Something very exciting has happened in the Saramad household. After a long wait, a new book of my dad’s has finally been published.
It is astounding how much love, care, research, humour and pure intelligence has gone into creating this work of art; this amazing piece of history which without a doubt will become one of the great classics of our time. And that’s just the cover. Apparently the material inside the book is pretty good too ;-)
But on a more serious note I just wanted to say how proud of my dad I am for the amazing dedication that he has to his work which has inspired me all my life. Baba, of course you possess many truly fantastic qualities but there are a few in particular that I have always greatly admired; your wonderful writing skills, your ability to grow such a perfect moustache and the way you ensure my mum’s safety by keeping those alley cats away from the balcony (and let me just say this once more as I think you still suspect something, ‘No I did not plant catnip in the garden last spring.’)
I am extremely proud of my mum too for all the time and effort that she put into trying to publish this book and also for the courage she showed on the way at some of the more difficult times (such as the time she was attacked by a budgie in the Tehran underground; ghastly experience).
I am really excited about this book, a copy of which I will hopefully get my hands on in the next few days. If you are also interested in getting your hands on a copy of this great masterpiece but are misfortunate enough to live outside of Iran and therefore unable to pop into a bookstore and buy one for yourself, then there really is no need to cry; just whip out your credit card, click here and a brand-new copy of the first edition of Ilkhanan-eh Iran by Farokh Saramad will be sent to you.
Just be patient please though as it will probably take a couple of weeks since your package will be coming from Iran and you must take into account that on arrival to your country, it will probably be strip-searched, put in an orange jumpsuit, quarantined and listened to for any signs of ticking for some days before it is delivered to you.
On the plus side though, my mum is in charge of post and packing which means if you’re lucky, with your book you might also receive a nice bit of feta cheese or a couple of pomegranates.
29 comments:
You have every reason to be proud of such a learned dad, Shirin. The cover is good but I think you are being really naughty with your dad to say that about the material inside. So that's where you get your prose. Like father like daughter! (At least it rhymes better.)
Ohhh Nooo!!! Shirin what are you doing? Are you blowing Gazankhan's cover?!
I'm sure your father is greatly proud of you too my dear artist friend, you are the one and only I guess at least to him.
By the way what does Shahin means by you blowing my cover?
And another thing, I'm reading the book and I have a good,in fact a necessary advice for all who read this book: DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT read while eating. I'm quite serious, DO NOT.
You'll, Great God forbid, you may get choked, and we don't wanna do that, do we?
We don't want that, that is!! and not we don't wanna do that, OK? Happy now?
Behrooz, have you actually read any of my dad’s books at all? I was just wondering because you said he was learned.
Yes you’re right maybe that was a bit naughty but I couldn’t resist ;-)
Hey I’ll have you know that’s my cover Shahin. Just because Gazankhan has repeatedly used it decorate his blog, it doesn’t mean it is his cover now ;-)
How sweet Gazankhan, you nearly made me cry with the first paragraph. And many thanks for the very good advice that you gave. Health and safety should really have put a warning label on that book I think ‘May cause choking if read whilst eating polo’.
I love the cover. Could you scan a page of the book and have it on the site?
Hi.
I'm so happy to have found your blog (& website). I just spent a long time drooling over your wonderful illustrations - I pretty much love it ALL but I particularly like the maquette ones, very original and so much fun. Btw, I recently drew a cow character that bears a striking resemblance to the cow in your old work! They could be related, ha ha.
Anyway, I see that honar runs in your family. Congratulations to your dad - looks like a fantastic book. Wow!
Look forward to spending some quality time here from now on.
Ola Shirin
Its in Arabic.which im learnin but not good yet...By any chance would your father publish in English?
Oh yes AA, that’s a great idea. I will definitely put a few pages up as soon as my own copy arrives.
Wow Pomme I’m so glad you came :-) It’s so good to find another Iranian illustrator that blogs. And it’s great news about our cows being related too!
No sorry Em, well not for now anyway. Maybe one day though. I’ll keep you posted about that.
