Darius was such a fabulous character, full of depth. He used Star Trek and Lord of the Rings to connect to the environment around him. This was his armor, familiar and comforting, to distance himself and be the Data outside processing social information. He spoke frankly about his depression, and it was easy to feel empathy for him and his inability to connect to others. He feels so alone and rejected, but often times it is because of his depression and his being unable to communicate his feelings. He feels his sister is a replacement for him, a clean slate, who is accepted easily anywhere she goes, but that does not stop him from loving her unconditionally. It was refreshing how depression was conveyed in this story and the honest approach the author took to how different cultures treat mental illness. For Persian's it is seen as a weakness to need medication to regulate yourself, but in America it is more common (still not widely accepted or acknowledged, but not as looked down on). Depression is such a large component of this novel and Darius's life, it is not simply thrown in, but rather is molded to him as part of who he is and how he interacts with the world around him. He feels very awkward taking his medication, but knows how important it is in regulating his mental health. The book is also about family dynamics, connections, love, understanding, and sometimes how families can be overwhelming or lack understanding. Darius has a hard time with the men in his family, often distancing himself from them by using their full names. He sees them as "proper" men, which he can never live up to. He feels inadequate next to them, like he is less because of his big emotions and his inability to hide them. However, there is growth throughout the novel, for Darius and his family, which helps to bridge a connection between father and son, grandfather and grandson. The women in Darius's life seem to understand him more and easily sooth and love him. Sohrab is another fascinating, wonderful character. He shows his emotions, is honest, kind, caring, compassionate, and he quickly bonds with others. He listens to Darius and helps him understand his Persian heritage. He helps Darius push himself, to break out of his comfort zone. Together they play soccer (football), chat for hours, joke around, and support each other emotionally. They both give each other the kind of friendship they needed, both dealing with their own father issues. Darius feeling uncertain of his Persian heritage and then immersing himself is so beautiful. He regrets not learning Farsi, being disconnected from his heritage. The descriptions of Yazd make the reader feel as though they too are walking the khaki streets, and experiencing the immense emotion and connection Darius does as he visits each new location. You can sense the awe he feels. A beautiful, heartfelt, sad read. I highly recommend this novel, especially listening to the audiobook. Excited to read the companion novel Darius the Great Deserves Better.
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