I'm Writing You from Tehran: A Granddaughter's Search for Her Family's Past and Their Country's Future

Written as a letter to her long-deceased grandfather, this memoir by journalist Minoui recounts her decade in Iran after her move to Tehran in the spring of 1998. Born in Paris to a French mother and Iranian father, Minoui travels to Tehran to discover the country of her ancestors. The author journeys throughout the region and tries to discern Iran's future by observing the work of reformers and hardliners. Her account describes the political, social, economic, and religious situation during this time. Along the way, readers are treated to clandestine parties and secret meetings along with revelations of old family secrets and an interesting parade of personalities. We are privy to the modern Western views of the author, as she begins to coexist in a country decidedly not modern in its views. This fascinating look at Iran, written with a journalist's attention to detail, presents a series of short vignettes that balance the narrative's sense of urgency and seriousness with the courage and defiance of those engaged in activism and reform.