The Blood Of Flowers

The Blood of Flowers: A Novel

I am overwhelmed with the admiration I have for the writer of this book. The simple words are: "The Blood of Flowers is absolutely beautiful." There is not a word out of place, and all words are carefully selected to weave this intricate, sensual story to its conclusion, just as the rug weavers select the design and colors to complete their gorgeous carpets.

June Stephenson Bailey

This was a very eye-opening and beautiful story! The first three CD's were slower, but still very enjoyable, but then by disc 4, you won't be able to stop listening! Beautifully described and WONDERFULLY read!!!! Enjoy!

I looked forward to reading this historical fiction from 1620 Persia (Iran) especially when I heard that the author researched the book for nine years. I was disappointed for three reasons.

First, writing quality is not so good. The flowery language was annoying to me. The author made comparisons that were too forced. For example, she compared some blue color to "the color of summer sky". I appreciate the author's effort to be poetic but there are plenty of the places in the world with hazy summer skies. There are many more examples of such comparisons throughout the book. Furthermore, the character development was poor and you do not feel connected to any of the characters.

Second, there was very little educational value and it certainly did not show in depth research. You do not get a feel for 1620 Isfahan, Persia (She refers to Persia as Iran which is not accurate). It could have been the present. 1620 Isfahan (a beautiful city in Persia) must have been a very exotic time and place but yet as I was reading the book it could have been the present time. She depicted the city but not the time. Why bother making it about 400 years ago? The author fails to transport the reader to that exotic time and place.

Finally, the story and the plot was slow. This was no "Thousand Splendid Suns" or "Kite Runners" where the plots kept you reading. There are seven short stories written within this book that add absolutely nothing to the main story. I found them boring and unneeded distractions.

If you are unfamiliar with the culture in Iran or other muslim countries, you may enjoy reading this first book. If you are looking to be entertained and enlightened I recommend Khaled Hosseini books before reading this one.

I was disappointed---but I must admit, I finished the book. I learned a lot about carpet weaving and dyes, and what the different patterns in the carpets mean.
Otherwise, it was what I call "chick-lit." (Beautiful, intelligent girl--- impossible and sentimental story.)
Don't for one second compare this book to "A Thousand Splendid Suns", which was a supreme and intelligent book. That would be like comparing Danielle Steel to Charles Dickens (not really, but you get the point!)

A Persian bodice ripper. Almost all the men are horrible and the women submissive. Looks like nothing has changed in the Muslim world when we fast forward to today. A primer for western girls who think Isis guys are hot.

A very enjoyable read. Lovely use of language and it seems well researched. However, I felt that the novel went off track in the middle when the author spent such a large amount of type focusing in detail on the sexual adventures of a married couple - both the dull and the very adventuresome. It's not that these sections weren't well written; it just that they were unnecessary and out of place in a book that otherwise focused on rug making, understanding city life, adapting to living with relatives, and survival. I think these sections cheapened an otherwise very interesting and enjoyable book and made me hesitate to share it with my 15 year old, who likes many of the same books as I do. Her brief review was: "Way too much time was spent on the relationship with whatshisname. We didn't need to know all that. More should have been spent on the end." I agree.

In seventeenth century Iran, our unnamed narrator has reached the marriageable age of fourteen. When her father dies, she and her mother basically become servants in the home of her father’s half-brother and his tyrannical wife. The young narrator makes so many unforgiveable blunders that she is forced into a temporary marriage, which will bring in a little money, but the loss of her virginity will make finding a permanent husband that much more unlikely. The upside is that the narrator is becoming an accomplished Persian rug maker, with some excellent advice regarding design and color from her uncle, who makes carpets for the Shah. Finally, our narrator’s transgressions, which include lying and forgery, invoke the ire of the uncle’s wife to the point that she and her mother have to vacate the premises. To say that our girl is impetuous and naïve is an understatement. Considering the limited options available to women and the precariousness of the narrator’s situation, her behavior is bewilderingly outrageous and more than a little exasperating. In fact, I found her to be not quite believable in this regard. She foolishly puts her and her mother’s situation at risk time and time again, apparently thinking each time that no one will discover her deceits. Even a fourteen-year-old should be able to learn from her mistakes. When she destroys a rug that she was making, knowing that her uncle had paid for the wool yarn, what does she think will happen? The other characteristic of this book that I did not like is that the author frequently interrupts the story with an Iranian fable, not all of which are authentic. These are way too lengthy and not at all vital to the plot. I realize that the author is trying to evoke a mood appropriate to the setting, but I read each of these tales with the sense that I was wasting my time.

The Blood of Flowers is a work of historical fiction set in 17th century Iran. This novel follows a young female protagonist born in a poor village to two loving parents. There, she learned to knot carpets. However, the girl's life changes abruptly, when her father dies following an accident, plunging the girl and her mother into poverty, hunger, and homelessness. They contact the distant, city- dwelling, half-brother of the girl's father and appeal for him to take them in. He does, but life is still very challenging for this mother and daughter. This book does a great job of conveying 17th century Persian and Islamic culture. Some of that culture is still in place today.

One of the most interesting cultural revelations that came to me upon reading this novel was the idea of segehs. I had no idea that temporary, contractual "marriages" were practiced outside of certain sci-fi novels! This practice seems quite bizarre to my Western thinking. Among other things, it can allow someone to basically hire a prostitute for a short period of time or to contract a short term lover or mistress. It can also be used to make someone a "family member" for a period of time to allow a woman to show her face and hair in a home with unrelated men or boys over a certain age or to have a man help her travel or do business or something that a single woman cannot do. Obviously, in most cases, these arrangements negatively impact women, especially poor women, but it is covered by certain religious interpretations and law.

