Marriage Iranian-Style

When I'm between books or need to jumpstart my slacking reading habits, I've been reading the books by Iranian writer Nahid Rachlin. Published by City Lights, Rachlin's books are political- and feminist-lite, usually focusing on some romance as it unravels along with the Shah's rule. I cranked through "Married to a Stranger" (yes, a Lifetime Channel-esque title) pretty quickly. What interests me most about Rachlin's books is the local color. I love the details of drinking arak and eating almonds, tucking hair under a chador, secretly reading Gorky, soaking lentils, and publishing political pamphlets.