WINNER OF THE VIRGINIA PRIZE FOR FICTION. Wanting to be independent and free, Layla resists her mother's relentless attempts to find her a suitable husband. Instead, she embarks on an illicit affair with her art teacher, Keyvan, and they tentatively imagine a future together. But the sudden death of her uncle, an outspoken journalist, raises many unanswered questions and when Layla's cousin, who is visiting from America, is arrested by the morality police, the komiteh, Layla's plans for the future begin to unravel. Beneath the polished surface of upper-class Iranian life lies pain, fear and dark, dark secrets.
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
'Vividly written, fresh and eloquent, a girl's poignant tale of love and menace in contemporary Iran.' --Fay Weldon
'...a bittersweet tale of betrayed trust and ruptured innocence... the feel for colour and language is vibrant... ' ----The Guardian First Novel Choice
'I was totally captivated by this novel. Layla is torn between her heart and the restrictions of her culture. She obeys her heart though not without a price. This wonderfully poetic story keeps you hooked right to the very end.' --Stephanie Hale, author and broadcaster
'...a bittersweet tale of betrayed trust and ruptured innocence... the feel for colour and language is vibrant... ' ----The Guardian First Novel Choice
'I was totally captivated by this novel. Layla is torn between her heart and the restrictions of her culture. She obeys her heart though not without a price. This wonderfully poetic story keeps you hooked right to the very end.' --Stephanie Hale, author and broadcaster
About the Author
Born in 1977 to an English mother and Iranian father, she has lived in Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia. She has a first class honours in law from UCL and practised law in the City for seven years before becoming a writer. Louise is married, with a son, and lives in Surrey.
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
By extremeski
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed this book - it's well written and very enlightening about life in Tehran. Being married to an Iranian, i have some insight into the culture and this gave yet another angle on cultural contemporary Iranian life. That said, it's a very accessible book for anyone and the story keeps you hooked throughout the book. If you like getting into the psyche of people and how and why they tick, this is a book for you.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Rsa
Format:Paperback
We should congragulate the Louise Soraya Black for writing such a wonderful book. Once you start you will not be able to put down until you finish the book. Not only does she give an insight into life in Iran but also gives a good insight into moral values. The plot will keep you guessing until the very end. We are going to discuss this book at the local book club next week.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5.0 out of 5 stars
1 review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Insight into Modern Day Iran at a personal level
30 Dec 2010
By Bill Ashby
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book definitely deserved "The Virgina Prize of 2009" as it is a very readable first novel. It could be a later novel as it moves well and gives great visual pictures of a young lady living in modern day Iran. It gave me glimpses a very different life from ladies her age in America. The family has many interesting characters that keep the readers attention. It moves easily from events in 2001 Iran to earlier events in 1980 - 1991 that impacted her life. The inclusion of common Farsi words in the text(defined in a glossary) added to the Persian flavor of the story. The story keeps the reader wanting to keep reading and the ending is not what I expected. I hope Mrs. Black will write more based on her mixed experiences from having lived in England, Iran and many other countries(See her biography on Amazon).
›
Go to Amazon.com to see the review
5.0 out of 5 stars
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
