Perspective

Sattareh brings her own opinions to the memoir, with no attempt to be objective or impartial. She recounts an idyllic view of her childhood in Iran and describes her father in glowing terms, using the word domineering as a compliment. She presents her life with 8 mothers and 35 siblings as completely normal.

Satti retains her prejudices in other ways as well. She regards long-time and trusted servants as members of the family and assumes that the pittance they are paid is enough to ensure unending devotion. Because they earn enough to keep their families from starving, she assumes that they love her and will care for her as if she were a member of their own family. When her father provides a hut to an elderly servant with a terminal illness, Satti sees that as a sign of his great generosity and not as a sign of a corrupt...