The daughter at the center of the international bestseller Not Without My Daughter completes her story: escaping from Iran, growing up in fear, battling deadly disease, and learning to forgive. Two decades ago, millions of readers worldwide thrilled to the story told in the international bestseller Not Without My Daughter–subsequently made into a film starring Sally Field–that told of an … an American mother and her six-year-old child’s daring escape from an abusive and tyrannical Iranian husband and father. Now the daughter returns to tell the whole story, not only of that imprisonment and escape but of life after fleeing Tehran: living in fear of re-abduction, enduring recurring nightmares and panic attacks, attending school under a false name, battling life-threatening illness–all under the menacing shadow of her father.
This is the story of an extraordinary young woman’s triumph over life-crushing trauma to build a life of peace and forgiveness. Taking readers from Michigan to Iran and from Ankara, Turkey, to Paris, France, My Name Is Mahtob depicts the profound resilience of a wounded soul healed by faith in God’s goodness and in his care and love. And Mahmoody reveals the secret of how she liberated herself from a life of fear, learning to forgive the father who had shattered her life and discovering joy and peace that comes from doing so.
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I read this a few months ago and the entire story still sticks with me. I didn’t think there was much I didn’t know about the story of Mahtob, having seen the movie “Not Without my Daughter”. I was wrong. This book adds a lot of color and perspective on what happened while Mahtob and her mom were held captive by Mahtob’s dad – but the lifelong impact it’s had on Mahtob, and her perspective on life and all that has happened since was so interesting. Well written and very enjoyable. Loved it!
A LITTLE SLOW READING
Just as stressful as the original story written by the author’s mother.
Several years ago I read “Not Without My Daughter” and I was deeply touched by that book. I was a young mother at the time and I just couldn’t imagine being trapped in Betty’s situation. Reading true stories are always more memorable and this book is no exception. I highly recommend this book. It won’t keep you up at night, but it will be a book you won’t forget.
A must read for those who read Betty Mahmoody’s book, Not Without My Daughter. This is her daughter, Mahtob’s account of there life after escaping from the clutches of her tyrannical father in Iran. Inspiration, heartbreaking & moving.
Based on real life. A follow-up to the movie Not Without My Daughter. Everyone could benefit from thus real life story!
Slow
Still reading very interesting true story
I enjoyed the book and movie about this girl and her mother ( Not Without My Daughter) so I wanted to read from the daughter’s perspective what she experienced. I was sorry that she was torn from forgiving her father. That is a heavy weight to carry. It helped me understand more about the culture that she experienced.
Stopped about 1/3 of the way through – just not that interesting to me
Gripping, informative, great read
Great read
This was a wonderful telling of the story of the girl whose mother wrote “Not Without my Daughter.” It is the memories of a very bright and brave girl starting with her earliest memories and continuing up to her young adulthood. It is tragic but hopeful.
Read the book Not WithoutMy Daughter and saw the movie years ago. …Very interesting to read Matoob’s story and read how her life went after being rescued.
Great follow-up to her mother’s story. Tragic having to live with the idea of repurcussions from her father. Psychologists understand that sometimes it’s ok to not seek closure from a family member who is abusive. Only a very healthy mind can say no more and never look back. Beautiful and loving mother-daughter support.
It was many years ago that I read “Not Without My Daughter” This book tells us the story from the daughter’s point of view as a child first in Iran and later after their escape and her life in the United States. Mahtob parents met as students in the U.S., her father is a doctor, sometimes loving but grows more and more angry and abusive when he convinces Mahtob’s mother to leave for a vacation in Iran to visit his family. Once in Iran he confiscates their passports and refuses to let them leave while he controls their every move.
They eventually escape but continue to life in fear that they might be kidnapped by the father or someone in the family. Mahtob’s mother has great resilience and strength which she passes on to her daughter enabling them both to succeed. Mahtob learns to forgive, at least on some level and that her hatred and bitterness will destroy her if she cannot learn to trust and love.
Liked knowing how her life turned out as she grew up
Dragged on and on about her feelings, actually just boring
Sometimes couldn’t believe it really happened but it did. Amazing strength exhibited by Mahtob.