The Septembers of Shiraz: A Novel (P.S.)

by Dalia Sofer | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 9780061130410 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingjudygreeneyeswing of San Diego, California USA on 7/26/2008
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12 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingjudygreeneyeswing from San Diego, California USA on Saturday, July 26, 2008
A wandering book -- the karma of literature! This highly acclaimed book takes place in Iran. A businessman with a family is arrested and wrongly accused of being a spy. After his disappearance, his family must figure out how to get by without him while he suffers the horrors of prison life. The author was born in Iran and cam to the USA as a child. This book was a New York Times Book Review Notable Book of the Year. Published in 2007 in hardcover and in 2008 in paperback.

I'm preparing this book to travel via book ray, which will take it to many countries and readers!

Journal Entry 2 by wingjudygreeneyeswing from San Diego, California USA on Wednesday, July 30, 2008
This book is on its way by Book Ray:

penelopewanders (Switzerland)-- done
London-Shade (UK)-- done
Hengameh (Iran) -- skipped, will add onto the end
katayoun (Iran) -- skipped, will add onto the end
airyaa (Iran) -- skipped, will add onto the end
rapturina (Netherlands)-- done
UnwrittenLibra (Maryland -- done
spaceystacey (New Jersey))-- done
pashmack (Florida)-- done
rebeccaljames (Ohio)(skipping)
Eucalia (Washington)-- done
MmeClinton (Maine)-- done
valerief (New York)-- done
Secretariat (California)
judygreeneyes (California)
powaybabe (California)----------- Book is here!
yayajanuary (Indonesia)

OK, I think I've captured everyone on this list. I also tried my best to keep the shipping costs down as much as possible. Here we go! Enjoy!! Please journal when you receive it, and also after you read it and it is leaving you again. Let us know how you liked it. Thanks!


Journal Entry 3 by wingpenelopewanderswing from Saint-Loup-des Vignes, Centre France on Tuesday, August 12, 2008
This arrived safely here in Switzerland. Several rings came in while I was away, so I'll get to this as soon as possible. Thanks so much for making this available.

Journal Entry 4 by wingpenelopewanderswing at Bookring, .---controlled release---. Switzerland on Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Released 15 yrs ago (8/27/2008 UTC) at Bookring, .---controlled release---. Switzerland

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A very moving account of a family in Teheran subjected to the whims of the Revolutionary Guards. The characters and situations felt real and credible, including Habibah's ambivalence towards this wealthy family she has catered to, and the uncertainty about the future... The difficulty of deciding to pick up and leave reminded me of what those in Nazi Germany were faced with. It's so easy, with hindsight, to wonder why people didn't just get out while the going was good. Thanks so much for making this available. The book is now on its way to the UK.

Journal Entry 5 by London-Shade on Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Hey folks! I just started to 'bookring' and I'm amazed that the books I signed up for all arrived within 3 days of each other. What a coincidence. So I'm going to set aside a book I only just started and tackle this new little pile so I can send them on quickly. Thanks all for a great community.

Journal Entry 6 by London-Shade on Tuesday, September 9, 2008
A very very moving book, kept me up late as I raced on to find out what would become of the characters. It made me think about how resistant we are to change and how pissed off I get when the supermarket moves the tuna aisle say- and how utterly trivial that is in regards to what Isaac and his family had to face, and how I cannot even imagine the dilemma of having to choose between staying or going.
The little girl and her friend introduced a welcome note of optimism amid all the backstabbing and envy, likewise the resolution of the housekeeper's role.
A powerful aspect of the book was the portrayal of an unhappily married life for Isaac and Farnaz. A lesser book might have resorted to a saccharine-sweet love and glossed over the stresses and problems of their lives up to Isaac's arrest.
Sending this book on to its next reader in Tehran makes me wonder all the more so about the lives the book will touch, and what future readers may have lived through. I look forward to reading other's thoughts.
To be posted off today via surface mail- should be in Iran within 8 weeks.

Journal Entry 7 by wingjudygreeneyeswing from San Diego, California USA on Sunday, April 5, 2009
This book seems to be lost in transit. I picked up a new copy, and will continue it on its route, but will circle back to Iran at the end in case it doesn't make it there again.

Journal Entry 8 by rapturina from Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Friday, April 17, 2009
It's here! Thanks, judygreeneyes, for passing me a replacement copy! That's really very nice of you. :D

I just started a new book so this one will have to wait for a week or so.

Journal Entry 9 by rapturina from Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Thursday, April 30, 2009
I finished this book a few days ago, and thought it was interesting. I wasn't as much into it as I had expected to be. I am fascinated by Iran and have already read quite a few books dealing with the country & its history. Perhaps that is why this one didn't interest me as much as other books? The story was terrible, but not new to me, so perhaps the shock wasn't as big as it would've been had it been the first book I had read about Iran.

Anyway, having said that, I did find it an interesting read. I took me a while to really get into the characters and their lives, but about halfway the book I really got into it and couldn't put it down. Thanks again, judygreeneyes, for making it possible for me to read this book!

I have PMed UnwrittenLibra and am waiting for an address.

Journal Entry 10 by rapturina from Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Monday, May 11, 2009
Sent to UnwrittenLibra today!

Journal Entry 11 by UnwrittenLibra from Middleton, Wisconsin USA on Monday, May 25, 2009
Opened this book yesterday upon my move back home to Baltimore, Maryland. I have a lot of unpacking and settling in to do so it might be awhile before I get to this book but rest assured I am dying to read it! I read a wonderful essay by Dalia Sofer about 2 years ago and have had her on my mind ever since. Thanks, everyone!

