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A Girl Called Rumi
A Girl Called Rumi, Ari Honarvar's debut novel, weaves a captivating tale of survival, redemption, and the power of storytelling.
Kimia, a successful spiritual advisor whose Iranian childhood continues to haunt her, collides with a mysterious giant bird in her mother's California garage. She begins reliving her experience as a nine-year-old girl in war-torn Iran, including her friendship with a mystical storyteller who led her through the mythic Seven Valleys of Love.
Grappling with her unresolved past, Kimia agrees to accompany her ailing mother back to Iran, only to arrive in the midst of the Green Uprising in the streets. Against the backdrop of the election protests, Kimia begins to unravel the secrets of the night that broke her mother and produced a dangerous enemy. As past and present collide, she must choose between running away again or completing her unfinished journey through the Valley of Death to save her brother.
Kimia, a successful spiritual advisor whose Iranian childhood continues to haunt her, collides with a mysterious giant bird in her mother's California garage. She begins reliving her experience as a nine-year-old girl in war-torn Iran, including her friendship with a mystical storyteller who led her through the mythic Seven Valleys of Love.
Grappling with her unresolved past, Kimia agrees to accompany her ailing mother back to Iran, only to arrive in the midst of the Green Uprising in the streets. Against the backdrop of the election protests, Kimia begins to unravel the secrets of the night that broke her mother and produced a dangerous enemy. As past and present collide, she must choose between running away again or completing her unfinished journey through the Valley of Death to save her brother.
350 pages, Paperback
Published September 21, 2021
40 people are currently reading
6401 people want to read
About the author
Ari Honarvar
4 books93 followersAri Honarvar is the founder of Rumi with a View, dedicated to building music and poetry bridges across war-torn and conflict-ridden borders. As a Musical Ambassador of Peace, she dances with refugees and conducts Resilience through Joy workshops on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. She is the author and illustrator of Rumi's Gift oracle set (2018) and the novel, A Girl Called Rumi (2021). Her writing has appeared in The Guardian, New York Times, Teen Vogue, Washington Post, Newsweek, and elsewhere.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
November 8, 2021
I loved this book so much I started rereading it as soon as I finished. Not only did it transport me and make me want to know more about Iranian history and culture, it made me want to be a better writer and a better person. This is a story about a spirited and imaginative girl growing up in Iran during terrible times designed to rule the public through fear and crush the spirits of women in the interests of religious fanaticism. It is about the collateral damage of war and how it is carried by victims. It is also about the transformative power of storytelling and poetry. Chapters about the girl and her family in wartime are counter-balanced against chapters in which she returns to Iran from America with her mother and brother. These strands parallel the telling of an ancient Persian quest tale about the seven valleys of love one must traverse to encounter a mythical bird. We are shown magic beneath the rubble of Iran as well as anguish amidst the plenty of America and introduced to the poetry of Hafiz and Rumi spouted by a madwoman. It takes a writer with a big heart to mine jewels amid ruins, and this book does just that. Even the monsters, the human ones, are rendered with love. A beautifully crafted book with a profound message.
September 25, 2021
A Girl Called Rumi, her debut novel, was given to me in advance for review. In our country, many immigrants have been treated like prisoners, which causes a lot of vicarious trauma to be experienced by many. Consequently, this book has contributed to accelerating the healing process. Because I am both Mexican American and Black, this book resonated deeply with me. The benefits are still being enjoyed by me, and I know they will be felt by others as well. I was entranced by a magical world called life and was captivated by all the twists and turns amid its mystery, as I read A GIRL CALLED RUMI. A sudden realization struck me: I wasn't alone.
August 24, 2021
War, Poetry and Magical Realism
A Girl Called Rumi, Ari Honarvar’s debut novel, is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Honarvar carefully weaves the tragic history of family and country into a mysterious story guided by the great mystical teachings of ancient Persia. Throughout the book, which blends the harsh reality of war with the literary mode of magical realism, we are transported back and forth between Shiraz, Iran in 1981, San Diego, U.S.A in 2009, and the realm beyond the physical world where magic is the coin of the day and all things are possible.
In the first chapter we are introduced to the essential themes of the novel. On one side, fundamentalist political repression, war, trauma, and its effects on families, communities and country. On the other side, friendship, poetry, the transformative power of storytelling, and the great abiding truth that humans are in their core governed by kindness and goodness with a capacity for healing and reconciliation.
As the story begins, we meet Kimia—a rebellious nine-year old budding feminist determined to push the envelope of personal freedom as far as she can. Not easy in the midst of a brutal war with Iraq with regular aerial bombings and a very repressive Islamic regime installed in 1979. In Kimia’s world, it is small acts of defiance that give her the will to persist through the extreme conditions imposed by war and the Islamic regime. It is her love of poetry and storytelling that shelters her from the worst of her traumas. Honarvar generously offers us verses of the great mystical poets, Rumi, Hafiz, and Saadi sprinkled like delicate spices throughout the book in a call and response between Kimia and the storyteller, Baba Morshid, and Kimia and her mother, Roya [Maman or mother].