This novel is disappointing on multiple levels. First, though it takes place in 17th century Persia (Iran), the characters all seem to have rather modern thought processes and ways of looking at the world. In Persian in the 1600's, people would have viewed everything extremely differently from the way we do now. Extremely differently. Yet every single one of the characters could be transplanted into a novel taking place in modern times, and they all would seem to fit right in (for the most part). For the love of writing, if an author is going to create a novel that occurs in a very different place and time, it would be very nice if she made at least a good effort to truly get inside people's heads from that time, and write about them accordingly.

Second, the story itself is superficial and predictable. There is little depth to the plot. It seems like a very paint-by-numbers, follow-the dots kind of thing. (Sweet Valley High occurred to me while reading it.)

Third, the book contains so many cultural and historical mistakes. Here are just a few:

1) Amirrezvani kept referring to Persia as Iran. In the 1600's it was Persia. And only Persia. The name Iran didn't occur until hundreds of years later. (And everyone has heard of Persia, so there was no reason to call it Iran for clarity's sake.)

2) I've known many, many Muslims, and they all refer to Allah as Allah. Never as God. And yet Amirrezvani refers to Allah almost exclusively as "God," with only a few exceptions. This is actually quite insulting to Muslims. It is a western, Christian reference.

3) In the 1600's in Persia (and in many other parts of the world) women were viewed as possessions, like camels or dogs. Seriously. They were chattel. I am sure that on occasion a man might have viewed a wife with affection (though never with equality), but it is ridiculous that most of the male main characters adored their wives and deferred to them.

The ending is such a modern, women-power ending. SPOILER ALERT!! Though the main character has endured some hardship and heartache, she emerges as an independent, successful business woman. First, that ending is highly unlikely, given the time period. And, second, how more hackneyed and modern an ending could that possibly be?

The Blood of Flowers vividly explores many different relationships in the narrator's life--with her mother, her father, her uncle, her friend, and her husband, to name a few--with each relationship helping the reader to see the different aspects of the narrators personality, motivation and thought processes.

Set in 17th century Persia, the story follows the life of an unnamed young girl whose anticipated path in life is altered following the death of her father. Left without the dowry that would have guaranteed her an acceptable marriage, she and her mother journey to Isfahan to join the household of her father's step-brother, a wealthy rug designer. Within the household, she and her mother are treated as nothing more than chattle by her uncle's wife, although the girl possesses a rare talent for the design and knotting of carpets which is quickly recognized by her uncle, who begins to mentor her.

While the saga of the narrator's life as she engages in her personal quest for autonomy in her art as well as her existence is interesting if occasionally a bit obscene, the most engrossing part of the book is the historical accuracy with which the author, Anita Amirrezvani, depicts the day to day life of the times complete with bazaars, slums, public baths, and houses of ill repute as well as the terrible human cost exacted from those practicing the intricacies of knotting present in art of rug making. Additionally, through the narrator's mother Amirrezvani integrates and relates Iranian folktales so deftly that they become not only another thread in this beautifully woven tapestry but little life lessons as well.

Hopefully, lovers of historical fiction will be sufficiently intrigued by this small glance of what THE BLOOD OF FLOWERS promises that they will be enticed into experiencing this opulent read for themselves.

A comet flies by a village in 17th century Persia, signalling misfortune for the villagers. The narrator, a young woman of 14, looks to her future of marriage and family. She enjoys spending time with her father and rug making. She has learned how to make her own dyes for the wool. When her father dies suddenly, she and her mother are forced to move to Ishfahan to live with her half uncle, Gostaham. Gostaham is the Shah's rug maker. The mother and daughter seek refuge from the very well off uncle, but are forced to become one of the servants to earn their keep. Gostaham learns of his niece's love and talent of rug making and takes her under his care. She assists him and his workers in his work, but also allows her to create rugs of her own. He sees the talent and teaches and encourages her to make her own rugs. If she had been a male, she would have been able to work right along side of him openly. Since she was female, she had to work on her own time and stay hidden when her rugs were presented. The aunt is greedy and convinces her husband to have his niece wed by signing a 3 month contract which is to be renewed until marriage or the groom, Ferydoon, decides to end it. This contract gives the aunt and uncle money for the mother and daughter's keep.

The author takes us through the city of Ishfahan, describing the; buildings, market, mosques, beggars, smells, and colors. We learn the art of rug making; the knots, dyes, and the wool. We go into the slums where the tenants live in one room houses sharing a common area. We see the strength and comradery in the women to support themselves in a world of men. We went to a time and place we hadn't been before and we loved it.

This was a beautiful, powerful story taking place in the 1620's in Persia (Iran) during the reign of Shah Abbas. A young girl of 16 (unnamed) loses her father and is thrown into poverty. She has no other siblings to take her in--only a distant half uncle, who she has never met. She travels with her mother to Isfahan in hopes of living with Gostaham and his mean wife, Gordiyeh. They had hoped to sell a rug that the girl had made, but had to sell it on their journey to survive. Now they are totally dependent on their new family and have no dowry. The girl is forced into a humiliating "sigheh" which is a contracted marriage of 3 months, one step up from prostitution. She continues to live with her uncle and learns more about carpet design from him. There are detailed descriptions of color choices for the rugs made, as well as their design. It was highly unusual for a female to be allowed to design a rug as they were generally employed in painstaking knotting for long hours.

Amirrezvani does a superb job in this debut novel. There is also a story within the story of folktales told by her mother. I found this to be a riveting story that I read in two days loo and look forward to her next book taking place a century earlier (Equal of the Sun.) The author's notes are helpful. Strongly recommended.

This story takes place in the 1620s in Isfahan, Persia (Iran). After her father's death, a teenage girl (never named) and her mother travel from their small village to Isfahan to live with a relative. They are mostly treated like household slaves/servants, but the girl manages to gain skills in rug design from her uncle, a prominent rugmaker.

I liked the story, but far too much of the book was taken up with the narrator's sigheh (a temporary, renewable "marriage" which is essentially a form of semi-respectable prostitution). Specifically, too much time was spent on her developing abilities as a hot number in the bedroom, and how this affected her friendship with Naheed. This excessive focus made the book feel a little like historical-fiction-meets-chick-lit.

