Did Farzad and Amineh make the right call in choosing to stay in Iran?

As the political situation in Iran deteriorates, Farzad and Amineh choose to stay in the country as others leave (“It’s too early to give up on this country,” Farzad tells her). What did you think of their decision? Do you believe they made the right call? If they’d fled the country how might their lives have been different? How does one know when it’s the right time to make a drastic change?

I'm not sure I agreed with them staying - I did remember as I read thinking: leave! I'm not sure much would have changed as far as their relationship was concerned if they had left though. Besides Farzah was so dedicated to his work he couldn't see the trees from the forest. He missed a great opportunity to love a good woman in doing so.

I understand Farzad’s loyalty to his country and finding it difficult to leave. However, he should have had more consideration for his family and their safety. It did become necessary for them to leave under even more difficult circumstances and without Farzad. Perhaps if they had left sooner, Amineh may have found a chance to pursue her writing career sooner in a country with less volatile political outbursts and the constant threat of being spied on.

I don't think it was "their" decision to stay but Farzad's and his belief HE could make a difference in the political climate of Iran. He did not want to give up even though "his" decision affected his whole family. I agree with LynnB that if the departure had been sooner Amineh could have had a chance earlier to develop her writing career. His decision to stay could have cost his whole family their lives. Thank goodness there was someone that cared enough to alert Amineh of the need to leave immediately.

I wanted them to leave as I felt Amineh would have a better life but I think Farzad felt a loyalty to Iran and hoped he could make a difference.

That's a difficult question. I understand why they stayed because their life was there. I think it would be very difficult to put your safety first and leave everything behind when you didn't really know your risk.

I can appreciate their decision to stay in Iran, and I think I understand it. If I had to leave my home and everything I was familiar with, I’m not sure what I would do. I don’t think Farzad perceived there was any danger to him and his family, really. And of course, he could never leave the work he loved and his determination to make a difference.

I thought they should have left. But, that thought is based on what I know was to come in the future especially in the treatment of women.

I though Farzad could have done his work outside of Iran and that it was best that he got his family someplace outside of Iran.

If they had left, it would have been a different novel altogether, and we would not have the deeper understanding of what it was like for Iranians to live under this regime as the years went by. A big part of the author’s expressed purpose for writing this novel! So I have a problem with this question.

I certainly believe the author developed these characters well enough that we can understand their reasons for staying. Both of them: Amineh demonstrated her attachment when she chose to remain at home with young Sara, to stay with Jalalod-Din and Manuchehr, during the night in 1985 that their neighborhood was targeted by Iraqi bombs. She would not have wanted to emigrate any more than Farzad did—-and certainly not without him. Loyalty is a defining character trait of Amineh’s. And despite the challenges and disappointments of her marriage, she does love Farzad and knows she too bears responsibility for their relationship.

So yes, they made the decision that was right for them.

If they had left, it would have been a different novel altogether, and we would not have the deeper understanding of what it was like for Iranians to live under this regime as the years went by. A big part of the author’s expressed purpose for writing this novel! So I have a problem with this question.

I certainly believe the author developed these characters well enough that we can understand their reasons for staying. Both of them: Amineh demonstrated her attachment when she chose to remain at home with young Sara, to stay with Jalalod-Din and Manuchehr, during the night in 1985 that their neighborhood was targeted by Iraqi bombs. She would not have wanted to emigrate any more than Farzad did—-and certainly not without him. Loyalty is a defining character trait of Amineh’s. And despite the challenges and disappointments of her marriage, she does love Farzad and knows she too bears responsibility for their relationship.

So yes, they made the decision that was right for them.