Roya, who is a poet, suffers from war-induced PTSD and has become violent and abusive with Kimia. One of the many strengths of the novel is the portrayal of the mother’s humanity despite being “besotted with the splendor of her own madness.” She is wildly passionate and violent one moment, and the next reciting Rumi and bestowing great tenderness on Kimia. For Persians poetry is life. It is a path of resilience under the most difficult circumstances. Poetry never fails. One senses an irrepressible joy that bleeds through even in the midst of grief and loss. In fact, Honarvar writes that she sees joy as a revolutionary act.
The mystical undertones that flow throughout the story are revealed in the first chapter as Kimia encounters the storyteller while out to buy some bread for dinner. There in the middle of Felekeh Ghasrodasht Square is a makeshift stage. Baba Morshed is telling the story of the mythical bird—the giant Simorgh with her emerald green eyes who appears as a giant shadow puppet behind the screen as he speaks.
Kimia is transfixed by the storyteller’s voice and his penetrating gaze which he has focused on her. She is transfixed by the movements of the Simorgh and doesn’t realize that in that moment an Iraqi bomb has exploded nearby and people are screaming and running away. In the middle of the mayhem, she stands utterly still, gazing at the storyteller who is smiling at her. Her older brother, Arman, comes to rescue her, and we begin to learn about the difficult family dynamics between the war-traumatized and abusive mother and a rebellious young girl.
Honarvar uses 13th century Sufi poet Fariduddin Attar’s Seven Valleys of Love as a framework for Kimia's spiritual journey which is a journey of healing. In Attar’s story which unfolds skillfully as a story within the story, thousands of birds gather, called by the Hoopoe bird, to learn about this journey through seven valleys to the final valley where they will encounter the great Simorgh and become free. Each valley presents obstacles that must be overcome. Thousands begin the journey with the Valley of the Quest but only a few birds arrive in the end to the Valley of Death and beyond to life.
Kimia unknowingly begins her quest after she discovers a secret trap door beneath the stage the day after the bombing. She ventures within and sees the giant Simorgh with its emerald eye which falls out as though offered as a gift to her. She steps into an underground room filled with trees, shelves of books, and one great book, unopened on the desk. The table is set with tea for two as though she has been expected. The storyteller appears and the magic begins!
The surface story moves between Iran and San Diego—a twenty-eight-year leap from past to present and back to the past. In San Diego, we see the damaged lives of Kimia, her mother, Roya, and her older brother Arman. Page by page we see how each one has made a kind of truce with the past but the ceasefire has not led to peace. On the contrary, there are personal wars still being fought on a daily basis. The mystical story flows beneath past and present time, like a silent river.
The present rejoins the past when Roya decides to return to Iran where she hopes to die. Both Kimia and Arman accompany her. Through a cascade of events, missing pieces of the past come together. Unacknowledged grief surfaces as the secrets that have haunted each one now emerge from the darkness of repression. In a final piece of magical realism, as the story reaches toward its conclusion, Kimia returns to the storyteller’s den beneath the stage. Here the child she once was meets the adult she has become as she encounters the final Valley of Death. It’s a delightful ending full of surprise twists and turns.
As readers we are potentially more than witnesses to the story. We have also passed through each of the seven valleys, along with our cast of characters, including Attar’s birds, often reflecting on our life’s journey and its obstacles. As I put the finishing touches on this review, a bird flies past my window and lands in a nearby tree. It’s a young broad-winged hawk. I think she senses me looking at her as she tilts her head in my direction. Is her appearance just now random? I don’t think so. There is magic afoot. Did you think this was not also your story? Keep watch for the birds. They will come. They will bring transformation.
If you love magical realism and poetry, you will love this book. If you love stories of transformation, you will love this book. If you love sad stories with a happy ending, you will love this book. A Girl Called Rumi is—from beginning to end—an enchanting and life-affirming read. I highly recommend it.
A Girl Called Rumi, Ari Honarvar’s debut novel, is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Honarvar carefully weaves the tragic history of family and country into a mysterious story guided by the great mystical teachings of ancient Persia. Throughout the book, which blends the harsh reality of war with the literary mode of magical realism, we are transported back and forth between Shiraz, Iran in 1981, San Diego, U.S.A in 2009, and the realm beyond the physical world where magic is the coin of the day and all things are possible.
In the first chapter we are introduced to the essential themes of the novel. On one side, fundamentalist political repression, war, trauma, and its effects on families, communities and country. On the other side, friendship, poetry, the transformative power of storytelling, and the great abiding truth that humans are in their core governed by kindness and goodness with a capacity for healing and reconciliation.
As the story begins, we meet Kimia—a rebellious nine-year old budding feminist determined to push the envelope of personal freedom as far as she can. Not easy in the midst of a brutal war with Iraq with regular aerial bombings and a very repressive Islamic regime installed in 1979. In Kimia’s world, it is small acts of defiance that give her the will to persist through the extreme conditions imposed by war and the Islamic regime. It is her love of poetry and storytelling that shelters her from the worst of her traumas. Honarvar generously offers us verses of the great mystical poets, Rumi, Hafiz, and Saadi sprinkled like delicate spices throughout the book in a call and response between Kimia and the storyteller, Baba Morshid, and Kimia and her mother, Roya [Maman or mother].