The author spent nine years researching and writing the book, so I think I was frustrated, knowing it could have been so much richer. I would have preferred a lot more portrayal of the glories and customs of Isfahan under Shah Abbas the Great, and much less of the pettiness among the various characters.

That said, I did enjoy the book and would welcome another from this author. I got to learn about the design and creation of elaborate Persian rugs. I never knew they were made by tying thousands of little knots. I still don't get exactly how it's done, and I'd love to see it in action.

There's an enlightening interview with the author at the back of the book. She says the rugs are still hand-knotted today in Iran. It makes my fingers ache just thinking about it.

The Blood of Flowers - Amita Amirrezvani
4 stars

"First there wasn't and then there was. Before God, no one was."

Once upon a time........

The story begins with a story, a Persian fable of a young girl with the charmed future of a happy prosperous marriage.

No such future exists for the unnamed narrator of Blood of Flowers. Her story begins in her fourteenth year with the sudden death of her devoted father. It continues through a precarious year as she and her impoverished mother seek support from unsympathetic relatives. It is seventeenth century Iran in the time of Shah Abbas. This young woman has only two assets; her virginity and her talent as a designer and a maker of rugs.

This book is full of fascinating cultural background. There is naturally much detailed description of the craft and culture of rug making. The storyteller speaks eloquently of the effort and tedium of the process, but also expresses the artist's satisfaction in creation. There is also much description of women's work and the role of women in this culture. Various fables scattered about the story provide more of the colorful cultural background. Of particular importance to the plot is a form of temporary marriage called a `sigheh'. In another culture such a relationship might be called concubinage. For the story's protagonist it creates both opportunity and the threat of disgrace. I was very impressed with the author's ability to show, realistically, how a woman could exercise personal choice in an essentially powerless situation. This is a satisfying coming-of-age story of a young woman who manages to create a life for herself in restrictive circumstances.

I have mixed feelings about the audio version of this book as performed by Shohreh Aghdashloo. On the one hand, it is always helpful to hear correct pronunciation of foreign words. Aghdashloo's accented reading added to my sense of being in a very different time and place. It also added more personality to the unnamed protagonist. Unfortunately, this performance was so heavily accented that I sometimes had trouble understanding the English words. Also, the reader delivered much of the text in a rather monotone, unemotional voice that did not fit with highly emotional events. I felt more connected to the suffering and triumph of the main character when I was reading her first person account. My four star rating is for the book itself. I would give the audio performance three stars.

A note for parents and teachers: Although this book is about what we would consider to be an adolescent girl, it deals with very adult themes. The depiction of the `marriage' includes some explicit and erotic scenes.

This story takes place in the 1620s in Isfahan, Persia (Iran). After her father's death, a teenage girl (never named) and her mother travel from their small village to Isfahan to live with a relative. They are mostly treated like household slaves/servants, but the girl manages to gain skills in rug design from her uncle, a prominent rugmaker.

I liked the story, but far too much of the book was taken up with the narrator's sigheh (a temporary, renewable "marriage" which is essentially a form of semi-respectable prostitution). Specifically, too much time was spent on her developing abilities as a hot number in the bedroom, and how this affected her friendship with Naheed. This excessive focus made the book feel a little like historical-fiction-meets-chick-lit.

The author spent nine years researching and writing the book, so I think I was frustrated, knowing it could have been so much richer. I would have preferred a lot more portrayal of the glories and customs of Isfahan under Shah Abbas the Great, and much less of the pettiness among the various characters.

That said, I did enjoy the book and would welcome another from this author. I got to learn about the design and creation of elaborate Persian rugs. I never knew they were made by tying thousands of little knots. I still don't get exactly how it's done, and I'd love to see it in action.

There's an enlightening interview with the author at the back of the book. She says the rugs are still hand-knotted today in Iran. It makes my fingers ache just thinking about it.

The Blood of Flowers - Amita Amirrezvani
4 stars

"First there wasn't and then there was. Before God, no one was."

Once upon a time........

The story begins with a story, a Persian fable of a young girl with the charmed future of a happy prosperous marriage.

No such future exists for the unnamed narrator of Blood of Flowers. Her story begins in her fourteenth year with the sudden death of her devoted father. It continues through a precarious year as she and her impoverished mother seek support from unsympathetic relatives. It is seventeenth century Iran in the time of Shah Abbas. This young woman has only two assets; her virginity and her talent as a designer and a maker of rugs.

This book is full of fascinating cultural background. There is naturally much detailed description of the craft and culture of rug making. The storyteller speaks eloquently of the effort and tedium of the process, but also expresses the artist's satisfaction in creation. There is also much description of women's work and the role of women in this culture. Various fables scattered about the story provide more of the colorful cultural background. Of particular importance to the plot is a form of temporary marriage called a `sigheh'. In another culture such a relationship might be called concubinage. For the story's protagonist it creates both opportunity and the threat of disgrace. I was very impressed with the author's ability to show, realistically, how a woman could exercise personal choice in an essentially powerless situation. This is a satisfying coming-of-age story of a young woman who manages to create a life for herself in restrictive circumstances.

I have mixed feelings about the audio version of this book as performed by Shohreh Aghdashloo. On the one hand, it is always helpful to hear correct pronunciation of foreign words. Aghdashloo's accented reading added to my sense of being in a very different time and place. It also added more personality to the unnamed protagonist. Unfortunately, this performance was so heavily accented that I sometimes had trouble understanding the English words. Also, the reader delivered much of the text in a rather monotone, unemotional voice that did not fit with highly emotional events. I felt more connected to the suffering and triumph of the main character when I was reading her first person account. My four star rating is for the book itself. I would give the audio performance three stars.

A note for parents and teachers: Although this book is about what we would consider to be an adolescent girl, it deals with very adult themes. The depiction of the `marriage' includes some explicit and erotic scenes.

