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Anahita's Woven Riddle
A richly detailed and enchanting novel, set in 20th-century Persia
Anahita, a nomad, learns that her father has promised her hand in marriage to a man she dislikes. Determined to have a say in her own fate, Anahita convinces her father to let her hold a contest, in which potential suitors must correctly answer the riddle she has woven into her wedding carpet. A diplomat, a schoolteacher, a shepherd, and a prince compete in Anahita’s battle of wits, for the heart of this extraordinary girl.
Meghan Nuttall Sayres explores the art of weaving, the rhythms of nomadic life, and the beauty of the Muslim faith in this fascinating debut novel.
Anahita, a nomad, learns that her father has promised her hand in marriage to a man she dislikes. Determined to have a say in her own fate, Anahita convinces her father to let her hold a contest, in which potential suitors must correctly answer the riddle she has woven into her wedding carpet. A diplomat, a schoolteacher, a shepherd, and a prince compete in Anahita’s battle of wits, for the heart of this extraordinary girl.
Meghan Nuttall Sayres explores the art of weaving, the rhythms of nomadic life, and the beauty of the Muslim faith in this fascinating debut novel.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
December 24, 2016
بیشتر یاد کتاب های کودک و نوجوان افتادم.
June 1, 2009
I am not going to lie, I fell in love with the cover
and that was a big reason I had to read it. I am glad I did. The book takes place in Iran (Persia) around 100 yrs ago, and centers around a young carpet-weaving nomad, Anahita. When her father tells her that it is time for her to marry, and that the local khan (a boorish, crude man who holds the villages fate in his hands) is interested in her, riddle-loving Anahita comes up with a plan to weave a riddle into her wedding carpet, and marry only the man that can solve it. Her father is at first against it, but the idea takes on a life of its own, sweeping up the villagers and far-flung strangers. Some are shocked by Anahita's boldness, some envious of her chance at a choice in who she marries, but spirited Anahita (though she at times feels the contest has gotten away from her) cannot make her self submit to a life where she has no choice, and where her talents, personality and intelligence are not prized.
The book changes perspective from Anahita to some of the men who pursue her and enter her contest, and though there are times when this can get a little frustrating, it is interesting none the less, and allows the reader to make a choice as well: who do we want Anahita to marry? I am not sure how likely the story is (a young nomadic girl in a culture and time when women do not have much of a say about anything), but there are always exceptions to rules, and there are always people who stand out and stand up for what they want. I think young girls will enjoy her journey and her fiestiness, and they will get a dose of culture as well.
and that was a big reason I had to read it. I am glad I did. The book takes place in Iran (Persia) around 100 yrs ago, and centers around a young carpet-weaving nomad, Anahita. When her father tells her that it is time for her to marry, and that the local khan (a boorish, crude man who holds the villages fate in his hands) is interested in her, riddle-loving Anahita comes up with a plan to weave a riddle into her wedding carpet, and marry only the man that can solve it. Her father is at first against it, but the idea takes on a life of its own, sweeping up the villagers and far-flung strangers. Some are shocked by Anahita's boldness, some envious of her chance at a choice in who she marries, but spirited Anahita (though she at times feels the contest has gotten away from her) cannot make her self submit to a life where she has no choice, and where her talents, personality and intelligence are not prized.The book changes perspective from Anahita to some of the men who pursue her and enter her contest, and though there are times when this can get a little frustrating, it is interesting none the less, and allows the reader to make a choice as well: who do we want Anahita to marry? I am not sure how likely the story is (a young nomadic girl in a culture and time when women do not have much of a say about anything), but there are always exceptions to rules, and there are always people who stand out and stand up for what they want. I think young girls will enjoy her journey and her fiestiness, and they will get a dose of culture as well.
December 20, 2013
This book made me taste the flavors, see the colors, smell the spices, hear the sounds, and feel the fabrics. It employed each of my 5 senses. I felt like I was really in 19th century Iran, and it made me kind of want to be a Nomad. I was totally on Anahita's side when it came to absolutely NOT marrying the Khan, he was so gross! I was so glad she got with the guy she did, I had been rooting for him the whole time.
Some things I didn't like was the way her people ignored her for the things the Khan was doing out of spite, and Anahitan herself annoyed me just a little at times. But this book had so many redeeming qualities that I still really enjoyed it and I know I'll read it again.
Some things I didn't like was the way her people ignored her for the things the Khan was doing out of spite, and Anahitan herself annoyed me just a little at times. But this book had so many redeeming qualities that I still really enjoyed it and I know I'll read it again.
December 16, 2010
I was really disappointed when I finished this book because I expected something much better from it. It was really quite good you see. Anahita has been raised to understand that she would have an arranged marriage. She shocks everyone when she asks for, and is granted, the opportunity to have a contest for her hand. She decides to weave a riddle into her bridal rug and whichever man answers the riddle, she will consent to marry. Enter the three most likely candidates: 1. the friend of the family, the one she has grown up with and has always seen as a brother, his parents are shocked at her brazen wedding contest and forbid him to quest for her hand. 2. the learned man, originally hired to educate Anahita’s town by the evil and much older man who thought he would be marrying her, the tutor catches one glimpse of Anahita and decides to stay in the town even after the older evil man has withdrawn his offer of a job. 3. the mysterious and handsome stranger whom Anahita meets up with at odd moments. What Anahita doesn’t know (but the reader does) is that he’s actually a prince. The book was lovely and even sort of poetic and I found myself really entranced by Anahita and even torn between the friend of the family and the mysterious and handsome stranger. The major disappointment was that the book basically ended at the conclusion of the contest. After an entire book of build-up, the reader needed more closure. It was such a let-down and so unfulfilling. But, I suppose, if you can brace yourself for this, it’s worth the read.
July 14, 2010
One more book for young girls about a similarly young girl growing up with modern ideas in a conservative culture spunking herself out of an arranged marriage, this time by declaring unilaterally that she will marry only the man who can solve the riddle she will weave into her dowry rug.
If there was anything interesting about Anahita besides the arranged marriage and the lengths she goes to get out of it, this would be exactly the kind of book that I like, but there isn't. There could be. All the elements are there: the extraordinary girl, an extraordinary situation--it even has na'an! It has all the potential of a finely embroidered historical landscape riddled with riddles.
