Book Review of Song of a Captive Bird
Author: Jasmin Darznik
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publish Date: February 2018

Book Blurb: “Besooz a bezaaz! Went the time-worn injunction to brides. Burn inwardly and accommodate.”

I am a fan of history. Not just of history, I like but of history, I don’t like. My issue is I remember mostly what I like. But be that as it may, I have to say not knowing much of Iranian history I loved this novel. This is a story of the poetess Forugh Farrokhzad. It, in fact, is a literary undertaking of her life from birth to death and what transpired in between. The best words to describe this novel are in the epilogue. I won’t repeat them for you because I want you to read this book and after you read it I believe you will like it.
A quick summary of this novel is that Forugh Farrokhzad as most women in her time were raised to be good Muslim women who obeyed their families and didn’t dishonor them. Her earliest memory that I remember from the book is a visit to a doctor that verified her virginity and thus taking her virginity. This caused her to explain to her husband why on her wedding night it was like she didn’t have her virginity. But the reason for her visit seems to be one that plagues her throughout her life. She met a man in secret to discuss poetry and the like.
Throughout her life, she seems to meet men in secret and then in public both for her public and private life. Two of the men following her husband helped shape her career and her love life. The first one Nasser Khodayar who encouraged her to publish her first poem despite it being about her love life and her personal bedroom activities with Nasser Khodayar taught her about betrayal and lust. He taught her what to look out for it seems. The next Darius Golshiri became her mentor and her lover. He got her into film and became her long-term unmarried relationship despite his being married to another woman the whole time. She even met the woman one day. Despite feeling that she was an idiot they still maintained the relationship. Upon her death, he was the one who buried her with his family in his own plot. The author wrote that if she had anything to say about it Forugh Farrokhzad would have wondered how he managed to get her body as only her father could get it. She no longer talked to her husband as they had divorced. She feels he must have pulled some strings.
Of note, she as was most people considered dissidents and troublemakers in foreign countries imprisoned for her voice and depiction of the current regime or people in power. But she still filmed what she did to express her own opinion much as she wrote. In her career, she published five novels of poems and several films. History would depict her as the divorcee who scandalously dared society to accept her as she was a woman who was also a human being with a brain and a desire to express her most personal self in ways that woman of that time had not yet done so that often. I think that as most women she opened up doors for those who came after.
In the Epilogue, the author herself explains why she felt the need to write this novel about this woman whom history has written about but yet leaves some huge gaps in its history about her. I highly recommend you read this novel and also purchase if possible her poetry book.

Disclaimer: I did not receive any monetary compensation for writing this novel just an uncorrected proof prior to publication.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This debut novel is the story of Forugh Farrokhzhad, an Iranian woman who used her voice as a poet to take flight. The basis for the novel is Forugh’s own poetry, letters, films and interviews and is written in first person.

In the 1950’s, strict Iranian culture did not look kindly upon independent women, and Forugh was a born a rebel. At 15, she is forced to marry, and as much as she thought that she was marrying the man of her dreams, it did not turn out well. Not being content being a wife and mother, she concentrates on her poetry, which is eventually published in a magazine. The resulting scandal means the end of her marriage, she loses custody of her son and finds herself in an asylum.

I think I’ll stop there, as I wouldn’t want to spoil the story. The book does a good job of imparting culture and history. The writing is clear and concise, with Forugh’s poetry throughout. This is a very poignant tale of a strong woman who yearns for freedom, individuality, independence and love--things we take for granted but are so absent in a closed society. I would suggest not looking any further into Forugh’s life and letting the story unfold.

Do you know what I want of life?
That I can be with you, you, all of you, and if life repeated a thousand times, still you, you, and again, you.
From Forugh Farrokhzhad "On Loving"

Jasmin Darznik's tale of an Iranian poet's journey is based on real-life poet Forugh Farrokhzad. It is a well written, well researched, gripping snapshot of the world in 1940's - 1960's Iran. The characters are explored with all of there faults and foibles. The time is vividly captured in language that gathers in and carries the reader along. The writer gives us a fascinating exploration of this feminist pioneer in all of her short life-- the good, the bad, the inexplicable. Through all of her choices (and their consequences) I felt called to understand her decisions, not judge them.

