Book Review of I'll be strong for you by Nasim Marashi

 

   Name of Book: I'll be strong for you

Author: Nasim Marashi  (trans Poupeh Missaghi

ISBN:978-1-66260-036-4

Publisher: Astra House 

Type of book: Iran, 2010s? Summer and fall, decisions, depression, Tehran, friendship, marriage, choices, decisions, family, party 

Year it was published: 2021 (2014) 

Summary:

This award-winning debut novel by Iranian journalist Nasim Marashi follows the lives of three young women in Tehran over the course of two seasons as they pursue their wildly different dreams even as they discover that it may mean breaking with the past and endangering their longstanding friendship.

Three recent college graduates in Tehran struggle to find their footing in this award-winning debut by Iranian journalist Nasim Marashi. Roja, the most daring of the three, works in an architecture firm and is determined to leave Tehran for graduate school in Toulouse. Shabaneh, who is devoted to her disabled brother and works with Roja, is uncertain about marrying a colleague as it would mean leaving her family behind. Leyla, who was unable to follow her husband abroad because of her commitment to her career as a journalist, is wracked with regret. Over the course of two seasons, summer and fall, in bustling streets and cramped family apartments, the three women weather setbacks and compromises, finding hope in the most unlikely places. Even as their ambitions cause them to question the very fabric of their personalities and threaten to tear their friendship apart, time and again Roja, Shabaneh and Leyla return to the comfort of their longtime affection, deep knowledge and unquestioning support of each other. Vividly capturing three very distinct voices, Marashi's deeply wrought narrative lovingly brings these young women and their friendship to life in all their complexity.

Characters:

Main characters are Leyla, Shabaneh and Roja. Leyla is wracked with guilt and seems to be suffering from depression or so over the fact she stayed and her husband has left for America. Shabaneh is a caretaker of her brother and is conflicted about a possible relationship with someone from work while Roja is conflicted about whether or not to stay in Iran when all she desires is to go to France. Other characters also play minor roles, primarily family members, coworkers, friends and possible lovers. 

Theme:

One day can impact the world 

Plot:

The story is in first person narrative from Leylas, Shahbanehs and Rojas points of view. ( each chapter is devoted to a particular woman, each dealing with specific issues; Leyla regret over not going with her husband to America; Rojas attempts to move herself to France, and Shahbanehs worry about a possible proposal. Each chapter has a distinct voice which makes the women easy to remember. There is definite a feeling of welcome and intimacy within the story. Because I am not from Iran or Tehran, it was a bit difficult for me to understand the culture and mores and unsaid things in the story.   

Author Information:
(From goodreads) 

Nasim Marashi was born in Tehran, Iran in 1984. She started her career in journalism in 2007 and became a screenwriter in 2013. She won the Premier Prix in Bayhaqi Story Prize (2014) for the short story, “Nakhjir,” and the Premier Prix in Tehran Story Prize (2015) for the short story, “Rood.” Her debut novel, I’LL BE STRONG FOR YOU (Cheshmeh Publications, 2015) was selected as the Best Novel of the Year in the 8th Jalal-e Al-e-Ahmad Prize and is in its 40th printing. The book was translated into Italian and Kurdish and received great acclaim. Marashi’s second novel, HARAS (Cheshmeh Publications, 2016) is in its 20th printing and has been translated into Turkish and Kurdish. Marashi is the co-writer of the feature film, “Avalanche” (2015), and the documentary “20th Circuit Suspects” (2017).

Opinion:

My son used to be friends with a boy whose family is from Iran. Over the last year I have visited their house a lot and grew with understanding a bit about Middle Eastern world. Reading this was very reminiscent of the understanding that I developed about Iran from them. So why the three stars then? I think I had some trouble understanding when it took place, and the summary was a bit misleading for me. While I was exposed to a little of intimacy of Iran that I think I will treasure for rest of my days. On thinking further about the story, perhaps it's how one day can influence peoples choices and decisions, priming them up for changing their lives? So from the summary, I imagined it will be a novel where the women's stories will take place over the whole two seasons. Instead the stories cover one day only. I also am not sure in second section how far is it from first section. Was it few months later or was it next day? 

This was given for review 

3 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)