None of it, though, is fully realized. Anahita, who loves riddles so much she cannot bear the thought of a husband who doesn't, only ever tells one riddle besides the wedding riddle in the end. She is supposed to harbor a great love for learning and yearn for an education, but this is only apparent through explanatory text, not any thought or action on Anahita's part. Relationships not directly involving Anahita herself are flat abd useless, as if Copernicus added up his sums and discovered that the Universe revolved around Anahita illustrated by the absence of any eligible man who is not hell-bent on marrying Anahita.
Haven't we done this one enough already?
If there was anything interesting about Anahita besides the arranged marriage and the lengths she goes to get out of it, this would be exactly the kind of book that I like, but there isn't. There could be. All the elements are there: the extraordinary girl, an extraordinary situation--it even has na'an! It has all the potential of a finely embroidered historical landscape riddled with riddles.
None of it, though, is fully realized. Anahita, who loves riddles so much she cannot bear the thought of a husband who doesn't, only ever tells one riddle besides the wedding riddle in the end. She is supposed to harbor a great love for learning and yearn for an education, but this is only apparent through explanatory text, not any thought or action on Anahita's part. Relationships not directly involving Anahita herself are flat abd useless, as if Copernicus added up his sums and discovered that the Universe revolved around Anahita illustrated by the absence of any eligible man who is not hell-bent on marrying Anahita.
Haven't we done this one enough already?
February 28, 2025
2.75 rounded up.
This is definitely a book that shows its age; it was recommended in a course textbook published in 2016 and it seemed cool, so I put it on my holds list. This book is written by a cultural outsider who is part of the weaving community and has done a TON of work to get this book written with cultural empathy and knowledge - something that is very clear to see and that I reflected in upping my rating from a 2 to a 2.75 (and rounding up on Goodreads). It takes in aspects of Iranian culture, religion, and politics in a really cool way - but unfortunately, I hated Anahita. She is constantly being told that she is selfish and she feels bad about it, but never fixes the core issues. The ending felt abrupt when I wanted to see an epilogue discussing how her marriage worked with her own goals - since that was the whole reason she resisted getting married in the first place. There was so much that I wanted and there was so much good in the margins - the relationships between the mother, grandmother, and Anahita, Anahita's relationships with her parents and her religious leader, Anahita's parents relationships, the discussion of nomadic culture and history and art, discussion of literacy, etc. - but the main plot was just a headache to get through, which was unfortunate since that's why I picked up the book.
Basically, by the end of the book, Anahita didn't want to do the contest she came up with. I wanted to read of a clever girl taking her own fate in her hands. Instead, I got a girl who seemed to change her mind with the blowing of the wind.
This is definitely a book that shows its age; it was recommended in a course textbook published in 2016 and it seemed cool, so I put it on my holds list. This book is written by a cultural outsider who is part of the weaving community and has done a TON of work to get this book written with cultural empathy and knowledge - something that is very clear to see and that I reflected in upping my rating from a 2 to a 2.75 (and rounding up on Goodreads). It takes in aspects of Iranian culture, religion, and politics in a really cool way - but unfortunately, I hated Anahita. She is constantly being told that she is selfish and she feels bad about it, but never fixes the core issues. The ending felt abrupt when I wanted to see an epilogue discussing how her marriage worked with her own goals - since that was the whole reason she resisted getting married in the first place. There was so much that I wanted and there was so much good in the margins - the relationships between the mother, grandmother, and Anahita, Anahita's relationships with her parents and her religious leader, Anahita's parents relationships, the discussion of nomadic culture and history and art, discussion of literacy, etc. - but the main plot was just a headache to get through, which was unfortunate since that's why I picked up the book.
Basically, by the end of the book, Anahita didn't want to do the contest she came up with. I wanted to read of a clever girl taking her own fate in her hands. Instead, I got a girl who seemed to change her mind with the blowing of the wind.
June 9, 2009
First off, this book is not 288pgs but 338, plus glossary/author's note/further reading etc which equals out to 352. Aside from that, I loved the book! It was so engaging, I had to finish it in three days despite the large amount of work I have to do for my summer graduate class. The main character, Anahita is a 17 yr old girl living in 1885 in Iran. Her family is nomadic and they all create beautiful rugs for a living. One day her father, the local chief of the village, says she must marry by the next year. At first, she is disgusted by the idea, but she decides she will do it on one condition. She will only do it if a man can solve the riddle that she will weave into her wedding rug. Obviously this idea causes much contention, as back then women did what they were told but her father eventually lets her do this. Meanwhile, three men are brought into the storyline as the main three contenders for her hand: Dariyoush, a local village neighbor who has grown up with Anahita; Reza, a schoolteacher; and Arash, a prince of the Qajar dynasty (the ruling family of Iran). Also there is the local khan, an ugly contemptuous man who has already lost 3 wives and wants Anahita for his 4th. Who will win her hand? Read this amazing wonderful book to find out.
July 15, 2013
Atmospherically set in the middle eastern desert, in the 1880s, with as strong a heroine as one could imagine in the personage of Anahita, a lovely girl on the brink of marriage. Her extraordinary abilities as a weaver make her want more than to be someone's wife, however; her strongest wish is to apprentice to her granduncle, the village dyemaster. Since she must marry, however, and knows her father has all but promised her to the khan (chieftain of their tribe), she dares to take matters into her own hands and ask that the man who solves the riddle she will weave into her wedding carpet be the one she will marry. She has several admirers, but the mystery man she meets in a marketplace holds a special place. This book is decidedly a romance, but its other elements make it far more, and the author, a tapestry weaver herself, did the research and infuses her book with historical detail and real events that shape the book into quite a reading experience. A good place to start for those interested in Iranian/Persian history and women's history of that area in particular. Junior high, older.
June 28, 2011
I loved this book! Although it is geared for "young adults," I found it quite enjoyable. As a knitter, I appreciated the references to dyeing yarn, spinning, knitting, and weaving. I also loved learning about the nomadic tribes that exist in Iran. This was a coming of age novel that was a joy to read.
August 10, 2011
The beauty of the book wasn't finding out who would win Anahita's wedding riddle contest. The beauty was just in the details of the characters, the places, and even the carpets. Oh, how I wish there were pictures of the carpets. This was definitely one of those "quiet" books that I truly enjoyed. Thanks to Misty for sending this to me. I think this got me out of my recent reading funk.
July 22, 2021
Wow, I remember nothing about this book. (Not the book's fault, I read it when I was twelve.)
