Although it is only February I would have to say this book has been my favorite read this year.

Jasmin came to California at an age too young to remember anything about her life in Iran. Raised by an Iranian mother and German father she considers herself to be an “American girl”. When her father dies she goes to help her mother sort through his belongings and happens upon a picture of her mother as a bride, but the man in the picture is not her father. When Jasmin questions her mother about this her mother refuses to speak of it, but weeks later cassette tapes begin arriving in Jasmin’s mail. Her mother has decided to record the story of her life for her and that story becomes this book.

Although it is hardly a beautiful story it is indeed a beautiful book. Beginning with the birth of Jasmin’s grandmother we are allowed to get to know life in Iran for this particular family. The difference that gender makes. The upheaval of politics. The simple pleasures that people take in aspects of their lives. Jasmin not only learns about her mother, but her grandmother and great-grandmother as well. The strength of three incredible women who want nothing more than the best for their daughters. Their ability to pick themselves up and carry on no matter what life throws in their paths is truly inspiring. This book has been described in the following words and I couldn’t put it any better … “This book combines the best of biography and literary, nonfiction by telling one of those stories that remind us that truth is more amazing than fiction, in a voice that is lively, witty, intelligent and exquisitely tuned to nuance and detail.”
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This book was not so much a memoir as a celebration of Darznik's mother and the resilience of Iranian women. Told with sharp introspection and obvious care, Darznik tells her mother's story in a way that is both enlightening and slightly voyeuristic (in the way all good memoirs are).

This tale is beautifully rendered and brings the reader into the lives of women in Iran. Darznik shares details of family life and the rituals surrounding the Muslim faith and living in Iran primarily during the 1950s and 1960s.

Central to most of the women’s lives seems to be food. Descriptions of food from the preparation of it to daily snacks to vast feasts served are prevalent in the book. The way Darznik writes one can almost smell the saffron infused cooking, feel the crack of seeds between teeth, or taste the tea brewed with cardamon. The rituals surrounding tea and food are something each generation brings along with them.

At times the story is heart wrenching and had me on the verge of tears. Tales of the hardships endured stretch from images of war to financial difficulties to prejudices. A primary theme emerges when both the joys, but mainly the difficulties of love and marriage are described. Darznik goes into detail about the process of courtship and marriage in the Iranian culture. The imagery in this story draws the reader deeply into the tale. The book is written so well that it was hard to pull myself away from it.

For someone with little knowledge of Iran or the Iranian culture this book provided a small glimpse into the life of one family and the generations of women in it. There are great introductions to small Persian phrases and Darznik writes so that one who has little knowledge of the traditions and society of Iran can follow the story easily. It was a wonderful way to get a feel for Iranian society, especially in the 1950s & 1960s, as well as a sense of what it is like to be an immigrant in America and the child of an immigrant.

See my full review here.

If you liked this book, I'd recommend Across Many Mountains: A Tibetan Family's Epic Journey from Oppression to Freedom, by Yangzom Brauen. Both are well-written narratives about generations of courageous women escaping from oppression and, sometimes, abuse. They have to make adjustments to their new environment, but the culture of the homeland remains strong. They also struggle to raise their daughters with their traditional values. The stories also reveal interesting details of their cultures and some of the political histories of their countries. ( )

This would be a good book club book. ( )