My BookClub Reviews

Chapter 30 1965 – 1974

We hear what happens to Homa in these years. How she finds her way back to herself.

The anger that filled me when I was first arrested no longer dominates. And I am no longer entirely made of grief. Through the walking, tons of reading, the presence of loved ones, even praying and the passage of years, I have slow climbed back into myself.

She slowly studies teaching and gets her first teaching job.

She mentions Ellie’s visit.

I very reluctantly, finally accept Ellie’s visit. Only because she’s Ellie. And even then, I’m worried sick she will get into trouble for being seen with me.

Maybe she doesn’t know it was Ellie?

Chapter 31 1974-1978 Homa

Homan starts teaching, she is very nervous. The girls ask if they can talk about protests with her.

Jimmy Carter is in Tehran and he has a champagne with the Shah. People are amazed – it is a Muslim country after all.

When she saw Ellie in the Bazaar her heart soared, but she doesn’t want to ensnare Ellie in her web anymore. She thinks Ellie will be find in America. She was always westernised.

One day Homa and Bahar dance joyfully to the music of an Iranian pop star.

Will this be the last joyful moment?

Chapter 32 1978 August

Abdol’s cousin is getting married and Homa convinces him to go to the wedding (they can’t afford to all go).

He has a lovely time – the food is fabulous.

He goes to the cinema with his cousin and the cousin’s new bride.

There is a fire (we later learn that it was deliberately lit). Abdol dies.

The protests increase – even though it wasn’t the Shah’s secret police.

If the revolution succeeds, what happens if what follows is worse?

Chapter 27 June 1965

It’s Ellie’s Wedding.

She has a beautiful white silk wedding dress.

Mehrdad doesn’t want to do the white handkerchief custom (proving Ellie is a virgin).

The reception is in the garden. Ellie’s mother has out done herself – there are twinkly lights, a band, lots of food and fireworks.

Ellie is sad. She misses both her father and Homa, in particular Homa, but she has done as requested and made no contact.

Chapter 28 1965-1970

Ellie is married. She’s not working, without Homa to push her she has lost interest and enthusiasm in a career. Besides when she has children, it will be find to be home.

Twice a week she goes to the beauty salon.

Children aren’t forthcoming. She buys presents for all the children of her friends.

Three miscarriages – her mother thinks it’s the evil eye.

Maybe it’s god’s plan, maybe it’s destiny.

Chapter 29 1977

Mehrdad has been offered a research position in New York – 2 years, a temporary post.

Two weeks before leaving, Ellie is in the Grand Bazaar buying presents to take with them. She runs into Homa and her daughter. It’s awkward, but Homa does describe her as an old friend before making a quick exit.

Ellie tells her to contact her if she needs anything – her mother will know how to contact her.

Chapter 24 November 1953

This chapter is from Homa’s point of view.

She is incandescently wild. She will not give them any information. She is quiestioned and refuses to answer. The man threatens her with a different man.

She’s questioned again the next day and still refuses to answer.

She thinks of her loved ones and tries to remember grace.

The scary man questions her and she still refuses. She tells him he is part of a sycophantic cult. He appears genuinely surprised and attracted to her.

As a rule they’re not violent to young women, but Homa is an exception. He makes sure the door is locked and turns out the light.

Chapter 25 December 1964

We’re back to Ellie’s point of view.

She has been trying for a year to see Homa and now she finally can.

She goes to Homa’s house. Homa has a baby! and a husband – Abdol.

She was raped in prison.

Released after six months when she was six months pregnant.

She makes it clear she never wants to see Ellie again. (I think it is also clear that she knows it was Ellie)

Chapter 26 December 1964

Homa’s point of view.

This is a harrowing chapter.

When you’re drowning and the world feels like it’s not meant for you, when the lack of sleep and appetite make you want to curl up and give up, when the demands of the baby are overwhelming and absoloutely crushing – how do you fake the person of a woman who is alright?

She is grateful to Abdol who asked her to marry him despite knowing what happened to her in prison. People still talk – they know the baby was conceived before the marriage.

True, in the very early hours and days of prison what fuels me is anger. But after what happens in that closed room with the door locked and the light out, after what happens as my screams fall against cement walls and my clothes are torn and my flesh bruised, I am made of grief. I now scratch the surface of my anger and peer beneath the skin of it and find only a well of sadness so deep there seems no way out.

She thinks about Ellie’s visit and how she wasn’t ready to talk about it, to think about it, or to heal.

The one thing that is keeping her going is her daughter

My child has no fault in how she was brought into being; the crime is not hers.

Chapter 21 November 1963

It’s the night of Niloo’s engagement party. Ellie has a green silk dress, but she is worried it is to juvenile. She drinks a glass of champagne (probably a bit too fast for a non-drinker). Discover that Homa was the first guest to arrive and is helping in the kitchen. Also Homa looks great in the dress Ellie gave her (a twinge of jealousy).