February 8, 2009
Anahita is a beautiful young woman in Persia-Iran. The powerful khan from their tribe wants to marry her. He however is basically a loser (how's that for a review!) he is much older, and he repulses her. Anahita is a girl that stands out in her culture with her feministic views---like: women should have the right to choose who they marry (go figure!) She wants to marry someone who appreciates her love for riddles. So she poses an alternative and gets her father to agree. Her family members are carpet/rug weavers and Anahita is especially talented. Her alternative is to weave a riddle into her wedding carpet that she is to make. The man who can guess her riddle will win her hand in marriage.
I enjoyed reading this book, because it's a very intersting culture. I wasn't as impressed with the author as I have been with others. It got annoying having her stick in the farsi here and there all the time and having to go back to the back to find out what it meant--I like the learning aspect of it, but it just didn't seem to flow quite like I thought it should. But who wouldn't admire a girl like Anahita--with 4 men after her hand in marriage!
I enjoyed reading this book, because it's a very intersting culture. I wasn't as impressed with the author as I have been with others. It got annoying having her stick in the farsi here and there all the time and having to go back to the back to find out what it meant--I like the learning aspect of it, but it just didn't seem to flow quite like I thought it should. But who wouldn't admire a girl like Anahita--with 4 men after her hand in marriage!
June 15, 2017
A well-written tale about a girl living in 13th century Iran who decides to take her fate into her own hands when she refuses to marry the powerful man who asks for her, and instead declares that she'll only marry the man who guesses the riddle that she'll weave into her qali, a wedding carpet. You get a real feel for the authenticity of the setting, from the smell of the flowers her her dyes to the feel of the wool yarn that she spins. This is teen literature as it's meant to be. Although there are multiple men vying for her hand and she's conflicted about which one she'd like to win, this isn't the usual YA love triangle story. It reads more like an ancient fable retold.
However, I felt that the narrative lagged a bit in the middle, and I found that it took me quite a while to really get into the story. I was probably halfway through before I felt hooked. Still, it's a worthwhile read in the end, especially if someone is looking for more diversity in their reading.
However, I felt that the narrative lagged a bit in the middle, and I found that it took me quite a while to really get into the story. I was probably halfway through before I felt hooked. Still, it's a worthwhile read in the end, especially if someone is looking for more diversity in their reading.
January 11, 2013
Kitabın keşke orjinal adını kullansalarmış daha uygun olurmuş.. "Anahita'nın dokunmuş bilmecesi".. Ama cidden masal tadındaydı da pek aşk masalı değildi.. Daha çok göçerlerin yaşam tarzı yansıtılmış.. Yün boyama, kök boyası, halı dokuma teknikleri ayrıntılı anlatılmış.. Konuya pek girmeyeceğim tanıtım yazısının aynısı ama kültür benim çok hoşuma gitti..
Beğenmediğim nokta ise kız başta evlenmeyeceğim diyor.. Sonra aşık olmadan bunlarla evlenebilirim diyor. Bikaç detay daha vardı rahatsız eden ama okunacak bir kitap.. Sade, temiz, sıcak bir kitap :)
Beğenmediğim nokta ise kız başta evlenmeyeceğim diyor.. Sonra aşık olmadan bunlarla evlenebilirim diyor. Bikaç detay daha vardı rahatsız eden ama okunacak bir kitap.. Sade, temiz, sıcak bir kitap :)
May 18, 2008
I'm sorry-- it was pretty lame. It was written at a level for older elementary school girls, but the topic (romance) is not a good book topic for kids that young. Therefore, it's hard for them to read because it's uninteresting, and hard for us to read because the style is painfully amateur. Maybe someone who is more into the business of "true love and the pursuit of yar" would like it more, but I was not a fan.
January 5, 2014
As a 13 year old my attention span wasn't that great and I would like to re-red it again but for now it is a DNF for me
April 9, 2016
An enjoyable read with colorful story depiction. The book cover itself is beautiful. The title pages and chapter pages have lovely background.
Nuttall Sayres was successful in bringing in the colourful picture of the nomadic life of people in the ancient land of Persia (Iran). This is story of a 17 year old, a semi-nomadic weaver girl Anahita, who lives a nomadic life with her family, spending summers in the mountains with their herds and winters in the villages where they wove sheep’s wool into beautiful carpets for their living.
Anahita’s family consists of her Maman (Mother): Mojdeh, Baba (father): Farhad and Maman Bozorg (grandmother). Anahita’s father, Farhad is the Kadkhuda (the tribal head) of their Afshar tribe appointed by the Khan (the chief of entire Afshar tribe who represents the tribe with the shah’s government). There is a guy named Dariyoush, who is Anahita’s family neighbour and helps Farhad in is daily chores. Anahita’s family resides in the village of Hasanabad, Iran.
Anahita is a girl who has much interest in posing riddles and solving riddles. In her day to day life, she keeps playing her riddle games with her father. She also dreams to become a master dyer. She wants to learn the dye-master’s secrets to keep alive the colours of their tribe’s carpets, which are the most beautiful at the market.
The story revolves around Anahita’s marriage. One day while posing a riddle to her father and helping him in shearing a sheep, Farhad tells her, that, next year by this time, she will be old enough to wed. And the Khan is interested in marrying her and this will be a prosperous wedding, as this will benefit their tribe. This news makes Anahita anxious, as she is not yet ready to get married. And the thought to wed the Khan cripples her, as the Khan is much older than her own father and the only good quality she can remember about Khan is that, he is nice to cats. She is reluctant to marry the Khan, also because he was married before and he lost all his three wives to illness. Anahita feels that, the Khan is an awful bore with no sense of humour. Anahita tries to convince her father with the reasons, why she cannot wed in the next spring. But her father loses his temper and gives his final decision and asks her to start weaving her wedding carpet (qali) for the dowry.
Anahita is too disturbed by the thoughts of her marriage and that too, with the thought of marrying the Khan. Then it occurs to her that, she could not live with someone who did not enjoy riddles. She feels more confident of this reason to not to get married to the Khan and voicing her though to her father.
But her Baba and Maman are not happy with their daughter’s suggestion. Entertaining such ideas will foster bad feelings. As one cannot receive such special treatment of choosing her own husband and people in tribe will feel jealous. Even the Mullah will not approve such arrangements.
