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In the Time of Our History
Inspired by her own Iranian-American heritage, the acclaimed author weaves a beautifully crafted story of mothers and daughters, secrets and lies, and defying expectations—even when those choices come with an irrevocable cost.
Twelve months after her younger sister Anahita’s death, Mitra Jahani reluctantly returns to her parents’ home in suburban New Jersey to observe the Iranian custom of “The One Year.” Ana is always in Mitra’s heart, though they chose very different paths. While Ana, sweet and dutiful, bowed to their domineering father’s demands and married, Mitra rebelled, and was banished.
Caught in the middle is their mother, Shireen, torn between her fierce love for her surviving daughter and her loyalty to her husband. Yet his callousness even amid shattering loss has compelled her to rethink her own decades of submission. And when Mitra is suddenly forced to confront hard truths about her sister’s life, and the secrets each of them hid to protect others, mother and daughter reach a new understanding—and forge an unexpected path forward.
Alive with the tensions, sacrifices and joys that thrum within the heart of every family, In the Time of Our History is also laced with the richness of ancient and modern Persian culture and politics, in a tale that is both timeless and profoundly relevant.
Twelve months after her younger sister Anahita’s death, Mitra Jahani reluctantly returns to her parents’ home in suburban New Jersey to observe the Iranian custom of “The One Year.” Ana is always in Mitra’s heart, though they chose very different paths. While Ana, sweet and dutiful, bowed to their domineering father’s demands and married, Mitra rebelled, and was banished.
Caught in the middle is their mother, Shireen, torn between her fierce love for her surviving daughter and her loyalty to her husband. Yet his callousness even amid shattering loss has compelled her to rethink her own decades of submission. And when Mitra is suddenly forced to confront hard truths about her sister’s life, and the secrets each of them hid to protect others, mother and daughter reach a new understanding—and forge an unexpected path forward.
Alive with the tensions, sacrifices and joys that thrum within the heart of every family, In the Time of Our History is also laced with the richness of ancient and modern Persian culture and politics, in a tale that is both timeless and profoundly relevant.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 2023
About the author
Susanne Pari
5 books271 followersSusanne Pari is a novelist, journalist, essayist, book reviewer, and author interviewer. Born in New Jersey to an Iranian father and an American mother, she grew up both in the United States and Iran until the 1979 Islamic Revolution forced her family into permanent exile. Since then, her writing has focused on stories of displacement and belonging, of identity and assimilation, of trauma and resilience.
Susanne's first novel, The Fortune Catcher, told the story of a young woman—American and Iranian, Jewish and Muslim—caught in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution. It has been translated into six languages. Her second novel, IN THE TIME OF OUR HISTORY, is about a large immigrant family grappling with the future of their traditions as their American-born children step outside their expected roles, shaking loose their foundations—and their secrets.
Susanne's non-fiction writing has appeared in The New York Times Sunday Magazine, The Christian Science Monitor, The Boston Globe, The San Francisco Chronicle, National Public Radio, and Medium.
Susanne was the Program Director for the 25 literary salons of Book Group Expo and is still a strong supporter of book clubs and their facilitators. She is a mentor to immigrant and first generation writers and contributes to the Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies. She taught writing for the Afghan Women's Writing Project, was a judge for The California Center for the Book’s Letters About Literature Contest and for the Lakota Children's Enrichment Writing Project. She's a member of the National Book Critics Circle, PEN America, and The San Francisco Writers’ Grotto. She divides her time between Northern California and New York.
Susanne's first novel, The Fortune Catcher, told the story of a young woman—American and Iranian, Jewish and Muslim—caught in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution. It has been translated into six languages. Her second novel, IN THE TIME OF OUR HISTORY, is about a large immigrant family grappling with the future of their traditions as their American-born children step outside their expected roles, shaking loose their foundations—and their secrets.
Susanne's non-fiction writing has appeared in The New York Times Sunday Magazine, The Christian Science Monitor, The Boston Globe, The San Francisco Chronicle, National Public Radio, and Medium.
Susanne was the Program Director for the 25 literary salons of Book Group Expo and is still a strong supporter of book clubs and their facilitators. She is a mentor to immigrant and first generation writers and contributes to the Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies. She taught writing for the Afghan Women's Writing Project, was a judge for The California Center for the Book’s Letters About Literature Contest and for the Lakota Children's Enrichment Writing Project. She's a member of the National Book Critics Circle, PEN America, and The San Francisco Writers’ Grotto. She divides her time between Northern California and New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 654 reviews
February 7, 2023
In a Nutshell: An interesting look at the conflicting identities of first and second-generation Irani-Americans. Somewhat predictable, especially for those who have read this genre and are exposed to similar cultures as Yours Truly is. Good for readers who like dysfunctional family dramas.
Story Synopsis:
Where the book worked for me:
🌷 The three women characters – Shireen, Mitra, and Anahita – are nicely sketched, even if they might not always be likeable. One can perceive the reasons for their behaviour from the content without going into too many assumptions. I liked how each of the three ladies had a strong will, though it might not immediately be obvious. The story reveals Mitra first and then Shireen and Anahita through peeled layers.
🌷 Some of the secondary characters too, though they don’t get much page space, end up as memorable. Olga and Vivian/Vivienne (not sure which spelling applies) were very interesting among these, along with Nasim, the only Irani male character who didn’t fit into a clichéd mould.
🌷 As an OwnVoices work, (the author is a half-Iranian whose parents too fled the 1979 Islamic Revolution) the book shows us amazing glimpses of the Iranian culture, from food to rituals to superstitions.
🌷 The book begins impressively, though it takes some time to get started. The timeline isn’t linear and there are a lot of flashbacks and reminiscences. However, all the backstories work wonderfully in helping us understand characters and their motivations better. (Of course, this approach will work only for those who like character-oriented narratives. Plot-driven book lovers might find this tough to get around.)
🌷 The book explores varied dark themes such as grief, sexual assault, adultery, patriarchy, mental abuse, and parental abuse. It does justice to most. It also depicts the struggles and identity crises of second-gen immigrants, who always have one foot in each culture and end up fitting in neither.
🌷 The writing is truly beautiful, with sentences strung together in ways that made me long for a physical or even a digital copy. The biggest issue with audiobooks is that I can’t highlight lines I loved.
🌷 For a story dealing with so many tragedies, the ending is exactly as it is supposed to be, though a bit farfetched. Some loops were resolved, some were left dangling with potential.
