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thelibraryofklee's review
3.0
"Last night I dreamed that the angels knocked on the cellar’s door.
They made the human clay and sipped on wine.
The heavens could not bear the burden of the trusted gift.
My wandering soul was chosen to fulfil the task."
Tishtar is an Iranian immigrant living in Melbourne, Australia. He works as an immigration lawyer and begins work on a particularly heartbreaking case, Habiba who works downstairs from his office is trying to get her Somalian nieces to Australia. He is also haunted by a woman from the past, Gretel, and we are transported across centuries and continents to see the life of the relocated and dispossessed.
What I liked:
The historical aspect - we are transported to Iran in the 1980s, Visby in the 14th century, and to Africa in modern day. The horrors faced by the Iranians by not only their devout Muslim government but by the western supported invaders from Iraq, is harrowing to say the least. The Scandinavian element was an interesting side plot, bringing in the idea that refugeeism has always been in existence. And the sisters escaping Somalia is a reminder that humans still face the terrors of corrupt nationhood.
What I didn't like:
The magical realism. I literally did not understand the ending. I don't want to post spoilers but that ending just went whoosh over my head. I think if this component was done differently this would have been a book I liked more. I need someone to discuss this with in real life!
I think the execution needs a little working on and there were a couple of inconsistencies in the narrative that jumped out at me.
Ultimately, this book gives us a glimpse into the complex and often inhumane bureaucratic systems that refugees must jump through to gain refuge in Australia (likely a hard process in most countries I imagine). It made me want to learn more about the history of nations outside the western world. It makes me want to read more refugee stories and actually investigate what our process in NZ looks like. So while this book didn't completely hit the mark for me, it has created a direction for me to follow.
"I imagine historical records related to Iran collecting dust on the shelves of libraries and in damp, dark historical archives. We are just like actors; we stand on stage and okay our roles and then, before we know it, the curtains come down. When they rise again there is a whole new cast of characters, and we are forgotten."
I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.
They made the human clay and sipped on wine.
The heavens could not bear the burden of the trusted gift.
My wandering soul was chosen to fulfil the task."
Tishtar is an Iranian immigrant living in Melbourne, Australia. He works as an immigration lawyer and begins work on a particularly heartbreaking case, Habiba who works downstairs from his office is trying to get her Somalian nieces to Australia. He is also haunted by a woman from the past, Gretel, and we are transported across centuries and continents to see the life of the relocated and dispossessed.
What I liked:
The historical aspect - we are transported to Iran in the 1980s, Visby in the 14th century, and to Africa in modern day. The horrors faced by the Iranians by not only their devout Muslim government but by the western supported invaders from Iraq, is harrowing to say the least. The Scandinavian element was an interesting side plot, bringing in the idea that refugeeism has always been in existence. And the sisters escaping Somalia is a reminder that humans still face the terrors of corrupt nationhood.
What I didn't like:
The magical realism. I literally did not understand the ending. I don't want to post spoilers but that ending just went whoosh over my head. I think if this component was done differently this would have been a book I liked more. I need someone to discuss this with in real life!
I think the execution needs a little working on and there were a couple of inconsistencies in the narrative that jumped out at me.
Ultimately, this book gives us a glimpse into the complex and often inhumane bureaucratic systems that refugees must jump through to gain refuge in Australia (likely a hard process in most countries I imagine). It made me want to learn more about the history of nations outside the western world. It makes me want to read more refugee stories and actually investigate what our process in NZ looks like. So while this book didn't completely hit the mark for me, it has created a direction for me to follow.
"I imagine historical records related to Iran collecting dust on the shelves of libraries and in damp, dark historical archives. We are just like actors; we stand on stage and okay our roles and then, before we know it, the curtains come down. When they rise again there is a whole new cast of characters, and we are forgotten."
I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.
nina_reads_books's review
3.0
Forty Nights by Pirooz Jafari is an incredibly rich and vibrant novel focussed on migrants to Australia and their ties to home. In it we meet Tishtar who is running a small legal business in Melbourne. As a migrant himself, Tishtar often helps others to bring family members to Australia. His new client is Habiba who is desperate to bring her now orphaned nieces to Australia from Somalia. Tishtar becomes consumed in his quest to help her and her nieces.
Over the book we learn more about Tishtar’s past life with stories told during his childhood in Tehran in the late seventies, through the Iranian revolution and the unrest that followed. We learn about his family, his culture, the changes in society felt with a change in political regime. During these flashbacks we also learn how he meets Gretel, a woman who has also experienced unrest and a loss of family connection.
This book definitely gave me a history lesson on the Iranian revolution which I knew nothing about. I found the commentary on how cultures are changed over time as countries are invaded and religions are influenced fascinating if a little depressing. It was also an uncomfortable read when it came to descriptions of the refugee experience.
I love reading about other cultures and the rituals families carry out and especially how key the food is to the celebrations. Here descriptions of food were so vibrant they made me hungry! There were memories of Yalda night celebrations which in Persian culture is a celebration of the winter solstice which I found touching.
The story was engaging but the one area I felt it fell down was the inclusion of Gretel’s story which felt disjointed to me. Her character brings in an unnecessary magical realism element to the story. That’s two books in a row where I felt this way I promise I actually adore magical realism! But in this case I didn’t feel it was needed or made sense to the story. There was much to enjoy with this book – the writing and the cultural stories were lovely. I just didn’t fall completely in love with it.
Thank you to @ultimopress for my #gifted copy.
Over the book we learn more about Tishtar’s past life with stories told during his childhood in Tehran in the late seventies, through the Iranian revolution and the unrest that followed. We learn about his family, his culture, the changes in society felt with a change in political regime. During these flashbacks we also learn how he meets Gretel, a woman who has also experienced unrest and a loss of family connection.
This book definitely gave me a history lesson on the Iranian revolution which I knew nothing about. I found the commentary on how cultures are changed over time as countries are invaded and religions are influenced fascinating if a little depressing. It was also an uncomfortable read when it came to descriptions of the refugee experience.
I love reading about other cultures and the rituals families carry out and especially how key the food is to the celebrations. Here descriptions of food were so vibrant they made me hungry! There were memories of Yalda night celebrations which in Persian culture is a celebration of the winter solstice which I found touching.
The story was engaging but the one area I felt it fell down was the inclusion of Gretel’s story which felt disjointed to me. Her character brings in an unnecessary magical realism element to the story. That’s two books in a row where I felt this way I promise I actually adore magical realism! But in this case I didn’t feel it was needed or made sense to the story. There was much to enjoy with this book – the writing and the cultural stories were lovely. I just didn’t fall completely in love with it.
Thank you to @ultimopress for my #gifted copy.
putri_the_awesome's review against another edition
emotional
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
megb64's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
redlippie_and_literature's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
stephcranstoun's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
cransuz's review
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Inspirational story
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Tishtar works as a lawyer and is engaged by Habiba to help get her nieces out of war torn Somalia and into Australia. I admired Habiba’s passion to get her nieces to safety, learning about their experiences fleeing Somalia, the legal and logistical difficulties getting them to Australia and Tishtar’s genuine determination to help them. I thought his backstory of growing up in Iran in the 1970s and 1980s, the impact of the Iranian Revolution, and his experiences in Australia were well integrated. What didn’t work so well for me was the character of Gretel and her life in Gotland in the 1300s. While I can see why that storyline might have been included I didn’t find it necessary. The themes of family, home, memory, the right to safety and to seek refuge were strongly explored in Habiba’s and Tishtar’s stories and didn’t require further support.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Xenophobia
Moderate: Racism
choufrise's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
oviewill's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0