The Blood of Flowers: A Novel | 
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| Editorial Review / Publisher's Information:
Product Description
In 17th-century Persia, a 14-year-old woman believes she will be married within the year. But when her beloved father dies, she and her mother find themselves alone and without a dowry. With nowhere else to go, they are forced to sell the brilliant turquoise rug the young woman has woven to pay for their journey to Isfahan, where they will work as servants for her uncle, a rich rug designer in the court of the legendary Shah Abbas the Great.
Despite her lowly station, the young woman blossoms as a brilliant designer of carpets, a rarity in a craft dominated by men. But while her talent flourishes, her prospects for a happy marriage grow dim. Forced into a secret marriage to
a wealthy man, the young woman finds herself faced with a daunting decision: forsake her own dignity, or risk everything she has in an effort to create a new life.
"Anita Amirrezvani has written a sensuous and transporting first novel filled with the colors, tastes and fragrances of life in seventeenth-century Isfahan...Amirrezvani clearly knows and loves the ways of old Iran, and brings them to life with the cadences of a skilled story-spinner." -- Geraldine Brooks, author of March
"An engrossing, enthralling tale of a girl's quest for self-determination in the fascinating other world that was seventeenth-century Iran." -- Emma Donoghue, author of Touchy Subjects and Life Mask
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Customer Reviews:
• Chick-lit 29 August, 2008
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!)
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2XRGJ56IOD6NK
• The Blood Of Flowers 18 July, 2008
I thought the book was interesting. I learned some new things about Muslims. It reminded me of A Thousand Splendid Suns, but it wasn't nowhere near as good though. I didn't really care for the ending, because it just left the reader kind of lost. It had some sensuality in it that could be considered smutty by some readers.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2U3KQJE6B4H5B
• Beautifully Written 22 July, 2008
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.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A93WQLMURUEI6
• A Real Page-turner! 07 August, 2008
This tale of an woman coming-of-age and seeking to find her own voice through the traditional craft of carpet weaving is set in 17th century Isfahan, Iran.
The author weaves traditional Persian folklore, a touch of Kama Sutra and descriptions of the culture in a way that you truly visualize the deep indigos and crimsons of life... one knot at a time. The result is a page-turner, and written work that honors the authors heritage. Can't wait to see what this author turns out next!
- Reviewed by customer ID: A3RDVU9AOX9DKG
• Esfehan 'half The World' Comes To Life 08 August, 2008
As someone whos ancestors are from Esfehan, Amirrezvani brought the colors and images recorded in my distant childhood memory of Esfehan back to life. The book paints a beautifull picture of the struggles of Women and girls in 17th century Persia. A fun read.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A3MMZZ16SW9KWU
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