Concealed

by Esther Amini

Esther Amini grew up in Queens, New York, during the freewheeling 1960s. She also grew up in a Persian-Jewish household, the American-born daughter of parents who had fled Mashhad, Iran. In Concealed, she tells the story of being caught between these two worlds: the dutiful daughter of tradition-bound parents who hungers for more self-determination than tradition allows.

Exploring the roots of her father's deep silences and explosive temper, her mother's flamboyance and flights from home, and her own sense of indebtedness to her Iranian-born brothers, Amini uncovers the story of her parents' early years in Mashhad, Iran's holiest Muslim city; the little-known history of Mashhad's underground Jews; the incident that steeled her mother's resolve to leave; and her parents' arduous journey to the U.S., where they faced a new threat to their traditions: the threat of freedom. Determined to protect his daughter from corruption, Amini's father prohibits talk, books, education, and pushes an early Persian marriage instead. Can she resist? Should she? Focused intently on what she stands to gain, Amini comes to see what she also stands to lose: a family and community bound by food, celebrations, sibling escapades, and unexpected acts of devotion by parents to whom she feels invisible.

In this poignant, funny, entertaining, and uplifting memoir, Amini documents with keen eye, quick wit, and warm heart how family members build, buoy, wound, and save one another across generations; how lives are shaped by the demands and burdens of loyalty and legacy; and how she rose to the challenge of deciding what to keep and what to discard.

Praise for Concealed

"In this beautifully crafted memoir, Esther Amini weaves a riveting portrait of her family life as the daughter of Iranian-Jewish immigrants in New York City.... It is a deeply personal tale, painfully honest and brilliantly told."--Susan Mailer, psychoanalyst and author of In Another Place

"Concealed is a heart-wrenching...memoir by the daughter of...Iranian Jews who...never escape the emotional prison of their previous existence. You will cheer for her as you ponder the eternal question: how do we survive our families?"--Sally Koslow, author of Another Side of Paradise

"Concealed is Esther Amini's remarkable account of growing up in a house where books and education are for boys and prearranged marriage is supposed to be her destiny....Lucky for us she grew up to be a writer...who has produced a wonderful memoir." --Patty Dann, author of Mermaids

"A moving, honest and compelling memoir that unveils the little-known world of Persian-Jewish
immigrants in America.... Amini's characters leap off the page right into your heart." --Ronda Spinak, Artistic Director, Jewish Women's Theatre

Esther Amini is a writer, painter, and psychoanalytic psychotherapist in private practice. Her short stories have appeared in Elle, Lilith, Tablet, The Jewish Week, and Proximity. She was awarded Aspen Words' Emerging Writer Fellowship in 2016 based on an early draft of this memoir. Her pieces have been performed by Jewish Women's Theatre, which name her Artist-in-Residence in 2019. Esther Amini lives in New York City with her husband. Concealed is her debut memoir.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Jewish, History, Middle East, Biography Memoir, Iran

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 24, 2021

Reviews

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

You all know I love a good emotional memoir, and Concealed fits right into that category. Esther grows up in Queens, New York during the 1960s. She is of Persian Jewish descent. Her parents were considered “Underground Jews” and fled Iran seeking freedom.

Esther seeks her own taste of freedom. Her family is tight on customs, and her father prohibits her from reading and an education. Instead, he tries to force her into marriage at a young age. She knows she stands to lose her close bond with her siblings and the rest of her family if she challenges this role for herself.

Ultimately, Esther has to decide what she’s going to keep from her native culture and what she will let go.

Concealed is a thoughtful memoir. It was filled with emotion, even wit that had me laughing at times. It’s smoothly told and engaging. I feel like Esther welcomed me into her family with open arms.

Overall, I enjoyed this thought-provoking book and and am grateful Esther allowed us in.

I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Talia Carner · Rating 5 out of 5]

East meets west in this struggled for dominance over a little girl's life....

If there is ever an example of how Jewish experience can be diverse, this excellent memoir by Amini demonstrates it. In crucial ways, the strict Iranian Jews searching for their place in the new world of New York never leave their old world, nor adapt their world-view to the new realities when raising a daughter in the West.

Esther's mother was an illiterate fourteen years old when she was married off to a man twenty years her senior. She grew up to be audacious, loud, shameless--and bitter about her lot in life. Yet, as much as she supported her daughter’s quest for education and was filled with grievances about her marriage, she saw nothing wrong with introducing her ten-year-old daughter to potential husbands in their twenties.

The father, an autocratic, controlling, hot-tempered man equated girls’ education to prostitution. He saw a direct line that led from one to the other. In fact, his way of dealing with the presence of a daughter was to act as if she weren’t there or didn’t exist as a person (hence the title, CONCEALED.)