🌷 There are some interlude chapters from minor characters which took a bit of getting used to in the audio version, but they boosted the plot well.
Where the book could have worked better for me:
🌵 Almost every male character in the book was a negative stereotype. I get that cultural dramas must be authentic, but it’s not always the men and definitely not only the men who were at fault. It’s high time representation shows a genuine picture regardless of gender.
🌵 There’s one new character introduced pretty late in the book, whose main purpose I assume is to show us the next gen of Iranian women. It felt like a needless addition as the core story was about the Jahanis and it should have restricted itself to that rather than making a broader social comment.
🌵 It’s quite predictable. Everyone has a secret that devastating. Everyone behaves the way they are expected to once the secret is out. As the Irani and Indian cultures are so similar, I didn’t find much novelty in the proceedings. It was like a serious Bollywood family drama with Iranian characters instead of Indian.
🌵 Some of the content seems anachronous. I am not too sure of this as the exact year the story is set in isn’t mentioned. But I am fairly certain that ‘gaslighting’ wasn’t a term used in the 1990s.
The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at almost 12 hours, is narrated by Mozhan Marnò, who is also an Irani-American and hence a good fit for this narration. She was spot on with her accents and character voices. I only wished she performed emotions better. Like when characters are crying, the line is better read in a shaky voice so that we know what’s happening. It’s weird to hear the sentence being narrated normally and then hearing, ‘She sobbed.’
All in all, this is a character-oriented drama about a dysfunctional Irani-American family. It has good potential as a book club read because there’s so much to explore. It might not have blown me away due to my familiarity with the ethos of this culture, but it was still a satisfying read.
3.75 stars.
My thanks to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “In the Time of Our History”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
A year after her younger sister Anahita’s death, Mitra Jahani is back at her parents’ home in New Jersey for the ‘One Year’, an Iranian custom. Anahita had always been sweet and dutiful, while Mitra was the rebel, following her own path than the wishes of her dictatorial father. Mitra’s docile mother Shireen has always found herself caught between her husband and her daughters. Mitra’s return after almost two decades leads to several skeletons tumbling out from the cupboards, making every character wonder if they truly knew the others.
The story comes to us in the third person perspective of various key characters, including the three surviving members of the Jahani family.
Where the book worked for me:
🌷 The three women characters – Shireen, Mitra, and Anahita – are nicely sketched, even if they might not always be likeable. One can perceive the reasons for their behaviour from the content without going into too many assumptions. I liked how each of the three ladies had a strong will, though it might not immediately be obvious. The story reveals Mitra first and then Shireen and Anahita through peeled layers.
🌷 Some of the secondary characters too, though they don’t get much page space, end up as memorable. Olga and Vivian/Vivienne (not sure which spelling applies) were very interesting among these, along with Nasim, the only Irani male character who didn’t fit into a clichéd mould.
🌷 As an OwnVoices work, (the author is a half-Iranian whose parents too fled the 1979 Islamic Revolution) the book shows us amazing glimpses of the Iranian culture, from food to rituals to superstitions.
🌷 The book begins impressively, though it takes some time to get started. The timeline isn’t linear and there are a lot of flashbacks and reminiscences. However, all the backstories work wonderfully in helping us understand characters and their motivations better. (Of course, this approach will work only for those who like character-oriented narratives. Plot-driven book lovers might find this tough to get around.)
🌷 The book explores varied dark themes such as grief, sexual assault, adultery, patriarchy, mental abuse, and parental abuse. It does justice to most. It also depicts the struggles and identity crises of second-gen immigrants, who always have one foot in each culture and end up fitting in neither.
🌷 The writing is truly beautiful, with sentences strung together in ways that made me long for a physical or even a digital copy. The biggest issue with audiobooks is that I can’t highlight lines I loved.
🌷 For a story dealing with so many tragedies, the ending is exactly as it is supposed to be, though a bit farfetched. Some loops were resolved, some were left dangling with potential.
🌷 There are some interlude chapters from minor characters which took a bit of getting used to in the audio version, but they boosted the plot well.
Where the book could have worked better for me:
🌵 Almost every male character in the book was a negative stereotype. I get that cultural dramas must be authentic, but it’s not always the men and definitely not only the men who were at fault. It’s high time representation shows a genuine picture regardless of gender.
🌵 There’s one new character introduced pretty late in the book, whose main purpose I assume is to show us the next gen of Iranian women. It felt like a needless addition as the core story was about the Jahanis and it should have restricted itself to that rather than making a broader social comment.
🌵 It’s quite predictable. Everyone has a secret that devastating. Everyone behaves the way they are expected to once the secret is out. As the Irani and Indian cultures are so similar, I didn’t find much novelty in the proceedings. It was like a serious Bollywood family drama with Iranian characters instead of Indian.
🌵 Some of the content seems anachronous. I am not too sure of this as the exact year the story is set in isn’t mentioned. But I am fairly certain that ‘gaslighting’ wasn’t a term used in the 1990s.
The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at almost 12 hours, is narrated by Mozhan Marnò, who is also an Irani-American and hence a good fit for this narration. She was spot on with her accents and character voices. I only wished she performed emotions better. Like when characters are crying, the line is better read in a shaky voice so that we know what’s happening. It’s weird to hear the sentence being narrated normally and then hearing, ‘She sobbed.’
All in all, this is a character-oriented drama about a dysfunctional Irani-American family. It has good potential as a book club read because there’s so much to explore. It might not have blown me away due to my familiarity with the ethos of this culture, but it was still a satisfying read.
3.75 stars.
My thanks to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “In the Time of Our History”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
January 28, 2023
In the Time of Our History by Susanne Pari is an Iranian-American Family Fiction Story!
Mitra Jahani travels from her home in San Francisco to her parents' home in New Jersey to observe the Iranian custom "The One Year" of her sister Anahita's death.
These two sisters were miles apart in their desired paths for the future. Anahita chose the traditional route encouraged by her father, agreeing to marriage and children. Mitra took the rebellious route against her father's wishes, refusing marriage and children, opting for a single life and career.
Anahita remained in her father's favor. Mitra does not. Yet the two sister's love for one another never wavered, staying connected through the miles and years, until Anahita's untimely death a year ago.
In the middle is their quiet mother, Shireen. Despite unfaltering love for Mitra, she remains loyal to her callous husband. The long, painful year after Anahita's death provided time for her to reflect on years of acquiescence to her husband and her roles as a wife, mother, and woman.
Then, Mitra discovers shocking truths about her sister's past that she's forced to reckon with...
