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Book Reviews of Not Without My Daughter

Not Without My Daughter
Not Without My Daughter
Author: Betty Mahmoody
ISBN-13: 9780312911935
ISBN-10: 0312911939
Publication Date: 2/1991
Pages: 432
Rating:
  • Currently 4.5/5 Stars.
 30

4.5 stars, based on 30 ratings
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

49 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

RoyalCatwoman avatar reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 278 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Betty Lover met the perfect "dark stranger" in a Michigan hospital. Her Iranian therapist, Dr. Sayyed Bozorg Mahmoody, became her husband and the father of their daughter, Mahtob. Despite the vicissitudes of the Iran-U.S. hostage crisis, Betty and he flourished until their summer "vacation" in Iran in 1984. The next year and a half were a nightmare. Betty and Mahtob, held hostage by Mahmoody and his family, were subjected to Islamic fundamentalism, Persian nationalistic fanaticism, and a life of squalor. This compelling tale of their terror and escape from Iran is recommended for most libraries.
jazzysmom avatar reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 907 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This book was one of those that you will never forget. I think only a parent knowing their child was in danger could of been so strong amid all the things this mother went thru. I often think of this book since i have finished it and wonder what made her husband change so when he was a different man in the United States. Very scary. I loathed him in the end and thanked God aloud, that she did what she did and made it. Wonderful read.
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 84 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Imagine yourself alone and vulnerable, trapped by a husband you thought you trusted, and held prisoner in his native Iran, a land where women have no rights an Americans are "dispised" A must to be read.......
scrapbooklady avatar reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 472 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
"Not Without My Daughter" is an amazing story. Reading it gave me a greater appreciation for the freedoms I enjoy everyday: wearing clothes that I choose, being independent, even eating fresh and healthy foods. Betty's will for liberation is truly inspiring. I highly recommend this book!
JeepingNana avatar reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 19 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Oh my gosh! This book was awesome! Kept me on the edge of my chair the whole time I was reading it. I couldn't put it down. What a courageous, TRUE story. I will never forget it.
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on
Helpful Score: 1
An American woman married a gentle Iranian man, expecting to live in the U.S. with him for the rest of her life, but he became inflamed with religious and patriotic fervor and tricked her into visiting Iran with him, taking their daughter along. Once there, he made it clear that he intended to keep them there permanently, and as his wife was not compliant--in fact, she seems to have taken a dislike to everything Iranian--he became violent. If she decided to leave on her own, the government would, at her spouse's request, prevent her from taking her child--a plight that many Western women--and sometimes men--who married people from Islamic countries have fallen into. Her life in Iran was miserable, if interesting to read about, but with the help of other Iranians, she finally managed to escape from the country with her child. It is a thrilling and true story. Mahmoody has also written a sequel.
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
In August 1984 Michigan housewife Betty Mahmoody accompanied her husband to his native Iran for a two-week vacation. To her horror, he refused to let her and her four-year old daughter Mahtob, teturn home. Here is the true story of a curageous wifeand mother trapped in an alien country where women are nearslaves, americans are hated. And the only way out was through a dangerous underground that would bot take her child. This book is a very good book, one you will have a hard time putting down.
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 25 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
In August 1984 Michigan housewife Betty Mahmoody accompanited her husband to his native Iran for a two-week vacation . To her horror, he refused to let her and her four-year old daughter,Mahtob, return home. Here is the true story of a courageous wife and mother trapped in an alien country where women are nearslaves, Americans are heted, and the only way out was through a dangerous undergrand that would not take her child. If you like a good true story book this is a very good one to read.
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 32 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Very good book. I saw the movie a few times, but the books was even better. I did not want to put it down.
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 33 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This book is phenominal. Reading along you fall into the life of Betty Mahmoody, a happily married American woman. The big difference from many others is Betty is married to an Iranian man. She thinks he is totally Americanized.

On a "vacation" to Tehran Betty finds herself hostage to a husband she suddenly doesn't really know and a country whos beliefs are very different. Marriage to an Iranian makes you in Iranian by the laws in Iran.