In Farhad’s view, Khan is the voice of their tribe in the divan in Mashhad and they need to be in his favor. And more over, Anahita, as the daughter of the tribe’s head should give priority towards her tribe’s well-being instead of being a khod pasand (her self-absorption).
But Anahita could not come out of the notion that, she deserves to choose her own husband. She decides to voice her thoughts about her marriage to the Mullah. But she is not sure, how positively the Mullah will take her thoughts. And will he make her father understand her concerns. The Mullah gives her a response, which she could not make out, if he is against her wish or supports her.
Meanwhile, the time comes for their tribe to move to the summer pastures. Their caravan sets out toward Mashhad, the ancient city of ‘holy earth.’ Once reaching Mashhad, the tribe set up temporary quarters beside the overcrowded caravanserai.
Anahita with her Maman, Mojdeh, walks out of the high walls of the caravanserai, to visit the crowded markets of Mashhad. Mojdeh goes into a booth selling copper vessels. Anahita walks to the stall selling silk carpets. While examining the carpets made from the synthetic dyes in the stalls, she meets a stranger. Anahita’s stare is held for a moment by the soft brown eyes of this stranger. She likes her conversation with this stranger and she feels it’s more like a riddle. She even likes the sound of his accent. But their conversation could not last long, as she had to leave. The memory of this man she met in the bazaar in Mashhad becomes a constant companion in Anahita’s thoughts during her migration to her summer pastures and she wished if she could meet this man again or at least she knew his name.
As a turn of fate, the Mullah meets Farhad to discuss about Anahita’s thoughts of a riddle for her wedding and he approves of the plan. But Farhad is still doubtful. If he refuses the Khan, he will no longer work on their tribe’s behalf. Their water and migratory privileges will be at stake. When the Khan comes to know about the riddle contest, he is angry. And instead of paying a bride price, he gives an ultimatum to Farhad. He arranges for a school teacher, Reza to start teaching Anahita. He makes a promise that he will pay twice of whatever he is paid now, if he agrees to educate Anahita. Now Farhad and Mojdeh see the stingy and impatient side of the Khan. Farhad understands the Khan will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Khan should not be trusted with the livelihood of his people and Khan would risk his tribe’s welfare to meet his own ends. This makes Farhad agree to the riddle contest for his daughter’s wedding. He prepares parchments and announced the wedding riddle contest to the entire city of Mashhad.
The time comes for the Afshar tribe to return to their village in Hasanabad, as winter approaches. On their way back, Anahita again stumbles on the same stranger in the bazaars of Mashhad. And this time she just gets to know that this man, who has spell bound her with his riddle like talks is from Marv. But this meeting also does not last long and they have to part in moments. She gets a keepsake from the stranger: a poetry book, collection of Rumi’s poems (a Sufi poet, born in Persia many centuries ago). But she does not know to read and write. She just wished if she could read.
Tempers ran high in the Afshar tribe, as they suffered from the Khan’s revenge. Following Anahita’s wedding riddle news, Khan refused to negotiate their usual right to passage across the estates. They did not get permission to camp for the customary one day and one night. The caravan had to walk continuously and their livestock withered from the dearth of water.
After returning to Hasanabad, Anahita makes herself busy by helping her father with his chores, with the cloth basket in the mosque and spending time with her grand-uncle, the village dye master, learning the secrets to become a master dyer. A rural Madrasa opens in Hasanabad. The school teacher from Mashhad takes this opportunity. He joins the Madrasa as the teacher to teach the people in Hasanabad. Farhad enrolls himself in the school. And Anahita too starts learning reading and writing the alphabets in the school. Reza helps Anahita in reading the Rumi’s poetry book, she had acquired from the stranger in the bazaar of Mashhad. In the reading process, she gets to know that the stranger’s name is Arash (written in the poetry book). Along with all these things, Anahita starts weaving her wedding qali, thinking and keeping in mind her wedding riddle.
As her wedding day approaches near, Anahita feels anxious and confused. She is worried, who will solve her riddle in the qali. What will happen, if the Khan solves her riddle? She will have no option but to accept him as her husband. She is not sure, whom she hopes to solve her riddle. She is not able to decide, who will be more suitable suitor for her: Reza (the school teacher, with whom she spend her all days learning to read and write), Arash (the stranger she met in the bazaar of Mashhad, who is a Qajar prince of which no one is aware) or Dariyoush (the neighbour, who was always with her since childhood and taken care of her in all possible ways). What will happen, if a complete stranger, whom she has never met or known, solves her riddle?
On her wedding day, a dozen suitors turn up for the wedding riddle contest including the Khan. The wedding riddle is: which opposing life forces Anahita has woven into her qali? Every suitor present their gets a chance to examine the qali, and give his answer. Read the book to find out who wins this game of wits and Anahita’s heart?
What I didn’t like in the book is there is no mention about the aftermath of what happens to Farhad? The Khan gives the documents to Farhad, from the mujtahad, the religious jurists in Mashhad, which gives him the right to arrest Farhad. As the wedding riddle contest is against civil law.
The things I liked in this book:
1) The balance it tries to create between tradition and change. As this story takes place somewhere in 1885, when as per tradition girls had no choice of their own. Their prospective husbands were chosen by their elders in the family. But here, Anahita gets a chance to choose her husband.
2) This book encourages following your heart and mind.
3) In the entire book you can discover the beauty of Iranian culture and the life and hardship of nomad weavers. And the story they tell through their woven carpets.
4) Books contain few really good translated verses of poems of Jalaluddin Rumi. If you have a love toward poems, you are sure to like it.
5) You can learn a few Arabic and Farsi words used in the book.
6) The author’s note in the book contains the complete detail of carpets weaving, the nomadic life, the history of Iran and explanation of the Farsi language and the Sufi poems of Rumi and Rabi’a.
One of the translated verses of Rabi’a’s poem I liked the most in the book:
Nuttall Sayres was successful in bringing in the colourful picture of the nomadic life of people in the ancient land of Persia (Iran). This is story of a 17 year old, a semi-nomadic weaver girl Anahita, who lives a nomadic life with her family, spending summers in the mountains with their herds and winters in the villages where they wove sheep’s wool into beautiful carpets for their living.
