Under a Starless Sky

by Banafsheh Serov

One family's journey through the turmoil of the 1978 revolution, when the Ayatollah Khomeini came to power in Iran, and their escape over the mountains to Turkey, and ultimately to Australia.

Genres: Iran

309 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Born in London, Banafsheh spent her childhood in Tehran. In 1982, in the midst of the Iran/Iraq war, her parents came up with a plan to smuggle the family out of Iran. Caught by the Turkish border guards, Banafsheh and her family spent three weeks crammed in a cell with five other refugees while their fate was decided.

Moving to Australia, Banafsheh completed her bachelors at UTS Sydney. She lives with her husband and two sons. When not running their family bookstores, Banafsheh splits her time between writing and conducting author talks.

Reviews

[Belinda Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heart felt memoir of a young Australian-Iranian girl that reads like a page turner. The right mix of history, politics, culture, raw human emotions and suspense ensured that I had a hard time putting this one down. A timely book written in a simple, elequant, unpretentious language, 'Under a Starless Sky' was as pleasing to the senses as good wine is to the pallette.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing - Gripping - Page Turner!!! I cringed.. I giggled.. I cried.. I felt such a mix of emotions as I was reading this true story. This book is such an eye opener and made me realise just how blessed I am with the life I was given. I have also had the pleasure of meeting the author Banafsheh Serov and my book club session and still keep in contact with her.. Personally, I believe Banafsheh is a lovely lady and a true inspiration!! Even with the pain and suffering she and her family endured, Banafsheh is still full of spirit and has accomplished so much!! I highly recommend her book to EVERYONE!!! it's a MUST READ!! Banafsheh, no doubt opening up and reliving those horrors was not easy but thankyou so much for sharing your story!! I can't wait to read your next book "The Russian Tapestry!!"

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful read, narrated using multiple family thoughts elegantly interlaced.

[Banafsheh Serov · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this review in a bookstore, written by a staff member.
'This is the story of thirteen-year-old Australian-Iranian girl’s escape from Iran. Banafsheh was eight when the revolution erupted in her home country. Four years later in the midst of Iran/Iraq war and with the threat of Khomeini’s revolutionary guards, Banafsheh’s family fled Iran without telling their friends or family.
Serov has weaved into her tale a rich mix of Persian food and ancient culture. The result is a rich, satisfying and at times heart pounding memoir so well told the reader will want to read it in a single sitting.'

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

These days Iran is always in the news for all the wrong reasons, so it was interesting to read a lightly fictionalised memoir that begins before the Islamic Revolution that turned out to be such a malevolent influence, not just within Iranian borders but around the rest of the world as well.

It's worth having a look at these photos that I stumbled on today, that show a time before Islamic dress code was imposed on the population.  But the author Banafsheh Serov isn't nostalgic for the corrupt days of Mohammed Reza Pahlavi [i.e. the Shah of Iran].  In 1978 when the memoir begins, Iran was unstable politically, under an autocratic, repressive government and with a controversial relationship with the US.  Like many, her family hoped for democratic change and liberalisation.

But they were soon disillusioned when Ayatollah Khomeini returned from exile to form a new government.  Wikipedia tells us that millions of people gathered to greet him as he landed in Tehran, and that...

Following the March 1979 referendum, in which 98% of voters approved the shift to an Islamic republic, the government began to draft a Constitution, and Ayatollah Khomeini emerged as Supreme Leader of Iran in December 1979. He became Time magazine's Man of the Year in 1979 for his international influence, and been described as the 'virtual face of Shia Islam in Western popular culture'.  Following Khomeini's order to purge officials loyal to Pahlavi [i.e. the Shah], many former ministers and officials, were executed. In the aftermath of the revolution, Iran began to back Shia militancy around the world to combat Sunni influence and establish Iranian dominance within the Muslim world. The Cultural Revolution began in 1980, with threats to close universities which did not conform to Islamization. All universities were closed in 1980, and reopened in 1983.  (Wikipedia, lightly edited to remove unnecessary links and footnotes.)

For me, the most interesting part of a story that — one way or another I have read, sadly, too many times before — is the period of stasis before the decision to leave is made.  This time involves the dawning realisation that they are at risk, that getting away is incredibly risky, that leaving has to be funded by the loss of the home, assets and whatever resources they have and that they will likely end up with very little.  That they will likely never see those they leave behind as well. That the costs of freedom are many, and there are no guarantees.

Child migrants know the wrench of parting from family and friends and the difficulties of settling in elsewhere, but they are rarely privy to their parents' deliberations as they realise that their future lies elsewhere. For refugees, these decisions are complicated by the fear of detection, the need for secrecy, the difficulties of finding help that they can trust, the risk of getting scammed, and by deceiving their children so that they don't compromise the family's safety. 

To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2024/06/23/u...

[Read3r’z Re-Vu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under a Starless Sky is an amazingly gripping page turner!!!

I cringed.. I giggled.. I cried..

I felt such a mix of emotions as I was reading this story and yes I cried at the end..

This book is such an eye opener and made me realise just how blessed I am with the life I was given. I have also had the pleasure of meeting Banafsheh as she was our special guest author for a Read3r’z Re-Vu session, and I still keep in contact with her.. Personally, I believe Banafsheh is a lovely lady and a true inspiration!! Even with the pain and suffering she and her family endured, Banafsheh is still full of spirit and has accomplished so much!! I highly recommend her book to EVERYONE!!! it’s a MUST READ!! Banafsheh, no doubt opening up and reliving those horrors was not easy but thankyou so much for sharing your story!!

- Annie

[Lyn Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An absorbing true story of a family fleeing Iran from turmoil and terror. Parents love and determination helped get them safely to Australia and a happy life

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Desafiante e emocionante história. Escrita de fácil leitura

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story of a flight from the Islamic republic of Iran by a family disillusioned by the excesses of the religious revolution. A bit confusing as the point of view keeps switching from daughter to father, so its a bit of personal memoir, rendered memory and adventure tale. It would have been better as a reflective memoir, as the author recreates the emotions tangibly, the adventure part unfolds in a rather cliched fashion, we are not drawn into the family's experiences during their escape from Iran. A pity, as that alone could be a gripping story. The first part holds hints of a coming of age, as the revolution unfolds with a dawning of hope and rapidly degenerates.

[Deb Kingston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very compelling story about being uprooted from your country, told through a child's eyes. Simply written, easy to read but takes you along the journey with them emotionally, very thought provoking, a different story in the respect that the parents were happy to uproot their family for a better life because of political customs and views.

[Deena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Important, touching, memorable!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. Very interesting to read about life in Iran during the revolution and how peoples lives changed

[Greg Barron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under a Starless Sky is a beautifully written and gripping memoir that I know will linger in my mind for a long time.

[Chris Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hope this book gives me a better insight of difficulties, dangers and heart break families go through leaving other family members and country to make a better life for themselves.