The story tells of the risks and courage Betty showed to escape her husband and Iran with her daughter.

It was quite an eye opener. We not only learn about Betty and her daughter Mahtob, but we realize how fragile our rights as Americans can be.
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 4 more book reviews
great book that shows just how strong some women can be.
PBSmaven avatar reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 107 more book reviews
This is, without a doubt, one of the best books I've ever read. This is the true story of Betty Mahmoody and her daughter, Americans who went to Iran with Betty's husband and once there were held hostage. Their story of endurance, brutality, perseverence, faith, strength and courage is the most inspiring I've ever read. This book is a must read!
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 6 more book reviews
Wow This book was impossible to put down.
colie1718 avatar reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 70 more book reviews
A very good read. This book most definitely opened my eyes.I found it to be a bit emotionally draining as the characters are going through so much grief The ending is very satisfying. Try A Thousand Splendid Suns if you enjoy this book , or the film with Sally Field.
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on
This is a very interesting book, but I found it hard to read. The way that women were treated in Iran, according to this book, was very difficult to read about. It often left me angry, and completely unable to understand the Iranian culture. Her husband was a despicable person.
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 9 more book reviews
In 1984 a Michigan house wife accompanied her husband to his native country Iran for a two week vacation, so she thought. She and her 4 year old daughter Mahtob became virtual prisoners. Women in Iran are nearly slaves and Americans are despised.
She could easily leave Iran and go through a divorce but she is not aloud to leave Iran with her daughter, you see, in Iran, the father is considered the sole guardian of a child. Will she and her child make it back to the states?
lkelley avatar reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 3 more book reviews
Great read! Tons better than the move!
gamaw avatar reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 99 more book reviews
I have read this book twice and seen the movie. It is a very good story, as most true stories are. It did teach me one thing, that I would be very hesitant to move to such a foreign culture without some kind of legal, binding document before I left!
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on
It was an extremely well written book. The fact that the story itself was true added to the impact of the plot. I highly recommend reading this book.
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 3 more book reviews
Very good book, very enlightening & heartbreaking to think what some women endure.
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 9 more book reviews
A woman goes to her husband native land... IRAN, and takes their daughter 4 year old Mahtob. They become prisoners to her husband and his family. She can leave if she wishes but can not legally take the child back to the states with her. She will not leave her child at any cost. Will they make their way back home?
Handlebars avatar reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 153 more book reviews
an amazing story
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 17 more book reviews
This book was truly heart breaking, It was of a mothers courage and undying love for a daughter she would not leave nor give up for the sake of her own saftey or life for that matter.
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 496 more book reviews
A very moving book.
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 92 more book reviews
Scary to think the rights we American women have that are not universal. To loose all rights just by going with a husband to another country is appalling and then to have to escape, well this is one book that is hard to read and hard to put down.
sarah5775 avatar reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 386 more book reviews
One woman\'s harrowing true story. This book draws you in and makes you really care about the characters. A very good book.
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 124 more book reviews
Gives great insight to middle eastern countries. Here everything is milk and honey, and if an American goes there, its terror.
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 236 more book reviews
In August of 1984, Michigan housewife Betty Mahmoody accompanied her husband to his native Iran for a 2 week vacation. To her horror, she found herself and her 4 y/o daughter, Mahtob, virtual prisoners of a man rededicated to his Shiite Moslem faith, in a land where women are near slaves and Americans are despised. Their only hope for escape lay in a dangerous underground that would nto take her child...
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 12 more book reviews
As a control freak, I found this book very frustrating to read because her hands were tied from so many different avenues. It is hard to comprehend women living under these conditions.
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 7 more book reviews
A very interesting and informative true lifwe story about life in Iran as a woman.
Kmarie avatar reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 529 more book reviews
The true story of Betty Mahmoody's escape from Iran with her daughter after her Iranian husband attempted to turn a two-week vacation into a permanent relocation and a life of subservience for Betty and her daughter
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 96 more book reviews
The movie was good, but this was better. :-D
angelwolf avatar reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 74 more book reviews
awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 28 more book reviews
This is a very good book based on a true story saw the movie also a book you cant put down
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 44 more book reviews
Very good book! This is the true story of a woman married to an Iranian man, who goes to Iran in the 1980's for what she thinks is to be a 2 week vacation, when the time comes to go home to the U.S., her husband says they are staying there. He becomes abusive and the woman and her daughter are held prisoner by him and his family as she tries to find a way to get out of Iran with her daughter, since in Iran the children are the father's property. Very exciting and intesting.
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 87 more book reviews
a harrowing true story of a mother's courage
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 13 more book reviews
Absolutely amazing story. I couldn't put it down.
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 2 more book reviews
It was a very thought provoking book
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on
good book
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 15 more book reviews
good to read, emotionally is exhausting, you will really pull for the characters....
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 3558 more book reviews
Betty Lover met the perfect "dark stranger" in a Michigan hospital. Her Iranian therapist, Dr. Sayyed Bozorg Mahmoody, became her husband and the father of their daughter, Mahtob. Despite the vicissitudes of the Iran-U.S. hostage crisis, Betty and he flourished until their summer "vacation" in Iran in 1984. The next year and a half were a nightmare. Betty and Mahtob, held hostage by Mahmoody and his family, were subjected to Islamic fundamentalism, Persian nationalistic fanaticism, and a life of squalor. This compelling tale of their terror and escape from Iran is recommended for most libraries.
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on
Good story we read this for my book club, lots of interesting discussion.
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 84 more book reviews
In August 1984, Michigan housewife Betty Mahmoody accompanied her husband to his native Iran for a two-week vacation. To her horror, she found herself and her four-year-old daughter virtual prisoners of a man rededicated to his Shiite Moslem faith,in a land where women are near-slaves and Americans are despised. Their only hope for escape lay in a dangerous underground that would not take her child...
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 3 more book reviews
This is a wonderfully written book that is as hard for me to read as it is to put down. My Iranian father took me, my brother and sister from our British mother in 1979-80 and many scenes remind me of my experience as an 8 year old. The stereotypical Iranian male beliefs were certainly true in Betty's plight as in mine. I cry watching the movie...
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 91 more book reviews
A harrowing true story of a mother's courage.

