There are no neat endings in this book and for me, that's OK. The novel explores how our perceptions of people obscure knowing who they really are. When we want people, especially those who are close to us, to stay in their box, we all suffer. Although there is tremendous sadness in the missed opportunities, I enjoyed the book for its sensitive exploration of a family with moving forward and others stuck in the strictures of the past. ( )

In the Time of Our History focuses on an Iranian-American family following the loss of a daughter and grandchildren. While the event itself is tragic, the family slowly starts to either come unraveled or grow closer together, depending on how one looks at it.

The strongest part of the story for me were the characters. Mitra, arguably the main character, is intriguing, and while some of the other characters can be frustrating, they are no less interesting. The family dynamics, while appearing to be stereotypical at the onset, slowly change over time, and seeing these characters change with them is really at the heart of the story.

The one issue I had was the fact that some aspects of the story felt a little clumsy or saccharine. There are occasions when flashbacks don't flow out of and back into the story as well as they could. In other instances, characters will do or say things that, while perhaps not out of character, feel overdone or not as revelatory as they seem to think it is. I found myself wondering if I should DNF at several points, just because some parts felt like a bit of a slog. I think a lot of this points to the fact that the book could get the same message across with fewer pages; Pari is clearly a good writer, but the book seems to suffer from a good amount of padding that it doesn't need.

Overall, I'd recommend this book for those interested in family stories. It does a good job of showing the tension of different expectations, and what happens when these are unfulfilled; the characters alone are worth reading for, and the dynamics between them will keep readers interested. ( )

This book is full of so many ups and downs. I plan on coming back and updating this review once I’ve had more time to digest it, but it was an interesting and unique book that follows multiple generations of an Iranian American family and their interpersonal conflicts. There multiple view points characters, all of whom nuanced and complex and flawed.

The author looks at many issues that may be trigger to some readers. This includes death of children/ family members and sexual abuse. As these themes were a significant thread in this story, please keep this in mind if it may be triggering.

Read if you like:
📖family sagas
📖emotional stories
📖multiple view points
📖Iranian American stories ( )

A beautifully written story of immigrants with American born children trying to break free old traditions and their expected role in the family. We think we know our family and yet secrets are what make you keep reading this lovely story. ( )

It took me a while to get into this novel, but I truly enjoyed it by the end. This story of an Iranian-American family is full of tension, between parents and children, between women and men, between tradition and assimilation. For those who enjoy stories of immigration and family change, this novel is highly recommended. ( )