Had it not been for Esther’s two much-older brothers, talented men who were permitted—and expected—to pursue education and careers, Esther’s life would have followed that of millions other oppressed women who never got a chance to fulfill their desire for intellectual-rich lives. Luckily, her brothers took over where their parents failed, from inviting her to their university campuses to taking her shopping for a bra.

In a sure-penned prose, Amini shares with us the trials and tribulations of a daughter who fights back, yet finds it hard to fully shed her parents’ influence.

[Liane Wakabayashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the get-go, Esther Amini makes it clear that her Iranian Jewish parents, who are from one of the holiest Shia Muslim pilgrimage sites in Iran, are far more messed up than most Jews from Mashhad, who made their way to the USA to escape religious persecution. Her British-educated, pampered, upper-class father was 34 when he married his 14-year-old bride, a ravishingly beautiful orphan, who was as merry and extroverted as he was withdrawn and sullen. These parents play leading roles in this psychological thriller of a memoir, spanning the nearly 50 years of a marriage that begins in the city where her Jewish mother was forced to appear in public, concealed in the black Chador of Muslims, but in the privacy of her own home, both followed the traditions of one of the world's oldest Jewish communities.

When her parents fled Iran in the late 1940s to start over in New York, they looked forward to living openly as Jews, but the reality was a lot harder to adjust to. Amini's parents carried heavy psychological baggage with them that the author teases out chapter by chapter. She offers a fascinating, and heartbreaking portrait of her two parents, caught between old-world Persian values. They were focused on just one aim when it came to their only daughter-- raising Amini to excel in Persia's domestic and culinary arts. If her parents get their way, she would be married off to a Jewish Masshad suitor chosen by her parents at as young an age as possible.

But Amini happens to have two older brothers who introduce her to the world of books from a young age. Being smart, studious, and determined to get the education her parents never had, she challenges them to rethink their outdated notions about what makes a loyal daughter.

Out of the range of her overbearing parents, she will gradually speak up and demand a higher education, freedom to make her own decisions, and liberation with their blessings. Given her background, how Amini pulls this off makes for a compelling read. This memoir starts off as an expose of her mismatched parents, their quasi-comic marriage, the psychological abuse, and manipulation Amini endured in childhood to be molded into the perfect Iranian Jewish wife– docile, opinionless, obedient - and as little educated as possible. But this intelligent, ambitious child is determined to not follow her parents' Old World agenda. With the sympathy and support of her two older brothers, she will become the first college-educated woman in her family–but not without heartache.

The author, a psychoanalyst, isn't going to let her own parents off the hook. But she isn't going to tell a tale of victimhood either. Amini has done a lifetime of work on herself, and this is what makes Concealed such a great read. With many decades of experience helping others heal the memories of their traumatic childhoods, she writes about childhood neglect, abuse, and the long road to recover by learning to love herself, and even love her erratic parents whose material success in America concealed dysfunction behind closed doors. Amini throws a spotlight on the rich transplanted Persian culture of Forest Hills, New York, where she is raised in a home wafting with Persian spices and mouthwatering delicacies. Who wouldn't want to be a fly on the wall?

[Chelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot about Muslim and Jewish family values in this novel. Esther grew up in a very interesting household. She was born in the US, however her family had come here just a few years earlier. This was a very interesting look into the life of her family and how her dad still did everything he could to stick to family beliefs and tradition, while her mother did almost everything she could to embrace the American "ways". Esther was often in the middle.

Esther's mother was married off to her father, at the age of 14, and he was 20 years her senior. This was normal and tradition. Women needed to be married off while they were young, as they were still pure and could then be "trained" in everything the husband expected of them. They had two sons, meanwhile struggling with their religious identity, due to the fears from WWII and that they were not who they were claiming to be, Muslim.

Her father moved the family around, and finally her mother convinced them to come to America. Other family had moved here previously and it was supposed to be the land of opportunity. The land of freedoms. Her mother quickly embraced the US, and that no one knew who they were as well as they no longer had to hide their true religion background. 

Her father on the other hand, thought that nothing good was coming from this country. A country where young people, male and female seemed to do whatever they wanted. Wore long hair, short dresses, and did nothing but protest and get high or drunk. He was not happy that his daughter was being put into this world with school now being required. 

Esther throughout her life struggled greatly with wanting to become her own person, to be smart and get a degree and not become some old bitty housewife who hated her husband. She was not going to marry out of tradition and swore she would find someone who would appreciate her intellect. She was not going to follow in her parents footsteps, but wanted to make something of herself. 

This was a very interesting read, into the background of Muslims and Jews and how America looked from an outsider. Some saw this land as opportunities and freedoms, while others saw us as selfish and not worthy of family or hard work. It was very interesting to read how Esther was raised, and yet was able to make something of herself and break the cycle of where her parents came from. 

Thank you to Esther Amini, and Wunderkind PR for the free arc. I greatly enjoyed reading this, and learned a lot about these cultures and their beliefs. 

