Half a Cup of Sand and Sky

Nadine Bjursten (Author)

FORMAT

Paperback

$17.00

Hardcover

$33.00 $30.69

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Description

It is 1977, and the police are on their way to break up another student protest at Tehran University. Amineh escapes to a side street. She will soon have her degree in Persian literature, but unlike her peers, she does not want to fight for a say in her country's future. Her thoughts are on the beautiful literature of another era and her past of rose harvests and Sufi poetry evenings under the desert sky. Over a picnic, Amineh agrees to accompany her best friend, Ava, to an underground meeting. There she meets Farzad, an opposition leader with a plan to hold the shah accountable for his actions and to rid the world of the nuclear threat that hangs over them all. Despite her hesitation, Amineh will soon find her life inextricably linked with Farzad's. As the revolution unfolds, she will be tested by a country she doesn't recognize, by her husband's activism she fears is putting their family at risk, and by the burden of the guilt she carries from her childhood. She will turn to her mother's recipes to create a loving, nourishing home for her children, but it won't be long before her husband's dangerous work follows him home. Forced to give up everything, Amineh will learn more about the tragic accident that took her parents' lives, and ultimately, she will be given one more chance to choose love.

Product Details

Price

$17.00

Publisher

Alder House Books

Publish Date

October 17, 2023

Pages

402

Dimensions

6.0 X 9.0 X 0.89 inches | 1.29 pounds

Language

English

Type

Paperback

EAN/UPC

9789198861617

BISAC Categories:

Literary

Women

Diversity & Multicultural

Historical - 20th Century - Post-World War II

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About the Author

Raised north of New York City in Garrison, Nadine now lives in Lund, Sweden, with her husband and twin daughters. She is the former editor of the Washington, DC-based journal Arms Control Today.

Reviews

"From beautiful images of Iran, Sweden, and the UK, to heavily researched historical events, and to characters that are deeply human in their joys, mistakes, and dreams, Bjursten has written quite an exceptional book." -Independent Book Review (starred review)

"Bjursten's novel beautifully balances global risks with the stakes of a single woman's heart, imbuing both with compelling urgency." -Anne Welsbacher, IndieReader

"Brilliantly layered and beautifully written, this PEN America finalist is both a searing character portrait and an incisive examination of Iranian history, which is at once moving and illuminating." -The Independent Review of Books, Reviewers pick

"This exceptional story will ignite your imagination and touch your heart." -Midwest Book Review

"Bjursten immerses readers in a life, a nation, and an era." -Publishers Weekly, Editor's Pick

". . .enticing. . .thought-provoking. . . . An emotional historical journey through the recent history of nuclear armament." -Kirkus Reviews

"A real gem." -MAHBOD SERAJI, author of Rooftops of Tehran

"A wise, beautiful novel featuring a woman facing the eternal challenge: how to create an authentic self. . . I adored this book." -JOAN STEINAU LESTER, award-winning author of Loving Before Loving: A Marriage in Black and White

"Evocative, moving and informative."-JACQUIE BLOESE, author of The French House

"A captivating story that. . . shines a light on the many courageous Iranians striving for democracy, human security, and freedom." -TRITA PARSI, author of A Single Roll of the Dice

Reading List