I seem to be on a feminist lit streak. I had never heard of Forugh Farrokhzad prior to reading one of the feminist biography collections that I recently picked up (can't remember which one... I think it was the Little Book of Feminist Saints). While this is a novelization of her life and not a biography, I found it incredibly fascinating. Many of the aspects of the story are, of course, factual to the time period, such as the discover of Iranian oil, the coup and government turmoil, and the restrictions on women at the time. These facts being integrated into the story made it all the more interesting to me, as it is a look at a world that I will never experience and gave me more understand of the tensions between the West and the Middle East (Persepolis helped with that too, and gave me a little bit of background knowledge for this read). Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

In this fictionalization of the life of the poet Farroud Farrokhzad, Jasmin Darznik writes a powerful and moving novel of twentieth century Iran, its modernization, and its deeply held traditional values. Caught squarely in the middle of these opposing forces, Farrokhzad was true to herself and her vision, and paid an unbelievably high price. I know many of the Iranians who chose to leave their country as it fractured into chaos, and Song of a Captive Bird tells the story of many who stayed. They are both alike in their shared dream of a culture that now feels very far away.

I have this little quirk. I’ll pick out a book, but when I actually get around to reading it, I don’t look at the blurb to remind myself what it is about. If I’d done that, I would have known that Song of a Captive Bird is about an actual person, and that knowledge may have affected my reaction to it. On the other hand, a novel should stand or fall on its own merits, not because of what you know or don’t know about it before you begin reading it.

In the 1950’s and 60’s Iran, Forugh Farrokhzad is having a difficult time with the strictures of her culture. She wants to be a poet, but the role of women in her country is still only that of a wife and mother. She has always been a difficult child, and as a young woman, her first act of rebellion is in trying to select a husband for herself. She chooses her cousin Parvez because of a shared interest in poetry.

She marries Parvez but at the cost of losing the regard of her father, a powerful general under the Shah. But marriage isn’t what she expected. Instead of staying in Tehran, her husband takes her home to his small village where they live with his disapproving mother. In the village, her every action is scrutinized.

The novel follows Forugh as she pursues her career as a poet and later a film director despite being slandered, attacked, and viewed as a prostitute by most of Iranian society. It is interesting in its evocation of this time and culture, especially the details of everyday life and the build-up to the Iranian revolution. However, something was missing for me. The novel did not seem particularly sucessful as an inspiring and moving story of one woman’s courage.

I think my reaction was because of Darznik’s choice to write this novel in first person. There was something about that perspective that didn’t work, particularly at the end of the novel. Although I think I would have ordinarily been touched by this woman’s story—she was certainly gifted and courageous—something about the novel kept me from getting fully involved.

I absolutely loved this book. I could throw out adjectives like emotional, lyrical and etheral because it's all those this. Every once in a while if you are lucky a book will come along and and grab you in its grip and when it releases you it leaves you feeling a thousand times before than before you start reading and this book did that for me. It's easily one of my all time favorites of 2018 and so worth picking up so you can dwell among the pages and sigh over the scenes and wording. An author who has become an auto buy for me and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Song of a Captive Bird carries the fictionalised life of Iranian poet Forugh Farrokhazad. Growing up, Forugh was always taught to sit still, obey and know that societal expectations for women and men would always supersede her dreams and desires. Unfortunately, she gets tied down to a man whom she taught would be her saviour but ends up disappoints her. With the proverbial evil mother-in-law who abhors her to boot, she sets on a path of self-determination through poetry. Along the way, she ends up having an affair to escape her circumstances. Her poems are viewed as by some as brilliant and by others as scandalous-tainted by Western influences.

Hence you might be able to guess that the book’s title comes from the fact that Forough would love to express herself through her poetry but she’s limited to societal norms, rules and expectations. This is quite a pertinent issue since accepting Western traditions was seen as betraying the Persian culture and by extension Islamic religion. Through Forough’s life, Darznik highlights the inner and external conflicts that women in Iran face when navigating life choices while trying to fit in an increasingly globalised world. Darznik does a wonderful laying the scenes of 1950s Iran when they are facing political upheavals due to power changes and oil discoveries in the country against the backdrop of globalisation.

