The Persians by Sanam Mahloudji

 

The Valiat family is famous in Iran.  Fabulously wealthy and owning lots of land, their famous ancestor had risen to fame on his defense of the country.  But times are changing in Iran and the majority of the family relocates to the United States when the revolution comes and money and land starts to be confiscated.

The family's story is told through its women.  Elizabeth is the matriarch, a strong-willed woman who is narcissistic and whose life has been based on secrets.  Her two daughters are Seema and Shirin.  Seema's only child is Bita, now studying to be a lawyer.  Shirin has two children.  Her son, Mo, is in the United States, a wealthy entrepreneur whose business takes him worldwide.  Her daughter, Niaz, was six when the family emigrated.  She had gone to tell Elizabeth goodbye and when Shirin called to see where she was, Elizabeth insisted she wanted to stay behind.  Afraid they would lose their seats on one of the last planes out of the country, Shirin and her husband agreed but they thought everything would blow over in a month or two.  Instead, Niaz has been in Iran her whole life, living with Elizabeth and fighting in her own ways against the government.

All the Valiat women are vain and sure that they are entitled to whatever they want, whenever they want it.  All are beautiful and often get their way.  When Shirin is arrested on the annual family trip to Aspen, a misunderstanding caused by vanity and alcohol, the family rallies around.  This is an event that even draws Elizabeth and Niaz to come to the United States.  Once there, the family secrets start to unravel and the family must decide how to move forward in the future.

This is a debut novel and it has been shortlisted for the Women's Prize in 2025.  The focus in on women and how they live their lives and especially on the culture of the Persians.  Their history extends back centuries and they look upon those they are forced to live with in exile as barbarians.  The women are more focused on themselves than on their children and it causes rifts that are unusual in their culture.  Mahloudji writes a tale of love, betrayals, sex and money that may be new to the reader.  This book is recommended for readers of literary fiction and multicultural novels.