On Two Feet and Wings

Kazerooni, Abbas. On Two Feet and Wings. 2014. 256p. ISBN 9781477820377. Available at 955.05 on the library shelves.

It is the mid 1980s, and Iran and Iraq are fighting a bloody war. Suffering heavy losses and international condemnation despite having been attacked by Iraq, Iran resorts to conscripting tens of thousands of boys to serve at the front in what Western journalists referred to as human waves. Similar to soldiers during the First World War, these waves are mowed down by machine gun and artillery.

Abbas is nine years old, and enjoys playing soccer with his friends. His family was very rich under the Shah, but since the Islamic Revolution, times have been hard. Their mansion is mostly empty, as furniture and artwork have been sold to keep the family afloat. When Iran begin recruiting twelve-year-old boys, Abbas’ father and mother decide it is time to leave. But as a supposed enemy of the regime for his previous support of the Shah, Abbas’ father is not allowed to leave Iran. Abbas will travel with his mother to Turkey, and hope to secure a visa to the United Kingdom to live with Abbas’ uncle.

Pretending to be sick, Abbas stays home for more than a week as the family sells its last possessions. At the airport, Abbas’ mother is not allowed to board the plane, but Abbas can, so his father tells him to travel and makes arrangements with a friend to pick up Abbas.

Unfortunately the friend shows up, gives Abbas some instructions, and leaves him alone in Turkey, without much knowledge of the country or even of the language. What follows is remarkable. Through the goodness of people’s hearts, Abbas is rescued from his situation. A kind-hearted taxi driver helps him find a cheap hotel. Abbas is inventive and driven, and he manages to persuade the hotel owner to begin several endeavors that generate income for Abbas and for the hotel. He also finds employment running parcels for a jeweler in the marketplace. Through it all, Abbas spends time at the British Consulate, hoping that his mother will be able to join him as he attempts to secure a visa and finally get out of Turkey.

A powerful memoir, Abbas’ story describes his hopes and fears about being separated from his family and his desire to impress his father and be a success himself. Fans of The Red Umbrella and of A Night Divided will appreciate Abbas’ ingenuity and adaptation in the face of overwhelming circumstances.

Persian Myths

Sarkhosh Curtis, Vesta. Persian Myths. 1998. 80p. ISBN 0-292-71158-1. Available at 299 CUR on the library shelves.

Occupying a strategic between India and China to the East and the Mediterranean world to the West, Iran has always been a land of conflict and contrast. Like other great civilizations before, the Iranians have foundational myths that explain the rise of the nation and the battles it had to fight to secure its existence. Traditional tales feature confrontation between holy kings and mighty heroes against armies led by evil men, demons and dragons. Supernatural creatures such as Simergh, a magical bird from the tallest mountain, or Rakhsh, the mightest horse of the hero Rustam, populate these tales and attempt to explain the world as it was.

The arrival of Islam in the seventh century saw a shift from Zoroastrianism to Islam, but the myths and legends of ancient Iran were too powerful to disappear and were instead coopted by the new religion. These tales, which include the original Thousands and One Night, were distributed orally through minstrels, storytellers and religious leaders, but were eventually documented in several books such as the Avesta, the holy book of the Zoroastrians, as well as the Shahnameh, the Book of Kings.

These myths and legends fueled Iranian art over more than six centuries and continue to provide inspiration for modern adaptations. Fans of myths will enjoy reading familiar tales of good versus evil in an unfamiliar setting, and will appreciate the rich culture of ancient Iran.

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

Satrapi Marjane. Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood. 2003. 153p. ISBN 978-0-375-42230-0. Available in the graphic section of the library.

Marjane is an child and lives in an Iranian upper-income bourgeois family. For years the political climate in Iran has been deteriorating and people have been protesting in the streets. Her parents are politically active, and Marjane discovers that many people in her family have been imprisoned or executed by the Shah and his security service. When the government falls, however, it is replaced by an islamic republic where religion dictates every aspect of public life.

Soon, Marjane and her family’s life changes for the worse. Women must wear veils. Men must keep a beard and lose the necktie. War explodes between Iran and Iraq, and bombs and missiles are exchanged. Through it all, Marjane provides a running commentary on her society and the impact policies have on the people.

Presented as black-and-white comic, Persepolis illustrates one of the most important event of the 20th century that continues to affect American foreign policy to this day. If you enjoyed this book, take a look at The Arab of the Future, which explores similar themes.