Roya, who is a poet, suffers from war-induced PTSD and has become violent and abusive with Kimia. One of the many strengths of the novel is the portrayal of the mother’s humanity despite being “besotted with the splendor of her own madness.” She is wildly passionate and violent one moment, and the next reciting Rumi and bestowing great tenderness on Kimia. For Persians poetry is life. It is a path of resilience under the most difficult circumstances. Poetry never fails. One senses an irrepressible joy that bleeds through even in the midst of grief and loss. In fact, Honarvar writes that she sees joy as a revolutionary act.
The mystical undertones that flow throughout the story are revealed in the first chapter as Kimia encounters the storyteller while out to buy some bread for dinner. There in the middle of Felekeh Ghasrodasht Square is a makeshift stage. Baba Morshed is telling the story of the mythical bird—the giant Simorgh with her emerald green eyes who appears as a giant shadow puppet behind the screen as he speaks.
Kimia is transfixed by the storyteller’s voice and his penetrating gaze which he has focused on her. She is transfixed by the movements of the Simorgh and doesn’t realize that in that moment an Iraqi bomb has exploded nearby and people are screaming and running away. In the middle of the mayhem, she stands utterly still, gazing at the storyteller who is smiling at her. Her older brother, Arman, comes to rescue her, and we begin to learn about the difficult family dynamics between the war-traumatized and abusive mother and a rebellious young girl.
Honarvar uses 13th century Sufi poet Fariduddin Attar’s Seven Valleys of Love as a framework for Kimia's spiritual journey which is a journey of healing. In Attar’s story which unfolds skillfully as a story within the story, thousands of birds gather, called by the Hoopoe bird, to learn about this journey through seven valleys to the final valley where they will encounter the great Simorgh and become free. Each valley presents obstacles that must be overcome. Thousands begin the journey with the Valley of the Quest but only a few birds arrive in the end to the Valley of Death and beyond to life.
Kimia unknowingly begins her quest after she discovers a secret trap door beneath the stage the day after the bombing. She ventures within and sees the giant Simorgh with its emerald eye which falls out as though offered as a gift to her. She steps into an underground room filled with trees, shelves of books, and one great book, unopened on the desk. The table is set with tea for two as though she has been expected. The storyteller appears and the magic begins!
The surface story moves between Iran and San Diego—a twenty-eight-year leap from past to present and back to the past. In San Diego, we see the damaged lives of Kimia, her mother, Roya, and her older brother Arman. Page by page we see how each one has made a kind of truce with the past but the ceasefire has not led to peace. On the contrary, there are personal wars still being fought on a daily basis. The mystical story flows beneath past and present time, like a silent river.
The present rejoins the past when Roya decides to return to Iran where she hopes to die. Both Kimia and Arman accompany her. Through a cascade of events, missing pieces of the past come together. Unacknowledged grief surfaces as the secrets that have haunted each one now emerge from the darkness of repression. In a final piece of magical realism, as the story reaches toward its conclusion, Kimia returns to the storyteller’s den beneath the stage. Here the child she once was meets the adult she has become as she encounters the final Valley of Death. It’s a delightful ending full of surprise twists and turns.
As readers we are potentially more than witnesses to the story. We have also passed through each of the seven valleys, along with our cast of characters, including Attar’s birds, often reflecting on our life’s journey and its obstacles. As I put the finishing touches on this review, a bird flies past my window and lands in a nearby tree. It’s a young broad-winged hawk. I think she senses me looking at her as she tilts her head in my direction. Is her appearance just now random? I don’t think so. There is magic afoot. Did you think this was not also your story? Keep watch for the birds. They will come. They will bring transformation.
If you love magical realism and poetry, you will love this book. If you love stories of transformation, you will love this book. If you love sad stories with a happy ending, you will love this book. A Girl Called Rumi is—from beginning to end—an enchanting and life-affirming read. I highly recommend it.
April 20, 2021
I had the privilege of reading an advance copy of her debut novel, A Girl Called Rumi. My life is dedicated to social justice & migrant rights so I deal with a lot of vicarious trauma and often battle depression. This book has helped heal wounds I didn't know I had. I'm still reaping the benefits and I know it'll have a similar effect on others. My life has literally been changed for the better as a result of reading A GIRL CALLED RUMI as I entered a magical world called life, and was lost and captivated with all its twists and turns. Suddenly I found I was not alone.
November 20, 2021
I want to call this a war story, and it is, but it explores so much more: family, mysticism, trauma, healing, and Persian folklore and culture.
The timeline glides seamlessly between war-torn Iran (1981), California (2009), and modern-day Iran (2009) as the characters grapple with the pain and nightmares of the Iran-Iraq war.
