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The Persians
The Persians | Sanam Mahloudji
9 posts | 4 read | 1 reading | 6 to read
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
review
BarbaraBB
The Persians | Sanam Mahloudji
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Mehso-so

Another so-so #WP25 book. What could have been an interesting story fell short imo. I learned little about Iran after the revolution and the Persian family members living in the US didn‘t really came to life. Shirin became a caricature towards the end of the story, Seema‘s role was unclear to me. Bita and Niaz could have been more interesting and I wonder why Shirin even had a son - Mo didn‘t add a thing. The longlist is a bit disappointing.

BarbaraBB 📸 Artwork by Buhlebezwe Siwani 11h
squirrelbrain I thought they were all caricatures to start with, but then it grew more interesting as the story moved back in time to Iran. I‘m only halfway and I like it but I don‘t think it will be on my shortlist. 11h
ChaoticMissAdventures What gorgeous art!! I read and listened to this and had a hard time keeping the ladies straight. I agree with you, I was being generous with calling it a "pick" 10h
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain They probably were from the start indeed but after a while it became tiresome, especially Sirin! 10h
sarahbarnes I haven‘t jived with the WPF list in a few years now. I just haven‘t been as drawn to the books as to some other lists. 7h
48 likes5 comments
review
ChaoticMissAdventures
The Persians | Sanam Mahloudji
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Pickpick

A soft pick for this #WP25 book.
I think I am just a bit burnt out, I can see why the judges picked it, there are some really good scenes, and the characters are compelling, it was just missing something a little extra that I expect from Women's Prize books. I also had a hard time keeping the storylines straight and would pick the book up and be confused who the POV was on.
Good not great 3.5/5 ⭐

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 1d
squirrelbrain I listened to a bit more of this yesterday and it‘s better than I initially thought it was, but I don‘t think it will make my shortlist. 22h
BarbaraBB I hope to finish this one today and feel the same about it as you do. But I have another 100 pages to read so you never know 😀 18h
See All 8 Comments
ChaoticMissAdventures @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB I also liked it more than predicted, all the negative reviews on it had me curious and I don't really agree with them. I am not mad about it being on the list like I have been with some books other years (Remember Pod by Lalani Paul?) 13h
TheKidUpstairs I'm about the same place as @BarbaraBB with about 100 pages left. I like it, and there are definitely things I really appreciate about it, but I'm not falling in love with it 13h
squirrelbrain Haha - Pod is the worst book I ever read, I think! 🤣 13h
squirrelbrain I feel like that about a lot of the list this year @TheKidUpstairs - most of the books are good, but nothing outstanding. 🤷‍♀️ 13h
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain Agree. I am a bit disappointed 12h
34 likes8 comments
quote
TheKidUpstairs
The Persians | Sanam Mahloudji
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"I watch the four women I work with and it is like an epiphany, discovering a waterfall during a walk in the woods, witnessing a secret smile. The men pretend not to notice, but I take pleasure in it, better than any party. There is beauty in small but radical exposures. I remember the women at Kian's - those long-haired revolutionaries."

50 likes1 stack add
quote
BarbaraBB
The Persians | Sanam Mahloudji
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That‘s a promising first sentence! This might be exactly the kind of book I‘ve been looking for after way too much (and too realistic) dystopian novels. #WP25

Amor4Libros This one is so good! 😊 4d
BarbaraBB @Amor4Libros I have high expectations now! 4d
LeeRHarry That‘s a great first line 😁 4d
See All 10 Comments
Bookwormjillk Wow, so much going on in that one line. I love it. 4d
TheKidUpstairs I'm about half way through this one, so far so good! 4d
AmyG Ha! 4d
ChaoticMissAdventures I am reading this now, interested in your thoughts. There is a lot going on! 4d
squirrelbrain I just started this on audio on the way home - listened to the first 2 chapters and I‘m not convinced I‘m going to like it. 😬 3d
Cathythoughts I‘m not sure I‘ll like it either @squirrelbrain But , I‘m going to give it a go…. 3d
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @Cathythoughts I am 50 pages in and liking it. Not sure where it‘ll go. 3d
69 likes2 stack adds10 comments
blurb
TheKidUpstairs
The Persians | Sanam Mahloudji
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It's very important to match your donut choices to your book covers 🤣🤣🤣

squirrelbrain Love this! ❤️🤪 1w
ChaoticMissAdventures Yummmmm!! 💖 1w
BarbaraBB That donut looks delicious and I love that edition of the book. 1w
67 likes3 comments
quote
charl08
The Persians | Sanam Mahloudji

A funeral is when the truth comes out, when everyone comes out of the wood-work. All the secret lovers, all the people the dead cheated with, or on. It's spectacular! A real shit show, as they say, and it's only a shame that the dead aren't there to witness. But I suppose that's the whole reason it happens. Nobody has any shame once you're a corpse. The shame melts away.

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charl08
The Persians | Sanam Mahloudji
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Behind the scenes in Iran...

They were plain-dressed, the women not wearing scarves, and for the first time in my memory I saw a large group of women with all their hair hanging freely. It was breathtaking. I was in awe, as if seeing a scene out of a Romantic painting of sea nymphs, like the ones Maman Elizabeth once told me about at bedtime. All textures and weights, dark, wavy, flying carpet-like. I loved these women and their powerful hair.

Suet624 I can just imagine how that must feel. Beautiful. 2w
42 likes1 comment
blurb
charl08
The Persians | Sanam Mahloudji
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7 weeks! I don't think so...?

There's definitely a reason I turn these 'insights' off for kindle! Haven't worked out how to do it on Libby...

#WPLL25
#WomensPrize

Sace I‘m never a fan of “insights” like these. Just let me read/listen in peace. I really don‘t care how fast (or not) it takes me to get through a book. 3w
40 likes1 comment
review
Amor4Libros
The Persians | Sanam Mahloudji
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Pickpick

This was a great read! The story follows three generations of women in an Iranian family. A part of them immigrate to the US, so we are given POVs about their lives and how they are deeply rooted in each other, even when a couple of them have not seen each other in years or met in person.

These women are very privileged and most of the time it made them navigate life without any regard to consequences.

US Pub Date: 3/4

4⭐️ #arc

TreenaReads Sounds great. And what an awesome cover! 1mo
BarbaraBB That cover indeed 🤩 1mo
LiteraryHoarderPenny I‘ve got it on hold for me at the library!! 1mo
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Amor4Libros @Treena Reads @BarbaraBB I admit that the cover was what pulled me towards this book, and I was pleasantly surprised by the content 😊 1mo
Amor4Libros @LiteraryHoarderPenny I hope you enjoy it! 1mo
charl08 Just picked this up now - great to see it was so successful for you. 3w
58 likes2 stack adds6 comments