Set in Isfahan, Iran in 1620, Amirrezvani's debut novel is a wonderfully complex tale about a young girl and her mother who have sought shelter from a relative after the death of the unnamed narrator's father. The young girl, a self taught rug maker hones her skill under her uncle's tutelage. The uncle runs the shah's carpet workshops and recognizes his niece's talent and laments the fact that she is not a male. On the other hand, the girl is bold and impetuous bringing a great deal of hardship upon herself and her family. This particularly becomes the case when she learns a sigheh, a temporary marriage to a wealthy man, has been arranged.

Amirrezvani not only writes a novel but spins a tale taking the reader deep into pre-modern Iran. Through this work the intricate and arduous work involved in creating carpets is revealed. Iranian culture, particularly the importance of oral tradition. Each chapter has a story included. Most of them are actual Iranian tales. But, deeper than that parallels are drawn between life and storytelling. "In that case, I shall not frustrate you any longer," she said. "the ending is always necessary, though it is never as exciting as the climb." (pg 191). More importantly, this is a tale of a young woman coming to age, finding power in the talent she possesses, and understanding the value of what is important in life. " As each of the thick wooden gates slammed behind me, I thought about how richly dressed Maryam was, how soft her hands, how glittering her rubies, how perfect her face, how loverly her red hair and tiny red lips. Any yet, I did not envy her. Each time a gate closed with a thud, I was reminded that while I was free to come and go, she could not leave without an approved reason and a large entourage. She could not walk across Thirty-three ARches Bridge and admire the view, or get soaked to the skin on a rainy night. She could not make the mistakes I had, and try again. She was doomed to luxuriate in the most immaculate of prisons." (pg 358)

The only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars was I never became emotionally attached to the narrator. I look forward to future novels by Amirrezvani.

Somehow, this book was on my bookcase and unhappy with my recent selections of books, I decided to read this one for a quick read. It was a quick read alright because every chance I had, I tried to read it. It was more than what I bargained for too. I expected it to be a quick romantic novel about a young Persian girl who will end up living happily ever after. I definitely did not get that kind of impression after reading a few pages and was ensared by the lyrical storytelling.

This book is about a nameless narrator who is also a young girl of 14, happily ensconced with both parents living in a small village. Expecting to be married within the year, she finds herself traveling with her widowed mother to her uncle's house in a big city just to survive. Her uncle was a rugmaker for the Shah and his wife (typically) was the selfish harpy that made the narrator and her mother's lives miserable, where the two women are nothing more than lowly servants just to earn their upkeep.

The narrator, however, shows promises of being a clever rugmaker and her uncle do take notice of her skills, even as he arranged a temporary marriage for her with a rich horsetrader's son, therefore narrowing her prospects of a honorable marriage. The story continues with the narrator finding the truth deep within herself on how to survive in spite of the strict laws governing women and their lives.

This is a lovely lyrical story of a girl coming of age in 17th century Iran. Not only is this a story of a young girl coming of age, it is also an insight of the artists who wove those carpets that come to anyone's mind whenever they hear of Persia. Also interwoven are tales of love and fortune that the narrator's mother shares with her family; tales of ancient legends of love, honor and more. This is a very delightful book to read and is rich with details of life in the 17th century Iran.

If you like historical fiction, you will like this one. It's a refreshing change of ideas and narration from others that are out there. The story of the girl will transport you through the years into a time where women really didn't have much to say outside of their homes and yet somehow are more influential than anyone can dream of.

3/2/10

After the unexpected death of her father, a 14-year-old village girl is forced to sell the carpet intended to finance her dowry. Faced with the very real threat of starvation, the girl and her mother travel to the city of Isfahan where they are taken into the home of their only living relative, a carpet maker to the shah. Though she was the best knotter in her village, the girl realizes that she has much to learn. She prevails upon her uncle, who sees in her echoes of himself as a young man, to teach her his craft.

Completely reliant on the goodwill of the uncle and his wife, the girl and her mother are treated as servants. Much to her chagrin, both the girl's carpets and her virginity are used as bargaining chips and traded against future commissions. When the girl fails to see the precariousness of her situation--and makes one too many costly mistakes, the damage is irreparable and she must finally take responsibility for her own fate and that of her mother.

The Blood of Flowers is a novel to be savored. The writing is sensual and her 17th century Persia vividly realized. She blends traditional Iranian folktales seamlessly into a first-person narrative, which is peppered with details on the art and business of carpet-making. The novel's unnamed protagonist is naive and headstrong, but eminently likeable. Despite making any number of impetuous and ill-advised decisions, you can't help but sympathize with her.

Unlike many historical debuts, The Blood of Flowers' narrative is well-balanced: while the historical detail is integral to the plot, it never threatens to overwhelm the story itself.

Actress Shohreh Aghdashloo's narration never detracts from this finely-wrought novel. In fact, her accent imbues the text with authenticity and her voice has a mesmeric quality that draws listeners completely into the story.

The audio version also includes an interview with the author, in which she answers a number of questions about the novel, her background, and her writing process. Of particular interest is the segment about her decision to not to name her protagonist.

Armchair Interviews says: The Blood of Flowers is a sumptuous debut novel sure to delight lovers of historical fiction.

This is a sophisticated coming of age story. It's written in a beautiful style that's delicate and at the same time bold, very much like the protagonist of this story. The story line takes place in 17th Century Persia and delves deeply into the customs and cultural idiosyncrasies of this era, where men ruled. Amirrezvani's brings everything to life and pulls you in with her wonderfully rich descriptions of the people, the architecture and the food. The primary focus of this book is the journey of a young village girl who you become very attached to, which is a tribute to the author's excellent character development and part of the strength of this book. Personally I felt anger when this young village girl (who remains nameless throughout the book) was unfairly treated and I found myself rooting for her as she learned painful lessons. The author deals with many universal themes in this book, especially those of conditional and unconditional love and the bonds of family and friends. However, on a deeper level she also presents the timeless issue of money equals power and the social issue of cheap labor. She provokes a lot of thought on the current standards of cheap Third World Labor as the reader follows the ups and downs of this young girl's plight. The book is written from the perspective of women from both classes giving a balanced view of the wealthy exploiting the poverty stricken and the poverty stricken fighting for independence and recognition. The plot is also well paced and to add another layer of depth, the author intersperses Persian Folk lore into the story, which is interesting and engaging. Note: This book was long listed for the 2008 Orange Prize for Fiction.