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This week in my (Re)Introduction to Judaism class was our week to study Jewish history from Creation to the Enlightenment. Thousands of years of history in just an hour and a half, not an easy feat, and as the rabbi teaching the class said, “Jewish history is a bit of a misnomer. We have Jewish histories, plural.” And in a stunning bit of serendipity, this lesson showed up in my own life when I was offered a chance to read and review Concealed by Esther Amini (Greenpoint Press, 2020). After reading the premise of this new memoir, I leapt at the chance, because this sounded perfect for me, and it was. From the very first paragraph, I was hooked.

Esther Amini was born in New York, but her parents and older brothers came from a world away in Iran, Mashhadi Jews who spent their lives passing as Muslim in order to stay safe and alive, living as Jadid al-Islam, a kind of Persian converso. Outwardly, they presented as Muslim, their status as Jews a public secret; when tensions rose and the community stopped looking the other way, violence- stonings, robberies, assault, and murder, all sanctioned by the government- erupted. It was with this trauma that Esther’s parents lived, affecting their marriage, their outlook on life, and how their raised their children.

“Can we ever really know our parents?” Ms. Amini asks, before admitting the weight and sheer gravitas of this task. In this memoir, she recounts the struggles of her youth and young adulthood with parents whose volatile marriage and difficulty adapting to the cultural norms of their new home touched every part of her life. As she matures, she comes to understand her father’s fierce overprotectiveness and silence, her mother’s drive for independence and single-minded desire to stand out, while still acknowledging their faults and gathering the determination to stop the pattern of chaos with her own children.

A memoir of religion, immigration, family history, the challenge of reaching an adult understanding of one’s parents, and healing from the scars of the past, Concealed tells a story of a life lived with grace, perseverance, forgiveness, and the drive to shed the turmoil of one’s past.

I’d known there were Jewish communities in Iran, but Concealed was my introduction to what those communities look like. Extremely insular out of necessity, the community suffered greatly and lived in constant fear for their lives. It was after Esther’s brother David, then three, was burned on the ear with a red-hot fire poker by his teacher (who also screamed a terrible antisemitic pejorative at him) that Esther’s mother insisted that they needed to leave.

What fascinated me, however, was how much of the surrounding Persian culture and the lifestyle her parents had needed to adopt in order to survive, yet which they still carried with them to their new country. Early marriage for girls, as young as nine and to men twenty to fifty years older, was the norm in Iran (for the Mashhadi Jews, the reasoning behind this early marriage stemmed from the fact that minority girls and women ran a higher risk of being raped, which would then affect their chances of being married at all; thus, the earlier the marriage, the safer they would be, the reasoning went). While marriage at nine was, thankfully, out of the question, Esther’s parents made it clear that marriage, the earlier the better, was the only goal they had for her. Doing nothing to disavow her parents of the notion that graduation from high school was mandatory in America, Esther put all her effort into her studies, determined to make something more of herself than the anemic vision of her future presented to her by her parents. The book illustrates an almost stunning parallel: her parents sneaking and hiding their Jewishness in Iran, and Esther’s furtive studying, hiding books under the covers and reading with a flashlight, sneaking schoolbooks from her parents. The type of survival differed, but both types of concealment were necessary for each person to persist.

Her brothers were encouraged to study and work hard, however, a sexist stereotype that unfortunately transcends culture. “Stop thinking. No man will marry you,” her father told her. “Books are evil, they poison girls’ minds.” Her mother, herself illiterate, mocked Esther’s constant studying and desire to attend college. Her brothers, however, formed a team to educate and protect her, teaching her about periods, taking her bra shopping, serving as the knowledgeable, tuned-in substitute parents she desperately needed. “Es, create a mind you want to live with,” her brother David told her. And through hard work, trial and error, and the help of a good therapist, she does.

Her parents are mysteries, human contradictions whom Esther defies as a young adult, then endeavors to understand as she ages and then has children herself. Her father, harsh and reticent with a fierce protective streak, remains an enigma until she sees him through the eyes of a parent. Her mother, never missing a chance to create a spectacle, denied so much in her own life yet content to deny so much in her daughter’s, felt the world owed her, something Esther doesn’t come to terms with until late in her mother’s life. Maybe we can’t ever truly know who our parents our, but Esther Amini never stops trying, never gives up piecing together the puzzle of where she came from and how it affected her. Readers will triumph alongside her as she reaches hard-won conclusions and answers about the family she was born into.

Concealed is an intriguing memoir of not just one woman, but of a family, of a community, of the past and how it follows us all, and the effort it takes to grow and flourish beyond the places predetermined for us. Esther Amini is an absolute bastion of strength and determination, and her meticulous insight glows on every page of this book. If you enjoy memoirs, you won’t want to miss this original take on the genre spotlighting a community and a type of voice not often heard from.

