In the Time of Our History: Sneak Peek

Praise for Susanne Pari and In the Time of Our History

 "I fell in love with this jewel of a novel from the first page. It’s a universal tale that naturally leads to self-reflection and conversations about the changing relationship between mothers and daughters, and the choices we make, good and bad, early in life and late, which determine our identity."
—Amy Tan, New York Times bestselling author of The Joy Luck Club
 
"Susanne Pari has eloquently captured the complexity of family in this Iranian-American story - defiance in the face of patriarchy, sacrifice, the corrosive nature of secrets, and the satisfaction of finding one's own path. After closing the last page, I'm still thinking about how well we really know those closest to us."
—Lalita Tademy, New York Times bestselling author of Cane River
  
“For years, I’ve been waiting to read a novel that captures Iranian-Americans in all their complexity. Susanne Pari’s In the Time of Our History is that masterful gem. More than that, it is a beautifully-refined tale of the conflicts, secrets, tragedies, and revelations that many immigrants and their American-born children must live through in order to preserve the fragile fabric of family in the diaspora. Don’t miss it!”
—Anita Amirrezvani, author of Equal of the Sun

“Every family has secrets. Try as we might to keep them hidden, secrets have a way of being revealed—sometimes resulting in utter devastation, sometimes in forgiveness and understanding. Susanne Pari took me deep into these conflicts in her beautifully written novel, In the Time of Our History.  Days later, I’m still thinking about the women—mothers and daughters, sisters, aunts and nieces—who inhabited these pages, the choices they made, and the love between them.”
—Lisa See, New York Times bestselling author

“An enthralling, polyphonic novel of the Iranian diaspora. In the aftermath of tragedy, as secrets unfold, the Jahanis struggle and strive. By turns witty and poignant, this novel lingers in your thoughts long after the last page.”
—Vanessa Hau, author of Forbidden City
 
“A bold Iranian-American woman fights the patriarchy in a most unusual way, in this beautifully written novel about family conflict and healing. Brava, Susanne Pari!”
—Joan Steinau Lester, author of Loving Before Loving: A Marriage in Black and White
 
“There is so much wisdom and love in In the Time of Our History, an irresistible and assured novel that is both uniquely Iranian and universal. Susanne Pari understands the complex and flawed thing that is family, and carves right into the center of the human heart. I loved this book.”
—Meg Waite Clayton, author of The Postmistress of Paris
 
“In the Time of Our History provides a kaleidoscopic look at what it means to be an Iranian-American, what it means to be an American – what it means to be human.  Susanne Pari has written a wonderful story that is both unique and universal, a must-read tile in the new mosaic of American novels.”
—Rabih Alameddine, winner of the Pen/Faulkner Award for The Wrong End of the Telescope and National Book Award finalist for An Unnecessary Woman

"Susanne Pari’s In the Time of Our History is full of wonder. It manages to be both an expansive generational tapestry and an intimate portrait of family shot through with loss, humor, and hope. The novel reminds us, as all great fiction does, about the dangers of secrets left unspoken and those that simply must be said."
—Lee Kravetz, author of The Last Confessions of Sylvia P.

“In this luminous multigenerational tale, Pari examines the complicated ties among an Iranian American family…This expertly paced story easily navigates the cultural differences between newer Americans and older immigrants and provides a frank look at fraught family dynamics. For fans of sweeping family sagas, this is like catnip.” – Publishers Weekly

“Pari’s debut is a 1990s-set family saga about the tension between tradition and assimilation, featuring strong female characters whose deep ties to their homeland and culture are at odds with their desire for independence from patriarchal expectations. Although the story centers on Mitra, Pari includes a variety of narrators from the Jahani family, turning the story into a chorus of voices that blend together into a harmonious whole. Readers who enjoy Thrity Umrigar will be drawn into this immersive tale of a first-generation immigrant determined to blaze her own path.” – Booklist
 
“Susanne Pari’s In the Time of Our History is a sprawling story of loss and healing in the immigrant experiences of an Iranian American family… This vibrant story is told in intricate, heartfelt detail.”– Foreword Reviews