Unfortunately for governments like that of Iran, when they forbid something, people become more interested.

The best work of literature to represent the American Dream is 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It shows us how dreaming can be tainted by reality, and that if you don't compromise, you may suffer.

None of us can avoid being contaminated by the world's evils; it's all a matter of what attitude you take towards them.

A good novel is one that shows the complexity of individuals, and creates enough space for all these characters to have a voice; in this way a novel is called democratic - not that it advocates democracy but that by nature it is so. Empathy lies at the heart of Gatsby, like so many other great novels - the biggest sin is to be blind to others' problems and pains. Not seeing them means denying their existence.

A bad author can take the most moral issue and make you want to just never, ever think about that moral issue.

A novel is not moral in the usual sense of the word. It can be called moral when it shakes us out of our stupor and makes us confront the absolutes we believe in.

When I was teaching at the University of Tehran we were struggling against the implementation of the revolution rules.