Bird of Passage is a fascinating account of a woman, Mitra, born in Iran who moves through the world looking for love, spiritual healing, and an understanding of what has happened to her homeland. Due to the well-constructed plot arc, Mitra will feel like a dear friend by the end of the book.
The plotting of this elaborate novel moves like a dramatic tapestry, skillfully designed and displayed. As Seen through Mitra's perceptions, the author explores in depth the culture, history, and chaos of a rebellion scarred homeland.
Wherever Mitra goes, she finds adventure, insecurity, romance, danger and, at times, disappointment. Yet her inner strength remains honed to the tasks that face her. Her namesake, from Indo-Persian mythology, is a wise woman who speaks truth, "with a thousand ears...ten thousand eyes." This fortitude will be especially needed for her, as when following the ascension to power of the Khomeini regime in Iran.
Mitra's dynamic adventures so meticulously parsed will inevitably raise important questions for American readers about the U.S. and its actions in the worldwide political panorama, and be challenged to carefully consider the dilemma of those who, dominated by an oppressive regime, are forced to express loyalty to leaders they have not chosen. However, an uplifting balance is struck in the narrative, stressing the importance of listening to one's inner voice.
In a time of worldwide upheaval, Bird of Passage is not only beautifully told, but important for a wide range of readers, as it meshes romance, intrigue, scholarly wisdom, and the lively, credible feelings of a woman of the world poring over her proper place in it. Mitra's saga, imbued with cinematic intensity, has the power to reach, engage, and motivate readers of many cultures and convictions.
As a biographer, storyteller, and author, Nooshie Motaref has written Bird of Passage, a sequel to the Award-winning novel, Tapestries of the Heart, and Land of Roses and Nightingales.She has gone through many challenging life experiences, unlike many women from the Middle East. Nooshie grew up in Persia, and studied in four countries - Iran, Germany, Switzerland and United States. She received her master's and doctorate degrees in American Literature and Folklore from Florida State University. Her dissertation is a proof of Carl Jung's theory, the "Collective Unconscious," through Persian fairytales and folktales.In March 2014, she presented one of her articles, "Women and Islam," for a conference, Women and Education at Oxford University in Oxford, England. She gives speeches on several subjects related to her birthplace, including its culture, traditions and religion. Her purpose is to familiarize Western audiences with Iranian life and ethnicity.Six years ago, Nooshie moved to Tucson to be near her son and his family, including her young grandson. She remains active in local non-profit organizations. Tucson Tellers of Tales (TOT), a national storytelling organization; she was president from 2019 to 2020, and now she serves as the treasurer. She is also a member of the CV chapter at the Philanthropic Education Organization (P.E.O.) where women help women reach the stars. The other organizations are: The American Association of University Women (AAUW), and Facilitator's Guild, by Center for Community Dialogue and Training.
Donn Poll first put oil paint on a canvas in a studio art class in the 1970s. It was canvas paper, he only finished the sky on a single sheet, and he put oil paint away for a long time. After decades of unsatisfying painting with acrylic, Donn became an informal student of Artist and Teacher Mark Carder in early 2019 and started his real oil painting adventure on August 20. It was a breakthrough!Donn has a design degree from Minnesota State University and has worked in communications his entire life - graphic design, photography and art direction. He has worked with pen and ink and electronic illustration as well as acrylic... until recently.Statement on painting: I paint what moves me. That description has no limits even though I have started by trying to convey strong aesthetic engagement by painting everyday forms. So far, in Donn's "young" oil painting career, he offers lush depictions of familiar forms -a bowl of fruit, a vase of flowers, an evocative landscape - that stir meaning for us. His use of color and light touches our psyche, reminding us how the sun shines on the kitchen table at home or how the tomato plants are fragrant in the garden.An editor, graphic and fine artist, and book designer, Donn lives in Minneapolis, MN.