When her father dies suddenly, a girl and her mother are left destitute in 17th Century Persia. Selling the carpet they had hoped would earn the girl's dowry, the two travel to Isfahan where the girl's uncle lives. He is happy to see her interest in carpet making and encourages her, but his wife treats both the girl and her mother as servants. When they sell the girl into a temporary marriage, her fortune seems made, but bad luck, impulsive decisions, and the Aunt's greed turn against the girl and her mother.

Author Anita Amirrezvani creates a work of magical realism. Set in a world somewhere between reality and fantasy, Amirrezvani mixes narative with fairy tales, heaps one disaster after another on the girl's head until she is forced to resort to begging. The girl's list of bad luck is not really believable, but her rash decisions certainly make each twist in fortune that much worse.

Amirrezvani seems to have chosen each word with care--like each knot of one of the carpets she describes. The result is a beautiful work and a pleasure to read.

Ultimately the girl needs to find a balance between independence and dependence. Without the teachings, support, and encouragement of her uncle, she would have fallen ever deeper into disaster--yet at times, she seems to believe that she did everything herself. And some of the disasters, particularly her uncle's decision to give away her first carpet without compensating her seem farfetched considering what we know of his character.

I recommend sitting down with THE BLOOD OF FLOWERS on a rainy day when you don't want to leave the house. It's not a fast-paced read, but it is compelling and fascinating.

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (5/07)

Persia in the early 1600's was a man's world; women had no rights, they were property first of their father and then their husband. This is the story of how one young woman survived in a male-dominated world.

It all began with a comet streaking through the sky. The most learned man in the village read the almanac of the chief astronomer. He predicted that the enemies would have a plague and many diseases. He told of earthquakes in the south and battles that would turn the sea red with blood. The worst prediction was of immoral behavior and marriages filled with strife. "Those contracted later this year will be full of passion and strife."

The narrator is a 14-year old girl expecting to marry within the next year. The name of the narrator is never used. She is fascinated with rug making, a craft dominated by men. When her father dies unexpectedly, all of her prospects of a good marriage are gone. The girl and her mother are forced to travel to Isfahan where her uncle offers to take them in. Her aunt resentfully agrees. Her aunt is cruel but her uncle, an expert at making carpets, indulges her interest in rug making He comes to respect her abilities and tutors her in the industry. The narrator is forced in to a three-month renewable marriage contract with a rich horse trader. She tells fascinating stories to entertain him and learns to please him sexually. The man does not want her for a wife because she has no money. When word of the secret contract is made public the girl and her mother are forced to leave her uncle's protection. The girl knows that if she is to survive in this world she must become not only an expert rug maker but learn to sell and negotiate.

"Blood of Flowers" by Anita Amirrezvani uses words to vividly paint a picture of 17th century Iran. The plot moves at a fast pace and draws the readers in. I could not lay this book down. This book has it all -- a wicked aunt, a kind uncle, and a loving but poverty-stricken mother. The cover is beautifully done, hinting at a sensuous plot. The narrator, while never named, comes to life on the pages of this magnificent piece of art. I felt that while this novel is considered fiction it also hints at history and could be based on a true story. I highly recommend "Blood of Flowers" to fans of fiction and history.

Received book free of charge.

The Blood of flowers is artfully written, rich with imagery it paints a story guaranteed to stay with the reader for years to come. It's as soft as a silk flying carpet ready to sweep you off your feet!
I bought this book because my international flight was delayed, but, it so delighted and entranced me that like the tales of Sheherazade I could not put it down. The author tells the tale of a young girl becoming a woman under difficult circumstances in the 17th century Iran (Persia) under the reign of the Shah Abbas. The tenacity of the leading character in the face of adversity and the manipulation of those around her is a tale of anonymous female heroism. All this is intertwined with her passion for designing and weaving Persian carpets. The author paints every nuance of her schooling in this art so as to touch all your senses. As she grows and pursues her creative passions she also learns of the world around her which for a skilled and talented woman of her day with out proper standing is filled with obstacles. Persian history, culture and folk tales intertwine Amirrezvani's story. I am a sucker for a good fairy tale and found the symbolic use and placement of these tales were artfully done... they enhanced the story of the main character and gently opened the window to peek at the future. I hated to see this book end, as a result, The blood of flowers has left me on a mission to read more Arabian tales and find the perfect Walnut Pomegranate chicken recipe so I can sit on my carpet and savour this ancient culinary treat!
Anita Amirrezvani- Please write us another story!

Anita Amirrezvani has provided us with a superb effort in her very first novel, The Blood of Flowers. In fact, The Blood of Flowers is one of the best books that I've read this year.

The Blood of Flowers is seen through the eyes of a 14 year old village girl who lives in 17th Century Persia. This young girl (who remains nameless throughout) is looking forward to becoming engaged before the end of the year. She is also a talented but amateur carpet maker. A comet proves to be a bad omen and the young girl's fortunes soon change for the worst. When her father dies suddenly, she and her mother are forced to travel to Isfahan to live with her father's half-brother, Gostaham. Arriving in this bustling city, they are no more than peasants and their uncle's wife, Gordiyeh, treats them not much better than servants. The one bright spot in the young girl's life is that Gostaham is a carpet maker for the shah, and she is thrilled to have a mentor to teach her the finer aspects of this art form. Gostaham has never seen a person with her passion, himself excepted. His only regret is that she is not a boy.

Conflicts arise with the young girl, her mother and Gordiyeh, and their future in tenuous. Only a suitable marriage can guarantee their future security. Unfortunately, the only option presented to the young girl has the potential to be lucrative but unsuitable. She and her mother are forced to make a difficult choice.

