[memoryslandscape-deactivated202]

“I wish I were a flower And you were walking by And picked me as your own And held me captive in your hand.”

— Hermann Hesse, from “Love Song,” The Seasons of the Soul: The Poetic Guidance and Spiritual Wisdom of Hermann Hesse (North Atlantic Books, 2011)

[anibo-m]

تمام فاصله میانمان را تا تو خواهم دوید

I will run to you

All the way between us

[thebellekeys]

10 book recommendations for if you like Persian culture or Iranian history

Here's another book recommendations post! Please note that I myself am not Persian nor have I ever even been to Iran. These are just some books by Iranian or Iranian-American writers that I enjoyed.

The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali

- historical fiction, historical romance, based on the 1950s Mossadegh coup, broke my heart into a million pieces, beautiful story, love it

Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi

- memoir, set between the 70s-90s in Tehran, examines the role of literature and art and censorship in revolution, very feminist work

Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win by Susan Azim Boyer

- YA set in 1979, based around the Revolution and the American media's coverage of it, coming of age story with Iranian-American fmc

They Said They Wanted Revolution by Neda Toloui-Semnani

- memoir, set in the time way before and during the Revolution, about the memoirist's parents roles in the Revolution, super powerful book

An Emotion of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi

- YA set after 9/11, Iranian-American fmc dealing with her faith and Islamophobia and family, coming of age story, sad and profound

Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adim Khorram

- YA contemporary, persian mc goes to iran and discovers his roots, explores zoroastrianism in Iran, mental health emphasis, pretty funny ngl

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

- graphic novel memoir, relative of the Shah recounts the Revolution as experienced by women and girls in a rapidly changing Iran

The Woman Who Read Too Much by Bahíyyih Nakhjavání

- set in 19th century Iran, about a mystical poetess who has the power of prophecy, themes of mysticism, very lyrical storytelling

The Essential Rumi by Rumi

- poetry, collection of Iran's greatest poet's works, lots of Sufi mysticism and beautiful poems about love and spirituality and the self

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi

- YA fantasy, set in a fantasy world inspired by ancient Persia and is a retelling of the Shahnahmeh, there's romance and action

[west150]

Yes, it is the beginning of love,

Though the end of the road is unseen.

I will not think of the end anymore,

For this love itself is beautiful.

(Forugh Farrokhzad)

آری آغاز دوست داشتن است/ گرچه پایان راه ناپیداست/ من به پایان دگر نیندیشم/ که همین دوست داشتن زیباست.

[blushiscool]

Manzuoxi for Oui Management

[the-evil-clergyman]

The Grotto of the Nymphs, from Pierre Louÿs’ The Songs of Bilitis by Willy Pogany (1926)

[destroysoil]

amazing two-toned eggs of the harlequin cabbage bug, murgantia histrionica

[achillesinhighheels]

[kyrasaphira]

drawing by Santiago Licata (2019)

[coprophagic-deactivated20120427]

[mona-l1sa]

[rozieramati]

[ageae]

[seamossdoll]

[xanaxfarts]

Dingle Bay, Ireland (1993) photog. Sam Abell

[cyberxbattalion]

[zegalba]

Andersson-Wise Architects: Chihuly Bridge of Glass (2001)