Kimia, who was only nine during the war, has now immigrated to California. Her mother is wracked with tremors from the war and wants to return home to Iran. Kimia, a spiritual advisor, stumbles upon a magical bird. The bird allows her to relive her youth in Iran but is now guided by a mystical storyteller.
Eventually, Kimia takes her mother back to Iran only to find they are now amidst different dangers.
This story comes alive with all the Persian historical, cultural, and literature references that the author included. I was truly caught up in Kimia and her family’s journey of healing. 𝐀 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐮𝐦𝐢 is written in such beautiful, lyrical prose that you are swept away.
Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @rumiwithaview for an invite to the tour and a gifted copy.
The timeline glides seamlessly between war-torn Iran (1981), California (2009), and modern-day Iran (2009) as the characters grapple with the pain and nightmares of the Iran-Iraq war.
Kimia, who was only nine during the war, has now immigrated to California. Her mother is wracked with tremors from the war and wants to return home to Iran. Kimia, a spiritual advisor, stumbles upon a magical bird. The bird allows her to relive her youth in Iran but is now guided by a mystical storyteller.
Eventually, Kimia takes her mother back to Iran only to find they are now amidst different dangers.
This story comes alive with all the Persian historical, cultural, and literature references that the author included. I was truly caught up in Kimia and her family’s journey of healing. 𝐀 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐮𝐦𝐢 is written in such beautiful, lyrical prose that you are swept away.
Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @rumiwithaview for an invite to the tour and a gifted copy.
December 6, 2021
It’s been a long time since I found myself ordering, reordering and reordering yet again multiple copies of a book to give away. Yet that’s exactly what I’ve done with "A Girl Called Rumi."
Ari Honarvar artfully draws us into a world all too many children live in. One where kids learn early to dodge bombs and live among the physical and psychological rubble they create—where their imaginations normalize war and abuse out of a need for their self-preservation.
It’s rare that a book draws you into the minds of those suffering the immediate and long-term effects of its aftermath. Yet it does just that. I became so immersed in the story, that like the characters she portrays, I entered a world where sometimes I could not discriminate between reality, fantasy and sanity, nor did I always want to.
The poetry of Rumi and the folklore of Persian culture are woven throughout and serve as talismans to the girl called Rumi. Ms. Honarvar has created a talisman many of us need in our lives today.
So. please give yourself and others the gift of "A Girl Called Rumi."
Maryam Mostoufi, DMin
Ari Honarvar artfully draws us into a world all too many children live in. One where kids learn early to dodge bombs and live among the physical and psychological rubble they create—where their imaginations normalize war and abuse out of a need for their self-preservation.
It’s rare that a book draws you into the minds of those suffering the immediate and long-term effects of its aftermath. Yet it does just that. I became so immersed in the story, that like the characters she portrays, I entered a world where sometimes I could not discriminate between reality, fantasy and sanity, nor did I always want to.
The poetry of Rumi and the folklore of Persian culture are woven throughout and serve as talismans to the girl called Rumi. Ms. Honarvar has created a talisman many of us need in our lives today.
So. please give yourself and others the gift of "A Girl Called Rumi."
Maryam Mostoufi, DMin
August 20, 2023
I cannot believe that this book is so underrated! THIS NEEDS TO BE A BESTSELLER!!!
The lyrical writing, gripping stories within stories, Rumi references embedded throughout the book, the characters, the themes, the trauma, this book has EVERYTHING! This book is a fiction and poetry lover’s paradise, I cannot recommend it enough ♥️
The lyrical writing, gripping stories within stories, Rumi references embedded throughout the book, the characters, the themes, the trauma, this book has EVERYTHING! This book is a fiction and poetry lover’s paradise, I cannot recommend it enough ♥️
June 6, 2021
A masterfully weaved tale of life, death, innocence, and the secrets that keep us apart. This insightful, magical, and poetic moment in written word dances you through a world in transition. I found it impossible not to love each flawed and dynamic character while simultaneously mourning all the war might take from them. A girl called Rumi gives you a kiss of Persian resilience and a soft reminder than anything and everything is possible on the journey that is life.
November 7, 2021
I love a book that both teaches and entertains me and that is exactly what this book did.
This book is told in dual timelines of 1981 Iran and 2009 California then finishes off in 2009 Iran. This book is told in multiple points of view which gave the story unique perspectives.
The story that is told in this book is wonderful. It has magical elements as well as political history, and a family’s story.
One thing that really hit home for me is the way Iran changed during that 1980 cultural revolution. Our main character, Kimia, went from running the streets with her best friend, Reza, to having to walk with head covering and never being seen in public with Reza, who was a boy.
This book is told in dual timelines of 1981 Iran and 2009 California then finishes off in 2009 Iran. This book is told in multiple points of view which gave the story unique perspectives.
The story that is told in this book is wonderful. It has magical elements as well as political history, and a family’s story.
One thing that really hit home for me is the way Iran changed during that 1980 cultural revolution. Our main character, Kimia, went from running the streets with her best friend, Reza, to having to walk with head covering and never being seen in public with Reza, who was a boy.
