Aria
by Nassim Assefi
Published by Harcourt
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Review by Claire Vath
In Nassim Assefi’s debut novel, Aria, Iranian-American oncologist Jasmine Talahi sets out on an emotional journey around the world to seek solace after her 5-year-old daughter’s sudden death. While pregnant with her daughter, Aria, Jasmine’s boyfriend Justin passes away suddenly. Estranged from her disapproving Iranian parents, Jasmine finds herself alone until best friend and “little person” Dottie takes her in. Together, these fiercely independent women rear Aria. But when a teenager in a car cuts the little girl’s life short, Jasmine is faced with the stark reality that she has been orphaned from her family.
Still reeling from the shock, Jasmine treks across the world—working in Guatemala and meditating in Tibet. Eventually, she finds herself in Iran visiting the parents who turned their backs to her a number of years ago. There, she discovers her family history and finds true inner strength.
Aria is written as a series of letters to Dottie, Aria, Justin and Jasmine’s deceased grandmother. Several letters and essays from Dottie and the teen driver who took Aria’s life are included in the novel to fill in background information. Though these expository pieces are essential to the novel’s plot, the letters at times sound forced and the flow of the letters make the novel choppy. Despite this, though, Jasmine’s outpouring of grief shines through as only a mother’s loss can.
Like an operatic aria, Assefi’s expose’ of Jasmine’s relationships are lyrical and passionate. But also like an aria—an elaborate melody sung solo with accompaniment—Jasmine realizes she has a strong backbone of friends and family she can turn to.
Armchair Interviews says: This is a promising first novel for Assefi, a health specialist-cum-writer.
Author’s Web site: http://www.nassimassefi.com