Mullah with No Legs and Other Stories [Paperback]

Ari B. Siletz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2005

In this remarkable collection of short stories, Ari Siletz gives us a fresh view of Iran. Based on the author's own experience, the stories focus on the family, friends and acquaintances of a child growing up in Iran, later living in England and finally migrating to America. Memorable characters are caught in the clash of tradition and modern times and struggle with the impact of Western culture and technology on their lives.Siletz's mastery of the short story form and his power of language help to bring images and characters alive with vivid colors and originality. Through The Mullah with No Legs, Siletz seeks to tell the other stories of Iran, those that do not paint the country in dust and blood, but instead emphasize growing up, loving our children, catching cold, buying bread, fearing death, and growing old. The Mullah with No Legs is an important addition to the growing body of cross-cultural fiction being written today.A beautiful and inspiring collection. At a time of heightened tensions and widespread misunderstanding, The Mullah with No Legs opens a window into the soul of Iran.-Reza Aslan, author of No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam The stories are not only skillfully composed and enjoyable to read, but also valuable for the information they convey on Iranian culture and modes of thought.-Hamid Algar, Persian and Islamic Studies, University of California, Berkley Ari Siletz is a master of the gentle grace of understatement. With a gifted sensitivity for English and droll insights, he tells more than he says. He glides from one culture to another without regret or hubris.-Geraldine Kennedy, Editor, From the Center of the Earth: Stories out of the Peace Corps

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this straightforward debut collection of linked stories, Iranian emigre Siletz writes of a boy growing up in a wealthy family in the Tehran suburbs before the ousting of Shah Reza Pahlavi in 1979. The strength of these stories lies in their detached style, their brutal honesty and their realistic descriptions of life in a country where a journey between cities is an almost medieval sortie on unpaved roads beset by highway robbers. Siletz's cynical understanding of the symbiotic relationship between rich and poor is illustrated by the tale of Aunt Monavar, who beat her servant girl, Zari. "Monavar collapsed into the cushions. . . . Zari, convinced that Monavar was dying, threw herself on the ground and begged Allah to spare her mistress." While the prose style is pedestrian, Siletz's views illuminate Iranian perceptions, such as the protagonist's at once submissive and rebellious relationship with his father: "Usually no meant no on pain of the whip. But it seemed that, here, I had power over him. He was being forced to submit to my demand." Siletz, who now resides in California, faithfully portrays the lives of friends and relatives left behind in Iran but never lets his imagination soar.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Ari Siletz is an Iranian author and essayist. He has many years of experience as a journalist and commentator on the Middle East. To learn more, visit his website at http://www.arisiletz.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Nicholas Brealey Publishing (June 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1877864102
• ISBN-13: 978-1877864100
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,928,931 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read, July 12, 2006

By 

Sanazbanu N. (S.F., CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mullah with No Legs and Other Stories (Paperback)

Initially, seeing the word "Mullah" in the title, I thought this was going to be mostly about politics and Mullah/Islam bashing.... I was so off!
This is a must read. I enjoyed this book on so many levels. I was able to see a side of Iran and the Iranian culture not usually talked about, through the eyes of a child, an Iranian adult, with a twist of an American perspective making serious subjects/moments humorous to read. It was well written. Sanazbanu N.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Compelling Work of Literature, March 23, 2006

By 

A. Sepehr (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mullah with No Legs and Other Stories (Paperback)

The Mullah With No Legs and Other Stories by prominent and popular Iranian author, Ari B Siletz, offers a gripping and sincere portrait of life in contemporary Iran. Crafted in language that brilliantly fuses the author's poetic camber with piercing philosophical observation, this collection of short stories furnishes an unforgettable path into the hearts and minds of Iranians as it subtly serves platters of fresh ideas about why the Iranian ethos is at odds with that of the contemporary West. This book is the most compelling work of fiction written about Iranians in modern times as well as a triumph for world literature.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully Poetic and Informative, February 15, 2006

By 

Sandy Eastoak - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mullah with No Legs and Other Stories (Paperback)

Here's a book I wish everyone would read. What a pleasant antidote to the hostility of our media and leaders! Meeting a variety of Iranians facing common life dilemmas with uncommon grace, we're nourished with a delicious and fascinating taste of Persian culture. In his introduction, Siletz promises kinship between Iranians and Americans. In his deftly poetic stories, he delivers.