August 29, 2021
This book takes you on a transformative journey of healing. On this journey you meet relatable characters who share their experiences and perspectives – family, friends and found mentors. The book captures the tangible richness and challenge of living Iran both past and present as well as the palpable longing of an immigrant, living somewhere that isn’t home when home can’t be home anymore. Through this journey the author strolls you through places with the sound of the language and the sights, smells, flavors and emotions - so visceral. Even more, though – the author invokes the power of the story - this treasure that we often dismiss as pain/suffering. In the story the main character Kimia’s (and no doubt the author’s) love of words/poetry and story create a universal message of medicine that we need in the time of a pandemic – medicine that is about not only investigating our treasure (trauma) but opening up to how our stories through their playful joy and magic can be our most potent healing.
November 15, 2021
This is one of those magical but lonely books you find as a reader that you wish more people were reading. The history of war-torn Iran mixed with Persian poetry and folklore made for an immersive experience. This is a story about finding joy within sorrow, power in small acts of rebellion and madness within us all. I found the distinction of voice between young and older Kimia was done well but as more characters were introduced, I had a harder time differentiating between them. The foot notes were helpful and made for a better reading experience. The book club questions at the end were excellent (which is not always the case) and made me want to reread in order to reflect on some. This would be a great book club book pick. Please consider this if you have a book club.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are my own.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are my own.
May 4, 2021
Wow-what an amazing journey I experienced in this book!
Flowing back and forth in time between San Diego and a war-torn Iran, each scenario adds to the movement and realness of the story. The tale and the characters I came to know so well come together in time and place in very powerful and unexpected ways. Woven through it all is a wonderous Iranian mystical parable that-as parables do-reveals some deep truths about life and love.
I found myself responding with so many levels and flavors of emotions and engagement with the story, and ignoring my "to-do list" until I finished the book!
Don't miss this novel!!!
Flowing back and forth in time between San Diego and a war-torn Iran, each scenario adds to the movement and realness of the story. The tale and the characters I came to know so well come together in time and place in very powerful and unexpected ways. Woven through it all is a wonderous Iranian mystical parable that-as parables do-reveals some deep truths about life and love.
I found myself responding with so many levels and flavors of emotions and engagement with the story, and ignoring my "to-do list" until I finished the book!
Don't miss this novel!!!
September 23, 2021
Lush, textured, and transporting. Set in California and Iran and told through multiple points of view across several key decades, Ms. Hornarvar’s novel enchants with Persian food, language, and tradition and brings Rumi and a host of fabled characters to life. Hornavar captures the terror in Iran after the Revolution—-purity laws, food lines, child brides, and protests as well as the magic one young girl taps into that will ultimately help her survive. Take your time with this novel—it is poetry, a world of its own, a journey, a feast. I’m in awe of Ari Hornavar and what she has created in A Girl Called Rumi.
November 11, 2021
A remarkable story about a family torn by war. There are duel timelines taking place in California and Iran. Being transported to Iran and learning about the war and Kimia's family, and how much it changed their lives was heartbreaking. There is also magic and mystical aspects woven into this that really brings this to life. Being a poet I loved how this all tied together. A poetic and deeply touching tale about family, war and the magic of poetry and storytelling. A beautiful story.
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
September 21, 2021
Compelling is the word. I found myself thinking about the characters when I wasn’t reading the book and staying up too late because I couldn’t put the book down. The shifts between characters and time periods kept my attention engaged and drew me into a sense of timelessness.
September 25, 2022
For a novel centered around the power of good storytelling, I was shocked by how boring and simplistic the writing style was. Good prose goes a long way, and this book didn’t have any. The first person narratives hurt the magic of the story, and the number of narrators result in a novel that tells you what’s happening rather than showing you. All the characters have the same personality (read: none at all), and absolutely no chemistry.
I’m not sure what is meant to be gained from this story. The “secrets” each of the characters harbor around Reza’s death don’t actually have an impact on his death at all. Roya has no memory of beating her children, and never has to face the consequences for that. Morteza’s POV is juvenile, and all of Kimia’s problems are magically solved when she becomes the storyteller. What’s the point? What’s the “lesson”?
I’m not sure what is meant to be gained from this story. The “secrets” each of the characters harbor around Reza’s death don’t actually have an impact on his death at all. Roya has no memory of beating her children, and never has to face the consequences for that. Morteza’s POV is juvenile, and all of Kimia’s problems are magically solved when she becomes the storyteller. What’s the point? What’s the “lesson”?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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September 23, 2021#agirlcalledrumi by @rumiwithaview #newrelease2021
"A Girl Called Rumi is a magical journey to a world of mystical delights, enchantment, and revelation. It's a page-turner that goes deep into the nature of reality beyond perception.”
― #deepakchopra MD
⚘Even if from the sky
poison befalls all
I’m still sweetness
wrapped in sweetness
wrapped in sweetness
wrapped in sweetness . . .
#rumi
Genre: #mythology & #folktales ; cultural heritage fiction; metaphysical & visionary fiction.
350 pgs.
This book has the translations of original verses of Persian poems.
