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A review by ajkhn
Refuge by Dina Nayeri
4.0
Generally a really sweet and interesting story of international family and what it is to be upper-class and not-quite-white in that upper-crust, jet-setting world. That's a lot of hyphens!
The Hamidi family is very fun to hang around with and well-written (except for Kian, who seems to mostly exist as someone for Niloo to hang out with on family vacations, and an excuse to talk about Persian food. Unfortunately, the overwrought kitchen metaphors are probably the least fun and least well-written parts of the book).
The counterpoint between Bahman and his family, and the way Bahman's life is described in Isfahan, is wonderful. The story of how Niloofar becomes who she is, and continues to become even in her 30s, is also great to read. The descriptions of Isfahan, Amsterdam, and many of the other cities are recognizable and great to walk through. Nayeri has a great sense of scene and plot.
The critiques I have mostly surround the ~point~ of the plot: things get overwrought quickly and much of the metaphors around refugee life seem thickly spackled over in order to avoid specifics. The stuff the book loves: characters, family, food, are a great read. The stuff trying to link it to Today's Political Climate seem like they're added on in a way that could be done without.
The Hamidi family is very fun to hang around with and well-written (except for Kian, who seems to mostly exist as someone for Niloo to hang out with on family vacations, and an excuse to talk about Persian food. Unfortunately, the overwrought kitchen metaphors are probably the least fun and least well-written parts of the book).
The counterpoint between Bahman and his family, and the way Bahman's life is described in Isfahan, is wonderful. The story of how Niloofar becomes who she is, and continues to become even in her 30s, is also great to read. The descriptions of Isfahan, Amsterdam, and many of the other cities are recognizable and great to walk through. Nayeri has a great sense of scene and plot.
The critiques I have mostly surround the ~point~ of the plot: things get overwrought quickly and much of the metaphors around refugee life seem thickly spackled over in order to avoid specifics. The stuff the book loves: characters, family, food, are a great read. The stuff trying to link it to Today's Political Climate seem like they're added on in a way that could be done without.