Censoring an Iranian Love Story & Tales from the Homeland…

From the Shahnameh to Hafez, it’s no news that Iranians have a way with words.
As an Iranian-American who longs to connect with my Iranian culture in innovative ways- I found one of the best ways to understand the heritage and history of my roots was to dig into fiction and non-fiction books by Iranian authors. From poetry to prose to memoirs to cookbooks to romance to comedy to non-fiction- a few trips to eclectic local bookstores and some google searches led me to a goldmine of amazing reads!

I’ll never forget how I felt after discovering loved authors like Marjane Satrapi and Firoozeh Dumas or when I read the last few pages of Reading Lolita in Tehran. There’s a unique connection that is made when you read memoirs and stories written by Iranian’s who have experienced much, share in your culture and are easy to relate to.

Censoring an Iranian Love Story is among my most recent finds and is written by Iranian writer, Shahriar Mandanipour. Censoring an Iranian Love Story is Mandanipour’s first novel to be translated and published in English.

Censoring an Iranian Love Story wants to be your typical love story, but we all know love stories don’t have the freedom to blossom in the most ordinary of fashions in Iran. Mandanipour’s novel is much more than your typical love story, it gives readers the chance to reflect on the Iranian culture, modern Iran, politics, religion and the beauty that exists under censorship.

Read two excellent reviews on Censoring an Iranian Love Story here and here.

What are your favorite reads? Favorite Iranian authors or books about Iran?
Share them with us!

Here are some books we recommend you check out if you haven’t already!