Did you know that just the price of shipping a book from London to Iran is more that 8 Pounds? (in three weeks time). (In 5-6 days is three times more expensive).
your British friend.
Thanks for your very informative comment my anonymous friend. I must say however it does sound a bit farfetched to me. I mean 8 pounds is a lot of money. Are you sure instead of sending your book from London to Iran you did not send it on a luxury Caribbean Cruise or something like that? Just joshing with you of course ;-) You must know something about this or you would not have come and put your neck on the line by leaving an anonymous comment about it on here. It’s kind of scary though, isn’t it? Next time I want to send my mother in law some more Sidney Sheldon or Dan Brown novels, I will either have to take a loan out or re-mortgage our home ‘,:-\
I'm curious Shirn, have your dad ever done something regarding your safety & wellbeing, or he just does these things for your mum? I suppose he is one of those guys who doesn't give a damn about anybody but his wife, an ideal husband, am I right?
Dear Anonymous,
Surely £8 is a good bargain. I am not sure you read Shirin's information properly. Not only do you get a fantastic story written in Farsi and dressed in a questionable 80's outfit, you also have a chance of getting a sample of the saltiest, tastiest cheese in the Middle East, packed by the most beautiful, fearless budgie fighting Princess from the same region.
I suggest you get your cash out ;-)
Well Anonymous, years ago when I was about to come to England for the first time, my father gave me a dog. An ugly dog. A very ugly and very stinky dog to be precise covered in scabs and yellow sores with pus oozing out of his every orifice. But as they say you do not look a gift horse in the mouth and so the stinky dog stayed with me.
We had a little trouble entering the United Kingdom as some sort of skin abnormality was worrying the guards. It all turned out well at the end however. Apparently I just had a bad case of acne.
The dog had got through just fine by attracting some flies to himself and getting by the passport officers posing as one of Damien Hurst’s new works of art.
Some time later we were relaxing in a pub garden on a lovely summer’s day when as if out of nowhere, a dart came darting towards us and it would have gone straight through me if it wasn’t for that dog’s rear that was propped up in the air at that precise moment (as he showed me one of his favourite yoga moves; the downward facing dog). Instantly the dog was turned into a man who insisted he was a prince. Last I heard he was working at the Carphone Warehouse.
Does that answer your question?
Thanks for your input Selly but I don’t think Anonymous is saying that to try and barter with us or anything like that. I think what he is trying to say is that by his calculations the price of the book is too low.
Also I suggest next time you decide to make a wise crack about someone’s art, you first make sure that someone is not the person who has just been delivered a large sum of cash to pass on to you. Because you might end up receiving your cash in some very questionable notes which you will soon discover are rubbish for buying food but are great for playing monopoly.
Shirin jan, I just love your replies. Keep them coming!
Good to hear that another book is finallyt published. It is very pleasant to see its nice cover.
Looking forward to read the book soon.
Wot wisecrack? I was merely refering to the orange jumpsuit that you pointed out that the Iranian authorities favour for dressing up packages in after they have been subjected to severe internal examinations. As you know little one I am a great fan of your art.
Not sure how I missread the comment of annonymous tho. I think I shall have to put it down to lack of brain power, due to lack of food, as a result of lack of money..... ;-]
Anyway, gotta dash. I'm off to Carphone Warehouse.....
It’s good that at least you liked it AA, I think I might have scared that anonymous commenter off with dog story :-)
Hey Ostan :-) It’s great to hear from you.
I see Selly! I thought you were referring to the outfits of the people in my picture with your eighties comment ;-) Ok I’ll put your money in your account then.
Well I’m not sure exactly what anonymous meant by that but I just thought he probably means if the book is 4500 toomans and it’ll cost eight pounds to post it, then how can you send it to someone for that much and not loose money? That’s what I thought anyway.
happy for u;)
:-)
That’s great myotherfellow, I’m glad you liked the book. I’m going to put a few more pages of it on there soon so please go back and check again in a week or so if you are interested in reading more of it.
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