In The Time of Our History holds a deep family connection with the history of the late 20th century swirling through the book. The cultural differences between modern America vs Iran traditions are pronounced and at the heart of the story. The discord within the family and those around them is heart-wrenching!
The characters are drawn fully and carefully by this author. You feel the pain within this family, the frustrations in the expected roles of women, and the conflict of generational changes between the young and old. There is also richness in the unbreakable love between this mother and her daughters and deep relationships within this story that stand the test of time.
I had both a physical ARC and an ALC of this book choosing to toggle between the two formats. The audiobook narrator, Mozhan Marnò, has such versatile voicing skills, I mostly listened, but the visual experience of reading will always be my late-night choice!
In the Time of Our History has realistic family situations, cultural topics, historical settings, diverse characterizations, it's the type of Family Fiction story that draws me in, and one I didn't want to end. It's a wonderful beginning to my 2023 reading year and I highly recommend! 5 beautifully written stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Kensington Books for the physical ARC through Goodreads Giveaways, and NetGalley, HighBridge Audio, and Susanne Pari for the ALC. It's a pleasure to give my honest review.
Mitra Jahani travels from her home in San Francisco to her parents' home in New Jersey to observe the Iranian custom "The One Year" of her sister Anahita's death.
These two sisters were miles apart in their desired paths for the future. Anahita chose the traditional route encouraged by her father, agreeing to marriage and children. Mitra took the rebellious route against her father's wishes, refusing marriage and children, opting for a single life and career.
Anahita remained in her father's favor. Mitra does not. Yet the two sister's love for one another never wavered, staying connected through the miles and years, until Anahita's untimely death a year ago.
In the middle is their quiet mother, Shireen. Despite unfaltering love for Mitra, she remains loyal to her callous husband. The long, painful year after Anahita's death provided time for her to reflect on years of acquiescence to her husband and her roles as a wife, mother, and woman.
Then, Mitra discovers shocking truths about her sister's past that she's forced to reckon with...
In The Time of Our History holds a deep family connection with the history of the late 20th century swirling through the book. The cultural differences between modern America vs Iran traditions are pronounced and at the heart of the story. The discord within the family and those around them is heart-wrenching!
The characters are drawn fully and carefully by this author. You feel the pain within this family, the frustrations in the expected roles of women, and the conflict of generational changes between the young and old. There is also richness in the unbreakable love between this mother and her daughters and deep relationships within this story that stand the test of time.
I had both a physical ARC and an ALC of this book choosing to toggle between the two formats. The audiobook narrator, Mozhan Marnò, has such versatile voicing skills, I mostly listened, but the visual experience of reading will always be my late-night choice!
In the Time of Our History has realistic family situations, cultural topics, historical settings, diverse characterizations, it's the type of Family Fiction story that draws me in, and one I didn't want to end. It's a wonderful beginning to my 2023 reading year and I highly recommend! 5 beautifully written stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Kensington Books for the physical ARC through Goodreads Giveaways, and NetGalley, HighBridge Audio, and Susanne Pari for the ALC. It's a pleasure to give my honest review.
November 16, 2022
Influenced by the author’s family’s experiences following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, this story takes place among a community of Iranian immigrants in 1990s New Jersey. In a culture and generation where traditional gender roles are set in stone and women are subjugated to men, Mitra, because of a decision she made, is cut off by her father and living in California. When she returns for the one year anniversary of the tragic death of her sister, niece, and nephew, secrets are revealed and life altering events are set in place.
The author has a beautiful way with words as she weaves this tale of the immigrant experience. There is joy, sadness, tension, anger, growth, and evolution. A touching, poignant read specific to an Iranian American family; I think most of us can find something with which to relate in this realistic portrait of a family grappling with cultural and generational differences. And don’t be surprised if you have a hankering for an expertly brewed cup of tea while reading.
A five star read that I think would be a good addition to any book club’s reading list.
Thanks to #netgalley and #kensingtonbooks for the ARC
The author has a beautiful way with words as she weaves this tale of the immigrant experience. There is joy, sadness, tension, anger, growth, and evolution. A touching, poignant read specific to an Iranian American family; I think most of us can find something with which to relate in this realistic portrait of a family grappling with cultural and generational differences. And don’t be surprised if you have a hankering for an expertly brewed cup of tea while reading.
A five star read that I think would be a good addition to any book club’s reading list.
Thanks to #netgalley and #kensingtonbooks for the ARC
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
March 31, 2023Thank you to Susanne Pari and NetGalley for a gifted advanced digital copy to read of IN THE TIME OF OUR HISTORY.
A year after her younger sister's death, Mitra returns home to her parents in observance of a traditional Iranian custom. What ensues is basically a lot of family drama, spiced with the depth and beauty of Iranian custom and Persian history.
I DNFed this book at 63%.
I found the style so difficult to read. My biggest frustration had to do with the treatment of time. It favors interspersing back story throughout the narrative, rather than alternating timelines or delivering big sections of back story all at once. This approach is typically my preference also, but it lingers too long in the past, whenever it takes the reader there. Then, in returning to the present moment in the narrative, the transitions are always quite rough.
I often felt disoriented in this story. As it was, I couldn't connect enough to have any interest in the characters or their outcomes.
Recommend? Yes, as I think it's a "me" thing.
A year after her younger sister's death, Mitra returns home to her parents in observance of a traditional Iranian custom. What ensues is basically a lot of family drama, spiced with the depth and beauty of Iranian custom and Persian history.
I DNFed this book at 63%.
I found the style so difficult to read. My biggest frustration had to do with the treatment of time. It favors interspersing back story throughout the narrative, rather than alternating timelines or delivering big sections of back story all at once. This approach is typically my preference also, but it lingers too long in the past, whenever it takes the reader there. Then, in returning to the present moment in the narrative, the transitions are always quite rough.
I often felt disoriented in this story. As it was, I couldn't connect enough to have any interest in the characters or their outcomes.
Recommend? Yes, as I think it's a "me" thing.
April 21, 2022
A good read, very thought provoking with wonderful reader's guide questions to ponder at the end. This would be a rich choice for a book club especially in a group wishing to read more diverse material. It was great to read such quality literature from another culture that is so different in many aspects from my small rural hometown. Recommend highly.
January 26, 2023
Format: audiobook ~ Narrator: Mozhan Marnò
Content: 4.5 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars
Complete audiobook review
One year after her sister’s death, Mitra Jahani returns home. She remembers Anahita, her sister. She was a sweet and always obedient daughter, while Mitra was the rebel of the family.
