The Polish House - Marjan Shir Mohammadi

Marjan Shirmohammadi, the Iranian writer who established her presence since winning the prestigious "Houshang Golshiri" Award for her novel "After That Night," returns here with a work that takes the reader to southern Tehran in the time of "Pahlavi II," where an old house stands like a living memory preserving stories of those who passed through it. The novel revolves around the inhabitants of this large house, each carrying their secret, their wound, and their small room that resembles their own world. We see them through the eyes of a small child, and here specifically, women form the heart of the text: women who make their lives from simple daily details, struggle, dream, and face harsh fates when their intimate world is touched. The language here is delicate and profound at the same time, capturing small moments and transforming them into captivating narrative material, making the quiet observation of life an art in itself. The house is not a neutral place but a character in its own right; remnants of the past mingle with a constant feeling of emptiness... and fear... and loss, so that the walls become a mirror to the fates of its inhabitants. Thus, a text full of emotion and whispering is born, balancing between the calmness of narration and internal explosions of silent violence. The beauty of this work does not rely on major events or dramatic shifts, but on observing the details of ordinary life, those we overlook in the hustle of living until memories turn into faces and stories, and the house as a living memory preserves all of that. So, can an ancient house be a truest witness to human lives than the humans themselves? And is observing small details enough to understand the essence of life? You will rent a room in this house and live with its characters to learn more.