Heartbreaking read ( )

A coincidentally timely read with current events in Iran of street riots against an oppressive government. This tale is of earlier similar events. Starting with the toppling of Mossadegh and ending with the return of Khomeni and the establishment of the islamic republic. Told through the eyes of Aria, an orphan, foundling, her parents, real and adopted and her various friends. The author has thrown everything at it. Romance, jealousy, gay love, poverty, riches, politics, militantism, every religion finds a representative, Zoroastrian, muslim, christian, jewish, bahai. The ongoing series of coincidences linking all the participants stretches credulity sometimes. But nevertheless, it gives a flavour of Iran, a country that should be better known beyond its own boundaries. Simply told, more in the language of a young adult book. Could have been better. ( )

I enjoyed this story despite finding it somewhat implausible. Interesting characters in a historically volatile setting. ( )

The author, Nazanine Hozar, grew up in Tehran but now lives in Canada. This is her first novel and it draws significantly on her Iranian heritage which gives this book a very realistic tone. I listened to this audiobook right after I listened to The Stationery Shop which is also set in Tehran in approximately the same time period. I thought this book was less romantic in tone than that book.

Aria was abandoned as an infant on a street in Tehran. Fortunately a soldier walking home to the apartment he shares with his wife found her in the nick of time. He took her home and named her Aria. While he is often away in the army camp his wife, Zahra, looks after Aria but she neglects her and Aria ends up with trachoma, an eye infection that can cause blindness if untreated. Zahra has to take Aria to the other side of the city for treatment and she certainly resents this "wasting" of her time. On one trip she runs across a woman that she used to work with in a wealthy family's home. The woman still works in the same house for Fereshteh and persuades Zahra to come for tea with Aria. Fereshteh and her family were Zoroastrians but all of the family members took Muslim names in order to fit in. Fereshteh is still wealthy and she often helps people in need. When she sees Aria's condition she is concerned and when her servant finds Aria alone in the apartment one day Fereshteh takes Aria into her home. With this turn of fortune Aria becomes educated and develops new friendships with two schoolmates. However she never forgets the neighbour boy who used to bring her bracelets. The man who found her keeps in touch but Zahra essentially abandons her. Fereshteh ensures that Aria helps people who have not been as lucky as she and sends her to help a poor Jewish family with four young girls. Although Aria intially hates going to this house she continues to visit and she helps one daughter learn to read who then manages to get a school certificate. As a background to Aria's life the political situation is going from a rather liberal style (as long as one does not run afoul of the Shah) to the conservative Muslim totalitarianism of the Ayatollah Khomeini and his fellow clerics. The ending is abrupt and will not satisfy those people who like everything wrapped up in a neat bow but it does allow the reader to ponder what might happen to Aria in the future.

I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in fiction set in an interesting place and time. ( )