Along with the lyrical writing, the author does a wonderful job of incorporating original bits of Forough’s poetry into the book which gives it a greater feeling of authenticity. Readers who have never been to the Middle East will appreciate her descriptive language and will be transported to a faraway land and time and will empathise with Forough’s situation. Darznik closes Song of a Captive Bird in a unique way which I think would be suicidal for an inexperienced author. However, in her case, she does a good job and as readers, we do get some form of closure.

Title: Song of a Captive Bird
Author: Jasmin Darznik
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Pages: 416
List Price: $27.00

Song of a Captive Bird, by Jasmin Darznik, is a beautifully written novel about Iranian writer and activist, Forugh Farrokhzad, who came of age against the backdrop of the CIA-backed coup d’etat in 1953. Like many Iranian women, Farrokhzad was caught between tradition and modernization, between the expectation to be submissive and the desire to be autonomous. What sets Farrokhzad apart is not just that she chose art as an outlet for her frustrations and desires, but also that she is one of few Iranians who spoke openly about oppression and corruption.

Her life, and Darznik’s fictionalization of it, are remarkably relevant and relatable for today’s readers, thanks in large part to the author’s use of internal monologue to contextualize the events of Farrokhzad’s life. Darznik masterfully blends research with creative license, creating a narrative that is as enthralling as it is heartbreaking. It’s also eerily familiar; Farrokhzad is repeatedly pressed to censor herself and, when she doesn’t, critics attack her sexuality to discredit her.

This novel simultaneously captures the horrific trauma of institutionalizing outspoken women, the struggle for sexual and artistic freedom, and the very real stakes of defying an oppressive regime. Readers will come away with an honest, painful rendering of Iran, as well as a strong introduction into Farrokhzad and a clearer understanding of what’s at stake in the fight for human rights. Darnik addresses everything from the modernization of religious norms to intersectionality to ableism to family dynamics in her gripping fiction debut, making this one of the most important releases of the year.

Jasmin Darznik is the author of The Good Daughter: A Memoir of My Mother’s Hidden Life, a Pushcart nominee, and the recipient of numerous fellowships. She teaches creative writing at California College of the Arts. Song of a Captive Bird is her first novel.

Iran is a mystery, an endless study of contrasts. Its cultural history is spectacular. Its ability to repress its people never ceases to amaze. Its desire to lead is understandable. Its present methods of doing so are reprehensible.

“Song of a Captive Bird” by Jasmin Darznik does a wonderful job of capturing the challenge of being a brilliant and daring woman during the 1950’s. And her subject is arguably one of the most influential ever – Forough Farrokhzhad. Ms. Farrokhzhad was one of the earliest Persian feminist poets. She had the courage to defy her parents, her family, and her country in the quest to be honest about what it is like to be a woman, especially in a world of fear. Her risk defying behavior should be a lesson for us all.

Let us hope that “Song of a Captive Bird” can somehow help the citizens of Iran, especially the youngest ones, maintain the courage to believe in and fight for the truth and the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC. Forough will stay with me forever.

I received a digital copy of Song of a Captive Bird by Jasmin Darznik from Net Galley and Random House in exchange for my review. This is an enthralling novel based on the life of Forugh Farrokhzad, an Iranian poet and filmmaker. To say that Forugh was ahead of her time is an understatement. She struggles against the traditional confines of Iranian women in the 1930's and also against the Iranian government's restrictions on its citizens. I could see parallels in her personal turmoil and her country's turmoil. The author adeptly makes us feel Forugh's frustrations with her role as a daughter, young wife and mother. Her rebellious honest poetry costs her her marriage and son, and for a time, her sanity. But she insisted on remaining independent, much like Iran's citizens fought and revolted for their freedom. The periods of peace and unrest occur both on a personal and national level.
Selections of Forugh's poems are interspersed and. knowing the story if her life, remain plaintive and haunting. I am intrigued by this historical fiction and intend to read the author's previous book and also Forugh's poetry.

How do we not know about Forugh Farrokhzad and her art? I am adding her to my World Literature syllabus immediately.

The first half of Darznik’s book builds an incredible empathy with Farrokhzad as a little girl and young woman with a voice that cannot be silenced, despite the consequences. It seems to pick up, and the writing becomes much more emotionally charged and lyrical in the second half. There are passages that are genuinely heartfelt and tragic.

