we pondered the trials and tribulations of being a writer in Iran, having so much to say but not being allowed to say it.

Sometimes I think men just can’t relate to how difficult it is to be a woman in this country, she said with frustration.

First, none of us can avoid being contaminated by the world’s evils; it’s all a matter of what attitude you take towards them. And second, you always talk about the effect of “these people” on you. Have you ever thought about your effect on them?

“We won’t communicate once you go.” In response to my startled look, he said, “Call it self-defense or cowardice; I don’t want to be in touch with those of my friends who are lucky enough to leave.”

the point is that as long as we accept this charade called elections and hope that some Rafsanjani or Khatami can save us, we deserve our later disenchantments.”

Sanaz says that given a choice between bad and worse, you choose the bad, and Manna shoots back that she doesn’t want a nicer jail warden—she wants to be out of jail.

“No one ever taught me how to be happy. We’ve been taught that pleasure is the great sin, that sex is for procreation and so on and on and forth.

everyone talked about Khatami, whom it was our moral duty to vote for. It was not enough that for over seventeen years the clerics had announced that voting was not just a duty but a religious duty; we ourselves had now adopted the same stance. There were fights and ruptures in friendships over this matter.

“If everybody leaves,” said Mahshid, her eyes glued to the floor, “who will help make something of this country? How can we be so irresponsible?” This was a question I asked myself day and night. We can’t all leave this country, Bijan had told me—this is our home.