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Maryam Tabibzadeh / Maryam@persiandreams.org  / (919) 531-4590

 

 

                 Reviews                                                                       Persian Dreams

 

          

 

A review by All book for Persian Dreams

Genre:  Historical Fiction

 

Title:  Persian Dreams

 

Author: Maryam Tabibzadeh

 

            Persian Dreams are the dreams of the women of Persia/Iran;dreams of freedom of choice, freedom

            to choose the man they wish to marry and freedom to become all that they can be.

            Maryam Tabibzadeh is a born storyteller. She draws the reader into the story with magnificent detail, heart

            wrenching emotion and lifelike characters. Persian Dreams is the fascinating story of three generations.

First there is Talah, born in the late 1800’s, to a life where women had no rights. She manages to marry a man that she

dearly loves in spite of the arranged marriages of the day however he dies leaving her desperate and alone.

Then Babak, Talah’s son, a man of the early 20^th century, born in a country of change. However, can he have the woman

 he loves or will tradition and custom stand in the way of happiness?

Finally Nosha, the strong willed modern day daughter of Babak, who refuses to accept all that women are forced to suffer.

Nosha listens to her Grandmother’s tales of the past and swears to live life her way.

Persian Dreams will enlighten readers to traditions and customs which may be unknown and misunderstood prior to reading

 this story. It is the hope of this reviewer that everyone that reads this book will have a more enlightened, compassionate

understanding for the plight of the women of Iran and surrounding countries. Women of the world have the same dreams,

the same hopes and the same challenges. It is time to set aside our differences and unite to make this world a better place for

our children and grandchildren.

Bravo, Maryam Tabibzadeh! This book is highly recommended as a most entertaining and illuminating novel

 

 by Shirley Roe, Allbooks Review. 

 

http://www.authorspressreleases.com/PDreams.htm

Reviewed by John Weaver PageOneLit.com

Persian Dreams by author and poet Maryam Tabibzadeh is a historical masterpiece of fiction that is a gripping

and powerfully crafted story


Persian Dreams by author and poet Maryam Tabibzadeh is a historical masterpiece of fiction that is a gripping and powerfully crafted

story of three people whose lives and struggles propel them (and us) through one hundred years of history in a country of ,

political conflict, and war.

Persian Dreams is a competent and dynamic debut novel by Maryam Tabibzadeh who successfully weaves the stories of women in Iran

in the early twentieth century who are trying to gain rights is a strict, controlled and conservative society. This story is a lesson and

character study of Talah, a woman who devotes serious effort and energy into survival after the loss of Baback, her second husband.

Talah: Born in the late nineteenth century to a well-to-do family, she must find a way to survive after the loss of her husband. 

Baback: In an era of great social change, Talah's first son struggles with his faith as he becomes involved in a heated love affair.

Nosha: Strong and ambitious, the daughter of Baback refuses to accept the second-class citizenship that her country has traditionally

forced upon females.

In an interview the author says, "Like American 'Gone with the Wind' and Russian’s 'War and Peace'; Persian Dreams combines the

sweetness of romance with the bitterness of revelation and war. This story is told from the unique perspective of a woman between

 lands. It shows the inward nature and inside perspectives of the people of Iran, specifically the women, leading up to and directly after

the revolution of 1978. This perspective is unique because we usually get a picture of this from the outside, from the American or

foreign point of view, but here we see the situation from the inside. The historic lesson is only further enhanced by the sweet romantic

events of a family through three generations.
Based on mostly autobiographical events, this novel is both sweetly nostalgic and simultaneous educational. It opens the door to the

 inner workings of Iranians and their history, even while giving us pretty images and poetry to dance on the frames of our minds.

 Its uniqueness lays in this duality. "

Persian Dreams is a winning and successful voice of women and for women who need and want to be heard. This book's strength is

visually powerful and will move every reader looking for a high standard of literary substance and into the minds and hearts of Persian

 Culture.  The first line of the book states, "Let's travel, travel back in time and go back a century ago."

Maryam Tabibzadeh was born In Darab, Pars in Persia (Iran) and has always been a source of pride and admiration due to her

social progressiveness, her educational achievements in Iran as well as in the US, her professional accomplishments.

Maryam has delivered a poetic and relevant story (with Persian Dreams) of adventure, romance and history as she says, "I could

 reach both the younger generation of Iranians in America, and Americans themselves to educate them somehow on where we

have come from and what has led up to the current situation." " Persian Dreams is a passionate story is not only a worthy first

read but one that the reader will want to 'go back' to again and again.
 

