Though Nayeri never states his religious beliefs, religion is a character in this story, the things we do for faith, and the things we lose due to religion. Holding my love for my religion but also holding the sad truth of what religion can do. I was compelled to be "the god that listens", hearing the internal and external struggle of his mother.
But I am a Muslim who freely left a Muslim majority country, unlike Nayeri.
Experiences, past and present, hurt less when you can laugh through them. So in many moments of the book, Khosrou was the friend I needed. I also grew up as a first-generation immigrant in a mostly white area. I guess all I can say is how it changed me. What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said? "Modern masterpiece" "Like nothing else you've read or ever will read." All those things are true. He takes us through the memories of his childhood, inspired by Scheherazade, who told 1001 stories to stay alive and ultimately win the heart of the listener. I just finished "Everything Sad is Untrue" by Khosrou Daniel Nayeri, narrated by Khosrou Daniel Nayeri. Best wishes on his book and hope others are braver and tougher than I am and will finish and appreciate the whole story. I appreciate his willingness to tell his story but I cannot make room for it in my mind and heart just now. I believe this is why soldiers returning to “normal” life cannot speak of the atrocities they have seen and experienced-we cannot relate and are horrified. Daniel does a great job reading and providing verbal cues and nuance but the story is extremely sad and overwhelming. I am sorry too that he wound up in a community who does not accept outsiders and am not sure life was a whole lot better except he and his mother are alive instead of beheaded. I know it is a personal story and has relevance and meaning but with everything else going on, I don’t need this in my mind to ponder. So depressing I knew I could not finish it. After the “bag of cats” story, that was it for me. I heard his interview on NPR and thought it would be an interesting read.
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