IF YOU COULD BE MINE

Negin Farsad’s accented narration adds credence to the character of Sahar, a 17-year-old Iranian. Sahar’s childhood love for Nasrim has blossomed into a hidden lesbian affair that could get the girls executed. Farsad poignantly portrays Sahar’s conflicting feelings—passion for Nasrim, fear of its consequences, and despair about Nasrim’s pending marriage. In contrast, Farsad’s characterization of the rich, spoiled Nasrim reveals her selfish, superficial personality. These two portraits make for growing tension as Sahar struggles with a difficult potential solution. Is loving Nasrim worth going through a legal operation that will change her gender and make her entire life a lie? Farsad gives a convincing picture of Sahar’s complexities, her growing compassion for Iran’s outsiders, and her emotional transformation. S.W. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2014]