Special thanks to Alessandra Scarpaci of Wunderkind PR and Greenpoint Press for sending me a review copy of Concealed.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Concealed starts with an epigraph from William Faulkner: The past is never dead. It’s not even past. This is very apt for this memoir by hyper-hyphenated Esther Amini, "an Iranian-Mashhadi-American-Jewish-educated-divorced female" (p. 241).

Concealed explores a woman's intersectionality, which is interesting by itself, but also considers how we can make sense of a past with confused messages about Self and Other, especially a past where pretense and hiding have been essential. Amini's parents grew up in Mashhad, Iran, before moving to the US, and had to hide their Jewishness under Muslim clothing and ritual. Amini was descended from ancestors who juggled aboveground and underground lives, posing as one thing while being another, be it Jews passing as Muslims, women concealed behind chadors, or, as in my case, daughters secretly reading beneath the sheets (p. 253).

Amini explored the costs of such concealment: staying quiet, avoiding feelings, pretending to be something one was not – but she also considered the advantages of living in such a society: I learned to listen for the subconscious—its concealed voice—and shine a light, illuminating the disguised and buried (p. 248). Although she considered art history as a career – even going to college scandalized her father – Amini ultimately became a psychoanalyst, where such skills in listening for the "concealed voice" were advantageous.

I read Concealed with my mother and likely would have set it aside except for her urging. We both enjoy memoirs, although she enjoyed this one more than I did. Much of Concealed is written at a loud volume, especially at the book's beginning. This is an interesting perception, as Amini appears to have been mute or semi-mute throughout much of her childhood. I am uncomfortable with such a volume (as was Amini's father), although Amini's mother reveled in the freedom and lack of visible constraints she experienced in the US:

[When angry, my mother] impersonated him, mimicked him, and publicly satirized his comatose penis. When my father could no longer restrain himself, he erupted in earthquaking curses. She, the instigator, retaliated, slicing him with a serrated tongue. (p. 171)

So, Concealed has me considering cultural views of emotional expression. These musings came at the same time as a friend talked with her students about equanimity (yoga dampens both positive and negative reactivity), which they were unimpressed by. I like the ideas of nonattachment and equanimity, although also wonder about how my personal and cultural perspectives lead me to valuing some approaches rather than others.

How much more confusing these cultural values are when you are hyper-hyphenated?

[Meryl Ain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concealed, by Esther Amini, is a memoir that I could not put down. The author couples her extraordinary family saga with magnificent, inspired writing. She vividly captures her family’s journey from Iran to India to Queens, New York after World War II. This is a beautifully crafted coming of age story with rich and colorful descriptions of the settings, sights and smells of Persian culture. It shines a bright light on the fascinating history of Mashaddi Jews at the same time that it reflects the universal experience of immigrants and their children.

[Falene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two things I got from this - I enjoyed the references to Boukharian in Queens as my daughter and family live in this area and landlords are boukhari
and
I remember a sephadi family growing up in St Louis ( I believe Morrocan) and we were close but much later connecting on facebook the one brother said they werent treated very nicely at the Jewish school and since reading this book (takes place in 60 and 70s) it explains that separdim really werent treated as "jewish enough" so I can kinda understand how that family felt now.
As for the story itself - for the first 2/3 of book I was hoping for more - I thought it would be more of Iran vs America but it was strange because her family was so dysfunctional. The last third got better as she understood why her parents were like they were but I was still not that much of a fan

[debra L · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars for this fascinating memoir, taking us into the world of Persian/Iranian Jews who are trying to make their way in the American world of NYC.... emotional story of a young girl coming of age torn between 2 diametrically opposed cultures... well written and engaging. Excellent read for those interested in exploring another immigrant experience not encountered before.

[Kristin]

This is generally enjoyable to read and engrossingly written-- but, I lost interest because it's really just the story of a completely random person's life, like if I myself were to write my life story, only it's gigantic. It smacks of what I'm finding in many memoirs, which is that the author is clearly writing their life story as a mechanism to conceptualize (for themselves) the problems they're working through and realizing in the course of therapy.

[Suanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concealed is an amazing memoir. So often I find that memoirs are really authors’ ego trips, and they never reveal any life-changing conclusions from their stories.

Of Persian Jewish descent, Esther grows up in Queens, New York during the 1960s. Her family immigrated from Mashad, Iran, where life even in the twentieth century, remained rather medieval. Her parents had to practice Judaism “underground” while maintaining the appearance of being Muslims. Eventually, they fled Iran for New York City. Their exit involved escaping via Afghanistan and India where they waited for clearance to move to the United States.

The book brought to mind stories in the news recently in which studies supported the idea that the effects of trauma can reverberate down the generations through epigenetics. These epigenetic changes modify the expression of our genes without changing our DNA code itself. In response to changes in the womb, genes are turned on or off by tiny chemical tags are added to or removed from our DNA, affording a method of adapting without a permanent shift in our genome. Certainly centuries of living underground while facing pogroms could affect Amino’s family, causing the behaviors of her father and mother.

