The Septembers of Shiraz

For Americans, the most momentous thing to happen in Iran in 1981 was the release of the hostages after 444 days of captivity. Dalia Sofer has another story to tell about Iran in 1981, about normal Iranians who were imprisoned, tortured, and many times killed by the Islamic fanatics who came to power after the Iranian revolution. The Septembers of Shiraz begins with Isaac, an Iranian Jew, taken prisoner by the revolutionary guards; and much of the book details his horrifying experiences in prison. Meanwhile, his wife and young daughter attempt to lead as normal of lives as possible, and his teenage son is living in the United States, studying to be an architect. All of them are going through their own personal revolutions, but it is Isaac that will bear the deepest and most permanent scars. This is a remarkable, beautifully written book, despite its descriptions of terrible events.