The Blood of Flowers is a story of love, loss, learning and sacrifice. The young girl often makes rash, immature decisions and takes extreme risks--something unusual in a Muslim girl in 17th Century Persia. Some of these risks pay dividends, while others bring great misery. This book is also a coming of age story as the young girl moves to womanhood and especially, discovers the pleasures of the flesh.

Amirrezvani wants her readers to see the true beauty of Iran. She paints a vivid picture of the beautiful Isfahan with her river, her bridges, her mosques, her gardens, her bazaar and her hammams. She also details the food, dress and customs of the day. But the author saves her most descriptive writing for the carpets! She provides a fascinating look at how the carpets are planned, sketched out, how the wools and silks are selected, how they're knotted, etc. They're not just floor coverings, but wall hangings, furniture and most of all, works of art.

A carpet is put together knot by knot and row by row to create a true treasure. Amirrezvani has also created a true Persian treasure, word by word, line by line and story by story.

It is seventeenth-century Iran. Hand-knotted carpets are a source of pride to their makers, including one who is a mere girl. After the death of her father, she and her mother flee to the city rather than starve. Forced to rely on the kindness of relatives they barely know, mother and daughter face an uncertain future.

With no dowry, the girl has few marriage prospects. Her talent for knotting and designing carpets offers hope--maybe she and her mother will be able to support themselves with profits off carpet sales. But as she is brash and immature, she makes mistakes that threaten to reduce her dreams to less than the roughest yarn scraps and may cost her mother's life.

Anita Amirrezvani offers a richly compelling novel that will sink into readers' hearts. Not only does she paint the setting with rich colors, sounds, and smells, but her story has more substance than many of today's literary offering. This is truly stunning for a debut novel. The level of subtlety, the ability to make the reader taste the girl's surroundings, and the sheer understanding of the culture and characters, these elements are the signs of a talented and diligent author.

If you want to read a novel that is both intelligent and moving, get THE BLOOD OF FLOWERS now.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
07/10/2007

I am not sure if Anita Amirrezvani completely captured the "feel" of seventeenth century Iran, but this is a brilliant book nonetheless. It starts out a bit fringy at first. The style and technique are unique, and they run uniformly throughout the book - thanks to nine years of diligent work and research. The main character remains nameless, which the author did in tribute to many Iranian artists whose creative works don't bear names. The reader doesn't notice this, however, since the characters are very well developed.

The girl's father dies, and with no dowry, her future is almost certainly doomed. She moves to Isfahan with her mother, and they become servants in her wealthy uncle's (Gostaham) house. Her carpet weaving abilities grow under Gostaham's tutelage, and she becomes involved in a "sigheh", a temporary marriage contract that brings forth both good and bad. The marriage puts her in a situation where she has to make important decisions that will determine the fate of her life in a heavily masculine society.

I like how the book centers on carpets, and I also like how they are used as a metaphor. I really enjoyed this book and I'm sure Anita (if she continues publishing), will become one of the important writers from the region.

Listening to this book on my iPod was an absolute delight, both because of narrator Shohreh Aghdashloo's mesmerizing voice and for the quality of the story itself. Set in 17th-century Persia "The Blood of Flowers" introduces readers to a nameless young woman whose life is forever changed by the appearance of a comet, which common belief signals the advent of misfortune. Within days her father dies, her marriage prospects end, and her mother and she are plunged into poverty. Eventually they take refuge with a wealthy uncle who lives in the city of Isfahan, where the young woman hopes to find a husband and develop her talents as a designer of exquisite carpets. Yet she and her mother are treated like servants in her uncle's household, and soon she is pressured into a 3-month "marriage" contract with a wealthy horse trader that will only be renewed if she pleases him in the bedroom. The main character's hardships are heartbreaking, but her indomitable spirit and unrelenting passion will pull you deep into this story. I loved the short fables that are woven throughout the novel, which the main character tells to her mother during their darkest moments. Amirrezvani has created an intoxicating world that's masterfully presented.

I enjoyed Anita Amirrezvani's 'The Blood of Flowers' so much that when I saw I had maybe 60 pages left I found myself disappointed that there were only that many pages to wrap up the tale.
In this book, the (unnamed) heroine is borne and raised in a small village in southern Iran, the tale beginning in the Year of the Comet (in the 17th century) , which does not predict happy circumstances. The teen's father soon dies, leaving her and her mother helpless. They send a message to a distant relative in the metropolis of Isfahan, where her uncle enjoys a life of wealth and privilege due to being an esteemed carpet maker, and ask for help.
Family is family, and the uncle, Gostahan, invites the mother and daughter to come stay with him. Though when they get there, the uncle's wife, Gordiyeh, relegates them to servant status. But a roof over one's head and food in the belly is better than being homeless, so they stay and work hard.
The heroine is fascinated by rugmaking, and her uncle soon takes her under his wing. The girl has a thirst for knowledge, and the uncle is obviously pleased, since he has no son to take over the family business (though, unfortunately, neither can this girl because she is a female but he still enjoys teaching her what his daughters have shown no interest in). His young student is hungry to learn as much as she can, and shows great promise, but she also is rash and impulsive, where at one point she invites scorn from the household tearing up one of her carpets because she realizes it is no good.
Then one day to earn more money, a proposal comes up, where the girl will be contracted in a three-month marriage to a wealthy man, renewable depending on both parties. This type of marriage is not so honorable, but the girl agrees due to family urging her to do so, and learns about the ways of sex and men, feeling the pressure to keep him happy to secure another renewal. That's only part of the story, as more plot twists and tangles appear due to the young protagonist's rash nature. Along the way there are fascinating folk tales told by the characters and it's interesting to learn a bit about Iranian culture and history, via descriptions of Isfahan, carpet making, the baths and arranged marriages. The story could easily have gone along in a romance novel vein and carved out a pat ending, but Amirrezvani doesn't go that route. As I read it I kept hoping she wouldn't end the story in some predictable manner, and she didn't. I love that, and I loved the experience of the book. I hope Amirrezvani writes more in the future.