Anahita’s family consists of her Maman (Mother): Mojdeh, Baba (father): Farhad and Maman Bozorg (grandmother). Anahita’s father, Farhad is the Kadkhuda (the tribal head) of their Afshar tribe appointed by the Khan (the chief of entire Afshar tribe who represents the tribe with the shah’s government). There is a guy named Dariyoush, who is Anahita’s family neighbour and helps Farhad in is daily chores. Anahita’s family resides in the village of Hasanabad, Iran.
Anahita is a girl who has much interest in posing riddles and solving riddles. In her day to day life, she keeps playing her riddle games with her father. She also dreams to become a master dyer. She wants to learn the dye-master’s secrets to keep alive the colours of their tribe’s carpets, which are the most beautiful at the market.
The story revolves around Anahita’s marriage. One day while posing a riddle to her father and helping him in shearing a sheep, Farhad tells her, that, next year by this time, she will be old enough to wed. And the Khan is interested in marrying her and this will be a prosperous wedding, as this will benefit their tribe. This news makes Anahita anxious, as she is not yet ready to get married. And the thought to wed the Khan cripples her, as the Khan is much older than her own father and the only good quality she can remember about Khan is that, he is nice to cats. She is reluctant to marry the Khan, also because he was married before and he lost all his three wives to illness. Anahita feels that, the Khan is an awful bore with no sense of humour. Anahita tries to convince her father with the reasons, why she cannot wed in the next spring. But her father loses his temper and gives his final decision and asks her to start weaving her wedding carpet (qali) for the dowry.
When the qali is complete, you must prepare to marry.
Marriage is what gives women value. Don’t ever forget this. To be unwed in this world is to be nothing!
Anahita is too disturbed by the thoughts of her marriage and that too, with the thought of marrying the Khan. Then it occurs to her that, she could not live with someone who did not enjoy riddles. She feels more confident of this reason to not to get married to the Khan and voicing her though to her father.
Baba, I’ve been thinking. I will agree to marry when my qali is woven. But I will marry a man who has wit and likes for riddles.
Baba, I will weave a riddle into my wedding qali. The man who solves it, I will marry.
But her Baba and Maman are not happy with their daughter’s suggestion. Entertaining such ideas will foster bad feelings. As one cannot receive such special treatment of choosing her own husband and people in tribe will feel jealous. Even the Mullah will not approve such arrangements.
In Farhad’s view, Khan is the voice of their tribe in the divan in Mashhad and they need to be in his favor. And more over, Anahita, as the daughter of the tribe’s head should give priority towards her tribe’s well-being instead of being a khod pasand (her self-absorption).
But Anahita could not come out of the notion that, she deserves to choose her own husband. She decides to voice her thoughts about her marriage to the Mullah. But she is not sure, how positively the Mullah will take her thoughts. And will he make her father understand her concerns. The Mullah gives her a response, which she could not make out, if he is against her wish or supports her.
Dokhtaram, this request…is like none. A man who can solve your riddle, you say? I shall have to ponder this.
Meanwhile, the time comes for their tribe to move to the summer pastures. Their caravan sets out toward Mashhad, the ancient city of ‘holy earth.’ Once reaching Mashhad, the tribe set up temporary quarters beside the overcrowded caravanserai.
Anahita with her Maman, Mojdeh, walks out of the high walls of the caravanserai, to visit the crowded markets of Mashhad. Mojdeh goes into a booth selling copper vessels. Anahita walks to the stall selling silk carpets. While examining the carpets made from the synthetic dyes in the stalls, she meets a stranger. Anahita’s stare is held for a moment by the soft brown eyes of this stranger. She likes her conversation with this stranger and she feels it’s more like a riddle. She even likes the sound of his accent. But their conversation could not last long, as she had to leave. The memory of this man she met in the bazaar in Mashhad becomes a constant companion in Anahita’s thoughts during her migration to her summer pastures and she wished if she could meet this man again or at least she knew his name.
As a turn of fate, the Mullah meets Farhad to discuss about Anahita’s thoughts of a riddle for her wedding and he approves of the plan. But Farhad is still doubtful. If he refuses the Khan, he will no longer work on their tribe’s behalf. Their water and migratory privileges will be at stake. When the Khan comes to know about the riddle contest, he is angry. And instead of paying a bride price, he gives an ultimatum to Farhad. He arranges for a school teacher, Reza to start teaching Anahita. He makes a promise that he will pay twice of whatever he is paid now, if he agrees to educate Anahita. Now Farhad and Mojdeh see the stingy and impatient side of the Khan. Farhad understands the Khan will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Khan should not be trusted with the livelihood of his people and Khan would risk his tribe’s welfare to meet his own ends. This makes Farhad agree to the riddle contest for his daughter’s wedding. He prepares parchments and announced the wedding riddle contest to the entire city of Mashhad.
The time comes for the Afshar tribe to return to their village in Hasanabad, as winter approaches. On their way back, Anahita again stumbles on the same stranger in the bazaars of Mashhad. And this time she just gets to know that this man, who has spell bound her with his riddle like talks is from Marv. But this meeting also does not last long and they have to part in moments. She gets a keepsake from the stranger: a poetry book, collection of Rumi’s poems (a Sufi poet, born in Persia many centuries ago). But she does not know to read and write. She just wished if she could read.
Tempers ran high in the Afshar tribe, as they suffered from the Khan’s revenge. Following Anahita’s wedding riddle news, Khan refused to negotiate their usual right to passage across the estates. They did not get permission to camp for the customary one day and one night. The caravan had to walk continuously and their livestock withered from the dearth of water.
After returning to Hasanabad, Anahita makes herself busy by helping her father with his chores, with the cloth basket in the mosque and spending time with her grand-uncle, the village dye master, learning the secrets to become a master dyer. A rural Madrasa opens in Hasanabad. The school teacher from Mashhad takes this opportunity. He joins the Madrasa as the teacher to teach the people in Hasanabad. Farhad enrolls himself in the school. And Anahita too starts learning reading and writing the alphabets in the school. Reza helps Anahita in reading the Rumi’s poetry book, she had acquired from the stranger in the bazaar of Mashhad. In the reading process, she gets to know that the stranger’s name is Arash (written in the poetry book). Along with all these things, Anahita starts weaving her wedding qali, thinking and keeping in mind her wedding riddle.