“From the horrors of Iran-Iraq war to the complex reality of modern-day Iran, this is a novel that is as mesmerizing and dynamic as the Persian poetry it carries.”―Sahar Delijani, author of Children of the Jacaranda Tree.
⚘This book, is inspired by real-life experiences of the author.. #iraniraqwar #migration to & #settlement in #usa🇺🇸
It has #loss #grief #survival at its core. It also brings into light the #power of #poetry & #storytelling .. the strength, words..tales weaved by our mother have on us..while growing up & infact, through out life.
It's inspiring, optimistic & has that spark ✨, the zeal of life, to say the least..
Also the power of colours, of objects that bring out childhood memories (The red cape), the real meaning of the emerald eye of the Simorgh (mystical creature from folk tales), the Seven Valley stories..left me in awe..
Author Ari Honarvar believes in joy as a revolutionary
act. Even in the midst of trauma and the most brutal of
circumstances, storytelling, music, and beauty can help
people survive.
I loved the #bookclub ques.s
🌸
Do you believe that the arts are a powerful means of transforming
suffering into treasure?
Is it possible for someone so successful in counseling others
not be able to let go of her own past?
Can you look for joy, in despair?
----
Our story has kept our
spirit alive despite invasions, wars, and despotic leaders.
This book is a love letter to all the displaced
souls who yearn to become their own alchemists.
I long to go home.
Once there was. Once there wasn’t.
⚘synopsis
A Girl Called Rumi, Ari Honarvar’s debut novel, weaves a captivating tale of survival, redemption, and the power of storytelling. Kimia, a successful spiritual advisor whose Iranian childhood continues to haunt her, collides with a mysterious giant bird in her mother’s California garage. She begins reliving her experience as a nine-year-old girl in war-torn Iran, including her friendship with a mystical storyteller who led her through the mythic Seven Valleys of Love. Grappling with her unresolved past, Kimia agrees to accompany her ailing mother back to Iran, only to arrive in the midst of the Green Uprising in the streets. Against the backdrop of the election protests, Kimia begins to unravel the secrets of the night that broke her mother and produced a dangerous enemy. As past and present collide, she must choose between running away again or completing her unfinished journey through the Valley of Death to save her brother.
"A Girl Called Rumi is a magical journey to a world of mystical delights, enchantment, and revelation. It's a page-turner that goes deep into the nature of reality beyond perception.”
― #deepakchopra MD
⚘Even if from the sky
poison befalls all
I’m still sweetness
wrapped in sweetness
wrapped in sweetness
wrapped in sweetness . . .
#rumi
Genre: #mythology & #folktales ; cultural heritage fiction; metaphysical & visionary fiction.
350 pgs.
This book has the translations of original verses of Persian poems.
“From the horrors of Iran-Iraq war to the complex reality of modern-day Iran, this is a novel that is as mesmerizing and dynamic as the Persian poetry it carries.”―Sahar Delijani, author of Children of the Jacaranda Tree.
⚘This book, is inspired by real-life experiences of the author.. #iraniraqwar #migration to & #settlement in #usa🇺🇸
It has #loss #grief #survival at its core. It also brings into light the #power of #poetry & #storytelling .. the strength, words..tales weaved by our mother have on us..while growing up & infact, through out life.
It's inspiring, optimistic & has that spark ✨, the zeal of life, to say the least..
Also the power of colours, of objects that bring out childhood memories (The red cape), the real meaning of the emerald eye of the Simorgh (mystical creature from folk tales), the Seven Valley stories..left me in awe..
Author Ari Honarvar believes in joy as a revolutionary
act. Even in the midst of trauma and the most brutal of
circumstances, storytelling, music, and beauty can help
people survive.
I loved the #bookclub ques.s
🌸
Do you believe that the arts are a powerful means of transforming
suffering into treasure?
Is it possible for someone so successful in counseling others
not be able to let go of her own past?
Can you look for joy, in despair?
----
Our story has kept our
spirit alive despite invasions, wars, and despotic leaders.
This book is a love letter to all the displaced
souls who yearn to become their own alchemists.
I long to go home.
Once there was. Once there wasn’t.
⚘synopsis
A Girl Called Rumi, Ari Honarvar’s debut novel, weaves a captivating tale of survival, redemption, and the power of storytelling. Kimia, a successful spiritual advisor whose Iranian childhood continues to haunt her, collides with a mysterious giant bird in her mother’s California garage. She begins reliving her experience as a nine-year-old girl in war-torn Iran, including her friendship with a mystical storyteller who led her through the mythic Seven Valleys of Love. Grappling with her unresolved past, Kimia agrees to accompany her ailing mother back to Iran, only to arrive in the midst of the Green Uprising in the streets. Against the backdrop of the election protests, Kimia begins to unravel the secrets of the night that broke her mother and produced a dangerous enemy. As past and present collide, she must choose between running away again or completing her unfinished journey through the Valley of Death to save her brother.
June 7, 2022
Reading a debut novel is always risky. Writing is a tough job, and to do it well for the length of an entire book is asking a lot. A new author is an unknown quantity, and time is a limited quantity, so I tend to reach for books by writers I already trust to deliver the good stuff.
