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lucy_mb's review
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
coady's review
challenging
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
mkhateri69's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this historical fiction novel that takes you through the ages of Iran from the 1950's to the time of the revolution. Interesting character development and representations from different facets of Tehran from the poor in southern Tehran to the very wealthy in northern Tehran.
redbagels's review
5.0
Iranian Khalid Hosseini
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Death
Minor: Rape
myjourneywithbooks's review against another edition
3.0
The book starts in 1953 with a young woman abandoning a baby who is shortly discovered by a driver named Behrouz. He names her Aria and raises her as his own, a bright light in his otherwise bleak home. The story follows Aria and the people around her as she grows up in a country with mounting political tension.
Though the titular character, Aria felt like a very passive character to me, with things just happening to her instead of all her inner thoughts and feelings being brought to the forefront. It was most of the other characters that shone in this aspect, most specifically Fereshteh, the wealthy widow who later takes Aria in. Though I wish Aria had been a bit more fleshed out as a character, the others in the story were well written and will linger in your memory, as will their stories that intertwine with that of Aria's.
As we follow Aria's journey, from a life of being beaten up by Behrouz's wife Zahra to a life of luxury under Fereshteh's wing, the conversations between the characters and the events taking place in the background tell another story, that of a country with its people getting tired of its ruler and gearing up for a revolution. I loved reading about the different types of local foods that the characters ate as well as learning about the different religions followed by the Iranian population.
The writing could have done with a little more polish at times, the plot felt slightly sensationalised at certain points and the ending felt rushed but overall a thoroughly interesting story that has me waiting for the author's next book.
Though the titular character, Aria felt like a very passive character to me, with things just happening to her instead of all her inner thoughts and feelings being brought to the forefront. It was most of the other characters that shone in this aspect, most specifically Fereshteh, the wealthy widow who later takes Aria in. Though I wish Aria had been a bit more fleshed out as a character, the others in the story were well written and will linger in your memory, as will their stories that intertwine with that of Aria's.
As we follow Aria's journey, from a life of being beaten up by Behrouz's wife Zahra to a life of luxury under Fereshteh's wing, the conversations between the characters and the events taking place in the background tell another story, that of a country with its people getting tired of its ruler and gearing up for a revolution. I loved reading about the different types of local foods that the characters ate as well as learning about the different religions followed by the Iranian population.
The writing could have done with a little more polish at times, the plot felt slightly sensationalised at certain points and the ending felt rushed but overall a thoroughly interesting story that has me waiting for the author's next book.
bookishplantmom's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was a very powerful read. I would say that this is a good companion to Persepolis. The author deftly weaves the tale of Aria's life against the backdrop of an Iran where social, ethnic and political upheavals are bubbling beneath the surface and eventually boil over. The author shows how seemingly innocuous beliefs and ideologies galvanize individuals who are vulnerable in various ways. The author did a fantastic job of showing how various extreme belief systems, colonization and imperialism can and do impart harm, promote hate and encourage violence. Hozar demonstrates in compelling ways how severe the cost of complacency and the lack of education and freedom are.
I found that there were some beautiful passages of writing in this story. By and large the pacing was slow and the way the story is told was at times confusing. There are several points of view but these were at times difficult to distinguish. I believe this was in part due to the fact that the character work was generally shallow and lacked some complexity. Aria herself felt somewhat empty, her emotional development never quite seemed to reach the surface. As though nothing that happened in her life ever really impacted or changed her. The narrative built around Aria and her 3 mothers was interesting but didn't quite impact me emotionally.
Reading this book for the first time as the Women Life Freedom uprising continues in Iran felt timely, informative and made this story all the more gut wrenching as the exact occurrences on the pages have been playing out in Iran among other places continuously for years and years. Highly, Highly recommend this book!
I found that there were some beautiful passages of writing in this story. By and large the pacing was slow and the way the story is told was at times confusing. There are several points of view but these were at times difficult to distinguish. I believe this was in part due to the fact that the character work was generally shallow and lacked some complexity. Aria herself felt somewhat empty, her emotional development never quite seemed to reach the surface. As though nothing that happened in her life ever really impacted or changed her. The narrative built around Aria and her 3 mothers was interesting but didn't quite impact me emotionally.
Reading this book for the first time as the Women Life Freedom uprising continues in Iran felt timely, informative and made this story all the more gut wrenching as the exact occurrences on the pages have been playing out in Iran among other places continuously for years and years. Highly, Highly recommend this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Murder, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Xenophobia
bronwynlucy's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
a8bhatia's review against another edition
3.0
An excellent but heavy book to start the year off with. This novel painted a vivid image of the time and characters. I felt like my lack of knowledge or experience with Iranian history was a disadvantage because I feel like I missed some of the nunanced pointed Nazanine made, and yet I felt this was an excellent starting point to really understand the complexities of history and how when you live within them your life is driven and yet outside of those complexities. Placed in this context, I think the author truly explored ideas of motherhood that are transferable to any period so at times the story felt like it was on a tangent. Regardless, a worthwhile read.
d_ho16's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
milperks's review against another edition
3.0
This was pretty slow going for me. I did learn quite a bit about Iran and it was really well written however it is one of those meandering books that is more about the characters than a plot.