As her wedding day approaches near, Anahita feels anxious and confused. She is worried, who will solve her riddle in the qali. What will happen, if the Khan solves her riddle? She will have no option but to accept him as her husband. She is not sure, whom she hopes to solve her riddle. She is not able to decide, who will be more suitable suitor for her: Reza (the school teacher, with whom she spend her all days learning to read and write), Arash (the stranger she met in the bazaar of Mashhad, who is a Qajar prince of which no one is aware) or Dariyoush (the neighbour, who was always with her since childhood and taken care of her in all possible ways). What will happen, if a complete stranger, whom she has never met or known, solves her riddle?
On her wedding day, a dozen suitors turn up for the wedding riddle contest including the Khan. The wedding riddle is: which opposing life forces Anahita has woven into her qali? Every suitor present their gets a chance to examine the qali, and give his answer. Read the book to find out who wins this game of wits and Anahita’s heart?
What I didn’t like in the book is there is no mention about the aftermath of what happens to Farhad? The Khan gives the documents to Farhad, from the mujtahad, the religious jurists in Mashhad, which gives him the right to arrest Farhad. As the wedding riddle contest is against civil law.
The things I liked in this book:
1) The balance it tries to create between tradition and change. As this story takes place somewhere in 1885, when as per tradition girls had no choice of their own. Their prospective husbands were chosen by their elders in the family. But here, Anahita gets a chance to choose her husband.
2) This book encourages following your heart and mind.
3) In the entire book you can discover the beauty of Iranian culture and the life and hardship of nomad weavers. And the story they tell through their woven carpets.
4) Books contain few really good translated verses of poems of Jalaluddin Rumi. If you have a love toward poems, you are sure to like it.
5) You can learn a few Arabic and Farsi words used in the book.
6) The author’s note in the book contains the complete detail of carpets weaving, the nomadic life, the history of Iran and explanation of the Farsi language and the Sufi poems of Rumi and Rabi’a.
One of the translated verses of Rabi’a’s poem I liked the most in the book:
O my Lord
if I worship you
from hope of Paradise, bar me from its gates.
But if I worship you
for yourself alone, grant me then the beauty of your Face.
September 19, 2017
Anahita's Woven Riddle by Meghan Nuttall Sayres is an incredibly compelling novel. The author weaves the true to life culture and lifestyle of Iranian nomadic tribes into a emotionally appealing fictional story. Throughout the novel bits of this culture are introduced and explained to the reader. This is prevalent in many of the topics of the book including the challenges the tribe faces, what's expected of the main character due to her station, the religious practices and states of mind that are upheld, the tribe's main source of commerce and the lifestyle they developed because it, etc... This made the book particularly appealing because many, including myself, find it very difficult to learn things if the source material is simply a recitation of facts pertaining to the subject. The Iranian culture within the book is easier and more enjoyable to learn because it's presented in relation to an engaging fictional story. Something I also appreciated about this novel was it's use of multiple perspectives. Within the book Anahita's (the main character's) perspective is focused on the most. However, there was a significant amount of passages that were told from the point of view of people within Anahita's life. This keyed the reader in on not only the character of the other individuals written about within the novel, but their thoughts and how they perceive the events of the story. This allows the reader to have a better understanding of the characters feelings regarding one another and the circumstances they face.
Anahita has grown up in an Iranian Nomadic Tribe and ,despite that such societies often value an unassuming/reserved personality, she has developed into quite an independent young women. Her sense of independence was fostered by her parents (and in particular her father) and already at such a young age she has made some major contributions to her community. As such, she was completely shocked when her father informed her that she would be marrying the tribe Khan (a leader of sorts). Anahita always knew she would have to marry and she respected that as a part of her culture, yet the Khan (a man much older than her and whose past three wives have passed away) is man she can't help be repulsed at the thought of having to marry. Despite being the tribe's Khan he is completely unconnected with the tribe's culture and heritage (something that Anahita holds dear). His arrogance and aggressively forward advances sicken her. Anahita expresses her displeasure at the idea and seeks to convince her father of an alternative. Anahita has always valued riddles and consider them to be a large part of her identity. After counsel from the tribe's religious leader, Anahita convinces her father to allow her to weave into her wedding quasi (rug) a riddle then hold a competition where suitors would each attempt to guess the riddle. She would marry the suitor who came the closest to to guessing correctly. At least in this she would know her husband would be like minded. As Anahita undertakes wedding riddle scheme, she finds that her decision might have a much larger impact on both the tribe and herself than anyone could have guessed.
Anahita has grown up in an Iranian Nomadic Tribe and ,despite that such societies often value an unassuming/reserved personality, she has developed into quite an independent young women. Her sense of independence was fostered by her parents (and in particular her father) and already at such a young age she has made some major contributions to her community. As such, she was completely shocked when her father informed her that she would be marrying the tribe Khan (a leader of sorts). Anahita always knew she would have to marry and she respected that as a part of her culture, yet the Khan (a man much older than her and whose past three wives have passed away) is man she can't help be repulsed at the thought of having to marry. Despite being the tribe's Khan he is completely unconnected with the tribe's culture and heritage (something that Anahita holds dear). His arrogance and aggressively forward advances sicken her. Anahita expresses her displeasure at the idea and seeks to convince her father of an alternative. Anahita has always valued riddles and consider them to be a large part of her identity. After counsel from the tribe's religious leader, Anahita convinces her father to allow her to weave into her wedding quasi (rug) a riddle then hold a competition where suitors would each attempt to guess the riddle. She would marry the suitor who came the closest to to guessing correctly. At least in this she would know her husband would be like minded. As Anahita undertakes wedding riddle scheme, she finds that her decision might have a much larger impact on both the tribe and herself than anyone could have guessed.
July 30, 2018
A fairly slow-paced, fairy-tale-feeling story focusing rather strongly on setting: rural pre-WW1 Iran, a period when nomads were being pressured to settle and new ideas were starting to conflict with age-old traditions. Anahita is an independent-minded girl, but the author did not take it to the extreme that she feels like a 21st-century personality dropped into a period story; she has ideas that conflict with tradition, but she still seems like a person of the time, with loyalties to her family and village and strong sensibilities about her land and culture. She struggles on the brink between childhood and adult responsibilities, and traditional expectations and duties versus her own feelings and desires. To escape an unwanted marriage, she proposes a riddle-contest for her hand, and to her dismay ends up with a string of suitors. The story focuses on four of these suitors.
