Seven Shades of Memory: Stories of Old Iran [Paperback]

Terence O'Donnell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1999

Terence O'Donnell lived in Iran from 1957-71, operating a farm from 1963-70 before returning to America. "Seven Shades of Memory" is his first collection of short stories. The stories share the theme of cultural collision, either as East meets West, or as members of different cultures within Iran tentatively interact. These stories show his prescient understanding of the multifaceted nuances of Persian culture and the Westerners who attempt to navigate through it.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Mage Pub; 1 edition (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0934211590
• ISBN-13: 978-0934211598
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,316,956 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, July 17, 2000

By 

A. Ross (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Seven Shades of Memory: Stories of Old Iran (Paperback)

This collection of seven short stories set in Iran reveal the author's deep understanding of the country and their people. O'Donnell's stories present both issues of Western interaction with Persians, as well as cultural divides within Persian culture. The collection is subtitled "Stories of Old Iran" as they portray an Iran of 20-40 years ago and have a certain reserve to them. "The Tree and the Pool" is perhaps the least successful of the stories, portraying a somewhat stereotyped "ugly American." Another featuring Americans, "The Women and the Ladies" is also somewhat awkwardly executed. The concluding "Mrs. Cahn" is a more even piece, as an old American woman transcends her background to connect with local tribespeople. "The Duck Hunt" works well as a sketch of the tension in a Norwegian family on vacation in Iran. "The Price and the Baker," "The Stone of Love," and "The Old Men of Isfahan" are more fablistic, and enjoyable on that level. As a whole, the stories are a good glimpse into a passing time and place. The story titles are presented as two page spreads with lovely black and white photos that perfectly capture the mood of the book as a whole.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exquisite collection of stories, February 6, 2000

By 

CMCM (Nevada City, CA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Seven Shades of Memory: Stories of Old Iran (Paperback)

As a person who also lived in Iran in the 1970's, I was particularly interested in the stories in this book. However, it would be of interest to anyone because the stories are evocative and the prose style is simple yet stunningly beautiful. This book is an absolute gem.

5.0 out of 5 stars You must know something of Iran and its people to appreciate this book, December 30, 2009

By 

NS "NS" (Oregon,USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seven Shades of Memory: Stories of Old Iran (Paperback)

I was impressed with the author's deep understanding of the complexity of social interaction among people in Iran. He certainly had a keen eye for detail and was ready to learn while he lived in Iran. This book will resonate deeply with those who already have an understanding of Iran and its people. For those unfamiliar with the diversity in cultures and Iranians in general would be a more difficult book to appreciate. I enjoyed it very much.