This book was well written but just not for me. I tried very hard to get to know Forugh and to care about her. But I didn’t especially find her likable until close to the end of the story. I thought she was selfish and self-serving. I understand that she came from a country that was very oppressive towards women. But Forugh had no respect for herself, her parents, her husband or even her son. No, not for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

The Captive Bird that tries to fly away from every restriction is Forugh Farrokhzad, an Iranian poetess that lived in the 50s. She was a rebellious child and then a rebellious woman. She lived in a traditionalist country that considered women as inferior beings that weren't allowed to even educate themselves. This was a way to silence completely their voice and therefore to prevent any rebellion against this patriarchal society. Forugh tried to escape this isolationism that permeated her early life. The only sight of the outside world was a garden where her mother used to spend her evenings chattering with her friends and were Forugh and her sister used to play, while their brothers were allowed to play into the street. She strongly rebelled against the idea of arranging marriages. She married a man that she loved, Parviz, with whom she shared a strong passion for poetry. But sooner she discovered that things were different and marriage became synonym with isolation and loneliness.

The only way to escape this condition was poetry. Poetry was her only way to speak and to be heard. She began writing poetry with the intention of earning some money for her family, to buy their own house. She secretly traveled to Tehran, even abandoning her own child Rahim, in order to find a publisher that was willing to publish her poems. Instead of a publisher, she met an editor of a famous newspaper, Nasser, with whom she had a great story full of love and passion. Nasser published Forugh's first poem 'Sin'. This poem changed her life and in a few days she became the most discussed theme of the moment. She was strongly criticized, because 'Sin' was a poem speaking about love from the viewpoint of a woman, something very blasphemous. Intellectuals used her example as a way to describe the deteriorating climate into which Iran was taken by Shah's regime. In order to follow her career as a poetess, she was forced to abandon her child, divorce from his husband. She was also closed into an hospice and treated as a mad and healed with the electroshock. The only person that helped her was Leila, a heir of the Qajari family that once ruled Iran.. Thanks to Leila, she came to know Golshiri, a famous filmmaker with whom she worked and fell in love. She became an independent women with her own house and with a regular income. She published her first collection of poems titled "The Captive" and then others. In her life she even worked as a filmmaker for a documentary about leprosy.

Nonetheless, she was never fully accepted and was always seen as a traitor of the fundamental values of Iran. She was always depicted as Iran's icon of degeneracy. However, she managed to raise her voice that asked for more freedom for women. She became the voice of all those women that feared and therefore refused to rebel against all those limitations imposed on them. Poetry was her way to imagine a place where a woman's life was less governed by shame and prohibition, a place where she could live free. Poetry was a way to discover herself and to fully become herself. When Forugh died in a car accident, Iran was experiencing a tumultuous political situation that forced so many people to leave the country, among them there was Jasmin Darznik, the author of this book, with her family. Therefore, Jasmin decided to write a book about Forugh's life. She was fascinated by Forugh's poetry that in the years after her death spread all over the world and made her a brave and wise voice born in a country full of prohibitions and censure. And here comes the power of poetry, and of art in general. Poetry is not a building or a body that can be destroyed. Art can survive, even when it is outlawed or suppressed. Her poetry is still studied and analyzed in full-depth by scholars from all over the world.

I think Darznik's novel is very well written and structured. During the narration, we can hear not only the voice of Forugh, but also experience her feelings and ideas. Forugh's voice is still there, even after her death and that gives Forugh an aura of eternity. Her voice will always spread aloud and no one can silence it.

Forugh Farrokhzad, known simply as Forugh, died in Iran 50 years ago aged 32. Her poetry was banned in Iran in 1979 and her grave is a place of pilgrimage still. At great personal cost, she broke down many barriers to pursue her art - cultural, social and structural. I had never heard of her and was attracted to the book mainly because I enjoy Middle Eastern writing. I don’t think I even realised that it was about a real person.

