The Persian Women tells the stories of the women of the Valiat family, who held important positions before the Iranian Revolution. While the daughters Shirin and Sima emigrate with their families to the USA via a detour, Elizabeth stays behind in Iran with one of her granddaughters.
The story is told alternately from the perspective of different women and at different times. This gives readers not only different perspectives, but also deep insights into the emotional world and conflict of the individual characters. Elizabeth grows up in wealthy circumstances in Iran in the 1940s, while her daughters Shirin and Sima start a new life in the USA in the early 1980s. Thanks to smuggled valuables, they also live in prosperity there. The stories of the two granddaughters are particularly interesting: Niaz, who grows up in the turbulent times of Iran, and Bita, who manages to study law in the USA. The contrast between the two cultures is brought out very clearly.
The main themes of the book are family and family conflicts, homelessness, belonging and of course the history of Iran. These themes are artfully woven into the fates of the women and are the real highlight of the novel. The changing perspectives bring dynamism to the plot and give the reading flow speed. The basic mood of the book is rather melancholic, as all the characters are unhappy in different ways and struggle with their lives. The family conflicts are portrayed realistically, even if the circumstances, such as the immense wealth, the sometimes coarse language and Shirin’s behavior, sometimes seem exaggerated.
The narrative style adapts to the respective characters and fluctuates between naive, resigned, humorous, fatalistic and sometimes rude. In some places the story drags on a bit and the plot seems to be standing still at times. Due to the many interwoven themes, the book is not an easy read, but it is worth the effort.
Overall, it is a moving and multi-layered work that offers a deep insight into Iranian history, the consequences of flight and a complex family history. It impressed me greatly.
