The Persians

By: Sanam Mahloudji

Narrated by: Donia Bijan, Lanna Joffrey, Nikki Massoud, Mozhan Navabi

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION and THE BOLLINGER EVERYMAN WODEHOUSE PRIZE

Five women from a once-illustrious Iranian family grapple with change—both personal and in the world around them—in this “whip-smart…huge-hearted, and sharp-toothed…joy of a debut” (David Mitchell, author of Cloud Atlas) novel that’s perfect for book clubs.

“As funny as it is moving.” —THE GUARDIAN * “Unputdownable.” —HARPER’S BAZAAR (UK) * “Sweeping and irreverent.” —BBC * “Life-affirming.” —THE OBSERVER (LONDON) * “Thoroughly refreshing.” —FINANCIAL TIMES * “Magnificent.” —BERNARDINE EVARISTO, author of Girl, Woman, Other * “Darkly funny, richly satisfying.” —SARAH WINMAN, author of Still Life

Five women. Three generations. A whole lot of family history.

The Valiat family is in crisis. Elizabeth, the regal matriarch, remained in Tehran despite the revolution with only the Islamic-law–breaking Niaz for company. Meanwhile, in America, Shirin, Seema, and Bita are wondering if life in the "land of plenty" is all they had hoped for. When an annual vacation goes wildly awry and Shirin is arrested, long-held Valiat family secrets begin to surface. As their lives are turned upside down, could revealing the truth save their family, or might it break them apart once and for all?

Critic reviews

"The narrators of this audiobook—Donia Bijan, Lanna Joffrey, Nikki Massoud, and Mozhan Navabi—bring the vibrant, multifaceted Valiat family to life with skillful and dynamic performances. This multigenerational family saga spans decades and continents as the story moves from Iran to the U.S. Each narrator captures the nuances of their character with precision—from Bijan’s authoritative Elizabeth, whose regal presence and complex emotions are conveyed beautifully, to Joffrey’s spirited portrayal of Seema, who evokes both vulnerability and longing. Massoud gives Shirin a spirited, bold energy that mirrors her ambition, while Navabi’s portrayal of Bita offers an introspective tone. The contrast between each narrator helps convey the tension between the old and new worlds, making this a compelling listening experience."

Meaningful themes but no emotional connection

The Persians is an ambitious novel with polished prose and meaningful themes, but it struggles to create emotional connection. The characters feel distant and unrelatable, making it hard to invest in their journeys. While the ideas are compelling, the lack of human intimacy leaves the story feeling more observed than experienced.

Beautifully written. A balance of humor and depth.

I loved this book. It’s one of my favorites this year! The narration was perfect.

Excellent

This is one of the best books I've listened to this year. Well-written and perfectly paced, the book follows the female members of an Iranian family, some of whom emigrated to the US after the revolution. The story takes you into the family's history and into the lives of complicated, imperfect characters. Additionally, I discovered more about Iran's recent history.

Multiple characters narrate the story and the actors do a great job of portraying each's personality. The different points of view work for this book.

Unworthy of serious consideration

The characters were foolish! Occasionally some of the writing was good enough for me to finish the book!