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A review by haaris
When Skateboards Will Be Free: A Memoir of a Political Childhood by Said Sayrafiezadeh
4.0
Saïd's father Mahmoud -- an Iranian immigrant -- and his mother Martha -- Jewish American -- are so enamoured by the promise of the communist revolution that no sacrifice is too large, even if that means abandoning their youngest son's childhood.
Saïd grows up in a world where his father chooses to leave him and his mother. His father is more obsessed with himself and the glamour of being an inspiring leader for the rank-and-file, churning out platitudes on demand. He even tries to bring the revolution to Iran and fails ignominiously.
His mother loves him and cares for him but she cannot leave the imperatives of party activity. She attends Socialist Workers Party meetings and conventions, and enthusiastically and blindly trusts shady comrades. Rather egregiously, she chooses to deprive her son of every little joy (despite having the money and means to provide them) because eschewing ice cream and skateboards means eschewing the evils of capitalism.
The mental scarring this ordeal creates in Saïd's life is palpable. That the pursuit of greatness (or of great-causes) often means jettisoning loved ones into the wilderness is well-known. Take most great names and search beneath the glowing narrative of their achievements: you will surely find spouses left in the dust, children abandoned, parents left to fend for themselves in destitution. This memoir is a reminder that the same torture is endured by family and friends of countless individuals who fail too badly for anyone to write about them.
Saïd's memoir has considerable humour and little sentimentality even though it is, at its core, a heart-breaking story. Through his childhood and as an adult, Saïd wants to be closer to his father Mahmoud, despite his Quixotic endeavours. This attraction and longing for Mahmoud is shared by Saïd's mother Martha as well, who continues to love her husband decades on. Martha's obsession with the SWP, however, poisons her relationship with her son. That they all survive -- especially Saïd -- through all this madness is a miracle.
It's a good memoir.
Saïd grows up in a world where his father chooses to leave him and his mother. His father is more obsessed with himself and the glamour of being an inspiring leader for the rank-and-file, churning out platitudes on demand. He even tries to bring the revolution to Iran and fails ignominiously.
His mother loves him and cares for him but she cannot leave the imperatives of party activity. She attends Socialist Workers Party meetings and conventions, and enthusiastically and blindly trusts shady comrades. Rather egregiously, she chooses to deprive her son of every little joy (despite having the money and means to provide them) because eschewing ice cream and skateboards means eschewing the evils of capitalism.
The mental scarring this ordeal creates in Saïd's life is palpable. That the pursuit of greatness (or of great-causes) often means jettisoning loved ones into the wilderness is well-known. Take most great names and search beneath the glowing narrative of their achievements: you will surely find spouses left in the dust, children abandoned, parents left to fend for themselves in destitution. This memoir is a reminder that the same torture is endured by family and friends of countless individuals who fail too badly for anyone to write about them.
Saïd's memoir has considerable humour and little sentimentality even though it is, at its core, a heart-breaking story. Through his childhood and as an adult, Saïd wants to be closer to his father Mahmoud, despite his Quixotic endeavours. This attraction and longing for Mahmoud is shared by Saïd's mother Martha as well, who continues to love her husband decades on. Martha's obsession with the SWP, however, poisons her relationship with her son. That they all survive -- especially Saïd -- through all this madness is a miracle.
It's a good memoir.