Mitra was banished after her outrageous act in her youth. After many years, her father still didn’t forget, and even today doesn’t speak to her. Still, she is allowed to come home for the Iranian custom »The One Year«.
Her parents fled Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Like many others, they hoped they would go back one day. But they never returned, for Iran was never the same country as before.
Thanks to HighBridge Audio for the ALC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
Content: 4.5 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars
Complete audiobook review
One year after her sister’s death, Mitra Jahani returns home. She remembers Anahita, her sister. She was a sweet and always obedient daughter, while Mitra was the rebel of the family.
Mitra was banished after her outrageous act in her youth. After many years, her father still didn’t forget, and even today doesn’t speak to her. Still, she is allowed to come home for the Iranian custom »The One Year«.
Her parents fled Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Like many others, they hoped they would go back one day. But they never returned, for Iran was never the same country as before.
Thanks to HighBridge Audio for the ALC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
October 12, 2022
What an appropriately timed novel which the author could not have surmised when she began this book. The Iranian American author, daughter to an Iranian father and American mother, must know intimately of what she writes. She was born in NJ and lived in the US and Iran after fleeing the latter country in 1979 due to the Islamic Revolution. This marvelous story of of immigrants and the first generations settled into the US has peculiarities pertinent to the Iranian-American diaspora but many of the issues can be generalizable to the conflict between the old customs and the assimilation to a new country. Often, it is said, immigrants straddle both worlds, rocking their identity as to whom they belong to. In this case we are presented with the Johani family, a strictly patriarchal father with 2 daughters. Mitra, the eldest, is a "bulldog", rebellious, tough and insensitive to her little sister who meekly follows what her father wants. When Mitra refuses an arranged marriage through mostly irreversible methods, her father banishes her from their home on the East Coast and she moves to San Francisco. She has not talked with her father in years but after the sudden death of her sister and her children, she must attend the "one year" anniversary of that traumatic event. What happens hereafter is a story of familial love/hate, expectations, morality, infidelity, secrecy and family traditions. Her father shuns her while she is home but her mother, who has been subservient to him her whole life, begins to mentally tussle with subjecting herself to his treatment after a particular egregious incident. As the role of women in this patriarchal society is explored, one cannot help but reflect what is going on with the riots in Iran currently over the death of a woman whom the morality police beat for not wearing her hijab correctly. It has become Iran's "George Floyd" moment as women are burning their hijabs and protesting in the streets. The tussle between the old and the new is reflected in the book as well as family members return for a visit to Iran. Family is everything in Iran and the book reflects the wide net caste in the involvement of family members in each other's lives. Mitra is the focal character, drawn perfectly as a complex but business like individual. It is through her grief at her sister's death that she evolves as a character and nourishes her more emotional self leading to a stronger mother and daughter relationship.
I truly loved this book and hope all run out to explore the vivid world in which this family lived.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.
I truly loved this book and hope all run out to explore the vivid world in which this family lived.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.
June 15, 2022
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on January 3rd, 2023.
Writing: 5/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot: 5/5
I loved this character and culture driven drama about an extended Iranian American family post the 1979 Islamic revolution. The characters have depth and nuance that take them far beyond the obvious stereotypes that *could* describe each of them: the family patriarch, the obedient wife, the rebellious daughter, the faithful family retainer. The depictions are honest — no clear heroes or victims, no melodramatic righteous rage — just people finding their way while blending an inherited traditional culture with the modern practices of their new home.
The language is powerful but never manipulative, and the stories feel real. Moral dilemmas — with no clearly correct solutions — abound, and the frank and straightforward discussions of some of them — perceived racism, roles for women, infidelity, etc. — are captivating. I loved the way immigrants were depicted as individuals, each with their own backstory, set of initial circumstances, and eventual integration paths — none following the same script. Also — one of the best first lines I’ve read in a long while.
Set in the late 1990s and taking place in New Jersey and San Francisco. Great for fans of “Of a Place For Us” by Fatima Farheen Mirza. Highly recommended!
Quotes:
“Espresso and anxiety — well behaved on their own, rambunctious as urchins together.”
“Mitra, on the other hand, had once told a flirtatious union official that if he didn’t smell like a sewer in non ninety-degreee weather, she might consider thanking him for staring blatantly at her breasts. Another time, Mitra told the mayor’s secretary — a consistently rude person — to call after her PMS was over.”
“Anahita had innately understood that it was a traditional woman’s responsibility to refract unwanted male attention, a concept Mitra once denounced as a direct offshoot of the idea of hejab, invented and perpetuated by men who didn’t want to take responsibility for their own lust.”
“I also had a difficult father. Some people cannot abandon their misery. Mitra studied him. His face was drawn, his mouth pulled down either end. ‘Is that how you justify their behaviour?’ ‘No, it is how I keep from hating them. Hate takes too much energy.’ ”
“This was the dynamic, false though it was on its face. Mitra tried to see Akram the way Julian did. ‘She’s just confused, Mitra. Wouldn’t you be? She’s never known anything different. We have to teach her.’ Mitra hates those lines; they sounded like something from a Kipling story about the civilized enlightening the natives. As if the Western world was devoid of poor, uneducated, and bitter people.”
“Surely someone had reminded her of this fact: that few people escaped the tragedy of senseless death, that suffering had no purpose, no meaning, no justification. But she hadn’t heard, hadn’t listened. Until now. Why now? She didn’t know. It didn’t matter. She got it.”
“This is what I’m explaining, Shireen. You came to American, and while you were here, Iran moved forward. After the Kennedys invited the Shah and Farah to visit America, the rush to reform was on. Not only did the landscape change — the buildings and roads and modern conveniences — but also the people, the culture. Even the traditional families couldn’t ignore the excitement of it — the opportunities for prosperity, technology, for resistance against Soviet influence.”
“Mitra squinted at the tube of the jetway and spotted her mother between the hulking arms of two businessmen, their suit bags hanging off their shoulders like slaughtered game.”
“Perhaps she’d seen too many TV talk shows where women displayed their mistakes and misfortunes as if they were wares on a blanket at the bazaar. Or perhaps she knew now that so few outcomes in life could be controlled.”
“The mere fact of their abandonment was a stigma, a curse almost, that prevented them from being wanted by anyone. They came from bad stock, from people in such dire straits or lacking such humanity and sense of goodness that they could abandon their own offspring.”