Carpet making. What does it entail? How is the design created? Wool or silk? Which colors? A carpet maker in seventeenth century Persia was an artisan whose name was woven into the carpet only if he worked for the Shah and was a master.

The unnamed narrator of "Blood of Flowers" is a fourteen-year-old girl at the beginning of the novel and a nineteen-year-old master of her own destiny by the end. Yes, this is Persia, land of men who are in control, land of men who have all the rights. But, occasionally, in even such a land comes a woman willing to do what it takes to direct her own life.

This is a novel of unusual techniques that weave carpets, tales, and lives. It took Anita Amirrezvani nine years to tell this tale. An Iranian by birth, an American by citizenship, she traveled with her parents to Iran several times to clarify points in her novel. Plus, her extensive research and scholarly reading infuse this story with additional authenticity.

When the narrator lives with her parents in her idyllic country village, all is well. She even learns carpet weaving and breaks rules to learn secrets from a respected elderly male weaver, like urinating on certain flowers to create an exquisite blue. Then the tail of a comet and subsequent death of her father bring despair to the young fourteen-year-old and her mother. Eventually, they are reduced to seeking safety with distant relatives in Istafan, home of the Shah of Abbas, the ruler.

Treated as servants, the two at least have shelter and food for as long as Gordiyeh, the woman of the house, favors them. The young narrator uses her wits to show Gostaham, her uncle, that she is willing to learn carpet making from every aspect. Because he has no son or no willing daughters and she is talented, he teaches her.

Everything the author learned of medieval Persia is woven into this plot: the sigheh, a three-month concubinage renewable every three months; foods which the narrator and her mother helped prepare daily in the kitchen; clothing descriptions, both daily and special; what happens to people out of favor; sexual customs (somehow I expected Persian women to be like Puritans and not be allowed to fully participate--wrong! Men bored of such women and contracted a new sigheh with another woman); married life, both in high places and low; markets and how they were run; hammans, single-sex massage salons where modesty was not practiced; and most important, every phase of carpet making.

When the narrator is adult enough to refuse renewal of the sigheh against her uncle's will, she and mother are thrown out on the street to live in dire poverty and sickness until the narrator is at the point of prostitution. She finally earns enough to turn around the tail of that comet.

The Shah of Abbas was a strong ruler of Persia from 1571 to 1629. One of the building blocks of his reign was to elevate carpet making to a fine art. He established royal carpet shops and even allowed masters to weave separate carpets on their own. The fictional character Gostaham, the uncle, was a carpet maker in one of these shops and thus able to provide the narrator with the best of instruction. Modern experts account the carpets from this period as the finest ever made. Perhaps you understand now why flying carpets figure in so much Arabian literature!

Centuries ago in Persia, the fourteen year old girl enjoyed her life; raised by caring parents she knows she will marry within a year. However, when the comet crossed the sky the villagers knew misfortune was coming soon as that is an omen of bad things. The teenage girl learns first hand when her beloved father Isma'il dies in a thresher accident. Her doting mother Maheen grieves her loss. She and her daughter leave the village to move into the home as servants to male relative, Gostaham, a master carpet-maker weaving for the Shah.

Her Uncle Gostaham allows her entry into his workshop where he lets her learn the trade from him, but warns her that females are not allowed to weave outside the home. Wealthy Fereydoon wants her, but cannot make her his wife as she is beneath him so they agree to a three-month, renewable contract. However, when Fereydoon marries her best friend, she angrily ends their relationship, which leads to her and her mom becoming homeless. Over time Gostaham takes her back in and soon afterward she opens up an all female carpet-making workshop catering to the Shah's harem.

This is an incredible work of historical fiction that brings to life Persia from the eyes of a young female (told mostly in the first person by her) struggling to survive in a male owned world. The unnamed woman is a terrific protagonist, who through trials and tribulations dreams of becoming a carpet-maker for the Shah although she knows that can never happen. Anecdotes and stories within stories add depth that will elate an exuberant audience who will feel they rode a magic caret ride back several centuries ago to Persia.

Harriet Klausner

Anita Amirrezvani has cut deep into the core of my heart with this beautiful novel. Women of these present days, I say to you; your easy lifestyles are nothing compared to the journeys taken by the women of these old days. Throughout the entire book, the respect I felt for their incredible strength is pouring forth in mixed emotion. I adored the presentation of the mother's fables. But most of all, I LOVED that through this entire book, you never learn the girl's true name. She represents millions of girls on Earth who endured a life of such fates. Praises to you Ms Amirrezvani for such an awakening and joyous read. I look forward to your next book!

If you liked "The Kite Runner" or "A Thousand Splendid Suns", you'll enjoy this beautifully written story about a 17th Century Persian girl who struggles to live a life of her own choosing in a time when women had few choices. When her father dies unexpectedly, the 14-year-old girl and her mother leave their tiny village for the metropolis of Isfahan and the home of her uncle. Her uncle, who is charged with making luxurious carpets for the Shah of Iran, teaches the girl all he knows about designing and crafting the finest of Persian carpets. The uncle's wife treats his niece and his brother's widow like servants, and encourages the girl to accept the proposal of a wealthy horse breeder to become his "temporary wife"...a custom that favors the man, but permanently limits the girl's prospects for an honorable marriage. The story is lushly enhanced by Persian fables and offers an inside look at time-honored techniques for creating the finest in Persian carpets.

I would consider this novel a diamond on the ruff. Reading the inside jacket to get a glimpse of what to expect, the book looks pretty good, but nothing overly special. As soon as the story starts though, right at the very beginning when you find yourself wrapped up in a story told by a mother to her daughter as they suffer through what seems like very hard times, I found myself unable to put it down. This novel is so beautifully written. I must say it is in one of my top 10 most enjoyable reads.