Jasmin Darznik inhabits Forugh’s life so convincingly that I often had to remind myself that I wasn’t reading an autobiography. By her own admission, she had to invent a great deal because, it is believed, Forugh’s family destroyed most of her personal papers after her death. Although she left Iran when she was 5, the author obviously has access to family and friends who can tell her what life was like during Forugh’s lifetime, ie 1935-1967. During this period, there was a lot of political turmoil in Iran and Forugh was often caught up in it. Her lifestyle was abhorrent to traditional Iranians and it wasn’t until she was in her 20s that she met likeminded people and saw a different side to life than the one in which she’d been trapped. She was immensely brave, if sometimes naive, to make the decisions that she did and to risk so much.

Forugh was also a talented documentary maker. I watched some of her film about a colony of lepers, The House is Black, on YouTube and found it very moving. The author has interspersed the text with poems that she herself has translated. On occasions her choice was perfect. Forugh’s poetry is based on her life. I’ll finish with a particularly poignant poem on the loss of her son.

This is the last lullaby I’ll sing
at the foot of your cradle.
May my anguished cries
echo in the sky of your youth....

I’ve cast away from the shore of good name
and a stormy star flares in my heart.....

A day will come when your eyes
will smart at this painful song.
You’ll search for me in words
and tell yourself: my mother,
that’s who she was.

From “A Poem for You” (dedicated to my son, Kamyar, with hopes for the future)

If you read this book, you’ll understand the poignancy of this poem. A solid 4.5 stars from me.

With thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for a free review copy.

Loved the mix of fiction and non fiction. Loved learning more about Iranian poet Farrokzad. Very interesting look at Iran and the people.

A woman born to stand out from the confines of her culture is always an intriguing read. Though it is a fictional account of Forugh's life, it was beautifully done and the translations of her poetry have me seeking copies of her books as soon as I'm finished with this review. My heart broke for the things that happened to her and she gave a voice to hundreds of women, but at a great cost.

*This is my first review for Netgalley. I enjoy reading about other cultures and strong women. The cover of the book caught my eye, as did the title for it seemed similar to Maya Angelou.*

Song of a Captive Bird caught my eye on Netgalley. I normally avoid fictionalized accounts of real people. It's a personal hangup, but it makes me uncomfortable make big presumptions about real people for the sake of fiction. But <i>Song of a Captive Bird</i> covers a time and place often overlooked by books, so I was intrigued. It covers the life of Forugh Farrokhzhad, a famous Iranian poet. I had heard of Forugh but knew nothing about her.

Having read it, I still have mixed feelings. I was surprised to find that the book was written in first person from Forugh's perspective. Again, this is a personal hangup, but it strikes as considerably ballsy to take such liberties as to imagine the innermost thoughts and emotions of a real person. This probably will not bother most readers though. And to be fair, the author seemed to be 100% motivated by admiration and desire to bring her idol to life. But I have to emphasize to all potential readers that this is Fiction. Indeed, I had to remind myself to think of it only as fiction or I got caught up wondering what Forugh would think of this book.

Once I got past that, however, I did mostly enough the novel. Many parts of it were vivid, emotional, and poignant. It is not a book for the faint of heart since it does not sugar coat either Forugh's personal tragedies or the turmoil of her time period. I can't say that I always like Forugh's character but I was still drawn to her story. Some parts were hauntingly emotional and then other parts I felt completely disconnected from. The middle was definitely where my interest wandered a bit. But the book does have a strong, emotional ending. I also liked that translations of some of Forugh's real poems were included.

The main thing that kept pulling me out of the story was the heavy-handed foreshadowing that turned into outright spoilers. Darznik often bluntly told exactly what would happen then slowly circled around to how it happened and everything that led to those events. I yearned for a more linear flow that did not jump around so much.

It was written with Westerners in mind with definitions of words and terms, explanation of cultural customs, and historical background. There was good historical background without being too much of an infodump.

Overall Song of a Captive Bird was a vivid, emotional read despite a few rough bits. I have to emphasize again that this is fiction although hopefully it will inspire people to learn more about both Forugh Farrokhzhad and Iranian culture and history.