Customer Reviews Average Customer Review:   Amazon Reviews someone's story, November 27, 2006 This is a story not of a world in which I grew up but it is one in which my wife grew up. For that I thank the author hugely. Some feel pain and see black, some feel pain and see red, few can feel pain and see the truth.   James Cox Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) Monday, May 08, 2006 http://www.midwestbookreview.com/sbw/may_06.htm#fiction "A strong and powerful intimate tale of one family's greatest struggle in a time of pain for all, May 8, 2006 A timeless novel, Persian Dreams by author and poet Maryam Tabibzadeh is the superbly crafted and engaging story of three people whose lives and struggles propel them through one hundred years of history in a country of everlasting poverty, continuous political struggle, and the destructiveness of war, Persian Dreams follows the diverse character setup of Talah, a woman striving for survival after the loss of her second husband, Baback, Talah's first son whose struggle with faith and religion becomes his greatest in the midst of a growing love affair, and Baback's daughter Nosha who relentlessly aims to escape the second-class citizenship forced onto the women of her country. Persian  Dreams is very highly recommended reading as a strong and powerful intimate tale of one family's greatest struggle in a time of pain for all. " Barnes&Nobles site Thursday, May 04, 2006 http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&isbn=1587364867&itm=4 "A reviewer, a history lover and writer.,May 4, 2006,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Love stories reveal Persian history and roles of women I was drawn into the plot through the plights of the articulate characters, all of  whom were well woven together into this orderly collage of Persian experience. The amount of Persian poetry (translated) was amazing. The author had memorized all of it and it flowed smoothly into the story line. I don't usually have the patience for novels, but this was an exception. Besides its ability to capture my mind and time, it was an easy path to explore the intricate political and cultural worlds of Persia  (Iran). I could not put this book down." A reviewer, someone who enjoys reading autobiog, 05/26/2006 A true story of my land -A very exciting novel. First time in history a novel happens in region I come from which is written in English! Part of the novel even happens in my  little hometown. My friends from different parts of the world are reading through this book the history of my land and the region I grew up. They can now picture the society I come from, from my great grandmother generation to the current time. I was so deeply in the book that I could not stop reading it even at the breakfast table or in the bath. I enjoyed reading it on the porch while listening to birds singing in a beautiful weekend of April which would simulate the air of Kazeroon at this time of the year. It brought me melancholy! I could picture myself on the roof where I spent many nights of summer reading. I remembered those nights on ‘takht”, counting the stars until falling sleep. I pictured delicate weather of spring with fragrance of orange blossoms in air. I remembered harsh winters with hale, storm and flood. -Written in the style of Persian fairy tales, one feature of the novel is that the story starts in far past and matures in present. This is unlike most of the novels that start in present and then take back the reader to the past. Because of this feature, the style of the novel becomes “unique’ and takes the style of the Persian fairy tales. That is, reader witnesses the retelling of the events i.e. we hear the story of Tala’s life which we have already read about (since the story started in the past) as she  tells her biography to her curious grand daughter, Nosha (as happens in present). BR BR -Poems are the highlight of the book. They are as if  Rumi had versed them for this novel for particular scenes of the tale! BR   An email to me from a reader on 9/20/2006 By Debbie Shafeei Raleigh, Nc " I just wanted to share some of my thoughts regarding your wonderful book! Congratulations on writing such a moving novel about the "Persian dream"! I enjoyed the history, cultural context, social issues & psychological struggles each generation faced. My favorite  character was Nosha; perhaps her story was one I could "understand" somewhat. In any case, it brought me to tears several times! (what a wonderful romance!) It also took me to a new level or degree of "understanding" not only of the Persian people, but of the depths & dimensions of all people who struggle and survive and become stronger, focused & determined. I will read it again and recommend it several times over! The ending was poignant. Thanks for sharing your insight through this novel, I look forward to your next one!!   Early Praise for Persian Dreams: - "Persian Dreams, Tabibzadeh's quietly powerful debut novel, weaves the stories of various Iranian women in the early 20th century trying to gain rights in a strictly patriarchal society. The story's heroine, Nosha, wants to become a medical doctor- an ambitious desire in an era governed by conservative tradition. Tabibzadeh delicately takes the reader through a personal history of Iranian women's rights: from the years of traditional obedience at the mercy of their husbands and fathers to the 70s, when it was common  practice for womenvto vote, go to college, and choose their own spouses. Each story uniquely manifests the courage of women brave enough to protest against a violent, abusive, male-dominated society. At the same time, the author presents the beauty of Persian poetry and its role as the voice of an oppressed nation crying for change. Each character represents a different social  position, and together, they form a delegation of classes that make up Iranian society. Many women accepted their low status passively because the male population determined the extent of their social roles; not all women were in a position to challenge this system, as can be seen in the characters Leah and Roodabeh. However, other women, like Nosha, exemplify those who were aware of the injustice of gender discrimination and considered the ï¬پght for natural rights a patriotic duty. By trying to become  a medical doctor, Nosha forges a place for herself as an individual in her society. Tabibzadehs elaborate and lavish descriptions  of places, events, and characters take the reader into the heart of Persian culture; with the books conclusion comes a real understanding of the struggle Iranian women have gone through, and the history behind their hard-won rights so far!!! BY: Shahnaz Peyman Pal Alto, California "A sweeping tale of romance and adventure. Thats often what we hear with regard to works depicting foreign lands, broken hearts, and love unrequited. Maryam Tabibzadeh incorporates so much more in her achingly visual recounting of life in Iran across the vivid political and cultural span of the last century. She gives voice to the struggles of women wanting to be heard, to be counted, and to be  loved and offers answers through the eyes of men shaped by a nation that no longer exists. The stories - and there are several - are wrapped in the lilting poetry of Persia. I suggest you read it in a quiet secluded place, so you can hear the movement of the sand... By: Alexis Dobbins CEO, writeRelations.com "

  

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