Better Than War: Stories

by iamak Vossoughi

The stories in Better Than War encompass narratives from a diverse set of Iranian immigrants, many searching for a balance between memories of their homeland and their new American culture. The everyday life of each character subtly reflects viewpoints that are simultaneously Iranian and American, of all ages and circumstances. These stories deal with family, friends, relationships, urban life, prison, school, and adolescence. They also contain powerful messages about what people want, need, and deserve as citizens and human beings. For instance, in the story “Better Than War” a young Iranian boy must overcome the fear of asking an American girl on a date. His friend tells him there is no shame in pouring your heart out to someone you like. The boy must realize that expressing emotion and sorrow is worth the embarrassment because it shows loved ones that you are better than hatred―and especially better than war.
All Iranian immigrants, young or old, carry with them a vivid past in their contemporary life. These histories help provide perspective, thankfulness, and virtue to their families and friends. Vossoughi’s Better Than War is about growing up, coming of age, and raising children in America while still remembering the importance of retaining Iranian pride.

Genres: Iran, Fiction, Short Stories

152 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2015

Reviews

[The Reviewer · Rating 2 out of 5]

“The stories in Better Than War encompass narratives from a diverse set of Iranian immigrants, many searching for a balance between memories of their homeland and their new American culture. The everyday life of each character subtly reflects viewpoints that are simultaneously Iranian and American, of all ages and circumstances. These stories deal with family, friends, relationships, urban life, prison, school, and adolescence. They also contain powerful messages about what people want, need, and deserve as citizens and human beings.”

Sounds good, right?

Wrong.

The idea behind Better Than War is great. A series of short stories that deal with emotional and physical hardships that most of us have never experienced.

The execution of this idea is where it went wrong.

The writing wasn’t the problem. The writing was actually pretty good.

But the stories the author chose weren’t quite right for his goal. They’re too short to convey much (don’t get me wrong, I like short stories to be short, but these accomplished nothing). The emotions that Vossoughi attempts to create fall flat.

The only (slight) exception is the second story. This one is also short, and it didn’t pull at my emotions, but it did make me think.

Overall, I liked the idea behind the book and I think Vossoughi has the ability to execute this idea, but he didn’t manage it in Better Than War.

I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book off the shelf at Elliott Bay because one of the booksellers said that reading it had made her a better person. And oh, how it truly does.

[Nancy Kho · Rating 5 out of 5]

This award-winning collection of short stories by Iranian American writer Siamak Vossoughi reads like a mosaic, giving us a glimpse of perspectives by Iranians in America. Spare, direct prose wastes no time in communicating the universal heart of things: I was particularly taken with "Bookshelves" and "Take Our Daughters to Work Day." A lovely collection by a talented writer.

[Jeff Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Stunned time and again by these stories that hit with such power. Most are five pages are less, and they’re linked by a common voice and worldview that enlarges as you go. My favorite is “Nine Innings.” These stories contain a persistent openness to the world, a searching wisdom, and, it sounds contradictory to say, but an open-eyed embracing of naiveté. There’s such heart and aching wistfulness in these evocations. And, ultimately, while not turning away from suffering—in fact, going into it—what pulses in each story is an insistence on seeking meaning and goodness. What Vossoughi gives us are 29 gems.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

"'...that's some advanced-level crying. That's up in the treetops of crying'" (31).
"All the adventure in their game was true, but something else was true too, which was that the men fighting wars had played them as children, and nobody had tried to tell them that piece was as much of an adventure" (80).

[Dajana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️. It’s easy to understand living in America as an immigrant, especially written so eloquently.