Song of a Captive Bird by Jasmin Dapzink is a story inspired by the life and poetry of Forugh Farrokhzad. Born in 1935 to her father, a man she only knew as the Colonel and his wife, Turan, Forugh was a child who found pleasure in breaking the rules and even greater pleasure in the storytelling afterward. In the summer of 1950, she met her cousin and future husband, Parviz Shapour. He was a satirist who encouraged her to write poetry. They were married in 1951 when she was 16 and her only son would be born two years later. However, she felt trapped by the bonds of marriage and motherhood, she began to travel to Tehran seeking to publish her poetry. Once her poems were published and gained attention, she finds her life at a crossroad. Parviz grants her a divorce and she loses custody of her son, she tries to rebuild her life and gain her voice as a feminist and a poet at a time when Iran was in turmoil.
Song of a Captive Bird is an interesting story of a woman ahead of her time. I wasn’t familiar with her or her poetry but as a lover of poetry I was intrigued. Her life was filled with horrors and heartache. First at the mercy of her father, then her husband (who didn’t treat who horribly but expected her to conform), and then at society who wasn’t prepared for her voice. Ms. Dapzink describes Forugh’s life with such details that I cringed and cried at her pain and at her frustration. Sadly, Forugh was killed in a car accident on February 14, 1967. Her poems would be banned and censored by the government but her poems still found their way into the hands of the people and have been read for decades after her death. I enjoyed how Ms. Dapzink used Forugh’s poems throughout the story so the reader can understand the situation which inspired her work. I highly recommend Song of a Captive Bird.

Song of a Captive Bird
will be available on February 13, 2018
In hardcover and eBook

“Why should I stop, why?
the birds have gone in search
of the blue direction.
the horizon is vertical, vertical
and movement fountain-like;
and at the limits of vision
shining planets spin.
the earth in elevation reaches repetition,
and air wells
changes into tunnels of connection;
and day is a vastness,
which does not fit into narrow mind
of newspaper worms.”
-verse taken from “It is Only Sound that Remains”

Jasmin Darznik did a wonderful job of writing Song of a Captive Bird. I was immediately drawn into Forugh’s life and wanted to know more. The history of this country in respect to the women gives me pause and reminds all who might read this, life is not always as it seems. The manipulation that is described and the struggles to be a true individual shows a strong character from beginning to end. Great Book, and thank you Netgalley for giving me this opportunity to experience it!

Very well written, beautiful account of a bright and bold Iranian woman born way before her time...

Even though the story is told by the main character, her life should be presented in action and not related in words. As a result the story is not an engaging read.

This was a fascinating book. Although it is historical fiction, in that the author invented some of the characters and events and dialogue, many of the essential elements are based on what is known about the life and career of Forugh Farrokhzad, the first great (and very controversial) Iranian poetess of the 20th century. As I read the book, I looked up more information on Ms. Farrokhzad because I wanted to know what was true and what the author had created for the story. Ms. Farrokhzad had a daring and stubbornness that is admirable, as she confronted deeply held societal norms and prejudices that dictated that her behavior, wants, needs, and ambitions were inappropriate, if not at times immoral, but yet she persisted in trying to be the person she wanted to be and to display some sense of independence. Her behavior cost her dearly, including the loss of her son and an involuntary psychiatric hospitalization. Yet, in the process she wrote and published powerful poetry that went to the heart of what it meant to be a woman in Iran, what it meant to be living in Iran during a very tumultuous period for the country, and demonstrating the power, pain, joy, pleasure, and frustration that comes with intimacy. In her poetry, she was able to display an openness and intimacy that is hard for the vast majority of people to display.

From the poem "Sin"

I sinned a sin full of pleasure,
In an embrace which was warm and fiery.
I sinned surrounded by arms
that were hot and avenging and iron.

Ms. Darznik, in her "Author Notes", states it well: "Forugh Farrokhzad gave Iranian women permission to be bold, furious, lustful, and rapturous. She ripped the decorous conventions off women's writing, holding up a mirror for women's hopes and pain." Ms. Farrokhzad's poetry speaks to all of us.

