Set in Tehran, Iran. Reread on 2020/07: https://www.instagram.com/p/CC-DxxUAmqT/
Reread on 2019/05: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx4m4seAoe4/
“It doesn’t matter now. You won, Reza. I lost. Game over… I would hold her hand forever if I could. But I can’t. So I let go. I love her, and I have to let go.” Second time reading #ifyoucouldbemine by #sarafarizan and it just gets better, les enfants. The beauty of #rereading books is that you as the reader might be in a different position to see and feel the text differently or not at all and everything is simply the same old. #farizan this time around got me thinking about how easy is for all of us to project our own weaknesses and shortcomings towards one another onto a system or something bigger and out of our control. And it’s indeed true. At some point it becomes completely out of our control, if it ever was. But then what do you do? I think one of the great things we can all learn from the #purelove between #nasrin and #sahar is how much it is naive and hurtful at the same time. The fact that love is never completely pure or kind or compassionate. If you haven’t read this book yet, you should definitely go for it. #highlyrecommended #tehran#genderqueerlit #algonquinbooks#algonquinyoungreaders#lambdaliteraryawardwinner#sexreassignmentsurgery #lgbtqiran#queeriran #تهران #reread #iranian#yareads
Reviewed on 2018/10: https://www.instagram.com/p/BpFQb0glUvw/
#myiranianweek includes Dalia, Parnaz, Goli, Sara, Négar and Zoya. Here we have Sara #farizan and her heartbreaking book #ifyoucouldbemine . Let’s be honest here! An #lgbtqi story set in #iran is bound to reflect the horrific and inhumane status of #sexualorientation and #sexualexpression in the country. I still have to admit that my obnoxious self was not expecting such a deep and captivating read. How so wrong I was! #sarafarizandeserves every single award she won for this outstanding book and every single glowing review I read online. Farizan wants you to see the harsh reality for two #women falling in love in contemporary #tehran and what they are willing to do to love each other #againstallodds . There are no options here. Just a larger-than-life size of motivation and stamina seem to guide Sahar. I think the compelling writing of Farizan brings to the fore not only the horrendous particularities of the situation in Iran, but also what does it mean to be allies among those people and groups all shunned by the oppressive regime. If one person or group happens to have a way out or a slightly better situation, should you refuse to accept that option for the sake of justice for everyone or should you take it and perhaps help even more those left behind? I can’t recommend this book enough. I devoured it in a few hours. It’s direct, piercing and insightful. #highlyrecommended #algonquin#algonquinyoundreaders #transgender#lambdaliteraryaward #alarainbowlist#iranianliterature #lesbianlove #تهران
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