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A review by alexlaurelhoffman
Refuge by Dina Nayeri
4.0
Dina Nayeri’s Refuge is a beautifully written story about a father and daughter separated in space and time. As a young girl, Niloo flees from Iran with her mother and brother, taking refuge in America. Her father, Bahman, a renowned dentist with an opium addiction, stays behind. Over two decades, Niloo and Bahman see each other only four times.
Refuge reflects on the difficult, painful experiences of being a refugee. Questions of home and belonging surface even as Niloo acquires all the things she never could have had in Iran. But there is always a sense of disconnect, of a problem family, a fractured community.
While my description so far makes it sound tragic, and it is in many ways, Refuge is also a hopeful story. There are moments of humour and beauty and Bahman’s sense of savouring the world’s delights, of taking pleasure in life, is poignant. Nayeri makes you think about what it means to feel at home, to have a family, and to enjoy life. This book is also riveting. I found myself turning the page without even really noticing. It is thoughtful and beautiful.
And now I really want to have some Iranian food filled with Turmeric!
Refuge reflects on the difficult, painful experiences of being a refugee. Questions of home and belonging surface even as Niloo acquires all the things she never could have had in Iran. But there is always a sense of disconnect, of a problem family, a fractured community.
While my description so far makes it sound tragic, and it is in many ways, Refuge is also a hopeful story. There are moments of humour and beauty and Bahman’s sense of savouring the world’s delights, of taking pleasure in life, is poignant. Nayeri makes you think about what it means to feel at home, to have a family, and to enjoy life. This book is also riveting. I found myself turning the page without even really noticing. It is thoughtful and beautiful.
And now I really want to have some Iranian food filled with Turmeric!