Her father is a silent man, rarely showing affection unless a child is ill. Then he becomes the doctor he wished he could have been. He expects his daughter to marry early to a man twenty years her elder, thus her education is a waste of time. He dislikes the looseness of American culture. Her mother is the polar opposite, always demanding, wanting preferential treatment because she was an orphan. While embracing all that is American (including designer clothing), she encourages Esther to find her own way. When she does, however, the mother demands her daughter’s full attention.

Esther ultimately must work her way through this conflicting childhood and decide what to retain of her Persian culture and what to dismiss. She grapples with her identity, while remaining devoted to her family. The most amazing thing is that, through investigating the distant past, Esther is able to reconcile with her parents, a remarkable achievement. Through her own work in therapy, she is able to become an integrated person.

[Usf Man · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Artistry and Elegance of Iranian Handwoven Carpets

Introduction

Handwoven carpets are more than just floor coverings; they are a symbol of art, tradition, and culture in Iran. These exquisite creations have not only captured the hearts of Iranians but also earned international acclaim. Iran holds a significant role in global carpet production, and this art has contributed to the nation's progress. In this article, we delve into the world of Iranian handwoven carpets, exploring their history, characteristics, and the artistry behind their creation.

Understanding Handmade Carpets

Before delving into the world of Iranian handwoven carpets, it's crucial to understand what distinguishes them from other carpet types. A handmade carpet, or simply a carpet, in Persian terminology encompasses a broad category that includes carpets and rugs. Handmade carpets, often referred to as "Qali," are precisely what the name suggests—crafted by hand using warp and weft, resulting in intricate and captivating designs that have garnered global admiration.

A Storied History

The history of Iranian handwoven carpets is as rich and diverse as the designs woven into them. While the earliest knotted carpets were primarily used as horse covers or in the dwellings of desert nomads in the year 1328, the true flourishing of this art form occurred in the 16th and 17th centuries AD. Over the years, the art of carpet weaving in Iran has undergone remarkable transformations, with the introduction of more complex patterns and intricate designs.

Historical Treasures

Iran boasts an array of renowned handwoven carpets, each with its distinct charm. Let's explore a couple of these historical treasures:

*Kashan Handwoven Carpet*: Kashan is celebrated as one of the most popular and revered cities for carpet production in Iran and worldwide. With a wide array of designs and colors, Kashan handwoven carpets are known for their exceptional quality and timeless beauty. The delicate and intricate designs by Kashan artisans have made these carpets highly sought after.

*Tabriz Handwoven Carpet*: Tabriz, another prominent city in Iran's carpet industry, has been a hub for handwoven carpets for centuries. The city's expertise in carpet weaving dates back to the Safavid era, where it started in rural areas before evolving into large carpet weaving workshops. Tabriz carpets are distinguished by their symmetrical knotting technique and intricate patterns, earning them a global reputation.

Characteristics of Handmade Carpets

When considering the purchase of an Iranian handwoven carpet, there are several key features to keep in mind:

1. Materials Used: Iranian handwoven carpets are primarily made from cotton and wool, with nomadic communities often using wool instead of cotton. The choice of materials contributes to the exceptional quality and durability of these carpets.

2. Color Symmetry: Handwoven carpets are celebrated for their vibrant and balanced color schemes, adding to their overall appeal.

3. Design and Pattern: Iranian carpets come in a wide range of designs, from traditional to geometric to intricate floral patterns. Each design has its unique charm, reflecting the artistic diversity of Iran.

4. Pile Resilience: A genuine handwoven carpet features a shiny and flexible pile. These carpets become even more beautiful with time, enhancing their longevity.

The World of Persian Designs

Iranian handwoven carpets are celebrated for their diverse designs, each reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the region. These designs include:

- Shah Abbasi patterns
- Slim designs
- Spray patterns
- Tree designs
- Hunting ground patterns
- Frame designs
- Turkmen and Bukhara patterns
- Farang flower designs
- Dahram fish designs
- Altar designs
- Privacy patterns
- Vase designs
- Eli's designs
- Geometric patterns
- Antiquities and Islamic buildings
- Adaptation designs
- Consolidated patterns

Materials in Handmade Carpets

One of the key factors contributing to the popularity of Iranian handwoven carpets is the quality of materials used. These carpets feature top-quality wool and cotton in their warp and weft, with wool carpets being the most common type. The use of premium materials is integral to the beauty and longevity of these carpets.

Types of Handwoven Carpets

Iranian handwoven carpets come in various types, catering to different tastes and preferences:

- *All-Silk Carpet*: These carpets feature a pile and tuft made from high-quality silk threads, creating a luxurious and lustrous finish.

