Let Me Tell You Where I've Been: New Writing by Women of the Iranian Diaspora (Paperback)

by Persis M. Karim (Editor)
Key Phrases: raw walnuts, black chador, Khaleh Farah, Ezzat Ammeh, Agha Jan (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. The diversity of voices represented in this stunning collection of poetry, fiction and nonfiction by women of Iranian descent shatters their narrow image in the U.S. Though none are well known, most of the 53 authors live in the U.S. and 15 have been published in journals if not books. One writes about a woman's relationship with her chador. Another remembers her desire, as a young girl, to distance herself from the "old-world values" espoused by her parents. A woman who sought refuge in Germany conveys the longing she felt to return to her birthplace by detailing a market scene and how the taste of raw walnuts made her feel at home again. Like other émigrés, the women who fled Iran after the 1979 revolution have continued to feel strong ties with their homeland. Many of those now living in the U.S., Canada or the U.K. have grappled with such feelings in an era when cars in the U.S. were emblazoned with bumper stickers reading "Iranians Go Home" and "We Play Cowboys and Iranians." Though many contributions avoid politics, several writers illustrate heartbreaking incidents of stereotyping that reveal the struggle of facing pervasive social suspicion. Touching on universal themes of love and loss, exile and longing, politics and war, this collection derives its cumulative power from its authors' subtle, uniquely female perceptions. (June)
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Review
"A powerful collection . . . offers an intimate understanding of the experience of loss and suffering of women of the Iranian diaspora." -- Salem Press

"With humor, rage, eloquence, and compassion, [gives] voice to what it means for Iranians to live ... in the West today." -- Namak, March 2007

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: University of Arkansas Press; 1 edition (May 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557288208
• ISBN-13: 978-1557288202
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #644,342 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Do Not Miss This Gem!, June 27, 2006

By	P. Moallemian (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Persis Karim has embraced a remarkable collection of work by mostly recreational writers and new poets in this book that is significant in a number of aspects. It is a testimony to the incredible spirit of all women, by exploring the journey most of these authors have taken while their immediate surrounding was experiencing significant turmoil and destruction. A voyage that was carried despite significant prejudice and eradication of an assortment of their basic rights. It is also a narrative of the immigration experience, being subjected to intolerance and narrow-mindedness on a different level and yet succeeding despite the odds. These incredible women are telling their story and the story of all of us who experience conflict, affection, separation, contradictions and intolerance, while struggling to maintain a conventional existence. A lesson for all of us in improved comprehension of one-another and recognizing the value of our differences. Highly recommended!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent collection, June 30, 2006

By	Sarah Hughes (California) - See all my reviews

This book is a wonderful collection of poems and short stories by Iranian women. The variety of authors makes this an interesting collection and it is also enjoyable to read the short biographies of the authors. This is a book you can easily read from cover to cover or pick up and read a few selections at a time from anywhere in the book. This isn't a book only for Iranians, it is for anyone wanting to be immersed in well-told stories and conveyance of emotions and life's happenings.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fifty-three voices, one song., July 2, 2006

By	Susie (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

Great book. It taught me a lot about contemporary Iranian writers and poets.