Minus the Spine

The final three chapters of Porochista Khakpour’s story In the House of Desire, Honey, Marble and Dreams are best read altogether. Here, the narrative picks up pace and fulfills its requirement as the denouement after Omar’s temper tantrum, a well-crafted climax. Chapter 3 exposes the history from which Roya’s raw anger and humiliation descends–her life as a timid woman in post-revolutionary Iran–and explains her fight against her husband’s unwillingness to bend, and really, adapt to the new culture.

The following section details the serious outcome that the stand-off between husband and wife have, which, by Chapter 4, is much more than losing their jobs and the kids missing the first month of school. Omar and Roya lose their dignity, their intimacy and trust; they lose their children’s respect in them; and finally Roya loses her hope and liberty.