16th Seven Stories

di Max Nabati (Autore)

Max Nabati, 2025

"16th Seven Stories" by Max Nabati is a captivating anthology of seven short tales set against the lush, rain-drenched landscapes of Gilan Province in northern Iran. Blending elements of psychological introspection, supernatural intrigue, and deep reverence for nature, the collection explores themes of loneliness, loss, redemption, and the blurred line between reality and folklore. Each story unfolds in misty, atmospheric locales—rain-soaked cities, ancient forests, and Caspian shores—where the relentless weather mirrors the characters' inner turmoil, and everyday encounters evolve into profound awakenings. The opening story, "Red Umbrella," follows Mehran, a monotonous accountant in the perpetually rainy city of Rasht. Obsessed with a mysterious woman carrying a vibrant red umbrella past his window each morning, he confronts his suppressed emotions and the gray drudgery of his life. When the umbrella vanishes, Mehran ventures out, leading to a fleeting encounter that sparks a quiet resolve to break free from his routines. In "Orange Blossoms," set in the misty town of Langarud amid orange groves and fading wetlands, orphaned Lina finds solace in an abandoned mansion haunted by the portrait of Lohrasb, a tragic poet from a bygone era. As supernatural whispers and dreams draw her closer, Lina uncovers a forbidden love that mirrors her own isolation, ultimately freeing her from emotional chains through poetry and spectral connection. "Chamkhaleh" shifts to the sandy beaches of the Caspian Sea, where painter Ramin grieves the loss of his beloved Rana, drowned in a storm. Through obsessive seascapes and visions in the waves, he discovers her enduring presence woven into nature's fabric—shells, breezes, and moonlight—transforming his sorrow into a profound acceptance of love's immortality. "The Rice Paddies" delves into rural Kalachay, where widow Nasim toils in muddy fields haunted by whispers of her drowned husband. Amid superstitions of cursed rivers and ghostly forests, strange footprints and eerie sounds challenge her scepticism, forcing her to grapple with doubt and the oppressive weight of nature's indifference. "Marlik Hill" weaves archaeology and myth on an ancient burial site in Amlash. Amateur archaeologist Shima, drawn back by her grandmother's tales, summons the spirit of Kadosi warrior Artin. Through visions in golden goblets, she relives his epic love and sacrifice, inheriting the burden of preserving her people's forgotten stories amid misty mountains and whispering rivers. In "The Forest Demon," Tahmine in the folklore-rich village of Lish navigates tales of a mossy guardian spirit while tending her paddy. When her son spots shadows and mysterious signs appear—full fishing nets, guiding branches—she embraces the forest's "voice," blending ancestral beliefs with a call to respect the living wilderness. The closing tale, "Waves, Sounds, Memories," portrays elderly fisherman Tooka battling a Caspian storm in his boat named after his lost wife, Maryam. As waves roar and memories flood, he confronts the sea's jealous love, emerging transformed and at peace with its dual nature as giver and taker. Nabati's prose, rich with sensory details of Gilan's subtropical climate—damp wood, orange scents, salty breezes—creates an immersive world where human fragility meets nature's timeless power. This collection, the 16th in a series of septets, invites readers to reflect on how the past and environment shape our souls, offering poignant, evocative narratives that linger like mist over the sea.

• Autore: Max Nabati
• Anno edizione: 2025
• Editore: Max Nabati
• Formato: EPUB2 con DRMFREE
• Compatibilità: Tutti i dispositivi (eccetto Kindle)
• Layout: Reflowable
• EAN: 9798232771089

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