In the kitchen she sees Homa providing Mehrdad with a taste of something. Ellie runs away followed by Homa. They have a discussion argument.

It’s not enough that you came to my highschool, stole my friends, competed with me every step of the way? That you are a maniac at our university, obssessed with politics and grades? Now you have to flirt with my fiance too?

Homa is confused, thinks Ellie has been drinking, says she will go home and pretend the conversation never happened.

Mehrdad is also confused.

Ellie is feeling poorly and asks to lie down

Chapter 22 November 1953

Ellie is lying down in the Colonel’s study berating herself for her jealousy.

Her tantrums exhaust her

The Colonel comes in (a bit weird and creepy). Ellie decides to be mature and think the best (I’m sure this is a mistake).

He talks about the women of her generation and how fierce that are and how much he admires them. He asks about her friends. What are they studying? Who is the bravest?

He tells her that his younger sister is in a communist group.

She tells him Homa is the bravest.

[Colonel] “A brave law student is probably an organiser?”

Ellie tells him that Homa organised the recent student protest.

The next day Homa is picked up by the secret police, charged with trying to bring down the Kingdom.

Chapter 23 November 1953

Ellie meets Sousan in the park. Sousan can’t believe Ellie said anything to the Colonel.

Ellie thought she was being polite, chatting to a father-like figure.

Sousan reveals he is the secret police and that he doesn’t even have a sister. She can’t leave him because she will lose the children (divorce laws are biased against women).

Ellie realises she was the one who caused Homa to be arrested.

She never says Sousan again.

Chapter 12 1960 September

Homa and Ellie buy lunch together at the famed Cafe Andre and eat in the park. Ellie learns that Homa’s father is in prison. The rest of the family have jobs to make ends meet.

Their relationship is just like it was before.

Chapter 13 1960 October

Everyone likes Homa. She wants to change the world for better, particularly for women. Ellie also wants the world to change but she wants someone else to do it.

Ellie attends a party at Afarin’s house (Her beehive is as large as a cantaloup). Mehrdad is there, they dance together. Ellie is not sure if university is for her – maybe she will just get married. Homa opens the world for her, but makes her feel less than. Mehrdad also opens the world for her but he makes her feel more than.

Knowing what happens in Iran to women makes this chapter hard to read. Homa with her ambition to be a judge and to improve the status of women.

Chapter 14 1960 October

Ellie and Homa have lunch together. Homa wants to be Mehrdad properly, to look into his soul and see if he is right for Ellie.

Homa confesses that she is indifferent to relationships.

Ellie is planning on taking the exams and attending uni. Mehrdad has made it clear that he will marry a woman with a university degree. It is obvious from the conversation that she is only doing it to be with Mehrdad. She mentions hiking in the mountains Friday mornings (as a reason to attend university). Mehrdad already does this with his school mates. Homa makes a plan. They will also hike on a Friday and she will meet Merhdad.

I haven’t been very good about updating my blog – in ‘real’ time, I am up to chapter 46, but I have been writing my summaries.

Part Two

Chapter 9 Late Summer 1960

Ellie is seventeen. She is in her final year at school. She’s popular and beautiful (her words). She’s met the boy her will become her husband.

The coup d’état in 1953 has made no difference to them.

And Homa? They did write and met twice. Ellie’s mother wouldn’t allow them in the house and it was too hard for a ten year old to go ‘downtown’. Ellie wore the necklace for three years.

Ellie is worried about Homa’s father during the coup (he is a communist).

She thinks her mother and uncle love one another.

I promised so that she’d stop lecturing more than anything else. But like the embers of a fire, her words nestled into the crevices of my body. I internalised them and grew to believe that I needed to protect what was rightfully mine. Why shouldn’t I have it all? I deserved the best.

Chapter 10 Spring 1960

This is a flashback to when Ellie met Mehrdad. They were in Year 11. It was the Iranian new year (they celebrate it on the Spring Equinox). On day 13 everyone heads to the outdoors, parks etc.

For the celebration Ellie grew lentils. Now she needs to tie the blades together, drop it in the river, and wish for a husband.

Mehrdad is at the river’s edge and they chat.

Chapter 11 1960 September

We are at Ellie’s school. There is a queen bee Afarin, Ellie wants her power.

A new student is joining the school – Homa!

Homa is the same – confident and enthusiastic. Ellie is mortified. Homa tells a rambling story about how her and Ellie are ‘bestest’ friends. Afarin loves, and following her lead, so do others. Ellie tries to leave for lunch quickly, but Homa catches up. She joins them for lunch and wins over Ellie’s friends. Ellie’s better side emerges.