The Blood of Flowers, Anita Amirrezvani
The Blood of Flowers, Anita Amirrezvani
1 Rating(s)
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The Blood of Flowers
A Novel

Author: Anita Amirrezvani

Narrator: Shohreh Aghdashloo

Unabridged: 13 hr 18 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/05/2007


Synopsis

A sensuous and richly-imagined historical novel that centers on a skilled young carpet weaver, her arranged marriage, and her quest for self-determination in 17th-century Persia.

In 17th-century Iran, 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.

About Anita Amirrezvani

Anita Amirrezvani is the internationally bestselling author of The Blood of Flowers, which was longlisted for the Orange Prize, and a former staff writer and dance critic for the San Jose Mercury News and the Contra Costa Times. She is currently an adjunct professor at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco.


Reviews

AudiobooksNow review by Jess on 2009-04-29 15:17:40

The story is both heartbreaking and endearing. I was so wrapped up in it that I found myself wondering what was going to happen next and guessing at the plotline whenever I stopped reading. A wonderful read!

AudiobooksNow review by Sarah on 2010-10-11 14:42:19

I found this book hard to put down! I really enjoyed learning about how Persian rugs are made - makes me want one! I could tell that the author did a lot of research on the creation of rugs as well as lives of her characters.

Goodreads review by jessica on May 26, 2021

need to buy: a persian carpet. after reading just how much work and thought and meaning goes behind creating one, my house feels empty without one. and just like a carpet is woven together with multiple strands, so too is this story. its a coming-of-age tale intertwined with historical richness, famil......more

Goodreads review by Lisa on August 20, 2008

I will never again look at Persian/Iranian carpets in the same way. This book makes me want to view many examples of such carpets so that I can now fully appreciate their artistry. This is a finely crafted first novel and I really hope that this author writes more novels. I love her writing style and......more

Goodreads review by Emily on December 28, 2022

A sensual and Illuminating tale of choosing one’s own destiny. Filled with dazzling scenes and intense emotion, this novel transports us to the streets of Isfahan, and into the heart of a protagonist that is vivacious, determined, and hopeful. The descriptions of rug making were enchanting and highl......more

Goodreads review by Jen on December 04, 2013

The story was interesting, but I was disappointed overall. I had high expectations of language and wordplay, and it really felt like a highly-sexed YA style--little sophistication. The protagonist annoyed the crap out of me, and thus made it hard for me to feel any sympathy for her plight. The infor......more

Goodreads review by Niledaughter on April 10, 2011

This is my second novel about Iran , the first was (Samarkand) , both are historical , but while (Samarkand ) took political & ideological path , this one dealt with one of the Persian art formats and the cultural and social conditions that surrounded its uniqueness and perfection .and in the same t......more