- *Silk Flower Carpets*: In these carpets, silk is used in place of wool in borders and patterns, giving them a unique and opulent appeal.

- *Silk Floor Carpets*: Another type of handwoven carpet featuring silk instead of wool, these carpets add an air of sophistication to any space.

- *Souf Carpets*: Souf carpets have a background made of both thick and thin fabric, adorned with patterns of flowers and tufted bushes, creating a textured and artistic design.

Handwoven Carpets Beyond Iran

The allure of Iranian handwoven carpets extends far beyond the nation's borders. These exquisite creations grace homes and spaces across the globe, with significant export markets including the UAE, Lebanon, Italy, Pakistan, Germany, and France. European and Asian countries, in particular, have a strong affinity for Iranian handwoven carpets.

Despite the challenges posed by sanctions, the availability of high-quality raw materials within Iran ensures the continued supply of these carpets to international markets.

Choosing the Perfect Handwoven Carpet

Selecting the right handwoven carpet is a crucial aspect of Iranian home decoration. The design of the carpet should complement the cultural and aesthetic preferences of the homeowners. With the vast variety available in the market, buyers can find a carpet that suits their needs and adds a touch of elegance to their homes.

For a seamless buying experience, consider purchasing handwoven carpets from reputable stores that offer quality and authenticity. [Muslimshop.vip](www.Muslimshop.vip) is one such reliable store that guarantees both the quality and originality of their products.

Understanding the Price

The price of a handwoven carpet can vary significantly based on factors like quality, density, and design complexity. While superior quality carpets may come at a higher price, buying directly from the manufacturer can be a cost-effective approach. Online stores, such as [Muslimshop.vip](www.Muslimshop.vip), offer a direct buying experience, eliminating middlemen and ensuring reasonable prices for authentic products.

Conclusion

Iranian handwoven carpets are more than just floor coverings; they are masterpieces that reflect centuries of tradition and artistry. With their historical significance, diverse designs, and top-quality materials, these carpets have gained global recognition and admiration. Whether gracing homes in Iran or decorating spaces around the world, Iranian handwoven carpets continue to enchant and inspire.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I live in a community with a substantial Persian population in which those from Tehran and those from Mashhad lead fairly separate lives with some real bias at least on the part of the Tehranis. This story certainly amplified the background that the Mashhadi's came from and the limitations on their personal freedoms especially if girls and women. The author was born and raised in NYC and so the descriptions of life in Iran were gleaned from the parents and others not from her own experience. The challenge for me in reading this was that since few people other than the immediate family were described in detail it was hard to know whether the characteristics of the parents were idiosyncratic or typical of their generation raised in Mashhad. While i imagine the reality is a mixture of both, the parents were drawn so extremely that i pictured them as substantial outliers of their community. This interfered with my reading because it very often seemed that the challenges in young Esther's life stemmed more from the personalities and characters of the parents than from the culture in which they were raised. Still it was an open portrayal of mores that were prevalent in Iran but markedly different in the US that caused confusion and conflict in developing an identity and free will.

[Felice · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her brilliant memoir, Esther engages you, draws you in and leaves you breathless as she describes her family’s journey as they flee from the extreme anti-Semitism of Iran in the 1940’s, and embark on their unusual escape via Afghanistan and India, ultimately settling in Queens, NY. Her parents lived in Mashad, Iran where life was Medieval, and Judaism was secretly practiced. Esther is not only a visual artist and practicing psychotherapist, but she is a gifted writer and paints an extraordinary picture with her exceptional prose. You will laugh with her and cry with her as she describes stories throughout her life. In the US, Esther is torn by her brilliant illiterate mother who embraces American life and culture, and her stern traditional father who chastises his daughter for reading books, wants her to drop out of high school, and enter an arranged marriage as a teenager. Esther grapples with her own identity, while being truly devoted to her family. Esther writes with such tenderness and love and always maintains a deep respect for her parents. Concealed is a truly remarkable memoir. Thank you, Esther, for this gift!

[Inji · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really badly written. Plays on a very tired formula of: weak storyline, throw in a few foreign foods and foreign words, leave the characters flat and the plot bland. Not everyone who has a family story should write a book.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a poignant memoir that tells about the author's crypto-Jewish Iranian family who finally left Mashhad, Iran for India and later America. Amini's descriptions of her bold, emotionally unavailable mother, her backward, over-protective, silent father, her two forward-thinking, supportive older brothers, and her growing-up years sometimes grip one's heart and sometimes lead to laugh-out-loud moments. Amini wants to know who she is and to be valued for learning and thinking. Her father wants her to quit thinking, throw away her books, get married, and behave. Concealed is well written and helps the reader gain empathy for both Esther and her parents. For those who ever wanted to be different from their parents, and those who value learning and self-awareness, I highly recommend this memoir.

