Iran At War: 1500-1988
Kaveh Farrokh —
(Osprey Publishing, 2011)
Kaveh Farrokh’s third textbook, Iran at War: 1500-1988 (Osprey Publishing, 2011) has been translated into Persian by one of the most prestigious academic Persian-language publishing houses, known as Qoqnoos Publishers. The translation (ایران در جنگ) has been conducted by Maryam Saremi. Qoqnoos has translated into Persian academic textbooks by scholars such as David Nicolle, Josef Wiesehofer, Duncan head, Touraj Atabaki, Nino Piglokevskaya, Sandra Mackey, Touraj Daryaee, Mohammed Dandamaev, Agrar Aliev, Christopher Foster, and Mary Boyce.
The Mourners Bayal
Short Stories by Gholam-Hossein Sa’edi
Translated by Edris Ranji
(Ibex 2018)
A brilliant collection of eight stories that are integrated and circle around the imaginary Iranian village called Bayal. Each is intriguing and entices the reader to continue to the next episode. In the end, you will be left with your own deep thoughts of life and how to decide what its truth and what is mystical.
A Lexicon of the Persian Language of Shiraz
Mitra Ara
(Ibex 2018)
This book is not only interesting for one who has a command of the Persian language as native tongue or studied, wondering where, how and why a certain aspect of their language is spoken different or has a different meaning, depending on location or region.
For those who are just attempting to learn the language the book acts as a wonderful resource. A better understanding of the origin of the word can often lead to a better understanding of the language itself. A great presentation and easy to follow.
Yemen
Edited and Prefaced by Ardeshir Zahedi
(Ibex 2018)
A well-done reference book for the story of Yemen. This country has been defined by sound bites and paper headlines. Little is known, by the public, as to how Yemen came to be and why it is in the state it now resides.
It is considered to be one of the poorest counties in the world, which unfortunately results in deprivation of spirit and self-direction. Face it, goals are hard to hang onto when your bellies ache from hunger and children die at your feet.
In reading this book any person should have to care. But the world has been desensitized to long term suffering for others. We cry, pray and mourn for a few hours or days and then BOOM back to normal.
If you objectively read the facts presented and compare them to other sources you will find that the people of Yemen have been left in the cold, while its leaders thrive, and surrounding leaders thrive. The fate of this country was cast decades ago and unless another purpose other than humanitarian, is found to fight for these people, its history does not have a happy ending. Its soil and its citizens will continue to be used as the game board for surrounding countries, the West and yes, the Far East. Yemen has been forgotten by world leaders except at the end of their terms, when there are no political stakes. I look forward to world leaders who step up to the plate once their leadership begins. And, I look forward to world leaders who say Yemen needs to be saved, even if the only reward they will receive is a thank you from a starving child, mother or father.
The Calling, Tahirih of Persia and
her American Contemporaries
Hussein Ahdieh and Hillary Chapman
(Ibex 2018)
Movements are powerful, and the present has not cornered the market on their importance, be it positive or negative. In the pages of this book you will learn about a spiritual movement started in the mid 1800’. It is noted that this movement allegedly “swept” across two countries, the United States and Persia. While on the surface these two countries appear to be dissimilar in so many ways, but their underlying compatibility seems more genuine. The faith filled women of this movement proceeded so as workers, motivators, instigators and leaders.
In Iran it was Tahirh of Qazvin who led the movement. The book is her journey and the influences on her culture and world culture. The book discusses classification of women and how in both Iran and the United States women were always considered to be secondary citizens. Seems to me that the only way you, as a woman, can feel as if you are second class. That is if you accept the title in the first place. And, for every woman who does not accept it, each of you are your own movement.