Seven Shades of Memory: Stories of Old Iran [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The Consul, Richard McCay, and his wife, Virginia, sat drinking martinis on the terrace of the Residence..." (more)
Key Phrases: teahouse keeper, jasmine vine, jewel merchant, Bishop Kent, Teymour Khan, Nasser Goharian (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

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 Publishers; 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 (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,770,046 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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 (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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

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.