In August 1984, Michigan housewife Betty Mahmoody accompanied her husband to his native Iran for a two-week vacation. To her horror, she found herself and her four-year-old daughter, Mahtob, virtual prisoners of a man rededicated to his Shiite Moslem faith, in a land where women are near-slaves and Americans are despised. Their only hope for escape lay in a dangerous underground that would not take her child......
LisaBeth0413 avatar reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 59 more book reviews
In August 1984, Michigan housewife Betty Mahmoody accompanied her husband to his native Iran for a two-week vacation. To her horror, she found herself and her four-year-old daughter, Mahtob, virtual prisoners of a man rededicated to his Shiite Moslem faith, in a land where women are near-slaves and Americans are despised. Their only hope for escape lay in a dangerous underground that would not take her child...

Now the true story of this courageous woman and her breathtaking odyssey bursts upon the screen in the Pathe Entertainment production starring Sally Field!
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 35 more book reviews
A wife and child go to her husband native Iran and only can escape by going underground that she wasn't allowed to take her daughter.
Grnemae avatar reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 451 more book reviews
In August 1984, Michigan housewife Betty Mahmoody accompanied her husband to his native Iran for a 2 week vacation. To her horror, she found herself and her 4 year old daughter, Mahtob, virtual prisoners of a man rededicated to his Shiite Moselm faith, in a lnad where women were near-slaves and Americans were despised. Their only hope for escape lay in a dangerous underground that would not take her child.
This true story was made into a movie starring Sally Field as Betty.
reviewed Not Without My Daughter on + 20 more book reviews
In August, 1984, Michigan housewife, Betty Mahmoody, accompanied her husband to his native Iran for a two-week vacation. To her horror, she found herself and her four-year-old daughter, Mahtob, virtual prisoners of a man rededicated to his Shiite Moslem faith, in a land where women are near-slaves and Americans are despised. Their only hope for escape lay in a dangerous underground that would not take her child......