Book Review: Persian Letters by Mehrdad Rafiee

Book Review

 

Basic Details:

Book Title: Persian Letters

Subtitle:

Author: Mehrdad Rafiee

Genre: Memoir

Part of a series? Yes/No

Order in series:

Best read after earlier books in series? Yes/No

Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40880655-persian-letters

Overall score:

I scored this book 5/5

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️

Short Summary of the book:

This book tells the story of the author through time. The history of his life and the history of Persia, now Iran. The story tells about his life, that of his parents and of people in Iran over the last one and a half centuries. From the time the Shah was still in power, with glimpses to the distant past, to the change in power to the current regime.

All written through letters of the author to his sons.

What I liked about the book:

I particularly liked the style of writing. Through the pages I was transported back to my youth and memories of how idyllic Persia appeared to be at the time while the Shah was still there returned to the forefront. It appeared a real-life Arabian nights type of life at the time, but real life was obviously very different.

What I didn’t like about the book:

I enjoyed the entire book.

My favourite bits in the book:

I loved where the author told about his youth and his own life while he still lived in Iran. His parents appeared to be rather modern for the times, as did he himself. His obvious love for his extended family shines through the entire book.

My least favourite bits in the book:

I loved the entire book. It was great to get an insight into general life in another culture, given by someone who lived through it first-hand and with the understanding which comes with that.

Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?

I am not aware of any further books planned to follow on from this one.

What books could this be compared to and why?

This book reminded me of no other books I have read so far and I really enjoyed reading it.

Recommendation:

In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:

Children	No
Young Adult	Possibly
Adult	Yes

If you like memoirs and history this book might be the book for you.

I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Book Description by Author:

Mehrdad Rafiee grew up in Iran at a time of constant change. Born in 1950 in Abadan, as the oil industry was being nationalised, he went to high school in Kazeroun during the White Revolution of 1963, and attended university in Tehran in the years of social upheaval that led to the Islamic Revolution.

This memoir is written in the form of letters addressed to his sons. Mehrdad tells his life story, with diversions into Persian/Iranian history and politics, drawing parallels between the turmoil in his country and that in his life. In writing his memoirs, Mehrdad was inspired by the books of two very special writers: Orhan Pamuk’s "Istanbul: Memories and the City", and Azar Nafisi’s "Things I’ve Been Silent About".

For anyone familiar with modern Iran, this book will inform and entertain, as it explains much that lies behind the changes and the culture of Iran and its people.

Mehrdad has lived in Australia since 1985.Mehrdad Rafiee grew up in Iran at a time of constant change. Born in 1950 in Abadan, as the oil industry was being nationalised, he went to high school in Kazeroun during the White Revolution of 1963, and attended university in Tehran in the years of social upheaval that led to the Islamic Revolution.

This memoir is written in the form of letters addressed to his sons. Mehrdad tells his life story, with diversions into Persian/Iranian history and politics, drawing parallels between the turmoil in his country and that in his life. In writing his memoirs, Mehrdad was inspired by the books of two very special writers: Orhan Pamuk’s "Istanbul: Memories and the City", and Azar Nafisi’s "Things I’ve Been Silent About".

For anyone familiar with modern Iran, this book will inform and entertain, as it explains much that lies behind the changes and the culture of Iran and its people.

Mehrdad has lived in Australia since 1985.Mehrdad Rafiee grew up in Iran at a time of constant change. Born in 1950 in Abadan, as the oil industry was being nationalised, he went to high school in Kazeroun during the White Revolution of 1963, and attended university in Tehran in the years of social upheaval that led to the Islamic Revolution.

This memoir is written in the form of letters addressed to his sons. Mehrdad tells his life story, with diversions into Persian/Iranian history and politics, drawing parallels between the turmoil in his country and that in his life. In writing his memoirs, Mehrdad was inspired by the books of two very special writers: Orhan Pamuk’s "Istanbul: Memories and the City", and Azar Nafisi’s "Things I’ve Been Silent About".

For anyone familiar with modern Iran, this book will inform and entertain, as it explains much that lies behind the changes and the culture of Iran and its people.

Mehrdad has lived in Australia since 1985.Mehrdad Rafiee grew up in Iran at a time of constant change. Born in 1950 in Abadan, as the oil industry was being nationalised, he went to high school in Kazeroun during the White Revolution of 1963, and attended university in Tehran in the years of social upheaval that led to the Islamic Revolution.

This memoir is written in the form of letters addressed to his sons. Mehrdad tells his life story, with diversions into Persian/Iranian history and politics, drawing parallels between the turmoil in his country and that in his life. In writing his memoirs, Mehrdad was inspired by the books of two very special writers: Orhan Pamuk’s "Istanbul: Memories and the City", and Azar Nafisi’s "Things I’ve Been Silent About".

For anyone familiar with modern Iran, this book will inform and entertain, as it explains much that lies behind the changes and the culture of Iran and its people.

Mehrdad has lived in Australia since 1985.