[bdibi · Rating 5 out of 5]

In “Concealed”, Esther Amini takes us along with her on a vibrant, sensuous, colorful journey through her coming of age, exploration of her family’s past, development of her authentic self and finding her voice. Her deeply personal story parallels the experiences of immigrants, women and other marginalized groups, as they also search for authenticity and a subjective voice while grappling with what of their roots to hold on to and what to shed.

[G.G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings about this book.
What I disliked about it:
1. The author and her voice. It took me about ¾'s of the book to actually sympathize with her even a little bit. I just wanted to smack her upside the head in the first section and shout: "Get Over It! You'r 60-something years old." I was surprised that someone who made her career or life's work as a therapist or psychoanalyst could be so immature. In retrospect, she was trying to capture how she felt as a child, but does she really remember being 3 or 5? Doubtful. I have been told many times over what an incredible memory I have, and even I only remember snippets of this ages - and how much of it is my own memories and how much of it is stuff I've been told enough to craft a memory out of it?
2. The horror of what her home must have been like. I don't not sympathize - it seems crazy. Most individuals don't know better - their family is the only way they know - and so they assume everyone's family is like that. It seems that Esther knows better because of the time she spends with her friends and their families. But she is so unforgiving for so long.
3. She gives in to them after college - Why would she do that?
4. The extreme dysfunction - it's just hard to read.

What I liked about it:
1. The historical aspects of her parents community in Iran and what their lives were like.
2. The peek into another culture: their cuisine, their values (reputation!), their rituals, their values (why does a girl need an education?).
3. Their journey from Iran to the US - which was my favorite part - maybe because the author herself, while relating her family's history, is not yet a part of the story as it precedes her birth.
4. The relationship(s) she has with her brothers - what amazing people - good sons, great brothers, I imagine they are good fathers too.
5. Her ultimate and eventual healing process that brings her to understanding and forgiveness.

To read or not to read? I wouldn't give it a blanket recommendation, but I would recommend it to readers who enjoy true (even if dysfunctional) stories - especially ones that share cultures and histories different from their own.

[Talia L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, brutally honest, this memoir is an engaging tale about a woman's struggle to find her voice and identity, to find a balance between the diametrically opposed worlds of insular Mashad from where her family fled and liberating America where she was raised.

Esther portrays her parents as she experienced them, as humans, flawed and failed by their painful and oppressive pasts. She seeks to understand their motives, come to terms with their behaviors, and learn from their mistakes to create a better future for herself. Raised by her bold, determined mother and her commanding, silent father, Esther luckily has her older brothers looking out for her, helping her forge her distinct path, including being the first woman in her ancestry to finish schooling and college.

I appreciated the combination of chapters sharing every day life in America, which depicted family dynamics, as well as the chapters describing the culture, mentality, and persecution in Iran - I learned so much and have a lot of respect for these families who left their homelands and started from nothing, with hopes of a better life.

Enlightening, immersive, and empowering.

[Harriet Gran · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Concealed" is a gripping memoir by a gifted writer, storyteller. Esther Amini's book is as enjoyable as it is instructive. Amini tells us of her family's roots in Mashad, Iran, an ancient city, the oldest community in the Jewish Diaspora and a stronghold of Islamic fundamentalism. There, Jews hide their religious identity or face harsh consequences. After the family's relocation to New York City, Amini is challenged by the transportability of cultural norms. She must conceal her academic interests and competence from her father who insists that she focus only on a life of deference in marriage. In contrast, her mother, who was unschooled and forced to marry at age 14, conducts herself like the stereotype of a rebellious teenager, relentlessly garnering attention in ways that will bemuse the reader. Amini takes risks and finds "her footing" on a twisty path that incurs pain but ultimately helps her achieve personal growth and fulfillment.
This book has wide appeal. It is an absorbing and intriguing story that can elicit a reader's thoughts of his or her own personal journey.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a complex and difficult situation in which she was cast! Her parents both from Iran in a somewhat ill advised marriage and totally different ideas of what they wanted from life, from marriage, and from offspring, and neither of them really knowing what they were doing or getting into, or the possibilities of life, people, or society in different settings, made for an unlevel basis of her life. An interesting picture into the trials brought about by two very different sets of desires of the parents and the totally unique one of herself! Combined with the history of Judaism – both in Iran and worldwide – it made for an intriguing and riveting individual self history.
In some ways, I enjoyed the book, but in some ways, it brought up a whole range of emotions and feelings – some of which were more than a little uncomfortable. And it was very clear that there was a combination of love, fear, and questioning toward both of her parents.

[Jessica Layman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book on several levels - not just as a well-written memoir, but also as a look into this unique culture of Iranian Jews.

It was a tough read, don't get me wrong - there were so many things going on that you wished you could help Esther with growing up! I really appreciated how she explained her parents' background and how it humanized them as real people who went through a lot of struggles and were in a lot of ways trying to pass along that hurt to their daughter unconsciously.

