The Bird Tattoo

Iraqi American poet and journalist Mikhail’s (The Beekeeper: Rescuing the Stolen Women of Iraq) fiction debut explores the appalling impact of Daesh (also known as ISIS) on the Yazidi religious minority of northern Iraq. Narrated by Iranian American narrator Vaneh Assadourian, the book’s brutal opening introduces Helen, a Yazidi woman who has been captured by Daesh and is sold as a “wife” at a market for enslaved women. Mikhail details the miseries which Helen endures; despite the appalling conditions, however, she continues to hope for escape and reunification with her family. Mikhail then shifts gears, taking listeners to the pastoral Iraqi village of Halliqi, where Helen met and fell in love with her husband Elias. Assadourian’s breathtaking performance captures the piercing differences between these two worlds—one horrifically dystopian, and the other paradisaical. Assadourian’s voice changes from grim and stark to warm and gentle, highlighting the resilience of the Yazidi people and showing just how much was lost in this tragedy.