“Love of Iron is the story of a disabled and passionate girl’s life full of ups and downs. A novel that begins in first person and ends with glory to God. The girl, however, realizes that the boy has come to her for other reasons and then events unfold on this path for her.”

The author of this novel is Mahnaz Sofi Soori. She was born in spring of 1367 in Gilan, and due to the negligence and lack of effort from the medical staff during her birth, she developed motor disabilities in her hands and feet. Today, she is a young novelist and a member of the disabled community in the country. She graduated from Qom University with a Master’s degree in Information Technology, specializing in e-commerce. She is also a musician and has learned music and playing instruments at the Harmonica House in Isfahan. She is also a social activist and has been working towards establishing businesses for the disabled.

He himself mentions in the introduction of this book that the idea of writing this novel came to him in the winter of 1393. At a time when a civil law was being passed in Iran and this law was detrimental to the disabled, he decides to address the harm of this law through writing a novel.

Writing this novel began in 1395 and after two years of writing, revisions, and rewriting, it is entrusted to a capable publisher. The first book launch event will be held in Isfahan on 30 Khordad 97 and in the month of Tir of the same year, it will be held in Qom.

The unveiling sessions of this novel have been held with the presence of a considerable number of enthusiasts. This novel is daring and addresses all the small and big events in its path. In fact, the author has used his life experiences in Isfahan and also the north of the country in this novel. The feature of this novel, as the first novel of this writer, is its immunity from imitation. The characterizations are well done and not artificial. The narration of events and suspensions is also accurate and precise.

The point of agreement among critics of this novel is the author’s reference to the real world, as he refers to the real problems of the disabled and tries to present a true image of them. The tone of the novel is towards positive thinking and it has a completely Iranian theme and color. Additionally, in this novel, poetry is sometimes used to help beautify the text even more.

Mohammad Noori, the CEO of the Office of Disabled Culture, writes in an article on the website of this office about this novel and its characters: “Many of the characters and events in this novel are real and we have their counterparts in real life. Many of the names are the same as the actual people. Authors usually use pseudonyms to avoid problems, but the author of this novel has used the names of his classmates, schoolmates, friends, and acquaintances without any changes. Of course, all of these people have trusted the author and have not objected to having their names mentioned.”

The author himself, at the launch of his book in Qom, has expressed his objection to the slogan “Disability is not a limitation” and stated that “disability, especially in Iran, is a limitation but not necessarily a form of inability, and the historical advancements of humanity have all been a result of facing limitations.” Regarding his novel, he says: “I have been careful in writing this story not to glorify unrealistic heroism.”

Book Name: Iron Love

Author: Mahnaz Soufi

Publication Date: 2018

Publisher: Empowerment Publications in collaboration with the Office of Disabled Culture

Note:

1. The novel “Iron Love” was unveiled, ISNA, July 15, 2018.