Dakhmeh (Paperback)

by Naveed Noori (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
An Iranian man whose family fled to America during the Iranian Revolution returns to his childhood home in this restrained but passionate novel by a first-time author writing under a pen name. Though Arash was just a boy when he came to the United States, he never felt comfortable there. His mother and sister beg him not to return to Iran, but when his mother dies, he buys a one-way ticket to Tehran. His dreamlike wanderings in the city and his musings on the problems of his fellow Iranians are recorded in a journal he keeps and also in a third-person narrative. This double-layered storytelling gives his otherwise bleak tale a gauzy, mythical aura. Upon his arrival in Tehran, he moves aimlessly about, losing himself in memories. He meets a woman and is with her for a while, but breaks things off when he decides that he is too unsettled to give her what she needs. He dreams of solving the country's problems, "having tasted freedom and knowing there was a better way," but is mocked when he speaks of his hopes for Iran. A modest, spontaneous gesture of revolt-he writes anti-regime messages on a succession of banknotes-lands him in prison, where he is tortured and suffers from tuberculosis. The investigator who tracks him down is a former revolutionary and feels a twisted sympathy for Arash. The muted ironies of Noori's tale are conveyed with delicacy and provide a sophisticated perspective on the plight of the Iranian people.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
a moving lament for what could have been -- Kirkus Reviews

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Toby Press; 1st English Language Ed edition (May 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 190288177X
• ISBN-13: 978-1902881775
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 7.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,633,799 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a must read for the revolution's children, December 9, 2003

By A Customer

I must admit that I initially picked up this book because of the author's name. What lured me into buying it was that fact that this is his/her nom de plume. I knew it had to be ripe with opinions to which one was not safe enough label with a name. I was right. I read the book during a bout of insomnia, and one night's lack of sleep led me so far in terms of identity that I am forever grateful to Mr. Noori. Whether you agree with his views or not, the author takes you on a journey of self that really hits "home" with Iranians living in the U.S. Being true to persian culture, the story is vivid and depressing but very real.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In the name of Iran, April 19, 2007

By	Peyman ADLDOUSTI "For Ever Persian Gulf" (Iran) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a fictional book, and it is not base on a true story. However, these days reports from Iran is not any different from this book that how the IRI is treating Iranian people poorly.

This character was young innocent person when 1979/2538 Revolution took place in Iran, and his family fled Iran and settled in the US. The charcater returned to Iran, and was mangled in the middle of mayhem.

Interesting part of this book is that book title is "Dakhmeh" which means, being at dark, gloomy corner which is lacking light. Author's PEN name is Naveed which means "message" and Noori means "light". Indeed, book title and PEN names are incorporated to one another.

It is a fun book to read, and sometimes, it is lacking writing skill, however, facts remian that the author sought to express him/herself.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars dakhmeh - a dark and sad story, October 26, 2003

By	cynthia callaghan (Fresno, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am drawn to books of the middle east, especially Iran. Naveed Noori, possibly wanting to avoid the Komiteh hurting him, uses a psuedonym in telling his story. Does this give you any inkling to how it is NOT okay to say negative things about the powers that be in Iran? Anyway, Noori weaves in and out from now - living and dying in a famous Iranian prison, the recent past - living in America and Tehran, and the far past as a child. He speaks of politics, the smell of foods, the sights of his home country, and how the revolution changed it all - except his love for his 'home'. i skipped over the page or two of the torture that Arash experienced in prison - i don't want that in my head. Excellent discription of the spiralling down from drug abuse and sickness....read it and learn more about the iranian mindset.