Honorable Mention book of Writer's Digest's International Book Awards
Feedback from Readers:
Thank you Hemila. For the wonderful talk at the Sacred Paths Bookstore...I loved knowing that those are your photos on the cover of the book, that you had a special moment when you knew you were no longer fearful...a child and an older man were the teachers, you said...Reading this book is like a wonderful spiritual walk that is healing...your words, your stories give me hope and gratitude in the beauty of this world and the people...your heart is generous, beautiful...this book is grounding for me...I will read and reread it, I'm sure and give a copy to my sister and I'm sure she will pass a copy to her writer friend...God love you and bless you and walk with you...
Love, Mary
Hemila, I finally read your book--actually a couple weeks ago--and I wanted to let you know what a beautiful collection of portraits I think it is. They are perfect as short vignettes to convey a message, I only sometimes wish I could know more about the many souls you ventured into.
But the important part is the moments you have recorded here. All those moments of warmth, sadness, serenity, compassion, bewilderment--in short, humanity.
From my travels, many of the stories and characters you shared with the reader seemed to remind me of similar ones I had encountered in my own travels. The faces you may never see again but will never forget, all those many images and flashes of kindness from a stranger, to the utter destitution of an impoverished child. The fragrance of a rose, the ring of a hammer against metal..life.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Nick Herman (bookseller), Menlo Park, ca
Hemila,I enjoyed reading you book and I am sharing it with others. Your book has inspired me to write about my trip to India. Thank you for inspiring me to read your precious book. I think it has a message for the individual and for the coming of peace to our planet.
Annie Takaha (bookseller), Mountain View, CA
Dear Hemila,
It is a wonderful account of your travels and certainly does well to meet your intention. I think that all of your readers will get a very good sense of who the Iranian people are. Your writing is delightful and I am enjoying it very much. I have ordered three copies for my family and friends.
Ann Jealous, Monterey, Ca
Hemila,
I enjoyed reading the stories. You have a good insight into the human character. Saffron Suicide was really funny. I hide mine with my jewelry so no one can find it! Thank you for sharing!
Carol Hill, San Mateo, CA
June 01, 2006 - A Review
It seems that Thomas Wolfe might be mistaken after all. You can go home again. And for writer Hemila Pedram, home is Tehran, Iran and what she finds there is the making of a beautiful memoir that will delight those curious about this often-misunderstood country. To get to the core of a place, sometimes it's better to skip the grand architecture and palatial museums.
The real truths are better revealed down a hidden alleyway or in the bustling conversations of a neighborhood bakery.And that is the true pleasure of Bazaar Stories. By slowing things down, Pedram has managed to find dignity in the most unexpected of places: a music store, a bread shop, or even a small fruit stand. What she finds is people in admittedly tough economic circumstances, belying their fates with the ultimate weapons: grace and hope.
It's a gentle reminder that shared respect is far-too-often an undervalued commodity. There is an infectious vibrancy and optimism in these brief tales. And like the best travel writing, it makes the reader want to visit the locales, these splendid anecdotes. After all, we are quick to divorce ourselves from the politics of our own government.
So with a book like Bazaar Stories, we're given a reminder that the bellicosity of Iran's leaders is equally far removed from the smile, wink and nod at the local merchant that says, "It's okay . . . you can pay me tomorrow."
Roger Pantano
Roger Pantano former Manager of A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books in San Francisco