Tapestries of the Heart: Four Women, Four Persian Generations

by Nooshie Motaref

This award winning novel portrays four generations of Persian women over a span of one hundred years. It depicts the effects of religion and politi-ever changing in Iranian society. Tapestries stands out as a true representation of the cycle of life. The destinies of these characters are interwoven with many threads and the events and consequences throughout have a major impact on their lives. Throughout the generations, these women lived, loved, and fought for what they believed in. Though it was a struggle, they battled and endured when the odds were almost completely against them.

265 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 21, 2015

Reviews

[Dils AB · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a beautiful story. A story spanning 4 generations telling each struggle of being a girl/woman in a conservative society. It moved quite suddenly from one age to other, that more than once I have to flip back to see the age.

But the story while sometimes feel apart from each other, are engrossing to read. I wanted to know more as I turn the page.

Some of them hit a little bit close to home, but alot you feel compassion/outrage/sadness on these women who always in the brink of 'getting out' but then settle into what fate had assigned.

It will start from a girl POV and they narrate it just about before they enter marriage or barely into their marriage life. After that they are relegated to the background , as the narrator mother. I am not sure if its intentional, but it does feel like it and I dont like it because I sometimes don't quite understand why their thinking seems to be different from when they are younger.

Most of the narrators we only get glimpses of their life when they are young. After marriage their voice are no longer heard, only exist as an appendage to others. And because of this , this book is sad. I can't quite recommend it, but I won't say don't read it either. Read for your own conclusion as what it means to be them.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met the author; I told her I had read Bird of Passage and LAND OF ROSES AND NIGHTINGALES, Seven Adventures of a Persian Girl. She suggested that I should read Tapestries.

I should have read Tapestries first. Although I found the Iranian names and politics difficult to follow, I feel I have a better picture of life for Iranian women over the ages. I'm glad I read all three books.

Pg. 46 only girl in my neighborhood who could read and write. Pg. 70 "should have been married at age nine like most of the girls, not...at 20". Pg. 120 school tour by bus -- "palace excavated by Americans hired by His Majesty, Reza Shah." Pg. 138 "so called king of ours is another tyrant, just like Hitler." Pg. 148 falling in love with Morad. Pg. 154 desire to go to Paris. Pg. 159 kings and freedoms. Pg. 167 description of America. Pg. 190 Amir has book of names. Pg. 196 Mohammad endorsed 4 other prophets, including Moses and Jesus. Chapter 13 Rebirth -- LA, CA, 1979. Mitra (25) Pg. 231 Full scholarship to UCLA and sister Layla joined me." Pg. 258 Last two seats on plane....

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting concept and great to learn about Persian history. Moves between the characters a little to quickly. Whilst you get a feel for them, you don't really connect with them/get to know them as much as I would have liked. Furthermore, once you start reading about the daughter, the mother seems totally Alien and it can be hard to decipher how/why the character you have just read about changes so much. Came away feeling like there was much more to tell, and not much had been told. Well written though., fly through it.

[Lori DiGuardi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Tapestries of the Heart. Not only could I feel and relate to the struggles, oppression, and hope of women in Persia over the years, I also learned the history that influenced and dictated those struggles and oppression. I recommend reading this book with enough time to take in all the rich cultural and historical facts that the author includes. I also believe that each of the main characters in the book is worthy of her own novel to make this book the basis for a series. I highly recommend this book!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nooshie Motref spoke at one of our P.E.O. meetings about education of women in Iran. I knew Tapestries of the Heart is somewhat autobiographical and that inspired me to read Nooshie's book. The more I read, the more interested I became in the changes that seemed to take place on a regular basis, bouncing back and forth between the modern western world and the traditional Moslim ways. Very interesting.

[K.Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Motareg is an excellent storyteller and she had me engrossed in the lives of these four women!