The narrator of this novel is a young girl. The story is told through her eyes and starts in a small quiet village, where tragedy strikes her family and her and Maheen, her mother are forced to leave in search of distant relatives who could possibly open their doors for them. They arrive in Isfahan, which is many times larger than their humble village and here their journey truly begins. Gostaham and Gordiyeh take these two women in and put a roof over their head for a price. They basically become servants, who work harder and harder everyday for fear that they will be tossed out on the street if they prove to be too much of a burden.

As time goes on, this lovely young girl turns into a woman and enters into a Sigheh with a man she doesn't even know, and learns the craft of lovemaking. Tragedy further strikes when she and her mother are case out of Gostaham's household because of a rash decision she makes.

Anita Amirrezvani has a flow to her words that keep you turning the pages. There are also so many different layers to the story. On the surface it is an enjoying novel, then as the layers go deeper, you find yourself getting a bit of history on the ways of the culture, their language, their dress code, what is considered appropriate and inappropriate, and you learn much about rub making and what makes a beautiful rug. As you read, you can honestly feel as though you have been taken back to that period of time and you feel all the plights that Maheen and her daughter go through right along with them.

Anita Amirrezvani briefly interrupts the story here and there to share a story, which include characters from a different time; fairy tales per se. The story usually is somehow connected with the theme of what is going on in the book. It seems as though just as you are getting into this new, short story, it ends, and she takes you back to the original story and characters. It is a way for your mind to stay sharp and to learn some of the common stories that were told.

I would highly recommend this novel, for you don't just close the book when the last word has been read and set it aside thinking "great book", but you feel as though you have learned something and that the book was truly worth your time reading.

I am currently listening to the audiobook of this novel. I find it mesmerizing, in part because it is voiced by the actress Shohreh Aghdashloo. Her lovely, husky voice imparts warmth and realism to the story that a less gifted reader might not convey.

I am surprised that so many people say the heroine is unnamed. She is called "Aziza." Granted, I also wondered what her name was all through the first section of the audiobook, but then I paid attention and noticed that she is named.

An intricate story, a vivid world, a beautiful voice telling the story. "First there was not, then there was..."

The harsh realities of women's lives in a world where they have only indirect power is shown as clearly as it is in A Thousand Splendid Suns.

I was fascinated by the culture of 17th century Iran. The info on rug making was also really interesting; i'd like to try it sometime (on a much less ambitious scale, obviously). But the courage of the heroine was what kept me reading. A young girl with no one to protect her interests making her own way in a completely male-dominated society always draws me in. I thought Amirezvani's story telling was lyrical and quite poetic -- a great first novel.

I was drawn immediately into this compelling story. The characters experience quite a few lurches through better and worse times over the course of about 6 years that the story covers. I wondered how the narrator might have made better choices in several situations, which brought mistery to both her and her mother. Although flawed, the narrator does grow significantly during the course of events. My one crticism is that I wish the other characters hadn't been so one dimensional.

The backdrop of 15th century Persia was very interesting, since I knew nothing about it before. An ecellent work of historical fiction, this book shows it has been extensively researched.

I found this book by looking at employee choices at a local bookstore. The employee of this particular store had written above the book, "If you liked Memoirs of a Geisha, you will love this book." I bought it at once. It was so much more than I had even expected. It is such a descriptive story, and the characters are so well developed. I could not put this book down, and I am rather picky about my reading. I found myself waking in the middle of the night, just to squeeze in a little more. I will keep this book for decades and continue to recommend it. If you like books like Memoirs of a Geisha, The Red Tent, The Kite Runner...than this is right up your alley. Pick it up, you won't regret it!

A young girl's dream of a prospective marriage is dashed when her father dies following the appearance of an evil comet in their village that foretells marital strife. Penniless, she and and her impoverished mother relocate to Isfahan to eke out a living in her half-uncle's household. Her uncle, Gostaham, a carpet maker, is benevolent, but his wife, Gordiyeh, is very cruel and treats them worse than her servants, assigning them living quarters very close to the latrine. Yet, this ambitious girl thrives under harsh conditions to make carpets for her and her mom's future. Her ambitious and somewhat rash decisions forces her uncle and her aunt to get married to a wealthy man, Fereydoon to repay this debt. This is not a honorable marriage that this heroine had desired. Rather, its a sigheh, a temporary marriage, that is renewed on a contractual basis. This form of marriage is held in contempt by the society at large. While the heroine readily accepts the union for monetary purposes and hopes it will lead to a permanent union, she is forced to reassess its usefulness after her close friend, Naheed becomes the permanent wife of this same man. Following her interrogation by a suspicious Naheed, she comes clean that she is also married to Fereydoon, albeit on a contractual basis. Ridiculed and threatened, the heroine, reevaluates her situation and comes to the conclusion that her Sigheh only benefits her greedy aunt, Gordiyeh, because it opens more business opportunities (Carpet commissions) for her husband, Gostaham, at the loss of her virginity and her marriage prospects.

With audacious boldness, she breaks off the contractual marriage at her uncle's expense who kicks her out. Together with her mom, they move in with kind friends where they grapple with poverty, illness and determination while surviving on charity and proceeds from her mom's herbal remedies. A rare reconciliation with her uncle eventually opens doors for her in the Shah's harem and changes her fortune and her mindset on what constitutes a happy marriage.

A very interesting novel and an education on life in Persia in ancient times. The heroine comes off as a feminist, rare for a woman in 17th century Iran. There are interesting sentences in the book like "His mouth and hands crisscrossed my body like a caravan, making stops at oases along the way,(198)." Her reaction when she finds out that her friend was getting permanently married to her husband is beautifully summed up, "The hair on my arms stood on end suddenly, as if there was a draft in the room"(204) and his excuse for not dumping her when he got a permanent wife is nicely put, "If I didn't, I would have let you go the way a tree sheds its leaves in autumn,(208)"

P/S: Christians dont worship idols.