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AIAW Events: New NOVEL by Zohreh Ghahremani
Zohreh Ghahremani - Iranian American author and writer
Zohreh Ghahremani:
New Novel: 'Sky of Red Poppies'
>>> Book launch:
September 25th & 26th, at the Mehregan Persian Festival
Author's Comment:
Sky of Red Poppies begins with an unusual friendship between two young women coming of age in a politically divided 1960's Iran under rule of the Shah. As the story unfolds, the history and culture of their homeland takes on a life of its own.
IRAN in 1968 is a paradox of poetry and a police state. ROYA, the daughter of an influential man, is a well-behaved student, who is envious of the fierce independence of her religious classmate, Shireen. Together, Roya and Shireen contend with becoming the women they want to be and, in doing so, make decisions that will cause their tragic undoing. In the unraveling of family secrets, Roya begins to question how she was raised and how to become the person she wishes to be. Sky of Red Poppies is a novel about culture, politics and the redeeming power of friendship.
The poppy, in its simple, yet dangerous nature, is the perfect metaphor. From the first moment when it brings the girls together down to Pedar's addiction to opium, the poppy embodies the entire nation of Iran, its survival offering hope that they, too, may survive.
"Roya finally cuts ties to her homeland. Through the narration of her friend's life, she has seen the drastic changes in a country she once loved so fiercely. Sky of Red Poppies is the tale of a nation forced to let go of its profound identity; it is the hushed voice that more than ever before needs to be heard".
Reviews:
Sky of Red Poppies walks the reader through stretches of breathtaking and thought-provoking narrative to provide answers to Iran's brilliant past and brutal present. Well worth considering!
Dr. Ahmad Karimi Hakkak, Professor of Persian Literature and Culture, University of Maryland Sky of Red Poppies takes its readers on a fascinating journey through the landscapes of Iran and provides a glimpse into a far too often overlooked side of Iranian culture and history. A must read!
Melody Moezzi, author of War on Error "For many years I have had the privilege of publishing Ghahremani's charming, nostalgia-laced words of wisdom on the pages of iranian.com. Now it's time for a broader audience to enjoy a heartfelt journey into a fascinating life." Jahanshah Javid, iranian.com "Ghahremani is that wonderful kind of writer who tells compelling stories in rich and lyrical language. Sky of Red Poppies is an illustration of her mastery of both."
Judy Reeves, author of A Writer's Book of Days "Ghahremani understands the many conditions of the human heart . . . Sky of Red Poppies is a compassionate story of universal truths."
Yvonne Nelson Perry, author of The Other Side of the Island "Sky of Red Poppies is the moving story of relationships tested under the most stressful of human conditions, that of a repressive government. Zohreh Ghahremani writes with warmth, humanity and a poet's vision."
Claire Accomando, author of Love and Rutabaga "Set against the backdrop of a pre-revolution Iran, Sky of Red Poppies is a poetic epic and a powerful read."
Jonathan Yang, author of Exclusively Chloe
