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Sky of Red Poppies

Zohreh Ghahremani, this artist, writer and gardener residing in La Jolla (San Diego), following decades of living in my hometown of Chicago, has written a stunning and poetic tale of two girls coming of age in 1960's Iran, "Sky of Red Poppies." The theme of the book questions how much can a friendship change your life? Set against the backdrop of a nation forced to mute its profound identity, "Sky of Red Poppies"is a novel about culture, politics and the redeeming power of friendships.

As this book takes us on a fascinating journey through the landscapes of Iran and provides a glimpse into a far too often overlooked side of Iranian culture and history, modern day newspaper headlines puts Ghahremani's book and story in perspective. A November 16, 2010 story in the San Diego Union-Tribune reports of an Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning for adultery in which the woman, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, calls herself a "sinner." Although by our standards, we may look upon this as archaic, Ghahremani's book helps us to understand such Islamic rulings.

In another story in the November 23, 2010 edition of the Union-Tribune, Asia Bibi, 45, an agricultural worker and mother of five, became the first woman to be sentenced to death for blasphemy, according to human rights groups. Although this happened in Pakistan, it underscores the clash of religion and tradition demonstrated in Ghahremani's book.
The mere fact of being a Christian or an Ahmedi in Pakistan makes an individual vulnerable to the draconian blasphemy laws in this Islamic society, similar to the theme of Ghahremani's book. Adding pressure to the Pakistan authorities to overturn the sentence of Bibi, Pope Benedict XVI appealed recently for the woman to be freed unconditionally.

The central characters in Ghahremani's book are two schoolgirls from different sides of the track in Iranian culture and society, but with an undying love and respect for each other's differences.

Roya Afshar, born of an affluent family in Iran, at 16, was curious about many things, but the activities of the Shah's secret police weren't among them. That would serve her well up until her graduation from high school. Whereas, her friend from the other side of the track, Shireen Payan, had more of a questioning and defiant approach to the Shah's reign in Iran. Perhaps, Payan's Muslim faith and practices contributed to this defiance, along with her high school teacher, Jenab Elmi.

Beginning with a casual friendship between these two schoolgirls coming of age in a politically divided 1960's Iran under rule of the Shah, Roya, the daughter of a prominent family, is envious of the fierce independence of her religious classmate Shireen. But Shireen has secrets of her own. Together, Roya and Shireen contend with becoming the women they want to be and, in doing so, make decisions that will cause their tragic undoing. In the unraveling of family secrets, Roya begins to question how she was raised and how to become the person she wishes to be.

Iranian culture and society was such, as indicated in Ghahremani's book, that the young student Afshar's father, felt a need to caution his daughter about discussing matters of the Shah's secret police in public. The overall theme of the book would later explain why. Afshar would witness one of her female classmates actually being forcibly dragged out of her school by this secret police, SAVAK, never to be seen or heard from again.

This book, steeped in Iranian and Muslim tradition, would have Afshar's friend and classmate, Shireen Payan, coming to school wrapped in her "Chador," the dark cloth that covered her head to toe. This was emblematic of Payan's faith and religious practices, whereas Afshar had none.

The turning point in this book and story, was the coming of age of these two female classmates, when Payan would acquire a husband, and be so enamored by his beliefs, however militant and defiant, that Payan would have to follow suit. Demonstrations by the students against the Shah's regime were occurring continually, and Payan and her husband would find themselves in the middle of it. Of course, the Shah's secret police was not going to react to descent as we might here in America. Along with Payan and her husband's involvement in this descent, it turns out that Payan's and Afshar's high school teacher, that they both revered, Mr. Elmi, was one of the protaganists against the government.

The poppies were a poetic and central theme throughout the book, as Afshar's affluent father would actually be in communion with the head of the Shah's secret police, unbeknowest to her, having him over engaging in opium smoking, along with other well connected members of Iranian society. This connection would serve the young Roya Afshar well later, when she would challenge her father's edict.

The poppies and Afshar had a connection, from a poetic standpoint. Of all the flowers, regardless of the variety and array of colors that made their family garden so spectacular, it was this fragile bloom that seemed to come closest to her heart. The author states in her book that each day, the poppies seemed to reflect Afshar's own feelings of joy, sorrow, even fear. They spoke of hope, yet the danger hidden in their essence, that mysterious scent of opium, frightened her. Poetically speaking, to Afshar, the poppies rose from the mud in their garden with pride, yet bent their heads in modesty. And, although she didn't know a happier shade of red, they reminded her of sorrow.

Shireen's militancy and defiance to the Shah, would land her in prison, and being subjected to torture while there. Tragedy and death to other members of her family would occur, as a result of this militancy and defiance.

In the end, in coming to the support and defense of her friend Shireen, Roya would alienate herself with her opium smoking father.

There are many twists and turns in this book of a clash of cultures, that abounds with intrigue, a book that I highly recommend.

Dennis Moore is a member of the San Diego Writers/Editors Guild. He is a freelance contributor to the San Diego Union-Tribune Newspaper. He is also the book review editor for SDWriteway. Mr. Moore can be contacted at demoore21@sprint.blackberry.net.