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A review by punkrocknreticence
The Book of Fate by Parinoush Saniee
4.0
The Book of Fate is an account of 50 years of Iranian history told through the voice of Massoumeh, a woman who lives through massive socio-political changed and personal hardships. This book examines patriarchy from many lenses: from that of the individual oppressor, that of systemic oppression and the oppressive regime, and even that of its painful but unquestioning internalisation by its victims. Massoumeh's issues are issues faced by women in much of the world today, and the underlying biased affecting them exist not just in the 'developing' world, but also in the West: she struggles to attain education, to choose her own path and partners, and to exercise any freedom or act of will. The original title, Sahm-e-man , which translates into "my share" describes this book more accurately: it is a story of a woman, struggling to find her share in a man's world — which turns out to be a lifelong part in constant hardship, struggle, and self-sacrifice. The poignancy and urgency of its message can be summed up in this extract from the concluding chapter:
The ending of the novel echoes this idea even further.
One of the most important issues that this book brings to fore are is that of the gulf between the academia, the politicos and the people. The language and attitude of revolutionary activism is often inaccessible and inert with regards to the "masses", often even inconsiderate to accommodating them. This is a very important factor in the failure of such ideas catching on, whether in popular movements or in academic circles all around the world today.
The book begins in the reign of the Shah, and wind through the 1979 revolution and the slow takeover of monarchical authority by Islamic authoritarianism, exploring also why the revolutionary cause failed to hold ground or support.
Other issues faced by the people of Iran are also highlighted, such as theocratic extremism, corruption, inheritance rights, state-sanctioned sexism, conscription to the army, amongst others. Massumeh's brothers; Mahmoud, Ahmad and Ali; represent the various forms of patriarchal oppression in the book: religious, authoritarian, malicious, influenced or forceful. The role of the idea of 'honour' as vested in the bodies of women is heavily rooted into the relationships explored im this book. Meanwhile, Hamid, Massumeh's husband, shows us the problems of revolutionary fervour when it is removed from personal impact: one cannot affect change without educating those who benefit from it, and preach without practice.
The women in the novel paint another picture, one that alternates between creativity, daring, compromise, submission and perseverance: The characters of Parvaneh, Mrs Parvin, Faati and Massumeh's mother all highlight the various and constant negotiations involved in a woman's existence.
The Book of Fate while starting an important debate on some progressive issues, also gives into some sorts of essentialism and internalisation very often. The former is quite evident in the essentialisation of the woman as the sole nurturer, even when she is working or involved in other pursuits. This is further highlighted by Massumeh's status as a single parent, and ultimately affects her last decision in the book where she has sacrifice her own greatest wish, for the second time, for the sake of her (now grown-up) children and the society at large.
My last note on this book is with regards to the translation by Sara Khalili: while generally well-done, it is sometimes sloppy, and fails to capture the essence of the setting. Often, the use of terms as simple as 'mum' and 'aubergines', when out of suitable context, turns the narrative into a certain Americanization that lacks authenticity or feeling. Indeed, renaming it to 'The Book of Fate' takes away somewhat from the central theme of the book, since it is a short way from fate to fatalism. However, most of these issued may just be a classic case of things getting lost in translation.
I often ask myself, What is my share in this life? Did I ever have an independent fate of my own? Or was I always part of the destiny that ruled the lives of the men in my life, all of whom somehow sacrificed me at the altar of their beliefs and objectives? My father and brothers sacrificed me the sake of their honour, my husband sacrificed me for his ideologies and goals, and I paid the price for my sons' heroic gestures and patriotic duties.
Who was I, after all? (...) it is as if I never existed, never had any rights. When did I ever live for myself? When did I ever work for myself? When did I ever work for myself? When did I have the right to choose and to decide? When did they ever ask me, "what do you want?" [Italics are mine]
The ending of the novel echoes this idea even further.
One of the most important issues that this book brings to fore are is that of the gulf between the academia, the politicos and the people. The language and attitude of revolutionary activism is often inaccessible and inert with regards to the "masses", often even inconsiderate to accommodating them. This is a very important factor in the failure of such ideas catching on, whether in popular movements or in academic circles all around the world today.
The book begins in the reign of the Shah, and wind through the 1979 revolution and the slow takeover of monarchical authority by Islamic authoritarianism, exploring also why the revolutionary cause failed to hold ground or support.
Other issues faced by the people of Iran are also highlighted, such as theocratic extremism, corruption, inheritance rights, state-sanctioned sexism, conscription to the army, amongst others. Massumeh's brothers; Mahmoud, Ahmad and Ali; represent the various forms of patriarchal oppression in the book: religious, authoritarian, malicious, influenced or forceful. The role of the idea of 'honour' as vested in the bodies of women is heavily rooted into the relationships explored im this book. Meanwhile, Hamid, Massumeh's husband, shows us the problems of revolutionary fervour when it is removed from personal impact: one cannot affect change without educating those who benefit from it, and preach without practice.
The women in the novel paint another picture, one that alternates between creativity, daring, compromise, submission and perseverance: The characters of Parvaneh, Mrs Parvin, Faati and Massumeh's mother all highlight the various and constant negotiations involved in a woman's existence.
The Book of Fate while starting an important debate on some progressive issues, also gives into some sorts of essentialism and internalisation very often. The former is quite evident in the essentialisation of the woman as the sole nurturer, even when she is working or involved in other pursuits. This is further highlighted by Massumeh's status as a single parent, and ultimately affects her last decision in the book where she has sacrifice her own greatest wish, for the second time, for the sake of her (now grown-up) children and the society at large.
My last note on this book is with regards to the translation by Sara Khalili: while generally well-done, it is sometimes sloppy, and fails to capture the essence of the setting. Often, the use of terms as simple as 'mum' and 'aubergines', when out of suitable context, turns the narrative into a certain Americanization that lacks authenticity or feeling. Indeed, renaming it to 'The Book of Fate' takes away somewhat from the central theme of the book, since it is a short way from fate to fatalism. However, most of these issued may just be a classic case of things getting lost in translation.