Sorry you felt so frustrated and irritated by what you read as my 'condescension'. This was never my intention. Iranians and Iranian Americans are not a monolith. Our stories are as diverse as any other nationality or culture. I'm sad that you didn't relate to these characters, but I appreciate that you read the book.
As for depicting Iran post-Revolution, I made a decision not to do that, and only to depict the stories of those people who came out. This is an immigrant story and by no means represents all Iranian-American immigrant stories. None of us can do that, not through storytelling nor though criticism.
You're right about the mistake re Imam Hossein and Mashhad -- I noticed it after the book had gone to press and couldn't change it. I was mortified, especially because I made a pilgrimage to the shrine many many years ago when I lived in Iran. A mistake like that can ruin any reader's confidence in an author, so I hear you. There's one other ridiculous mistake like this, but I'm too embarrassed to tell you what it is. I was very careful about my research...dates, events, political and social markers...but sometimes your eye focuses on the stuff that you're less sure about and you glide over the stuff you don't think you would ever get wrong.
I appreciate that you took the time to review the book, though I can't pretend that your words haven't stung. Dedicated fiction writers are people who sit alone in a room for years on end doing their best to tell a story that speaks their truth and, if they're lucky, resonates with some readers. You're entitled to your opinion, of course, but may I suggest that you express it more kindly in the future? It's an opinion, after all, and not fact.
As for depicting Iran post-Revolution, I made a decision not to do that, and only to depict the stories of those people who came out. This is an immigrant story and by no means represents all Iranian-American immigrant stories. None of us can do that, not through storytelling nor though criticism.
You're right about the mistake re Imam Hossein and Mashhad -- I noticed it after the book had gone to press and couldn't change it. I was mortified, especially because I made a pilgrimage to the shrine many many years ago when I lived in Iran. A mistake like that can ruin any reader's confidence in an author, so I hear you. There's one other ridiculous mistake like this, but I'm too embarrassed to tell you what it is. I was very careful about my research...dates, events, political and social markers...but sometimes your eye focuses on the stuff that you're less sure about and you glide over the stuff you don't think you would ever get wrong.
I appreciate that you took the time to review the book, though I can't pretend that your words haven't stung. Dedicated fiction writers are people who sit alone in a room for years on end doing their best to tell a story that speaks their truth and, if they're lucky, resonates with some readers. You're entitled to your opinion, of course, but may I suggest that you express it more kindly in the future? It's an opinion, after all, and not fact.