“Those were the days when she didn’t want to have much to do with her parent’s culture, which prized opaque symbolism excessively. The harder a person had to work to discover hidden meanings, the higher its value.”
Writing: 5/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot: 5/5
I loved this character and culture driven drama about an extended Iranian American family post the 1979 Islamic revolution. The characters have depth and nuance that take them far beyond the obvious stereotypes that *could* describe each of them: the family patriarch, the obedient wife, the rebellious daughter, the faithful family retainer. The depictions are honest — no clear heroes or victims, no melodramatic righteous rage — just people finding their way while blending an inherited traditional culture with the modern practices of their new home.
The language is powerful but never manipulative, and the stories feel real. Moral dilemmas — with no clearly correct solutions — abound, and the frank and straightforward discussions of some of them — perceived racism, roles for women, infidelity, etc. — are captivating. I loved the way immigrants were depicted as individuals, each with their own backstory, set of initial circumstances, and eventual integration paths — none following the same script. Also — one of the best first lines I’ve read in a long while.
Set in the late 1990s and taking place in New Jersey and San Francisco. Great for fans of “Of a Place For Us” by Fatima Farheen Mirza. Highly recommended!
Quotes:
“Espresso and anxiety — well behaved on their own, rambunctious as urchins together.”
“Mitra, on the other hand, had once told a flirtatious union official that if he didn’t smell like a sewer in non ninety-degreee weather, she might consider thanking him for staring blatantly at her breasts. Another time, Mitra told the mayor’s secretary — a consistently rude person — to call after her PMS was over.”
“Anahita had innately understood that it was a traditional woman’s responsibility to refract unwanted male attention, a concept Mitra once denounced as a direct offshoot of the idea of hejab, invented and perpetuated by men who didn’t want to take responsibility for their own lust.”
“I also had a difficult father. Some people cannot abandon their misery. Mitra studied him. His face was drawn, his mouth pulled down either end. ‘Is that how you justify their behaviour?’ ‘No, it is how I keep from hating them. Hate takes too much energy.’ ”
“This was the dynamic, false though it was on its face. Mitra tried to see Akram the way Julian did. ‘She’s just confused, Mitra. Wouldn’t you be? She’s never known anything different. We have to teach her.’ Mitra hates those lines; they sounded like something from a Kipling story about the civilized enlightening the natives. As if the Western world was devoid of poor, uneducated, and bitter people.”
“Surely someone had reminded her of this fact: that few people escaped the tragedy of senseless death, that suffering had no purpose, no meaning, no justification. But she hadn’t heard, hadn’t listened. Until now. Why now? She didn’t know. It didn’t matter. She got it.”
“This is what I’m explaining, Shireen. You came to American, and while you were here, Iran moved forward. After the Kennedys invited the Shah and Farah to visit America, the rush to reform was on. Not only did the landscape change — the buildings and roads and modern conveniences — but also the people, the culture. Even the traditional families couldn’t ignore the excitement of it — the opportunities for prosperity, technology, for resistance against Soviet influence.”
“Mitra squinted at the tube of the jetway and spotted her mother between the hulking arms of two businessmen, their suit bags hanging off their shoulders like slaughtered game.”
“Perhaps she’d seen too many TV talk shows where women displayed their mistakes and misfortunes as if they were wares on a blanket at the bazaar. Or perhaps she knew now that so few outcomes in life could be controlled.”
“The mere fact of their abandonment was a stigma, a curse almost, that prevented them from being wanted by anyone. They came from bad stock, from people in such dire straits or lacking such humanity and sense of goodness that they could abandon their own offspring.”
“Those were the days when she didn’t want to have much to do with her parent’s culture, which prized opaque symbolism excessively. The harder a person had to work to discover hidden meanings, the higher its value.”
January 5, 2023
This book scratched an itch I didn't even realize I had. I often find myself disconnected from other own voices narratives, predictably and obviously because those voices are not my own. But I'm forced to read those novels about Afghans or Turkmens or Nigerians or Brazilians because so rarely is there an Iranian own voices novel where I can see myself reflected so clearly. If I want to see even a fuzzy or incomplete reflection of myself in a narrative, I have to settle for other people's stories.
But in this book, I finally found a home. I identified so thoroughly and painfully with Mitra's story, even if every facet or our lives aren't identical. It's so rare for someone to write a story about being a first-gen child to immigrant Iranian parents who were displaced by an upheaval so subtly brutal that no one even noticed it had happened. For once, I saw my experiences and understanding of my heritage described so accurately I had to take a seat every so often when a line just hit me. I ended up staying up until 4am on my last day of my annual leave to finish this book because I was so compelled, not just by the story itself, but by seeing my experiences reflected in writing. A must read for other Iranian immigrants or first gen kids.
But in this book, I finally found a home. I identified so thoroughly and painfully with Mitra's story, even if every facet or our lives aren't identical. It's so rare for someone to write a story about being a first-gen child to immigrant Iranian parents who were displaced by an upheaval so subtly brutal that no one even noticed it had happened. For once, I saw my experiences and understanding of my heritage described so accurately I had to take a seat every so often when a line just hit me. I ended up staying up until 4am on my last day of my annual leave to finish this book because I was so compelled, not just by the story itself, but by seeing my experiences reflected in writing. A must read for other Iranian immigrants or first gen kids.
January 10, 2023
This was my first book of 2023 and it was a really good one. It was inspired by the author, Susanne Pari's and her family's, experiences after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Susanne Pari is bi-racial with an Iranian father and American (assume Caucasian) mother who grew up in New Jersey.
Pari's novel features an admirable and interesting female character in the Jahani family called Mitra. The author's writing spoke clearly and deeply to me about the differences in cultures, values and mores. It also defined the roles and expectations of the Iranian females, girls and women, by older, conservative family members, especially the males. I frequently read a lot of cultural and anti-bias books and novels, as well as have been fortunate and grateful to have taught and enjoyed a diverse group of children and parents. I was still surprised, however, at how vastly different the elders were, along with their strict and conservative expectations and punishments. BUT WAIT....this is set in 1979, right? I just wonder how different it is on the females today, 40 years later, based on the immigrant families lives and their off-spring. Cultures collide!
Read this beautiful, painful, exhilarating story and be sure to check your own expectations and judgements at the door.
Here's part of the publisher's blurb: Twelve months after her younger sister Anahita's death, Mitra Jahani reluctantly returns to her parents' home in suburban New Jersey to observe the Iranian custom of "The One Year." Ana/Anahita is always in Mitra's heart, though they chose very different paths. While Ana, sweet and dutiful, bowed to their domineering father's demands and married, Mitra rebelled, and was banished.
