kristy_k's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
I find memoirs and essays from immigrants and other countries so important and enlightening. Here, Khakpour uses her voice to show how being a refugee and Middle Eastern in a country that has a tumultuous past with both has shaped her. She explores her identity of being Iranian and being American and how she can love and struggle with each at times.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
prosenotbros's review against another edition
4.0
Grapples with the ever-shifting landscapes of identity, dis/location, heritage, and more. The overarching message can be summarized by several passages, yet this one struck me as the most cumulative: You wonder if your Americanness is forever and if you will die an American. You realize it might be just as hard to shake being an American as it was to become one in the first place. You realize with joy that you will die an American; you realize with agony you will die an American; you realize with horror and confusion and fear and disbelief that you will die an American. Somehow it is harder to imagine than dying.
laurensilva's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
jess_vineberg's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
bookalong's review against another edition
5.0
"You are 19 years in America, you become an American on November 2001 and you realize you could have had a child in that time. You have no kids, no husband, no home you own, no roots. No real reason to be here. Trump becomes president and your old country is on the list of the six countries of the "Muslim ban". You are suddenly a Muslim. No one doubts your browness anymore. You realize that every day is lesson in America, the real America, the violent one."
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Thoughts~
I reccomend checking this one out! I really enjoyed these relevant, moving, honest and eye opening essays about being an Iranian immigrant in America.
Porochista Khakpour and her family lived a prosperous life in Iran, but the Iranian Revolution found them escaping to America. In Los Angeles they found themselves living a much different life, one with cultural alienation. Through memories Porochista shares what everyday diaspora feels like, living through 9/11, and America's continued rocky relationship with Iran. She explores her search for identity, touching on mental health, creative writing, and more.
This was a deeply honest read. Another book white people should be required to read in my opinion. Her memoir SICK was interesting reading as well.
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Thank You to the publisher for sending me this book opinions are my own.
•
For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
•
Thoughts~
I reccomend checking this one out! I really enjoyed these relevant, moving, honest and eye opening essays about being an Iranian immigrant in America.
Porochista Khakpour and her family lived a prosperous life in Iran, but the Iranian Revolution found them escaping to America. In Los Angeles they found themselves living a much different life, one with cultural alienation. Through memories Porochista shares what everyday diaspora feels like, living through 9/11, and America's continued rocky relationship with Iran. She explores her search for identity, touching on mental health, creative writing, and more.
This was a deeply honest read. Another book white people should be required to read in my opinion. Her memoir SICK was interesting reading as well.
•
Thank You to the publisher for sending me this book opinions are my own.
•
For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
megebeam's review against another edition
5.0
Gosh this is such powerful work. The layers of cultural and individual truths in every single essay... I am seriously astonished by how much I learned reading this. So, so good.
jessidee's review against another edition
Only read a few essays to help a colleague decide if they would work for her class
anahitareads's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book more than I expected I would. Khakpour’s writer’s voice reels you in from the very beginning, and her personal anecdotes didn’t feel tired or repetitive like a lot of writing about Iranian-America and the diaspora tends to feel.
I especially enjoyed these essays/chapters (but I recommend the whole thing): “Revolution Days”, “An Iranian in Mississippi”, “Secret Muslims in the New Year”, “A Muslim-American in Indonesia”, “How to Write Iranian America”, and the titular final piece “Brown Album”.
I especially enjoyed these essays/chapters (but I recommend the whole thing): “Revolution Days”, “An Iranian in Mississippi”, “Secret Muslims in the New Year”, “A Muslim-American in Indonesia”, “How to Write Iranian America”, and the titular final piece “Brown Album”.