To be the child of true believers—whether religious zealots, political ideologues, or Cubs fans—is to learn from the cradle that beliefs have consequences. For Saïd Sayrafiezadeh, whose parents joined the Socialist Workers Party a few years before he was born in 1968, those consequences included poverty, abuse, and a promise of revolution as empty as it was constant. His tale of how utopian dreams led to both the dissolution of a marriage and a disillusioned childhood, When Skateboards Will Be Free, plays out like the fate of the past century’s revolutions in miniature: When things fall apart for the Sayrafiezadeh family, one can only look back and wonder how they ever stayed together in the first place. Sayrafiezadeh’s mother, Martha, is the daughter of a Westchester County Jewish family with literary leanings.
… full text available to registered users
Access to this content requires registration to bookforum.com. Registration is free and your privacy is protected.
Already registered? Sign in here:
Forgot your password? Please click here to reset your password.
For further technical assistance, please feel free to contact us.