The Blood of Flowers

The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani

Set in Iran during the 1600s, the narrator is a young girl who dreams of a life as a wife and a mother. Tragically, her father dies, leaving her mother and her in poverty. They leave their home to live with their father's half-brother, a rich and successful rug maker.

The girl displays exceptional talent as both a rug knotter and a rug designer, and she works closely under the tutelage of her uncle, who has no sons with whom he can share the trade. However, her aunt treats her and her mother poorly: simultaneously using them as free help around the house and also complaining that they cost too much money to provide for.

Desperate for some financial independence and to prove that they are not a burden, the mother and daughter agree to enter the daughter into a sigheh. A sigheh is a temporary marriage contract. With no dowry, the girl has little hope of a marriage, but a sigheh could potentially turn into a long-term arrangement or even an actual marriage.

There are many twists in this plot: as intricate and subtle as the fine rugs that are described through the book. Interesting developments in her carpet making, the renewal of the sigheh, her friendship with the rich and beautiful Naheed, her eventual downfall, and the slow build-up to her own successful business. The girl learns of her own ability, her own weaknesses and her strengths. The narrator is a very reflective character, who is able to note where her flaws have led her astray - although this observance does not often prevent her from making similar mistakes.

This book was in the YA section of the library, but I definitely think that this is more of an adult book. First, the content contains a lot of sexual references. Second, the maturity level of this novel is not, I imagine, easily accessible to most teens - especially those under 17.

Grade: A


As the year ends, I have found my reading and blogging enthusiasm on the wane. This is book 49. Will I read three more before the end of the school year? I don't know.

The Last Olympian

Percy Jackson and the Olympians
The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

This book, the last of the series, has Percy fighting Kronos, who has taken over Luke's body. If Kronos is not defeated, the Olympian gods will perish. Unfortunately, the gods have deserted Manhattan in an effort to combat Typhon, a terrifying monster that is ravaging the United States. Mount Olympus is left undefended and Percy must unity the demi-gods, satyrs, and other creatures in a great battle against Kronos for control of Manhattan, the Empire State Building, and Mount Olympus.

As a wrap-up book, we learn more about Luke, Rachel Dare, Nico the demi-god of the Underworld, and Annabeth. There's a lot of action in this story: traitors, a dip in the River Styx, a visit to Poseidon's palace, and several visits to Luke's past.

This book promises a great read... and possibly another book. The Last Olympian ends with another prophecy from the Oracle...

Grade: A+ (Perhaps this is really a B+, but I am a crazy huge fan.)

Chains

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

Isabel, and her younger sister Ruth, have been sold to the wealthy Lockton family in Manhattan during the 1770s. Isabel is given the chance to help the Patriots by spying on her masters. The Locktons, a Loyalist family, are cruel and harsh, even selling Isabel's younger sister to punish Isabel for disobeying Mrs. Lockton.

Isabel has little interest in the two fighting factions - the Loyalists and the Patriots - especially after she discovers that none will promise freedom to a slave girl. While Isabel struggles to survive in the Lockton household, she also endeavors to find a way to escape.

The first few chapters of this book were very uncomfortable for me to read. It was hard to read through Isabel's perspective as a slave. I couldn't bear the idea of being so controlled and owned. But the story line in entrancing, and you'll read on despite your own discomfort.

In addition, this book has definitely been extremely well-researched. Historical fictions fans will adore this book. There's information snuck into almost every detail. (BTW, I loved Anderson's other historical novel Fever 1793.)

Grade: A+

Wintergirls

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

The ideas of deception and perception are central to this story. How can a person deceive themselves so much that they are happily on the brink of death? This is a hypnotic read into the mind of 17 year old Lia, an anorexic. For years, she and her friend, Cassie, have struggled in a perverse race to see who could be the thinnest. However, after several hospitalizations for both girls, Cassie breaks up their friendship in an attempt to appear rehabilitated.

When the story opens, Lia has just been told that Cassie has died in a motel room. Lia, who had ignored Cassie's recent phone calls, slips even deeper into her own mind, which is as deceptive as a house of mirrors. With little to anchor herself to reality, she begins her fight against food with a renewed vigor. She begins to see the ghost of Cassie, which causes her to spiral downward even more. While everyone around her tries to save her, in the end only Cassie can make the decision.

The poetic prose and first person perspective invite the reader into the mind of Lia. The author uses strike-through words to mimic Lia's first thoughts, and then Lia's reformed and revised thoughts appear. For example, when Lia is offered food, her first reaction is that she is hungry. But these words have a strike through them, and after appear Lia's revised thoughts: often focusing on how the food will make her fat, ugly, gross. The author also illustrates Lia's repetitive and punishing habit of calling herself fat, ugly, and stupid. Lia repeats these words and sayings almost as though they were a path to enlightenment or a form of meditation. The poetic nature of the writing, and other various techniques that help mimic Lia's thoughts, allowed me to "become Lia," even though at every moment I knew how warped her perception was.

Grade: A+

The Best is Still the Worst

Yup. This portfolio was designed by some DMV department of the Department of Education... And the NJ DMV... Not the CT DMV, which is almost a love nest in comparison. BUT I'm down to the last nitty-gritty. 

I hope.

(BTW, I read Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson and I cannot say enough about it. As good as The Book Thief, Mariette in Ecstasy, The Ice Queen... Just unbelievably poetic and powerful. Like a bomb. I'll review it in a few days.)

The Best Ever

There is nothing like this BEST portfolio for helping me feel like I must be the worst teacher in the world.

Thanks a lot, BEST.