The US broke off diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980, and one result is that Americans don’t know as much about the country as they could. We know it’s there, of course, and that it’s involved in geopolitical manoevers, but we don’t have friends who travel there and report back, or neighbors who emigrated from there in recent years, or classmates who are doing business in the country. I was glad to come across this book in my ongoing quest to read one book from every country in the world.
And yes, it’s taking me a lot longer than I thought it would, early in the pandemic.
Aria, by Nazanine Hozar, brings me to Iran. It’s the story of a foundling who moves among different families and thus experiences different aspects of Iranian life in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. There’s major political upheaval happening as our heroine, Aria, meets different people and tries to find how she fits into the world.
It’s a world we don’t hear much about. Iran seems deep and mysterious to Americans, although plenty of other countries maintain diplomatic relations with the nation–93, according to Wikipedia. Maybe we’re missing out?
I’m writing this as it’s announced that Iran’s president and foreign minister were killed in a helicopter crash. What does that mean, in a world that’s in a state of upheaval? And isn’t the world always in a state of upheaval?
I’m not sure. All I know is that this is a good book.
