Until recently, Iranian literature had overwhelmingly been the domain of men. But things have changed. The new hybrid culture of Iranian Americans has given way to a uniquely feminine literary voice. LET ME TELL YOU WHERE I'VE BEEN is an extensive collection of the poetry, fiction, and nonfiction of women whose lives have been shaped by history, exile, and immigration. They represent an emerging multicultural generation of female sensibility and eloquence. You will not find flat predictable images here. Rather, these women write beyond the boundaries of place and instead inhabit a space somewhere between language and literature. Featuring over one hundred selections (two-thirds of which have never been published before) from over fifty contributors—including such well-known writers as Gelareh Asayesh, Tara Bahrampour, Firoozeh Dumas, and Roya Hakakian—the collection represents a substantial cross section of this unique multicultural community. Divided into six parts, the book’s themes of exile, family, resistance, love, and gender come together in the end. They create a conversation about Iran, Iranian culture, the Persian and English languages and the dual identities of its authors as represented and expressed in the West. Readers can share in the discovery of the wisdom and beauty of these woman and simultaneously witness them harnessing a power that is unmistakably their own.

"In association with the Iran Heritage Foundation."

Home stories. Autumn letter / Susan Atefat-Peckham -- Home stories / Zara Houshmand -- Dokhtar-e Amrika-i / Farnoosh Seifoddini -- Dokhtar-e Irani / Farnoosh Seifoddini -- Separation / Farnaz Fatemi -- The sun is a dying star / Niloofar Kalaam -- En route to Persepolis / Amy Motlagh -- Timing / Sheila Shirazi -- Against the kitchen white wall / Michelle Koukhab -- Road trip / Shahrzad Zahedi -- The break ; from Saffron sky / Gelareh Asayesh -- Home / Shadi Ziaei -- Persian Princess Insania / Leyla Momeny -- Naderi / Amy Motlagh -- Where does my language lie? / Zjaleh Hajibashi -- Inheritance / Mitra Parineh -- Revolution 1979 / Tara Bahrampour -- Portland, Oregon 1979 / Tara Bahrampour -- With a little help from my friends ; (from Funny in Farsi) / Firoozeh Dumas -- Another quiet new year / Nika Khanjani -- My brother at the Canadian border / Sholeh Wolpe? -- 1979 / PAZ -- Captions / Layli Arbab Shirani -- Arrivals and departures / Sharon L. Parker -- Excerpt from To see and see again / Tara Bahrampour. For tradition. For tradition / Susan Atefat-Peckham -- Sister / Farnaz Fatemi -- Twin / Farnaz Fatemi -- The Persian bath / Michelle Koukhab -- A love song / Parinaz Eleish -- Pomegranates / Persis M. Karim -- Passover / Amy Motlagh -- Ajun / Mahru Elahi -- Next year in Cyprus / Tarssa Yazdani -- Recovery / Nasrin Rahimieh -- Baba's passing-February 2005 / Persis M. Karim -- Joys of a simple meal / Esther Kamkar -- Raw walnuts / Negin Neghabat -- The camel and the cantaloupe / Michelle Koukhab -- Ode to the eggplant / Persis M. Karim -- Torches / Susan Atefat-Peckham. Woman's duty. Avenue Vali Asr / Susan Atefat-Peckham -- Woman's duty / Tara Fatemi -- The next day is always so still / Nika Khanjani -- Waiting for Ulysses / Laleh Khalili -- The woman has veto power / Haleh Hatami -- On the rooftop / Farnoosh Moshiri -- If you change your nose / Leyla Momeny -- Iranian women / Mojdeh Marashi -- Love in a time of struggle; (from Lipstick jihad) / Azadeh Moaveni -- Becoming a woman / Elham Gheytanchi -- The world was a couple / Katayoon Zandvakili -- The gift / Marjan Kamali -- The execution of Atefeh / Persis M. Karim -- Bad / Sanaz Banu Nikaein -- Summoning / Haleh Hatami -- Masouleh / Parinaz Eleish -- Words to die for / Esther Kamkar -- Fariba's daughters / Susan Atefat-Peckham. Axis of evil. Lower Manhattan / Susan Atefat-Peckham -- Another day and counting / Zara Houshmand -- Axis of evil / Persis M. Karim -- How lucky persimmons are / Parinaz Eleish -- Mamaan-bozorg / Farnoosh Seifoddini -- In the gutter / Sanaz Banu Nikaein -- The witness / Roxanne Varzi -- American again / Parissa Milani -- Butcher shop / Sholeh Wolpe? -- Iranians v. Persians / Sanaz Banu Nikaein -- Invitation to the hungry ghosts / Zara Houshmand -- When toys are us / Beatrice Motamedi -- As good as any other day / Parinaz Eleish -- Dawn on the fall equinox / Persis M. Karim -- Instilling shock and awe / Farnoosh Seifoddini -- Summer day / Parinaz Eleish. Beyond. Sestinelle for travelers / Susan Atefat-Peckham -- The best reason to write a poem is still for love / Farnaz Fatemi -- Perfectly parallel mirrors / Laleh Khalili -- Money buys / Sanaz Banu Nikaein -- Once / Zjaleh Hajibashi -- Excerpt from stones in the garden / Layla Dowlatshahi -- Stripes / Katayoon Zandvakili -- Magical chair of nails : becoming a writer in a second language / Roya Hakakian -- Us four / Sanaz Banu Nikaein -- The eglantine deal / Katayoon Zandvakili -- The sandcastle / Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet -- Ghazal / Mimi Khalvati -- Mandala at Manzanar / Zara Houshmand -- Beyond / Persis M. Karim -- Only the blue remains unchanged / Parinaz Eleish. Tales left untold. Night conversatons (deep are these distances) / Susan Atefat-Peckham -- Do you miss me? / Roya Hakakian -- Lost Karbala / Haleh Hatami -- Sing / Farnoosh Seifoddini -- Earth and water / Zara Houshmand -- Tales left untold / Aprhodite De?sire?e Because of hands and bread / Esther Kamkar -- Soleiman's silence / Mehri Yalfani -- Standing in a mosque contemplating faith / Farnaz Fatemi -- Sabze / Zarreh -- Years later / Parinaz Eleish -- Native / Amanda Enayati -- Unpacking / Zara Houshmand -- Blessing / Mimi Khalvati -- Green world through broken glass / HAALE -- A return / Kandi Tayebi -- Blood / Azin Arefi -- 13 days / Parissa Milani -- Ari / Mahru Elahi -- Let me tell you where I've been / Persis M. Karim -- Cardamom and hell / Haleh Hatami -- Nazar / Zara Houshmand.