Though it sometimes felt a bit insta-love-y the way Anahita would meet a random guy at the bazaar and not only be attracted to him (hey, we've all noticed someone cute on the street) but feeling *romantic* about this total stranger on the basis of a couple of sentences (okay, now we're edging into flighty-girl territory), maybe that could be explained away by the nomadic and arranged-marriage culture she is in (where these kinds of things might well be decided very fast, so she may not have an expectation of taking her time getting to know a prospective mate). In any case, she does suffer a fair bit of doubt, second-guessing, and nail-biting over which suitor she wants to win, some of which shows an emerging maturity in her. Readers can easily each have their own favourites they were torn between or hoping for.
Overall a decent read for anyone who enjoys novels that focus of setting rather than action.
Though it sometimes felt a bit insta-love-y the way Anahita would meet a random guy at the bazaar and not only be attracted to him (hey, we've all noticed someone cute on the street) but feeling *romantic* about this total stranger on the basis of a couple of sentences (okay, now we're edging into flighty-girl territory), maybe that could be explained away by the nomadic and arranged-marriage culture she is in (where these kinds of things might well be decided very fast, so she may not have an expectation of taking her time getting to know a prospective mate). In any case, she does suffer a fair bit of doubt, second-guessing, and nail-biting over which suitor she wants to win, some of which shows an emerging maturity in her. Readers can easily each have their own favourites they were torn between or hoping for.
Overall a decent read for anyone who enjoys novels that focus of setting rather than action.
March 1, 2012
Rating: I liked it… but wanted to like it more (3.5 stars)
While I sympathise with Anahita and her desire to avoid an arranged marriage and have the opportunity to choose her husband, I think her father says it very well when he says what he doesn’t like about her is her khod pasand, her self-absorption.
The book is very much about Anahita, and she is very self-absorbed. And although it’s understandable that she wants more from her life, wants choices, wants to learn, wants things to stay as they are, she also wants to have her cake and eat it too. I found I didn’t really like her all that much.
And honestly, I don’t see why so many suitors wanted to marry her; why they were willing to humble themselves to compete for her hand when ordinarily their family would just seek to arrange the match as a matter of course. The only things I can see that she has going for her are her good looks (those pomegranate cheeks) and her skills as a weaver. The first will fade with time and the second is surely only a motive to exploit her for monetary gain. Neither seems like true love to me.
In retrospect, the book seems very drawn out with not much substance. I think the author was trying to weave a story of the time, place, people and beliefs as a background to support Anahita’s character and the riddle woven into her carpet, but that meant that most of the book is essentially preamble and the actual ‘interesting stuff’ (the contest & the outcome) doesn’t happen til the very end and even then its covered briefly and not fleshed out like rest of the book.
The book itself is beautiful. The cover page, title pages and chapter pages all have a lovely background print and borders. Very pretty.
Pet Peeves: The Ending. Or lack of. See spoiler below for details.
Mainly, I guess I felt that Anahita didn’t fit in with the world around her. Having grown up in that time and place she would’ve been fully aware of the age at which women married, and with their lack of choice in the matter, particularly as the daughter of the tribal leader. But instead, when her father mentions the idea to her she is genuinely surprised and horrified. And her forward-thinking notions just don’t ring true; yes, there probably were strong independent women with minds of their own, but I don’t think they would’ve acted as Anahita does and said the things she does.
At first I did feel genuinely sorry for her because of her situation and because of the lack of sympathy, even outright anger she received from her father and others when she expressed her desire to have some say in who she would marry. But as the story progressed and Anahita remained the same selfish, childish girl, my sympathy began to dry up. Her interactions with her cousin in particular are juvenile and petty and bring out the worst in her. She seems like an immature child, not a young woman ready to marry and start a family of her own. And I was almost incredulous when at the end, once the contest was decided, she's still so small-minded as to be jealous when one of the other suitors shows interest in another woman.
Is there a Happy Ending?
Content Rating: PG
There isn’t anything in the book I can think of that wouldn’t be suitable for high school or even mid-to-late primary school children. I’ve only rated it PG because I think it’s too grown up for younger children and even if they did read it they wouldn’t understand it or find it interesting.
There is a war/revolt going on with the Russians invading along the border so there are some wounded soldiers described as being bloody or having only one arm or leg, but nothing in any specific detail so it’s not distressing at all. There is one man-to-man fight to the death near the beginning, but again it’s very brief.
There are several references to mosques, Muslims, prayers, etc, but it’s all fairly vague and not at all preachy.
There are no bedroom scenes, and not even any ‘on the lips’ kisses, just a few chaste pecks on the cheek or head.
Romance Rating: Okayish
It seems like the author tried to throw in some extra suitors to fill out the story; in my opinion there was ever really only two suitors who had a real chance. The hapless third guy was just thrown in as filler and the author even admits in the Q&A section at the back that she simply decided to throw in one of the minor characters as a suitor as she was writing the contest scene!
I think the main difficulty was the author had to showcase four main suitors interacting with Anahita and still keep us in suspense as to which man would win, and also which one Anahita wanted to win. Half the time Anahita herself doesn’t even know who she wants to marry and dithers about mooning over first one and then another. Which made it difficult for me to sympathise with her and also to work out who I wanted to win.
At one point I thought the author was going to take the cheating way out and kill off one of the main suitors. Thankfully she didn’t. I think it says a lot about the book when I admit I didn’t know whether to be annoyed or glad he didn’t die.
In the few scenes between Anahita and her yar, the attraction, chemistry and soul are definitely there, but it’s not really enough to carry the rest of the book.
While I sympathise with Anahita and her desire to avoid an arranged marriage and have the opportunity to choose her husband, I think her father says it very well when he says what he doesn’t like about her is her khod pasand, her self-absorption.
The book is very much about Anahita, and she is very self-absorbed. And although it’s understandable that she wants more from her life, wants choices, wants to learn, wants things to stay as they are, she also wants to have her cake and eat it too. I found I didn’t really like her all that much.
And honestly, I don’t see why so many suitors wanted to marry her; why they were willing to humble themselves to compete for her hand when ordinarily their family would just seek to arrange the match as a matter of course. The only things I can see that she has going for her are her good looks (those pomegranate cheeks) and her skills as a weaver. The first will fade with time and the second is surely only a motive to exploit her for monetary gain. Neither seems like true love to me.
In retrospect, the book seems very drawn out with not much substance. I think the author was trying to weave a story of the time, place, people and beliefs as a background to support Anahita’s character and the riddle woven into her carpet, but that meant that most of the book is essentially preamble and the actual ‘interesting stuff’ (the contest & the outcome) doesn’t happen til the very end and even then its covered briefly and not fleshed out like rest of the book.
