‘Family Tales From Tehran’ Translated Into English

Date: 22 April 2019 - 22:16

News ID: ۶۵۱۰۳

TEHRAN (IBNA)-- The English book ‘Family Tales from Tehran’ by Iranian author Manijeh ‎Badiozmani offers 46 vignettes chronicling the author’s childhood in Iran and visits back ‎to Tehran over the years.‎

According to  Villages News, the book which has been published in 186 pages features the memories of Badiozmani from her grandfather’s comfortable house in Tehran, near the Big Bazaar, where three generations of her extended family lived together, including her parents and uncle – her father’s brother.

Growing up in Tehran, in the 1940s-50s, Manijeh Badiozamani came to the United States on a scholarship for her senior year of high school. Although she spoke basic English, the nuances of the language frequently eluded her.

Manijeh returned to Tehran after high school, completed a master’s degree in English literature, married Koz, her husband of 54 years, and eventually found herself back in the U.S. as Koz attended Northwestern University, completing his Ph.D. in geology.

After a career in business and teaching, Manijeh compiled a book of vignettes describing her childhood in Tehran with her many relatives and family friends, as well as her subsequent visits for family events and emergencies.

"Family Tales from Tehran” describes life in a city from another time and culture by an author whose own life is a blend of American and Iranian cultures. The book is available on Amazon.

In her book, Manijeh chronicles a day with her mother where they manage to complete two activities in one day – and congratulate themselves on such a success.

Villager Manijeh Badiozmani grew up in Tehran, the capital of Iran, and says traffic in the city is ‘horrendous,’ making it difficult to do more than one activity a day outside of neighborhoods.

Manijeh and her family still celebrate some of the Iranian holidays. The latest was Nowruz, Persian New Year, celebrated on March 20. With a history going back 3,000 years, it is held on the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. The symbols include green sprouts of grain or lentil grown in a dish, surrounded by seven Persian foods beginning with the same letter as spring.

One of the stories in Manijeh’s book is about her large family celebrating the 13th day of Norwuz at Uncle Razmi’s big house and gardens. Traditionally, the grain sprouts are discarded and everyone enjoys a great feast.