Amidst Political Turmoil, a Woman's Journey of Self-Discovery
Set in 1977 Tehran, Half a Cup of Sand and Sky tells the story of Amineh, a literature student and aspiring novelist, who gets caught up in the political unrest that follows a classmate's death. She and her friend attend a rally where she meets Farzad, an opposition leader and nuclear disarmament activist. With Farzad, she enters a world far removed from the desert village, Qamsar, where she spent her childhood.
The book weaves together multiple narratives, including a woman’s search for love and acceptance, a family saga, a portrait of the Iranian people and their land, and a historical account of political upheaval. Over the course of several decades and experiences of love, loss, and betrayal, Amineh tries to make sense of her relationships, chart her destiny, find her voice, and create a haven for her loved ones. She is as real as it gets, and I loved her, almost as much as I loved the enigmatic, Jalolod-Din.
Not being much of a cook myself, I was oddly fixated on Amineh's many interactions with food, which served as a powerful source of comfort and connection. I loved reading about the meals she prepared for the many guests at her table, and I am envious of the book clubs that will inevitably attempt to recreate them. I also enjoyed reading about the rose farm of her youth and learning about the production of rose water.
Before reading this book, I knew little about Iran's political history, nuclear arms control, and disarmament. While I sometimes struggled to follow the arguments, I remained interested in the characters and captivated by Bjursten's writing.
Many thanks to #BookishFirst and Alder House Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The book weaves together multiple narratives, including a woman’s search for love and acceptance, a family saga, a portrait of the Iranian people and their land, and a historical account of political upheaval. Over the course of several decades and experiences of love, loss, and betrayal, Amineh tries to make sense of her relationships, chart her destiny, find her voice, and create a haven for her loved ones. She is as real as it gets, and I loved her, almost as much as I loved the enigmatic, Jalolod-Din.
Not being much of a cook myself, I was oddly fixated on Amineh's many interactions with food, which served as a powerful source of comfort and connection. I loved reading about the meals she prepared for the many guests at her table, and I am envious of the book clubs that will inevitably attempt to recreate them. I also enjoyed reading about the rose farm of her youth and learning about the production of rose water.
Before reading this book, I knew little about Iran's political history, nuclear arms control, and disarmament. While I sometimes struggled to follow the arguments, I remained interested in the characters and captivated by Bjursten's writing.
Many thanks to #BookishFirst and Alder House Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.