Written with honesty and elegance, Shavarini has woven an attractive tapestry of the lives of her extended family within the context of Iranian history and culture, itself having gone through its story of upheavals and separation. – Shahla Haeri, Boston University
Mitra K. Shavarini is a lecturer in Peace, Conflict, and Coexistence Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies at Brandeis University. Her research focuses on women’s education in Muslim societies. Her work has appeared in Harvard Educational Review, Teacher’s College Record, International Journal of Middle East Studies, and Women’s Studies International Forum. Shavarini is the author of Educating Immigrants: Experiences of Second Generation Iranians (2004) and the coauthor of Women and Education in Iran and Afghanistan: An Annotated Bibliography (with Wendy R. Robison, 2005). Her latest book, Desert Roots, was a personal writing project for Mitra. She first began writing it as a journal-like entry for her children. She wanted to capture some of her thoughts and emotions about her parents’ desire to return to their homeland, Iran. She thought, “Maybe one day Neemah or Donya will ask what brought their family to America. Wouldn’t it be a shame if I fail to tell them what we went through?” With that impetus, her family stories poured out on paper. Soon after, some friends encouraged her to consider writing for a broader audience ...that, in a nutshell, is how Desert Roots came to be.
This event is free, but pre-registration is recommended by contacting Lexington Community Education at 781 862 8043.