I was a bit disappointed in the handling of the end of Forugh’s story. The first person narrative becomes awkward and almost contrived. Regardless, the turmoil of the times and the impact on her family come through.

I would have finished reading much more quickly if I hadn’t stopped all along the way to research the places and events that Darznik mentions. She does a fine job of combining these details with the very personal struggles and triumphs (bittersweet as they are) of an iconic voice in Iranian literary culture..

Farogh Farrokhzad was a daughter, wife, mother, divorcee, mistress, poet and filmmaker. She battled tradition in a very public way with an active presence in the arts and society. She didn’t desire glamour or notoriety. She simply wanted to be heard and understood. This novel does a fantastic job of describing the society she lived in and how hard it was to change popular opinion. The story is rich in detail and opened my eyes to the struggles in a culture far removed from mine.

Iran in the mid 20th century was not a fun place to be a woman. A girl’s education stopped when she was fourteen. A lack of virginal blood on a wedding night could send a bride into banishment. And a girl was forbidden from being outside without a chaperone and it was frowned on for a married woman to be in public unattended. Everything revolves around a woman’s honor. “Mine was a country where they said a woman’s nature is riddled with sin, where they claimed that women’s voices had the power to drive men to lust and distract them from matters of both heaven and earth.”

Forugh Farroukhzad was a poet during this time and considered one of the first Iranian feminists. Poetry held a special place in Iran. Men would recite it over coffee at night and poets were held in high esteem. Well, male poets. “There was a strict division between a poet and a poetess. No matter how skillful her writing, a woman was invariably given the feminine moniker.” And that moniker was always defined as something less, something trite.

This fictional telling of her short life is a slow burn. Starting with her childhood, she takes up writing poetry to impress her father. Her mother is convinced she’s possessed by a jinn. Her marriage is a disaster and she rediscovers poetry. Her decisions give her the freedom to write but at a terrific cost.

Darznik does an amazing job telling the story. Never once did I feel I was hearing anything other than Forugh’s voice. I felt her fear, her despair and her anger.

This is a book that will make you angry. I mean really angry. Imagine being told you have to stop yourself from thinking, because it’s thinking that has made you insane. Even the so called “liberal” men sought to take advantage of her and screw her over.

As the book progresses it becomes more political concerning the regime.

This is a strong book, but a sad one. The addition of Forugh’s actual poetry was a huge plus. For anyone that appreciates historical fiction, I highly recommend this book.

My thanks to netgalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for an advance copy of this book.

One of my favorite things about historical fiction is its ability to teach me about people and places I wouldn't have otherwise known about. I'm not a huge poetry fan, so the work of Iranian poet Forugh Farrokhzhad wasn't even on my radar until I read the synopsis for Song of a Captive Bird, the début novel from Jasmin Darznik that focuses on Forugh's life.

Before I go any further, I want to caution potential readers not to start reading this novel expecting a great deal of historical accuracy. The author admits to taking a number of liberties in the telling of the story, as it seems that Forugh's family destroyed many of her personal papers, making it difficult for Ms. Darznik to do extensive research into her life. As a result, she is forced to rely on interviews and her own knowledge of Iranian culture- as well as her imagination - in order to craft a readable story. I'm not always a stickler for historical accuracy, but I did find a few things within these pages that didn't quite feel authentic.

All of her life, Forugh Farrokhzhad has chafed against the restrictions placed on her by her family and their culture. Despite her above average intelligence, she is forced to abandon her education after completing the eighth grade. Fortunately, her father champions her desire to continue learning, albeit from the confines of her family home, so Forugh spends her days reading anything she can get her hands on. She soon discovers that she has a way with words, and begins to write poetry. At first, her family seems pleased by her accomplishment, but, as Forugh grows into an increasingly unhappy young woman, her poetry takes on a revolutionary feel that frightens her father.

In an attempt to curb what he sees as Forugh's willful nature, her father marries her off to a cousin who lives in another part of the country. Forugh is dismayed by the remoteness of her new home, and longs for the hustle and bustle of Iran's capital city. Plus, she's not at all fond of her new husband, who sees her as nothing more than another piece of property he owns. Her new mother-in-law is cold and domineering, and Forugh begins to fear she'll never adjust to life as a married woman. As a result, she turns inward, finding comfort only in her poetry.

