get out of Iran than are trying to get into Iran. Another story that carried a somewhat similar theme of Americans who don't do well in foreign places is "Daughter of Danang" ( http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/daughter/ ), which really made me feel more sympathy for the Vietnamese people than for the immature and insensitive American girl who returned to Danang, her birthplace, for a family reunion of sorts.
Rating:
Summary: Not Without My Daughter
Review: Granted, Betty Mahmoody is no model of cultural sensitivity, but her book is a great read anyway. People need to view it its proper context -- just after Khomeini's Revolution -- though. The book NOT WITHOUT MY DAUGHTER is so much more in-depth and interesting than its movie version. I'm glad I'd read it first.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant but...........................
Review: If what the Iranian person who is living in the UK is saying is the truth, that Betty Mahmoody was a mental patient of her husband I find that quite shocking, and am quite disgusted that it wasn't mentioned in the book, as yes, it is quite an important fact that we should have been informed of.
I found the book itself quite interesting, I couldn't stop reading it, and I thought that Betty was quite a courageous person. But why has she kept the surname of a man who held her hostage???
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