Blog Archives
Zooming With The Past
Marlene Zaedyan’s Zooming with the Past unfolds as a moving biography that explores the entangled lives of four friends—Mariam, Anna, Fadia, and the narrator. At its heart, this book is a testament to resilience, the enduring strength of friendship, and the power of reinvention in the wake of life’s most crushing trials. Each narrative within the book shines uniquely while weaving into a cohesive tapestry of shared struggles. Mariam’s journey is haunting and brave, recounting her survival of her father’s abuse and the betrayal that left her vulnerable. Despite the darkness, her unwavering determination to protect her daughters and reshape her future is inspiring. Anna’s story, both tender and painful, charts her shift from the idealism of young love to the sting of betrayal and judgment, showcasing her inner strength as she rebuilds from the wreckage. Fadia’s tale adds a cultural richness, revealing the heartbreak of forbidden love and the silent ache of roads not taken when life forces her in another direction. Together, their experiences create a profound mosaic of human endurance and transformation.
Zaedyan beautifully captures the women’s friendship as the lifeline that binds them. Through life’s chaos and heartbreak, this unbreakable bond offers them solace, strength, and hope. The camaraderie between these women becomes the anchor of the narrative, reminding readers of the healing power of connection. What sets Zooming with the Past apart is Zaedyan’s artistry with language. Her prose flows with poetic rhythm, striking a balance between raw, emotional honesty and lyrical beauty. At times, the descriptions border on indulgent, but they rarely feel out of place. Instead, these flourishes elevate the intensity of the stories, emphasizing the emotional gravity and universal lessons that lie within.
This book offers more than a collection of personal histories—it’s a reflection of the human condition. Loss, love, betrayal, and resilience are all laid bare. Zaedyan invites readers to confront the pain of their own pasts, learn from its lessons, and find strength in its aftermath. Through her storytelling, she reveals the quiet beauty that exists even amid life’s storms, urging readers to hold on to the fleeting moments of grace and connection.
Zooming with the Past, by Marlene Zaedyan, is a powerful and evocative read that will linger long after the last page. It speaks to anyone who has faced life’s darkest corners, offering a light of hope and the reassurance that renewal is always possible. For those who cherish stories of perseverance, friendship, and transformation, this book is an unforgettable journey.
Pages: 166 | ASIN : B0DNQXDYYC
Nine Lives Endless Dreams
![Nine Lives Endless Dreams by [Marlene Zaedyan]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41x1IyVr3vL.jpg)
Nine Lives: Endless Dreams, by Marlene Zaedyan, is the story of Zaedyan’s life and the three generations of perseverance and determination preceding it. She shares the heartbreaking story of her journey around the world as she sought freedom and solace from her war-torn homeland of Lebanon. While Zaedyan faces war in many forms, whether it be religious conflicts in her home country, struggles with her family members’ health, or the impending pandemic, she fights without losing hope and shares her harrowing tale.
With stunning, descriptive passages relating the history of her time in Lebanon and Palestine, Zaedyan shows us the horrors of war without losing joy. Her storytelling is cinematic; as readers are able to see the vivid picture she paints of her families’ lives and her experiences. The narrative avoids becoming too philosophical or dreamy with blunt reflections and genuine admissions of fear, numbness, and perseverance.
I found the story to have a great pace as we explored the lives of Marlene, her mother, and her grandmother. These generations of women each have different approaches to how they show care, and I appreciated the author’s honesty as she discussed the hardships she faced. She is understanding of the adults in her life and the decisions they had to make without creating excuses for them. She doesn’t place blame on one person or “side” in the war stories she tells; rather, she unpacks how suffering can affect an individual, and expresses compassion to those around her.
There were moments when I wished that we as readers heard more of Zaedyan’s personal reflections on the horrors happening in her daily life, rather than recounts of historical events. But as the book went on, the author shared more and more of her emotional responses to the dark situations around her, and I felt that we got to know her and her feelings better by the end of the book.
This is a book that shares a message of resilience, hope, joy, faith, and ambition. As a reader, it left me feeling inspired that a person can see so much suffering and terror and manage to still radiate love around their family and friends. It reminded me that it’s easy to fall prey to hopelessness or fear, and much harder to remain strong and hopeful. I think anyone who reads this book will come away from it with a deeper appreciation for life and its small joys.
Pages: 300 | ASIN: B08WKFDMKX
LITERARY TITAN 