It struck me as being really brave to write this memoir, despite her parents not being alive anymore, and it was really valuable to get her perspective. She was sure to point out that she had some typical immigrant family experiences, but that her parents were even kind of an outlier within their community.

Overall, I recommend - the audiobook was easy to listen to and this book definitely kept my attention.

[Cheryl Espinosa-Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esther Amini's breathtaking book carries the reader through her lifelong search for a self that can include both her parents, who left Jewish persecution in Mashhad, Iran to find a life in New York, and her own life as an American. From the confusions, self doubts and silences of her childhood to the life she builds as she matures, we feel the deep understanding she found and the evolution that resulted. Concealed is the best a memoir can offer; a deep telling of a personal story that can lead us to a universal understanding of our own lives and struggles to become, more and more, ourselves. If you have ever wondered who you are and how you incorporate all your experiences, this book will invite you to take these questions even deeper. At the same time, you'll be left with affection, even love, for the human beings who have populated her life.

[Lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an eye-opening memoir written by the first generation American daughter of Persian Jewish immigrant parents. From life in their ancestral home, Mashad to life in the new world of New York City this is a journey across time, culture and Jewish values.
The author, Esther Amini, chronicles her family life as she tried to find her way through the culture of Mashad that permeated her home and her desire for education and freedom to make her own choices that permeates America.
The book is at once poignant, hilarious (thanks to the author's outrageous mother), dark (thanks to the author's complex and traumatized father) and a lens into a hidden history of the Jews of Mashad.

[Joan Gelfand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only did it turn out that Amini grew up in my old NY neighborhood, but she had the same stomping grounds - The MOMA in Manhattan, Queens Blvd. etc.

I thought this was a very well articulated story of a young person who could have easily lost her voice, her identity and her self to overbearing, controlling, paranoid parents.

The big reveals at the end were really an excellent 'payoff' - but despite the final understanding of the father's anxiety, the descriptions of her brothers taking her under their wings were so sweetly and tenderly rendered. I was very touched by them.

The mother of course, is a character. It is challenging to describe a parental figure with all of their flaws and competencies but Amini succeeded.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this for a CJP book club event and really enjoyed learning about Esther's background. Her parents her crypto-Jews in Iran and she is the youngest and only child born in USA(2 way older brothers). She had a rough upbringing between a dad who was extremely strict and believed women should not be educated and would become whores if they were westernized at all and a mom who was not only very spunky but wanted to become westernized and embrace America. Their marriage was full of conflict and though they both loved her questionable how much they loved each other. The brothers filled in parenting - bra shopping, teaching her about menstruating. She goes onto college and ends up a psychoanalyst in NYC. Heard her speak as well and enjoyed it.

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is written with a deft mix of humor and sobering analysis of family relationships. There is an impressive honesty and maturity brought to bear on the most intimate of topics including:

- how people are shaped by their environment
- how tradition–and neuroses–are communicated from one generation to the next
- how careful discernment can allow the individual to both hold their family in their hearts and forge their own path in life

Esther Amini writes an easily accessible narrative which flows smoothly. As she spins stories of her larger-than-life mother and inaccessible father, it is almost as if the reader is there with her in the same room, eating the food made from her mother’s old-world Persian recipes.

[Nancy Chesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this memoir for the author’s treatment of her parents as humans with strengths and detriments rather than idolizing or trashing them. Over her years she took the time to know them as well as they would let her, and in telling their stories, she related a history of Persian Jews who immigrated and started new lives to give their kids better futures. Although her father believed girls should not be educated because no one would marry them, she fought for four years of college. She meets more impediments to fulfillment, but makes decisions that go against Persian Jewish norms to find fulfillment in her personal life. I have great respect for Esther Amini and the life she chose for herself.

[Jennifer Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up in the 1970s in northern California, I remember a few Iranian families folding into our small school circa '79. But none of them were Jewish. This is the story of a Jewish Iranian family who fled long before that revolution after living under cover, hidden and fearful, and who make their way to America, where the narrator Esther is born and raised. One the one hand, it's a typical story of first-generation of immigrants story, while on the other, so unique because of where they came from and all the baggage they carried with them. It is a fascinating coming-of-age of a young woman who grew up feeling "concealed" in her own home and identity and who only finds her self and her voice decades later.

[Dana Jacobi · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do we manage when family demands require obliterating who we are? How do we balance living in a confining culture with breaking out? Esther's vivid, fearless memoir shares being an Iranian Jew whose family lived under threat of actual extinction, then brings us on their journey to New York, where they try to live as though still in the old country while Esther manages to do everything forbidden. I found her monumental mother's outrageous adventures, her implacable father, and Esther's own conflicted insistence on being herself gripping, horrifying and often hilarious. Reading Concealed, I was living her life, experiencing it, and stunned by her insight and compassion .