Staff Picks Blog
Septembers of Shiraz caught my attention because it is a new addition to the Books on Disc collection. Dalia Sofer is an Iranian writer who emigrated to the United States in 1982 when she was 10. Sofer’s story is set in post-revolutionary Iran and alternates between the four members of the Amin family and their experiences after the arrest of Isaac, the family patriarch, who is accused of being a Zionist spy.
Isaac Amin is a poet-turned-gems dealer who built a comfortable life in Tehran after a humble and not always happy childhood. In the opening chapter he is arrested and sent to prison. In prison, Isaac becomes acquainted with other prisoners and spends time reflecting on his life. While he is gone, Isaac’s wife spends her time desperately searching for him while his young daughter plots to end the chaos in her own way. Far away in New York City, Isaac’s son, who is a college student, must learn to cope when his family can no longer financially support him.
Each of the characters in the book struggles to come to terms with their past and understand their future within the framework of post-revolutionary life in Iran. I thought this debut novel was extremely well written and I enjoyed listening to it. The pace was good and the characters were well developed. Firdous Bamji’s steady narration added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
