Tremors: New Fiction by Iranian American Writers

Amirrezvani and Karim present a diverse view of the Iranian-American experience through the stories of 27 authors from a variety of backgrounds in this new anthology. Stories set in Iran reflect the nation's struggles with revolution, protests, and human rights issues, while tales of Iranian immigrants in America depict the challenges of assimilation and generational clashes between traditional and modern values. In Mehdi Tavana Okasi's "Other Mothers, Other Sons," a newly immigrated Iranian woman clings to another Iranian family in the neighborhood despite her concerns about their intentions "as if nostalgia for their shared homeland would curb the vices of human nature." A husband in Porochista Khakpour's "In the House of Desire, Honey, Marble, and Dreams" forbids his wife from leaving the house in Western clothes, leaving their young daughters confused about their new role as Americans. Back in Iran, Farnoosh Moshiri's "White Torture" portrays a woman whose child was taken away in the 1979 revolution. During recent riots over corruption, she writes incendiary slogans on paper money, landing her in a brutal Iranian prison. Despite their unique circumstances, the characters of each story demonstrate great resilience and pride in the face of their political and cultural challenges. (Feb.)