Ebook My Iran an IranianAmerican experience back home shawndeez 9781539940180 Books

Product details Paperback 86 pages Publisher CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (November 28, 2016) Language English ISBN-10 1539940187

My Iran an IranianAmerican experience back home shawndeez 9781539940180 Books Reviews

• This book had a lot of potential, but remains too general and vague to be worth $12 or to be recommended to anyone interested in reading about Iran. I was excited when I saw the premise--Iranian-American woman student in LA goes to Iran and meets people and sees her "homeland," etc. But the author seems not to have taken detailed notes while there, so her stories remain on the surface of things and rely on cliches for the most part, about "meeting strangers" and "hearing amazing stories," etc. The most frustrating moment was when she talks to a woman from a rural town and says this woman told her stories about her life, her marriage, her hard times, etc., "stories of the homeland which I had never known," "stories which have become my duty to share"--but the author does not share these stories! She does not tell ONE of these stories TO US! At that point one just says, I'm glad you heard some good and moving stories. But what's the point of telling us that if you are not going to convey this woman's experience itself or give any sense of these stories and their import? One can't just tell; one has to show, and include details, etc.
  
  I liked the inclusion of lots of Farsi words--great move there, and the description of the million-person funeral for Iranian soldiers/boys killed in the Iran-Iraq war was strong. Otherwise her observations remain too superficial to give a real sense of the country or its people. For instance, I lived in Shiraz, and her chapter called "Shiraz" is a tiny anecdote about the mirrored interior of a mosque "It felt like I was in a storybook"--eek. Also, where is the slightest shred of political observation or commentary? Iran is a real place, in time, in history, in reality. The book treats the country as if it is all a "storybook" "dreamt up by small children"--not a place in history and politics with real people living in it. And where is any comment on or insight into the gender politics that so dominate the current regime and people's lives in Iran today? Disappointing book, though as I said, it had potential to be really insightful and edgy.
• Really cool 'experience journal' from a California-born Iranian woman who got to go back and visit the place her family came from. A few weeks after reading it the things she describes are still in my mind. The food, the art and architecture, the people...
• An amazing journey of a brilliant young lady in search of her roots. She has written with her heart and one could easily feel the warmth and sincerity of her experiences as she reflects on them. The vivid stories came to life several times and manifested as tears in my eyes. Well done.
• I sat down and read this entire book the second FedEx dropped it off. my iran offers an amazing insight into the untold lives of Iranians and Iranian-Americans. Rather than focusing on the politics and stereotypes that surround the country, this book shares the humanity and culture. It's an amazing read and very understandable for those who are not familiar with the region or history. I definitely recommend.
• Beautifully written- I truly enjoyed this read. I am also Iranian American and related so much to what I was reading. This book filled me with pride, joy, happiness, memories of great times, and memories to be had. It's a quick and intriguing read, highly recommended to all!
• Read this in December and loved it so much. I've since passed it along to multiple family members who have loved it just the same. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read this. Definitely recommend this book to anyone, especially those with immigrant parents.
• Quick, easy-to-read, and insightful short stories. I really appreciated all the colorful and detailed descriptions of the various Iranian cities. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in traveling to Iran and understanding more than the average Western media portrayals of Iran. Definitely worth reading.
• This is a very well-written and engaging book. I finished reading it all in one sitting and enjoyed it greatly. The stories took me back to places of which I have warm memorise as well as places I have never been before but long for just the same. Highly recommended for those who want to reconnect with Iran and those who want to get to know the Iranian people and culture.