Disoriental

Negar Djavadi's novel "The Breadwinner" is a 2019 Albertine Prize winner, a 2019 Lambda Literary Award winner, and a Prix du Style winner. It tells the story of Kimiâ Sadr, who fled Iran at the age of ten to join her father in France, and is now twenty-five with a new life and the prospect of a child. She is inundated by her own memories and the stories of her ancestors, including her great-grandfather Montazemolmolk and her parents, Darius and Sara. The novel captures the "disorientation" of exile and the attempt to reconstruct a self through family stories, and is praised for its gorgeous prose and its portrayal of the relentless turmoil described throughout.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 340 pages
Publication date: 03 May 2018
Publisher: Europa Editions (UK) Ltd

Winner of numerous prestigious awards, including the 2019 Albertine Prize, the 2019 Lambda Literary Award, the Prix du Style, the Prix de la Porte Dorée, the 2016 Lire Best Debut Novel, and the Prix du Roman News, Negar Djavadi's novel is a captivating exploration of identity and exile. Set in Paris, the story follows Kimiâ Sadr, a twenty-five-year-old Iranian woman who fled Iran at the age of ten to join her father in France. As she navigates her new life and the prospect of motherhood, Kimiâ is overwhelmed by her own memories and the stories of her ancestors, which reach her in unstoppable, uncontainable waves. In the waiting room of a Parisian fertility clinic, she encounters generations of her flamboyant Sadr family, including her formidable great-grandfather Montazemolmolk, with his harem of fifty-two wives, and her parents, Darius and Sara, stalwart opponents of each regime that befalls them.

Through the lens of family drama and triumph, the novel also delves into key moments of Iranian history, politics, and culture. Yet, at its heart, it is Kimiâ herself—a punk-rock aficionado, storyteller extraordinaire, a Scheherazade of our time, and above all a modern woman divided between family traditions and her own "disorientalization"—who forms the heart of this bestselling and beloved novel.

Negar Djavadi's writing is characterized by its gorgeous prose, which takes the edge off the relentless turmoil described throughout. The novel pulsates with life, but it does not shirk from violence. It is a momentous saga of modern Iran, offering a profound and nuanced portrayal of a country and its people.

In conclusion, Negar Djavadi's novel is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the complexities of identity, exile, and the power of family stories. With its stunning prose, captivating characters, and profound insights, it is a testament to the enduring human spirit and the resilience of the human heart.

Weight: 380g
Dimension: 138 x 210 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781787701557