The book itself is beautiful. The cover page, title pages and chapter pages all have a lovely background print and borders. Very pretty.
Pet Peeves: The Ending. Or lack of. See spoiler below for details.
Mainly, I guess I felt that Anahita didn’t fit in with the world around her. Having grown up in that time and place she would’ve been fully aware of the age at which women married, and with their lack of choice in the matter, particularly as the daughter of the tribal leader. But instead, when her father mentions the idea to her she is genuinely surprised and horrified. And her forward-thinking notions just don’t ring true; yes, there probably were strong independent women with minds of their own, but I don’t think they would’ve acted as Anahita does and said the things she does.
At first I did feel genuinely sorry for her because of her situation and because of the lack of sympathy, even outright anger she received from her father and others when she expressed her desire to have some say in who she would marry. But as the story progressed and Anahita remained the same selfish, childish girl, my sympathy began to dry up. Her interactions with her cousin in particular are juvenile and petty and bring out the worst in her. She seems like an immature child, not a young woman ready to marry and start a family of her own. And I was almost incredulous when at the end, once the contest was decided, she's still so small-minded as to be jealous when one of the other suitors shows interest in another woman.
Is there a Happy Ending?
Content Rating: PG
There isn’t anything in the book I can think of that wouldn’t be suitable for high school or even mid-to-late primary school children. I’ve only rated it PG because I think it’s too grown up for younger children and even if they did read it they wouldn’t understand it or find it interesting.
There is a war/revolt going on with the Russians invading along the border so there are some wounded soldiers described as being bloody or having only one arm or leg, but nothing in any specific detail so it’s not distressing at all. There is one man-to-man fight to the death near the beginning, but again it’s very brief.
There are several references to mosques, Muslims, prayers, etc, but it’s all fairly vague and not at all preachy.
There are no bedroom scenes, and not even any ‘on the lips’ kisses, just a few chaste pecks on the cheek or head.
Romance Rating: Okayish
It seems like the author tried to throw in some extra suitors to fill out the story; in my opinion there was ever really only two suitors who had a real chance. The hapless third guy was just thrown in as filler and the author even admits in the Q&A section at the back that she simply decided to throw in one of the minor characters as a suitor as she was writing the contest scene!
I think the main difficulty was the author had to showcase four main suitors interacting with Anahita and still keep us in suspense as to which man would win, and also which one Anahita wanted to win. Half the time Anahita herself doesn’t even know who she wants to marry and dithers about mooning over first one and then another. Which made it difficult for me to sympathise with her and also to work out who I wanted to win.
At one point I thought the author was going to take the cheating way out and kill off one of the main suitors. Thankfully she didn’t. I think it says a lot about the book when I admit I didn’t know whether to be annoyed or glad he didn’t die.
In the few scenes between Anahita and her yar, the attraction, chemistry and soul are definitely there, but it’s not really enough to carry the rest of the book.
March 26, 2025
What a disappointment. The premise was good and the worldbuilding/description was great. But I didn't like the main character at all; she was selfish and childish and never showed any real growth, just regret. The other characters were pretty one dimensional, the story lagged quite a bit in the middle, and the conclusion was both obvious and unclear. I still would have given this a 3, but that abrupt ending! With no epilogue, no elaboration on the consequences of the final decision!
Also, maybe this is a lack of cultural context on my part, but I hate especially vague riddles. It always comes off as an author trying to be clever and philosophical but failing to make any sort of point.
Also, maybe this is a lack of cultural context on my part, but I hate especially vague riddles. It always comes off as an author trying to be clever and philosophical but failing to make any sort of point.
February 28, 2021
I liked this book, in general, and it's clear the author did a LOT of research. The book, overall, was an enjoyable read.
But four suiters was too many, and I couldn't really connect with any of them enough to root for them. Also, while I really like ambiguity in books, some major plot points were left unanswered, which felt sloppy.
Also, I thought it was odd that Anahita didn't really weave a riddle INTO her rug. The way she decided on the riddle didn't seem to align with her original goal.
I did finish the book, I did enjoy it, but I think it could have been a much stronger book.
But four suiters was too many, and I couldn't really connect with any of them enough to root for them. Also, while I really like ambiguity in books, some major plot points were left unanswered, which felt sloppy.
Also, I thought it was odd that Anahita didn't really weave a riddle INTO her rug. The way she decided on the riddle didn't seem to align with her original goal.
I did finish the book, I did enjoy it, but I think it could have been a much stronger book.
December 25, 2018
Two stars is probably too generous because this book was so boring it took me six months to read. Yet when I finished it, I just felt that it was okay, rather than bad. Still, it could have been 100 pages shorter without altering anything significant about the plot. I hated Anahita's father. Lucky for Anahita, every man she meets falls in love with her within 30 seconds so she has plenty of suitors when the time comes.
April 18, 2024
Often I like YA fiction- this was just mediocre for me.
The extraordinarily beautiful village girl, edible for marriage- struggles for independence in her choice of a husband vs an arranged marriage to the khan.
I certainly learned some about Persian culture- although I couldn't figure out the time period for the book setting.
?Spoiler: Love DOES win.
The extraordinarily beautiful village girl, edible for marriage- struggles for independence in her choice of a husband vs an arranged marriage to the khan.
I certainly learned some about Persian culture- although I couldn't figure out the time period for the book setting.
?Spoiler: Love DOES win.
March 22, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. The main character has three love interests, and I enjoyed feeling torn about them just as she was. I feel like I learned something about the nomadic culture of Iran’s past while I was also entertained by a good read
August 12, 2023
Una novela encantadora que te lleva de viaje a Irán, entre sus pueblos nómadas, sus costumbres y tradiciones. La modernidad, el amor a la familia y al trabajo bien hecho, el descubrimiento del amor, la sed de justicia, ...todo ello se entreteje en una historia que atrapa desde el principio.
February 16, 2018
Interesting plot line, but too philosophical for me.
October 22, 2019
Una buena historia que muestra la vida en Iraq al final del siglo XIX y sus costumbres.
January 10, 2020
The book is very literate. Great read!
July 17, 2020
Nice story taking place approx 1885 about carpet weavers from Iran and Afghanistan and their culture at that time.
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