I'd like to thank HighBridge Audio, Net Galley, Kensington Publishing, and the author, Susanne Pari, for this ARC. I LOVE audiobooks and the mesmerizing narrator, Mozhan Marnò, didn't disappoint in the least. I was kept me in the setting...time and place, and the soul and minds of the characters. Enjoy this one!
Pari's novel features an admirable and interesting female character in the Jahani family called Mitra. The author's writing spoke clearly and deeply to me about the differences in cultures, values and mores. It also defined the roles and expectations of the Iranian females, girls and women, by older, conservative family members, especially the males. I frequently read a lot of cultural and anti-bias books and novels, as well as have been fortunate and grateful to have taught and enjoyed a diverse group of children and parents. I was still surprised, however, at how vastly different the elders were, along with their strict and conservative expectations and punishments. BUT WAIT....this is set in 1979, right? I just wonder how different it is on the females today, 40 years later, based on the immigrant families lives and their off-spring. Cultures collide!
Read this beautiful, painful, exhilarating story and be sure to check your own expectations and judgements at the door.
Here's part of the publisher's blurb: Twelve months after her younger sister Anahita's death, Mitra Jahani reluctantly returns to her parents' home in suburban New Jersey to observe the Iranian custom of "The One Year." Ana/Anahita is always in Mitra's heart, though they chose very different paths. While Ana, sweet and dutiful, bowed to their domineering father's demands and married, Mitra rebelled, and was banished.
I'd like to thank HighBridge Audio, Net Galley, Kensington Publishing, and the author, Susanne Pari, for this ARC. I LOVE audiobooks and the mesmerizing narrator, Mozhan Marnò, didn't disappoint in the least. I was kept me in the setting...time and place, and the soul and minds of the characters. Enjoy this one!
October 5, 2022
I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pari's novel has a slow start and is a little difficult to become invested in. The early portion of the novel has a lot of descriptive passages that don't particularly add anything to the plot or characters (i.e. long-winded descriptions of clothing or surroundings). I also found the italicized portions that preceded each part distracting, and while the language is lovely in these stylized sections, they don't add to the overall story.
What is great about this novel is its themes of family and found family, and the strong female characters who are complex and realistic. There is a sense of immersion into the world of an Iranian American family and their complicated relationships. However, many of the male characters are overly simplistic - particularly the protagonist's father, Yusef, who is a bully with few redeeming qualities.
The end of the novel is not entirely satisfying, and the addition of new characters and plot points near the end dilute the story. Overall, the book could have been great rather than just good with some additional editing and focus.
Pari's novel has a slow start and is a little difficult to become invested in. The early portion of the novel has a lot of descriptive passages that don't particularly add anything to the plot or characters (i.e. long-winded descriptions of clothing or surroundings). I also found the italicized portions that preceded each part distracting, and while the language is lovely in these stylized sections, they don't add to the overall story.
What is great about this novel is its themes of family and found family, and the strong female characters who are complex and realistic. There is a sense of immersion into the world of an Iranian American family and their complicated relationships. However, many of the male characters are overly simplistic - particularly the protagonist's father, Yusef, who is a bully with few redeeming qualities.
The end of the novel is not entirely satisfying, and the addition of new characters and plot points near the end dilute the story. Overall, the book could have been great rather than just good with some additional editing and focus.
May 16, 2022
A beautiful story exploring the complex family ties of an Iranian-American family and how they shape and inform the dynamics of one’s life. I felt a deep sense of connection to many of the characters and rooted for all of them. Highly recommend!
November 6, 2022
I was lucky enough to win an ARC of this book through the Giveaways, and I'm so glad I did. Its a layered, humane novel centering on Iranian Americans, their adherence to or rejection of their heritage. I love the personal relationships, the characters and their flaws, the way Pari shifts points of view so the reader can see more sides of their story. Anyway, I hope some of y'all pick it up when it comes out at the end of the year!
August 1, 2022
I have to admit when I first started reading this novel I was trying to figure out what in the heck is going on. Well, the more I read, it started to make sense. Maybe I was just in a fog at first - it happens. Yep, I enjoyed reading this story - IN THE TIME OF OUR HISTORY.
August 25, 2022
Modern tale if generational and cutural differeances within a family of Iranian Persian immigrants. Learned a lot. Showed how hanging on to previous lives ruined the current family lives. Good read.
February 4, 2024
3.5. This is a long book and very well written. I very much enjoyed the juxtaposition of being an Iranian living in America versus an Iranian American. It was hard to read at times how some fathers treated their daughters not only as a lesser class but one whose opinions do not matter. Perception is everything.
I needed another follow up chapter because I wanted to see how the lives of all involved progressed. Definitely left me thinking about this family.
I needed another follow up chapter because I wanted to see how the lives of all involved progressed. Definitely left me thinking about this family.
July 16, 2022
In the Time of Our History
Susanne Pari
Mitra and Anahita are first generation Americans while most of the Jahani family migrated to the United States when they escaped the 1979 Iranian Revolution. This is a story of sisters, near or far, who come to need each other. Of secrets, of expectations broken, of sorrows, and of one shattered light shining through to warm a family of broken loneliness. Until the light burns out. This is one sister's instinctive encouragement of her mother and father's devolving relationship. This is the pain of a mother and daughter at odds with each other, out mourning each other, and finally, miraculously, finding room for the broken pieces of each other that the secrets left behind. This is a daughter shaping her unexpected life story from a yearning for joy to an acceptance of a stumbling solemnity; to a holding up of choice traditions and new ways. This is the history of a family finding its way through cultures, disappointments, and the inter-generational harshness of a tough love, to become the family that they must be for those who remain and remember and share all of who they were. This is letting go and finding the joy, again, in the memories and in the living of life.
If you are drawn to a well crafted literary experience with vulnerable and relatable characters, or want to get lost in the truly authentic and haunting realities of complicated familial intergenerational relationships, you will love this novel. This would be an excellent book club pick if your members go deep into open ended questions like "Autocracies survive when they can control the substance and flow of information to their citizens. This requires a ruthless vigilance to silence intellectuals and creatives. Have you ever been in a situation where you were afraid of writing or saying something you believed?"
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC in exchange for a fair review.