"Song of a Captive Bird" is an important book because it introduces the world, in particular American audiences, to a writer/poet that more people should know about. It appears that there are already multiple books written about Ms. Farrokhzad, but these books are primarily collections of her poetry or commentary on her poetry; the types of books that people are not likely to read unless they are already interested in poetry or literary criticism. "Song of a Captive Bird", as a work of historical fiction, is likely to have a much wider audience, thereby exposing more people to the life and literary work of Ms. Farrokhzad.

Song of a Captive Bird by Jasmin Darznik
Forugh Farrokhzad was an Iranian poet during a turbulent time in Iranian history. Her life, her choices, her poetry were every bit as tumultuous. Author Jasmin Darznik wrote breathtakingly beautiful descriptions of "place" which made this reader smell, taste, and feel Iran. However, the story moved achingly slow, and I almost left it unfinished.. The book is divided into three parts, and Part 1 is definitely the best of the trio. It felt like the author knew her strength was the ability to have the reader experience the place, but not the story. She built the foundation but never finished the rooms. Interestingly, this somewhat mirrors the life of the poet. Forough's life was unfinished, but her poetry was strong and endures. The title doesn't do justice to Forough Farrokhzad's life, choices, or poetry. In this novel, the history is fascinating, but the fiction drags.

I'd like to thank Jasmin Darznik for her honest description of an Iran we do not often hear about, the Shah's modern Iran. It's restrictions, brutality.
Forough Farrokhsad grew up in the Shah's Iran. One can only imagine the courage it took Forough to follow her calling, writing poems, poems that read like a story. Her courage to express herself as a woman, feelings we women experience along our lives.
To understand her determination not to be silenced, one has to understand "modern" Iran. Women were expected to stay at home, silent. To express an opinion was not tolerated, and punished.
This is a book which needs to be read widely, by women and men.
Even today many of my Iranian friends deny the Shah's regime's brutality, yet thousands left Iran. This speaks volumes on the Shah's regime.
Forough pushed herself through all the barriers never holding back her truth...she passed away at 32 killed in a car accident.

I will add pictures, poems by Farough an book titles to her poems which are sold today around the world when this book is published.
This beautiful book will be sold at book stores February 13, 2018

P.S.
Although the Shah's regime was brutal, the revolution against the Shah in 1979 ushered in an even harsher regime run by Islam.

Song of the Captive Bird is a fictional account of a real live woman poet in Iran, a woman who faced desperate consequences for speaking her mind and choosing to live a life beyond the societal constraints of her time and country. The emotions in the book felt completely real and devastating. From being married at 16 because she dared to meet a man alone just to talk, to being jailed by her own father for leaving her husband and child to pursue her poetry, to finally being executed by her own country for daring to speak her mind politically and claim her sexuality. It is a price many women have paid and circumstances endured by generations of women who never spoke up. It is a torment that still persists to this day. It's a masterful literary work of feminine history, and I am happy I chose to read it. My heart is heavy for all the women who have suffered but gladdened by those brave enough to use their voices to illuminate the wrongs. Without them, more would be suffering even now. I highly recommend it to those who want to understand the courage it has taken women to live fully from their hearts and souls.

An incredibly thoughtful, artistic, and well-documented book about the life of the famed Iranian poet, Farugh Farrokzad, by an Iranian-American author who still has roots in Iran. Farugh's poems live on today despite their banishment in Iran, and Farugh's notorious reputation.

I could not put this book down from the minute I began reading it. I was enthralled with the story (some fiction, some non-fiction) and the author's honest writing, which gave a truly modern picture of Farugh's carefree, but troubled life. Throughout the book, the volatile history, as well as the beauty and modernity, were described in rich detail giving the reader a true taste of Iran and its people.

A beautifully written account of a very creative woman who made her way on her own terms, despite living in a closed society where women had very few rights. I believe that Farugh should have been born during a much different era.

Thank you to NetGalley.