Journal Entry 12 by UnwrittenLibra from Middleton, Wisconsin USA on Monday, June 15, 2009
An excellent read with only a few confusing points, but overall an insightful and compelling view of post-revolutionary Iranian life. The shifting allegiances were an interesting twist. The separate plotlines (Iran and NYC) intermingled pretty well, although I did want some more answers from the NYC chapters - it didn't seem to have much closure. The culture clash of the NYC story was really touching, beautiful and saddening at the same time.

Off to spaceystacey in the near future!

Journal Entry 13 by UnwrittenLibra from Middleton, Wisconsin USA on Monday, July 27, 2009
Mailed out today from Stevenson, Maryland.

Journal Entry 14 by spaceystacey from Bridgeton, New Jersey USA on Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Received in the post today. I have 5 bookrings/rays in front of this one, but will get to it shortly.


08/29/2009 I still have 2 books ahead of this one so I am taking it on vacation with me to read. I have pmed the next reader on the list for their address.


09/08/2009 Read this weekend. What a horrific tale of torture for no crime. I found some parts very difficult to read. I am certainly glad to have had the opportunity to read this one. Will look for other books by this author as well.

Journal Entry 15 by pashmack from Lake Worth, Florida USA on Saturday, September 12, 2009
Arrived in today's mail. I'll probably get started on it this weekend. Thanks for sharing!

Journal Entry 16 by pashmack from Lake Worth, Florida USA on Monday, September 21, 2009
Because my husband of nearly 30 years is from Iran, I am quite interested in books about the country. I found this one to be very absorbing, well-written, and quite believable. Coincidentally, when this book arrived, I was in the middle of reading Diane Johnson's Persian Nights, which takes place prior to the revolution. An interesting "before/after".

Rebeccaljames has asked to be skipped, and I've contacted the next reader. It will be mailed as soon as I hear from her. Thank you for sharing, judygreeneyes.
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Update: Placed in the mail to Eucalia on Saturday, September 26th.


Journal Entry 17 by Eucalia from Issaquah, Washington USA on Friday, October 16, 2009
This book arrived safely with me in Washington today. I'll start reading it as soon as I finish the book I'm reading now. Thanks, pashmack, for sending it to me and thanks, judygreeneyes, for sharing!

Journal Entry 18 by wingMmeClintonwing from South Berwick, Maine USA on Tuesday, November 17, 2009
This has arrived safely in my hands in Maine, missing the record rainfalls of last Saturday but...so far... beating out the snow! I have two books to read before this one but will keep myself going at the task! I am looking forward to the read. Thanks to all!

Journal Entry 19 by wingMmeClintonwing from South Berwick, Maine USA on Saturday, December 19, 2009
This was a very fast read once I got started, and I enjoyed it a lot. I have just reread the comments and am puzzled that no one mentions that Isaac was at least nominally a Jewish merchant, the age old story of believing yourself settled into a society and being a citizen of a country that can then turn around and chase you out. What was intriguing was following some of the story of his son in NYC who is sheltered and cared for by a Hassidic community but clearly realizes that any religion that feels it is tainted by contact with another is limiting the power of humans to get along. In this day and age and all our history on the planet, feeling it's okay to have 10 or 12 children to repopulate an extreme vision is rather saddening to me. Hatreds are fueled by the need to visualize "the other", whoever doesn't fit your group, be it the wealthy because you are not or the humanist who doesn't accept any organized religion. Anyway, the story flows well on both sides of the ocean, and the ending leaves many doors open. Enjoy every day, for you never know when disaster can strike in any form. The Wheel of Fortune is a medieval image that has never lost its power. And yet, and yet... nurturing kindness will always be important. Loved the little girl whose instincts to get back at a nasty system could have spelled disaster for her whole family. I have sent this out to the next on the list this morning. Happy travels!

Journal Entry 20 by wingMmeClintonwing at South Berwick, Maine USA on Saturday, December 19, 2009

Released 14 yrs ago (12/19/2009 UTC) at South Berwick, Maine USA

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I have mailed this out to Valerief to continue the book ring!

Journal Entry 21 by valerief from Queens, New York USA on Sunday, January 31, 2010
This arrived somewhere in the holiday haze. I have one book ahead of it and then will get to this one. Thanks!

Journal Entry 22 by valerief at Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (3/12/2010 UTC) at Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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This will be on its way to Secretariat. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 23 by Secretariat from Carlsbad, California USA on Saturday, April 3, 2010
It took so long for this to get to me that I'd removed it from my list of bookrings. I'm happy to have it make it's way to me. I have several in front of it, but will get to it as soon as possible.

Released 13 yrs ago (4/16/2010 UTC) at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

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I found both the writing and the voices in this book to be very effective. The story is told through Isaac, his wife, Farnaz, their son, Parviz, and daughter, Shirin. Parviz is 19 and Shirin is 9. Besides their ages, what sets they apart is that Parviz is in school in New York and, thus, is removed from the action, but it's perhaps more stressful for him that way. Sofer does a good job of making us feel all the angish and anxiety of the family, from each member. This book gave me a very good idea of what it was like for many of those living during the Iranian Revolution. For those interested, another view (from an educated Muslim family) is in Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi.

Thank you to Judygreeneyes for including me in this ray. It's off today to Powaybabe.

Journal Entry 25 by powaybabe from Poway, California USA on Wednesday, April 21, 2010
I haven't read it yet, but it will be the next book I read. It is waiting patiently on my night stand!

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