The Konar and the Apple by Babak Hodjat

A personal and intimate story collection, Babak Hodjat’s The Konar and the Apple is a vivid exploration of childhood memories in Iran after the revolution. Drawing on autobiographical material, Hodjat shares defining moments of his lived experience, such as inventing a soccer board game and putting on a play with friends, alongside stark descriptions of the Shah and horrifying scenes of war. This collection eloquently rides the line between upsetting defeat and inspiring triumph; although the narrator has seen appalling violence, he ultimately survives and thrives, for an inspiring and evocative work of autobiographical fiction.