In this novel, Reza Malek, a young American of Iranian origin, lives modestly in New York, but he feels comfortable because he is far from blood
And the turmoil in the Middle East, where he was born
. After a brief phone call from his best friend in Iran, Sina Vafa, Reza reluctantly returns to Tehran. Once there, he finds much more than he expected: the city is on the brink of rising up against the government
His friend Sina is involved with the militias in suspicious deals.
Against the backdrop of corrupt clerics, shady middlemen, political repression, and the constant threat of violence, Abdo offers a clear glimpse into contemporary Tehran. The novel revolves around issues of identity, exile, and the limits of friendship, but amidst breathless events.
Salar Abdo is an American novelist, writer, and translator of Iranian origin, born in
1965, he lives between New York and Tehran and also studies in the program
Graduate studies in creative writing at the City College of New York University
New York City Abdo published several novels in English, including The Poet’s Game
(2000), Opium (2004), and The Exodus from Mesopotamia (2020)
He is the editor of the short story collection Tehran Noir (2014). His most recent novel
A nearby country called Love will be published by Viking