As the years pass and Forugh's life becomes ever harder, her poetry becomes ever more scandalous. It contains all of Forugh's hidden longings, things proper Iranian women simply wouldn't dream of writing. Soon, Forugh's own reputation, as well as that of her family, is tarnished beyond repair.

Ms. Darznik's writing is quite lyrical and evocative. I found myself swept away to a time and a place I know little about, and as I said before, I love it when an author is able to do that for me. I learned so much about Iranian culture, and I definitely plan to read more books set in the Middle East.

My one real quibble with the author's writing style has to do with foreshadowing. She would give away a key plot point early on, and then circle back to explain it more fully later on in the novel. This gave the story a somewhat choppy feel, and I would have preferred that Ms. Darznik had stuck to a more linear style of storytelling.

Excerpts of Forugh's poetry are sprinkled throughout the novel, but while this might appeal to some readers, I have to say that I found it quite distracting; I'd be nicely immersed in the plot, only to be pulled out of the story by a few lines of poetry. I imagine I might have felt differently if poetry was something I happened to enjoy, but since it isn't, I was tempted to skim through it just so I could return to the meat of the novel.

Song of a Captive Bird will most likely appeal to readers who are drawn to novels with a definite feminist bent, and who won't be bothered by a certain amount of creative license being taken throughout. Despite the few flaws I’ve mentioned, I enjoyed learning about Forugh's struggles and triumphs, and I'm eager to see what Ms. Darznik decides to do next.

Buy it at: A/BN/iB/K

Darznik’s novel is a courageous and raw masterpiece of fictional biography. The style is reminiscent of Farough Farrokhzad’s own bravery and creative drive. This is a beautiful, yet heart-wrenching tale of a poet’s life decanted through Darznik’s own poetical, delicate prose. The author has successfully aligned her voice to Farrokhzad’s in a first person narrative that sucks in the reader and knocks down any barriers in time/place. The author has captured Farrokhzad’s sensitivity and the strength she had in order to live her life following an internal set of rules that gave birth to her poet self. I was completely captivated by Darznik’s rendering of this story (based on facts and fiction), she roots the time and place in 1940s and 50s Iran and portrays the fluctuating political turbulence bubbling on the backdrop of this intensely lived, creative life. The price of being poet and film maker to Farrokhzad was immense and yet her need to write, to tell stories, to peel back to the truth was larger than life. This is the story of someone who was in love with life and the need to tell stories and reveal the truth about the inner landscape (and the exterior landscape’s effect upon the interior through her films). Throughout the novel Darznik sprinkles Fazzokhzad’s poems which sit snugly in context with the narrative and provide us with both a deeper understanding of Farrokhzad’s life and her poetry. The author’s note adds a personal touch and explains Darznik’s personal experience (and motivation) in writing this beautiful and deeply touching novel.

This is from an advance review copy for which I thank the publisher.

This novel is complete fiction. It may sound strange to describe a novel (which is by definition fiction) in that way, but this one, it turned out, was purporting to tell the life story of real life Persian poet, Forugh Farrokhzad (فروغ فرخزاد‎). Normally such a thing is done in a biography, and one does exist for this poet, but evidently the author thinks that wasn't quite good enough.

To write a novel about such a person you would have to know them intimately. And preferably have their permission. And be bereft of ideas for truly original work! Only two of these options would seem to hold in this case. Since Forugh died in a car accident two days after Revolution Day in 1967, she's not alive to object, and the author felt completely free to make up her own version of this poor woman's life, and not just the major events, but every minor event down to intimate conversations, putting words into her mouth, and thoughts in her head. If someone did this to me after I died and I learned of it from beyond the grave, I would feel violated and insulted. Of course it's not likely to happen to me, but if it does, I hope my estate will sue whoever did this to me!

I didn't realize, when I requested this for review, that this was about a real person otherwise I would not have wished to read it. I honestly thought it was pure fiction, and it sounded interesting, which only goes to prove that I'm not perfect - something I've been saying all along. No doubt my fictional post-mortem novelizer will fix that for me though! Personally I'd far rather read an actual biography where (we hope and assume) events are told as truthfully as possible without fictionalizing them, than a purely made-up story that brings nothing new to the table and doesn't even make for an interesting read.