This may be Ari Honarvar’s first book, but she clearly knows her way around a story. The title hooked me first: "A Girl Called Rumi." What? A girl? I thought Rumi was an old dead poet – and a dude, at that. I was immediately curious and had to find out more.
I ordered a physical copy of the book from the “Mysterious Galaxy.” I requested a copy signed by the author from their website: www.mystgalaxy.com. Not only were they helpful, but the book arrived wrapped neatly in brown paper inside a box with a dragon stamped on it. It felt like a magical experience before I even opened the cover.
Speaking of the cover! Tastefully executed in red, gold, and white, the artwork is a calligram painted by Ari herself. The image is of a “Simorgh,” a beast from Persian literature that I’d never heard of before, and which evokes the soul of the story.
The structure of the novel is a dual timeline that shifts back and forth between Iran in 1981 and the US and Iran in 2009. It’s told primarily through the viewpoint of Kimia, but also includes perspectives from her family members and an antagonist. Despite the jumping between times and people, the narrative flows seamlessly.
I relished the flavor of the book – it’s steeped in Persian culture without being confusing to those not familiar with it. Ari presents the reader with food, drink, language, and environments that were entirely new to me. She references poets I knew and those I’ve never had the privilege to read before. She creates her own translation of myths and poems and uses them as the scaffolding from which to hang her tale of relationships, trauma, guilt, and how we, as flawed humans, filled with failings, may still transcend and connect from the heart.
I found myself wishing there was more of Kimia and less from the other perspectives toward the last third of the book, simply because I enjoyed her point of view and would have liked the satisfaction of knowing how she felt from the inside rather than the outside. I would have liked a glossary of the Persian/Iranian words in addition to the definitions included as notes, but apparently the audible book comes with one, so that's awesome!
But these are minor quibbles. The breadth and scope of this debut would have been a millstone around the neck of a less skillful author. Instead, Ari dances her way through, weaving a story that would make Morshed proud. So curl up with a warm estekan of tea and allow yourself to be transported through a time and place that will expand your experience of belonging and of reality itself.
https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Called-Ru...
This may be Ari Honarvar’s first book, but she clearly knows her way around a story. The title hooked me first: "A Girl Called Rumi." What? A girl? I thought Rumi was an old dead poet – and a dude, at that. I was immediately curious and had to find out more.
I ordered a physical copy of the book from the “Mysterious Galaxy.” I requested a copy signed by the author from their website: www.mystgalaxy.com. Not only were they helpful, but the book arrived wrapped neatly in brown paper inside a box with a dragon stamped on it. It felt like a magical experience before I even opened the cover.
Speaking of the cover! Tastefully executed in red, gold, and white, the artwork is a calligram painted by Ari herself. The image is of a “Simorgh,” a beast from Persian literature that I’d never heard of before, and which evokes the soul of the story.
The structure of the novel is a dual timeline that shifts back and forth between Iran in 1981 and the US and Iran in 2009. It’s told primarily through the viewpoint of Kimia, but also includes perspectives from her family members and an antagonist. Despite the jumping between times and people, the narrative flows seamlessly.
I relished the flavor of the book – it’s steeped in Persian culture without being confusing to those not familiar with it. Ari presents the reader with food, drink, language, and environments that were entirely new to me. She references poets I knew and those I’ve never had the privilege to read before. She creates her own translation of myths and poems and uses them as the scaffolding from which to hang her tale of relationships, trauma, guilt, and how we, as flawed humans, filled with failings, may still transcend and connect from the heart.
I found myself wishing there was more of Kimia and less from the other perspectives toward the last third of the book, simply because I enjoyed her point of view and would have liked the satisfaction of knowing how she felt from the inside rather than the outside. I would have liked a glossary of the Persian/Iranian words in addition to the definitions included as notes, but apparently the audible book comes with one, so that's awesome!
But these are minor quibbles. The breadth and scope of this debut would have been a millstone around the neck of a less skillful author. Instead, Ari dances her way through, weaving a story that would make Morshed proud. So curl up with a warm estekan of tea and allow yourself to be transported through a time and place that will expand your experience of belonging and of reality itself.
https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Called-Ru...
October 22, 2021
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“A Girl Called Rumi” is a beautiful, heart-wrenching tale about family and friendship amidst a life of war and loss, and I could not put it down.
Firstly, I applaud the author for weaving such a beautiful tale as a debut novel. As soon as you start reading the story, you get transported into Kimia’s world. The author creatively toggles between the past and the present, where we see Kimia’s life from Shiraz and San Diego and all the events that transpired. You can see how Kimia’s life contrasts between the past and the present, and the flashback scenes with Baba Morshed were gripping. Moreover, the author also changes the perspectives between Kimia, Arman, and other characters like Morteza.
