Every Thursday morning, eight women secretly gather in a living room in Iran over tea and pastries to discuss forbidden works of Western literature. As they immerse themselves in the worlds of Lolita, The Great Gatsby, and Pride and Prejudice, they gradually begin to share their own stories, dreams, and hopes, tasting freedom for a few hours. Azar Nafisi's bestselling memoir is a poignant, passionate testament to the transformative power of books, the magic of words, and the quest for beauty in the darkest moments of life.