Susanne Pari
Mitra and Anahita are first generation Americans while most of the Jahani family migrated to the United States when they escaped the 1979 Iranian Revolution. This is a story of sisters, near or far, who come to need each other. Of secrets, of expectations broken, of sorrows, and of one shattered light shining through to warm a family of broken loneliness. Until the light burns out. This is one sister's instinctive encouragement of her mother and father's devolving relationship. This is the pain of a mother and daughter at odds with each other, out mourning each other, and finally, miraculously, finding room for the broken pieces of each other that the secrets left behind. This is a daughter shaping her unexpected life story from a yearning for joy to an acceptance of a stumbling solemnity; to a holding up of choice traditions and new ways. This is the history of a family finding its way through cultures, disappointments, and the inter-generational harshness of a tough love, to become the family that they must be for those who remain and remember and share all of who they were. This is letting go and finding the joy, again, in the memories and in the living of life.
If you are drawn to a well crafted literary experience with vulnerable and relatable characters, or want to get lost in the truly authentic and haunting realities of complicated familial intergenerational relationships, you will love this novel. This would be an excellent book club pick if your members go deep into open ended questions like "Autocracies survive when they can control the substance and flow of information to their citizens. This requires a ruthless vigilance to silence intellectuals and creatives. Have you ever been in a situation where you were afraid of writing or saying something you believed?"
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC in exchange for a fair review.
September 10, 2022
This was a good book. Started out slow but got better. recomend
December 25, 2022
DNF at 10%. Too slow for my taste, but not bad writing. It simply didn't pique my interest.
October 1, 2022
Beautifully written and thought-provoking.
I always find myself drawn to stories from the Middle East. Having had friends displaced during the Iranian Revolution, I found this story especially interesting. This story centers on the Iranian-born Jahani family and their extended family who fled Iran for America after the fall of the Shah in 1979. The setting for the Jahani family is San Francisco and New Jersey in the late 1990s.
It took a while for me to really get into this story, but once I reached that point, I became totally immersed in this family saga with its generational culture clashes and their conflict that centered on long-held secrets.
Through her masterful writing, Pari brought these characters to life. The father was stiff and domineering; Shireen, the mother, caught between her love for her children and the demands of her husband; sweet Ana who did what was expected by her father; and the rebellious Mitra (“a girl who wanted to be as free as a boy in choosing her future”). The emotions flowed from the pages into my heart, especially the shame, the pain, the frustrations, and the anger.
I liked how the family worked to find a blend between their new American home and their rich Persian culture, something all immigrant families encounter. This entire story is, in fact, based on the Iranian custom of “The One Year” which is the observance of the one-year anniversary of a death.
I highly recommend this beautiful story. I received an advance copy from BookBrowse and Kensington Books. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
I always find myself drawn to stories from the Middle East. Having had friends displaced during the Iranian Revolution, I found this story especially interesting. This story centers on the Iranian-born Jahani family and their extended family who fled Iran for America after the fall of the Shah in 1979. The setting for the Jahani family is San Francisco and New Jersey in the late 1990s.
It took a while for me to really get into this story, but once I reached that point, I became totally immersed in this family saga with its generational culture clashes and their conflict that centered on long-held secrets.
Through her masterful writing, Pari brought these characters to life. The father was stiff and domineering; Shireen, the mother, caught between her love for her children and the demands of her husband; sweet Ana who did what was expected by her father; and the rebellious Mitra (“a girl who wanted to be as free as a boy in choosing her future”). The emotions flowed from the pages into my heart, especially the shame, the pain, the frustrations, and the anger.
I liked how the family worked to find a blend between their new American home and their rich Persian culture, something all immigrant families encounter. This entire story is, in fact, based on the Iranian custom of “The One Year” which is the observance of the one-year anniversary of a death.
I highly recommend this beautiful story. I received an advance copy from BookBrowse and Kensington Books. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
September 5, 2022
Wow! There is so much depth in this story. The characters were beautifully written and developed. The descriptions were full without being “too wordy”. The characters were so interesting to explore; they had their flaws, but most had positive attributes as well. The main character had to grapple with these flaws in herself and her family while facing the effects traditional Iranian values had on shaping them all.
Definitely recommend!
Definitely recommend!
February 23, 2023
IN THE TIME OF OUR HISTORY. is a gorgeous, thought-provoking novel about the complexities of family ties and the ways we create our own lives and alliances. I particularly appreciate the way Pari creates echoes across time and place, subtly connecting modern models of communities of women and girls with ancient traditions. The historical context about Iran is enlightening and deftly woven into the story. A triumph of a novel.
February 14, 2023
This would have been WAY better if it was from Shireen's POV. It feels like the author took A Thousand Splendid Suns, threw them in America, and gave them the out of grief to excuse how unlikable most of them were.
January 17, 2023
This is a beautifully told, poignant, heartfelt story about what it means to be defined by your family and culture and the lengths some will go to to escape these metaphorical shackles. The characters are very real and relatable and the writing captivates. This will be a book club favorite.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Kensington and Susanne Pari for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Kensington and Susanne Pari for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
June 7, 2023
This wonderful story gave me (a white man, raised in Baltimore in the 70s/80s) a window into adjacent worlds (that I’ve been aware of but didn’t have “ins” to see details): sisters, old world/new world gaps within a family, immigrants, American-born kids to immigrant parents, and life in Iran from roughly 1960 to present, through the memories of refugees.
January 29, 2023
I was in shock reading this book. My parents are mixed, my dad is from Iran and my mom is Portuguese-American. Throughout the book I felt like my voice was finally being published. The struggle of a society stuck in an older time and trying to maneuver through a country more progressive than their own was shown wonderfully through Akram and Salimeh. Personally, it was nice to be able to read about a defiant daughter to her old fashioned father. Where respect for elders was expected and speaking up for yourself is seen as disrespectful and disobedient. It brought forward the struggles so often faced, and the need to still be connected to our culture in any way possible.
January 6, 2023
This one reminded me of A Woman is No Man or Thrity Umrigar's Honor. We get a story about the realities of women living in cultures / religions where they are expected to be subservient and less than. Mitra is a modern woman living in the US and although her parents live here as well, their relationship and expectations for their daughters are very traditional. In choosing herself she loses the connection with her family. She also feels incapable of forming a relationship of any substance with any man because she does not want to lose her autonomy.
After the death of her sister, she is forced home and must confront the truths of their family. There are definitely passages that are hard to read and abuses that break your heart. (For folks who want trigger warnings there is sexual violence, verbal abuse and physical mutilation described.) I always find the idea that being an immigrant leads to this perception that someone can not be American enough and conversely to their own people, in this case Iran, they will never be Irani enough. You'd think after centuries of people moving from place to place these prejudices would fade. That celebrating your culture while enjoying being immersed in another would truly be what the modern world is about. Also the idea that if a woman is raped, she brought it on in some way is always hard to swallow, especially when even women perpetuate this idea.
