The Blood of Flowers
by Anita Amirrezvani; Read by Shohreh Aghdashloo
Published by Hachette Audio
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Reviewed by Karen Morse
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.
Author’s Web site: http://www.BloodofFlowers.com