Apparently this author decided Forough's life was far too mundane to make good reading, and her poetry of course just wasn't a good enough legacy, so she was in dire need of a make-over, and not even Persian style. Since this author hasn't been in Iran since she was five years old, we get it American style, where everything is jazzed-up, emotionalized, overcooked and dramatized way beyond reality - and second-hand. At least thats what it felt like, reading this.

Even her death is made out to be heroic, and in this novel it's a complete lie. Forugh died swerving to avoid a school bus, not in a car chase. Whether she was going too fast or not paying attention, we don't know. No one speculates about that; they say only that she avoided a school bus, thereby making her into a hero, not an unsafe driver. No one is willing to let her alone. Everyone wants a piece of her body. Even this author who claims to admire her so much cannot resist exhuming her and trying to put her stamp on the cannon.

In real life a person's every action does not carry a forewarning about future events. Nothing hangs on a tiny thought. No big events are foreshadowed by trivial happenstance. Yet here everything was amateurishly highlighted in college-student blue and magnified as though it were a critical piece in a flawless edifice. Everything is more brutal and more tragic, like reality simply isn't enough. Maybe for American readers it isn't.

The novel is predictably in first person, and the 'author' of it even speaks to us from the grave - literally. This made me laugh, and that's entirely the wrong emotion to have over a woman like Forugh Farrokhzad, who was abused more than enough in her lifetime, but now has to suffer being a cheap fictional character. This novel is wrong in so many ways, you could write a novel about it.

I cannot in good faith recommend a novel like this which to me is at best parasitic. The poor woman is barely cold in her grave and already the buzzards have gathered. It surprised me not at all when I learned later that the author teaches a creative writing program, but how creative is it really, to pick over a corpse?

Thank you Jasmin Darznik for expanding my world by showing me the beauty and struggles of Iran through the incredible life and poetry of Forugh Farrokhzad. You have written a beautiful tribute to Forugh! A beautiful master piece!
Friends, expand your heart and read this gripping story!

Wow was this book very emotional. The struggles of a rebellious woman with an intelligent mind in an environment that considers a woman to be nothing more than the property of her husband is very humbling to read. Forugh is never satisfied in conforming to the norms and does everything she can to give life to the words constantly forming in her mind. Though I was surprised to know that some of the most compelling relationships in the book are actually fictionalized, the author used them as a backdrop to throw light on the student protests and the clash between the old guard and the changing minds of the younger generation. I absolutely loved that some of the translated poems of Forugh were included throughout the book because it gave a unique insight into her mind and makes me want to read more of her works. It’s always fascinating and also emotional to read about such an amazing woman who only lived for 32 years but left an indelible mark on a culture which remains even decades after her death.

An excellent work of historical fiction set in pre-revolutionary Iran. The strong female lead will resonate with readers across cultures.

An interesting work of biographical fiction that introduced me to a historical figure I knew nothing about and a country and culture I should know more about.

A beautiful book, written in the first-person as as fictional memoir. This novel follows the outlines of the real life Iranian poet, Forugh Farrokhzad. I purposely did not read any actual accounts of her life or any of her poetry before reading this novel. Beautifully written and though some/many of the personal events may not be as written, it feels like the author has captured the core of Farrokhzad's experience as a women not satisfied to live within the confines of Iranian society in the 1950's and 60's. Set against the backdrop of cultural and political changes within Iran, the author, Jasmin Darznik, captures a palpable sense of the turmoil of that era. I'll be very curious to read reviews/reflections by people who knew Forugh. Jasmin Darznik's earlier book, The Good Daughter, is an account of her own family's experiences in Iran. It's up next in my reading stack!

This book started out slow for me, but once it got going it was fascinating. Before reading this, I was unfamiliar with the real life poet Forugh Farrokhzad. She led an interesting life- especially taking into account that it all took place in Iran. It makes one wonder how she would have acted or reacted to Iran's Islamic Revolution and the subsequent reversal of some of women's rights there- especially considering her love of short skirts, high heels, and bobbed hair!