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Message in a Matchbox
It all started during our family reunion in the summer of 2006, when I discovered an invaluable my oldest brother's memories of growing up. His name is Mohsen, and he was born in Tehran, Iran, to poor, struggling young parents. As early as age six, he figured out how to be creative and make money to fill his empty stomach. As he related his memories to me, I understood what had made him the fascinating, jovial, and hardworking man he has become. He has always had a calm confidence about him, as if he felt no need to impress anyone. He didn't have to. He had been through so much, that by the time he was twenty-three, he had lived a fuller life than most people ever experience. These stories are selections from Mohsen's many memories.
294 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2022
2 people are currently reading
1,739 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 31, 2022
A true five stars book, Message in a Matchbox by a gifted writer, Sara Fashandi. This book takes you on an adventurous journey into a young boy’s life, many of his early experiences, hardships he went through, and sweet and bitter moments. This book is a joy to cozy up and read, even when sometimes the stories are painful.
Sara draws a vivid picture of Mohsen (main character) and his family’s life, you experience a range of strong emotions, and at some point, you feel you are part of them, can hear their voices, live with them, fell their sadness, laugh when they laugh and for sure many times you want to reach out and help Mohsen when he is struggling.
Sara’s writing is excellent and honest, perfectly crafted stories written well enough to hold your attention to the very end. It’s beautiful that the author tells us Mohsen’s stories, a valuable lesson for all of us to be gradual for our comforts, and all of what we take for granted.
I received this book as a gift and highly recommend it!
Sara draws a vivid picture of Mohsen (main character) and his family’s life, you experience a range of strong emotions, and at some point, you feel you are part of them, can hear their voices, live with them, fell their sadness, laugh when they laugh and for sure many times you want to reach out and help Mohsen when he is struggling.
Sara’s writing is excellent and honest, perfectly crafted stories written well enough to hold your attention to the very end. It’s beautiful that the author tells us Mohsen’s stories, a valuable lesson for all of us to be gradual for our comforts, and all of what we take for granted.
I received this book as a gift and highly recommend it!
January 27, 2023
As American as Benjamin Franklin, Iranian immigrant Mohsen Fashandi used his wits, intelligence, and capacity for invention to survive and get ahead. In these engaging stories, his much younger sister Sara mines Mohsen’s memories of their family in Iran and what motivated her siblings, including herself, to emigrate to the US for higher degrees. Message in a Matchbox: Memories of a Childhood in Tehran is a lively and inspiring book you won’t be able to put down.
March 21, 2023
The creative exploits of Mohsen Fashandi are so like those of me and my young friends growing up in Ohio. But the setting here, painted in rich detail, is Tehran in the time of the Shah. In a series of short vignettes, this intimate look into the life of a young boy in Iran instills in the reader a deeper understanding of the Iranian culture, family ties, and the struggles of the poor to realize their dreams. We’re rooting for Mohsen every step of the way!
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April 13, 2023MESSAGE IN A MATCHBOX by Sara Fashandi is an inspiring ode to her brother and the experiences that shaped the man he would become.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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