We do see progress in some family members and that will have to be enough, as is true in our own families. Regardless of our cultures, in families we ignore small slights and sometimes choose to not confront the things that keep us apart. In stories like these, while there are aspects that are new or "foreign" it's always amazing to me how the human experience is quite the same.
Thanks to Highbridge Audio for gifted access to the audiobook via Netgalley. The narrator was great! All opinions above are my own.
After the death of her sister, she is forced home and must confront the truths of their family. There are definitely passages that are hard to read and abuses that break your heart. (For folks who want trigger warnings there is sexual violence, verbal abuse and physical mutilation described.) I always find the idea that being an immigrant leads to this perception that someone can not be American enough and conversely to their own people, in this case Iran, they will never be Irani enough. You'd think after centuries of people moving from place to place these prejudices would fade. That celebrating your culture while enjoying being immersed in another would truly be what the modern world is about. Also the idea that if a woman is raped, she brought it on in some way is always hard to swallow, especially when even women perpetuate this idea.
We do see progress in some family members and that will have to be enough, as is true in our own families. Regardless of our cultures, in families we ignore small slights and sometimes choose to not confront the things that keep us apart. In stories like these, while there are aspects that are new or "foreign" it's always amazing to me how the human experience is quite the same.
Thanks to Highbridge Audio for gifted access to the audiobook via Netgalley. The narrator was great! All opinions above are my own.
January 4, 2023
This book was all I really needed, I felt like Mitra was an old friend and I could easily connect with her.
The story is about a girl named Mitra, Born in suburban New Jersey to an Iranian father and an American mother. She has experienced living in both countries. Since her family was forced into exile after the 1979 revolution in Iran.
Mitra lives in San Francisco now and away from her family because, unlike her sister, she refused an arranged marriage, and was cut off by her overbearing father. Now, a year after her sister, Anahita’s, death, she is going back to New Jersey to attend Anna’s one-year commemoration.
⠀
What takes place from this time is a fantastically woven story of love, betrayal, loss, secrets, and lies.
The mother-daughter relationship was touching, the characters are perfectly developed. The story is Beautifully written and thought-provoking.
The ending was the best part, very realistic yet sad that the came to an end.
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ااین کتاب واقعن به موقع و عالی بود. احساس می کردم میترا یک دوست قدیمیه که داره بآرام از زندگیش میگه.
داستان درباره دختری به نام میترا است که در حومه نیوجرسی از پدری ایرانی و مادری آمریکایی به دنیا آمده است. او زندگی در هر دو کشور و مهاجرت رو تجربه کرده .
میترا اکنون در سانفرانسیسکو زندگی میکند و به دور از خانوادهاش زندگی میکند،چون بر خلاف خواهرش، از ازدواج با کسی که پدرش برای اون انتخاب کرده بود خودداری کرد و به همین خاطر پدرش میترا رو از خونه ترد میکنه.حالا میترا بیاید برگرده به نوجرسی برای سال خواهرش آناهیتا. خواهری که همیشه فرمانبردار بود با کسی که پدرش میخواست ازدواج کرد.
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آنچه از این به بعد می گذره ، یک داستان خارق العاده از عشق، خیانت، از دست دادن، راز و دروغ است.
رابطه میترا و مادرش دلنشین بود برای من. شخصیت های داستان رو دوست داشتم و نویسنده به ترزه خیلی قشنگی داستان رو تموم کرد.
⠀
The story is about a girl named Mitra, Born in suburban New Jersey to an Iranian father and an American mother. She has experienced living in both countries. Since her family was forced into exile after the 1979 revolution in Iran.
Mitra lives in San Francisco now and away from her family because, unlike her sister, she refused an arranged marriage, and was cut off by her overbearing father. Now, a year after her sister, Anahita’s, death, she is going back to New Jersey to attend Anna’s one-year commemoration.
⠀
What takes place from this time is a fantastically woven story of love, betrayal, loss, secrets, and lies.
The mother-daughter relationship was touching, the characters are perfectly developed. The story is Beautifully written and thought-provoking.
The ending was the best part, very realistic yet sad that the came to an end.
⠀
⠀
ااین کتاب واقعن به موقع و عالی بود. احساس می کردم میترا یک دوست قدیمیه که داره بآرام از زندگیش میگه.
داستان درباره دختری به نام میترا است که در حومه نیوجرسی از پدری ایرانی و مادری آمریکایی به دنیا آمده است. او زندگی در هر دو کشور و مهاجرت رو تجربه کرده .
میترا اکنون در سانفرانسیسکو زندگی میکند و به دور از خانوادهاش زندگی میکند،چون بر خلاف خواهرش، از ازدواج با کسی که پدرش برای اون انتخاب کرده بود خودداری کرد و به همین خاطر پدرش میترا رو از خونه ترد میکنه.حالا میترا بیاید برگرده به نوجرسی برای سال خواهرش آناهیتا. خواهری که همیشه فرمانبردار بود با کسی که پدرش میخواست ازدواج کرد.
⠀
آنچه از این به بعد می گذره ، یک داستان خارق العاده از عشق، خیانت، از دست دادن، راز و دروغ است.
رابطه میترا و مادرش دلنشین بود برای من. شخصیت های داستان رو دوست داشتم و نویسنده به ترزه خیلی قشنگی داستان رو تموم کرد.
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May 23, 2023
Best book I’ve read this year! The description makes it sound like it’s all about a Mother/Daughter relationship, but really it’s about ALL the relationships. How things said and left unsaid affect our choices, the way we choose to live our lives; how hiding truths to protect loved ones can distort their vision. There’s a fantastic tension happening with immigrants and their first generation American children as well—clinging to tradition, versus a life of western freedom. So, so good-I will read it again! That’s a huge compliment coming from me!
July 12, 2023
Mitra Jahani makes a huge sacrifice to outwit her traditional Iranian father so her younger sister can be married and she can maintain her freedom. Her father banishes her from his life. Tragedy brings her home but also awakens her mother to the possibilities for her life. The struggles between traditional parents and their Americanized children; between parents and children; between spouses. A moving story about families and dealing with loss. Some people hide their true selves from those they love, others are not able to see their true selves. I really enjoyed the characters and their stories.
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