Zan

“Plainspoken protest stories that balance head and heart in their attempts to evoke empathy… Ehtesham-Zadeh’s admiration and indignation for the women of Iran always shine through.” –Kirkus Reviews

"Zan is a collection of rich, groundbreaking stories which explore the ways that Iranian women struggle to survive under the weight of old customs and the pull of their homeland as they face American possibilities and freedom. Ehtesham-Zadeh is a sophisticated writer with deep understanding and a keen eye for details.  The stories in Zan are always nuanced and moving, and ultimately, the book is an uplifting eulogy to the indomitable human spirit." -Ha Jin, author of Waiting and War Trash

"Zan cuts through prevailing narratives of Middle Eastern womanhood with characters who demand to be seen for who they are—sensuous, political, fierce, and imperfect. These visceral and beautifully wrought stories are brimming with unforgettable detail and vivid imagery that resonates long after the page."

— Maija Mäkinen, author of The Ghosts of Other Immigrants

"This is the required text to understand the slogan Woman, Life, Freedom—a heartbreaking collection of stories about Iranian women that combine into a message much larger than a single country, but expand, like  Scheherezade’s tales, to reveal not victimhood but immense and world-changing power." –Mehrsa Baradaran, author of Color of Money and The Quiet Coup

"A captivating collection that explores the lives of Iranian women balancing cultural expectations with personal ambition, love, and loss. In each one of these stories, we are transported to the inner world of a resilient woman whose company we don’t want to leave. Written with clarity, heart, and refreshing honesty this is a compelling, gorgeous debut." –Marjan Kamali, bestselling author of The Stationary Shop and The Lion Women of Tehran

“Zan is a collection of stories that puts me in the heart of Iranian women’s lives. Beautifully written, tragedy captured—there is much to learn from stories like these.”

—Matt Aragon-Shafi, West Side Books & Curios, Denver, CO

“Each story in Zan is powerful, deep, and nuanced, providing a needed window into the complex lives of Iranian women today. A must-read.”

—Kristin Saner, Fables Books, Goshen, IN

“A beautiful and complex look at Iranian women and their struggles on the day-to-day, in their varied and full lives. With its poignant writing, this collection is moving and deep.”

—Arden Harris, A Seat at the Table Books, Elk Grove, CA