Everything Sad Is Untrue (a true story)

This is an amazing story! Culturally rich and beautifully written. It is the true story of, told from the perspective of a 12 year old boy. They became Christians in Iran and had to flee for their lives, from the Islamic Regime. It is beautiful and interesting, sad and inspiring, triumphant and joyful. Just read it! I just bought my second copy. My first was a gift!

What a beautiful and raw story! As an immigrant myself (but from a different country and with a totally different story) this book is so fascinating to me! I learned more about Iran and their traditions. It helped me to understand/see/feel another person’s history! The book is written in such a unique way and I loved that about it. It sucks you in as a fiction would but yet it’s like a history lesson. Highly recommended!

Knowing Iran and Iranians this book made me laugh and cry. He is so Persian in his style of description that I felt I was back in Iran. The comparisons with Shaharazad were charming. I truly enjoyed the book.

It's easy to see why this book has garnered so much acclaim. It's a story about a refugee, yes. But more so, it's a story about life, both the beautiful and the ugly, the good and the bad. It's about family, love, memory, faith, pain, friendship, and longing. Nayeri's prose is beautiful to read, and his storytelling is masterful. Rather than following the classic Western story structure, Everything Sad Is Untrue weaves stories from Daniel's childhood and family in and out of each other. There are no chapters. But everything works together perfectly. The various memories complement each other. Reading this book will make you wish you could be friends with young Daniel. You'll get a craving for Persian food. You'll wish you could see the house with the birds. Reading Everything Sad Is Untrue feels like sitting down with a friend while they tell you stories. And I love that. Cautions: One blasphemy and two instances of bleeped-out swearing. There's a phrase used several times that looks like a euphemism for swearing in English but is apparently not in Farsi (the language the characters are speaking at those times). Daniel's stepfather is abusive and it's clear to the reader that there's domestic violence. It's referenced a few times, though it only happens once briefly on page, non-graphic. A couple of stories involve injuries described with some description. (If you wince whenever someone tells a story involving a nail gun, you'll probably wince and skim these parts.) Daniel recounts a couple of myths that involve affairs, non-detailed. There's some rude humor due to several poop stories.

Great book! 💙

This story moved my heart as he wrote. It was as if a child told me the sad but uplifting story. I learned so much about how an Iranian boy sees the world. He explained the differences in Muslim believers. The best part was how love changes everything.

This was an easy read for a long flight. Really compels you to keep reading, it was hard to put down even though it wasn’t always “fun” stuff to read about.

I learned a lot from this book. It helps to humanize people to understand them even just a little. Perhaps walk a mile in their shoes.

Very fast delivery. Great

Absolutely loved this book - really interesting exploration of the refugee experience through a child’s POV.

El libro es hermoso, muy bien escrito e increíblemente profundo. Muestra la vida de un niño refugiado, lo que dejó atrás, lo difícil del camino, la reacción de sus compañeros. De inmediato he kerido compartirlo con todos mis amigos esta navidad y entonces me he dado cuenta de que, aunque la versión en español existe (ISBN 9786078825059. Todo lo triste es mentira) vosotros no la tenéis. Por favor hacedla disponible,

Lovely story about life and how to overcome. Not only children should read it but everyone!

A wonderful book. Unique. Could not put it down and stopped numerous times to reread beautifully observed passages