The author also portrayed the characters realistically. Kimia is a beautiful protagonist. I loved how the author showed the relationship between Reza and Arman. I could relate to her conflicted feelings as she goes back to Iran. The author also adds in thought-provoking conversations like the freedom of speech. I also appreciate the author for including a translation of terms to help us understand some of the dialogues. These dialogues and make the story as authentic as possible. There are also some unique scenes, like when Kimia meets the storyteller with the bird. Some moments will crawl under your skin, especially when the author details about the war, like the scenes where Arman witnesses the bomb explode or when he finds himself in solitary confinement.
Overall, “A Girl Called Rumi” is one of those books that provide a glimpse of the struggles people face and makes you appreciate your life. It is a beautiful book that is easy to read for its short chapters, and I recommend it to anyone in the mood for pleasant literary fiction.
February 4, 2022
"Do you have water?" "No, do you have electricity?" "No" The repetition of this line of questioning throughout Ari Honarvar's novel offers a brilliant distillation of the fundamental depravities of life in Revolutionary Iran, and the will of the people to persevere despite the upheavals and uncertainties they are being forced to endure daily. There's even an element of poetry in this dialogue, by capturing spiteful circumstances with such vivid and exacting language, readers understand at once how a proud and modern society begins to break down. Honarvar's ability to show how people ban together in such circumstances, and even the deeply ingrained poetry that binds the collective consciousness of entire generations to their Persian ancestry, renders an incredibly rich reader experience. At heart, this is a story about shame, how men and women are apt to try and take responsibility for events beyond their control and will struggle to cope with guilt and anger rooted in the pasts they cannot change. While I would have liked to know a little more about the primary characters' escape from Iran to San Diego, (We're given only a brief explanation of a route through India,) the many chapters detailing street life from the perspectives of children and young adults in war torn and radicalized 1980's Iran are incredibly vivid. The mysticism of the old man story teller, and the quoted poetry of Rumi and other Persian poets melds seamlessly with Honarvar's own prose, capturing the true essence of Iranian culture. There are many lines to savor and important questions that readers will ruminate on. Namely, the statement: "It is zeal that has sustained" issued by a ruthless commander of the Revolutionary Guard. To what extent is zeal necessary to unite people and to forge a cultural identity? Is it irresistible? When does zeal become repugnant and destructive? Whether our experience leads us down a path of self love or self hate, there are zealous yearnings each individual struggles to appease... Hence the relief and satisfaction that Kimia experiences when she cuts herself, or when her brother smokes pot. The ill fated trek homeward that mom, daughter and son make amid the backdrop of the Green Revolution in 2009 Iran, is at once a revelatory reckoning and a thrilling literary journey.
February 10, 2022
I loved this book, I loved how loving it was, how painful it was, I loved the stories, I loved the culture, I loved this book.
The story was so complex and heartbreaking, it transported me into the lives of these two families. I found myself hating the brother, but then understanding him. All of the characters, even Morteza were understandable. Not one person was what I would consider evil. They were people who were broken by the war, and the culture changes that were being forced upon them from the revolution (admittedly some enjoyed the changes, though it’s hard for me not to be bias as a woman).
Baba Morshed was a bit confusing to me, it left me wondering if he was actually real, in both 1981 and 2009, or if it really was something that Kimia had needed to do for herself, but if he was real (which is what I lean towards) the magic is both confusing but lovely.
The book started as interesting but a slow burn, but around 200 pages in I could not put it down. I found it to be utterly relevant in a time where our rights as women, and (not me) but POC are getting stripped by a Supreme Court who was stacked by a madman. Not to say it is anything as extreme as what was happening in Iran during the time, but the similarities made me uncomfortable and forced me to question if something similar could happen to the US.
I felt love for all of these characters, I loved their stories, and I sobbed at the pain they had to go through. Harnovars writing was beautiful, and just placed the reader into these stories. I will read anything else she writes.
The story was so complex and heartbreaking, it transported me into the lives of these two families. I found myself hating the brother, but then understanding him. All of the characters, even Morteza were understandable. Not one person was what I would consider evil. They were people who were broken by the war, and the culture changes that were being forced upon them from the revolution (admittedly some enjoyed the changes, though it’s hard for me not to be bias as a woman).
Baba Morshed was a bit confusing to me, it left me wondering if he was actually real, in both 1981 and 2009, or if it really was something that Kimia had needed to do for herself, but if he was real (which is what I lean towards) the magic is both confusing but lovely.
The book started as interesting but a slow burn, but around 200 pages in I could not put it down. I found it to be utterly relevant in a time where our rights as women, and (not me) but POC are getting stripped by a Supreme Court who was stacked by a madman. Not to say it is anything as extreme as what was happening in Iran during the time, but the similarities made me uncomfortable and forced me to question if something similar could happen to the US.
I felt love for all of these characters, I loved their stories, and I sobbed at the pain they had to go through. Harnovars writing was beautiful, and just placed the reader into these stories. I will read anything else she writes.
October 6, 2021
A girl called Rumi' is a story of childhood & adulthood, of innocence and guilt, of love & despair and of life and death.
The novel tells the story of a girl named 'Kimia' who is an immigrant from Iran and is currently living in San Diego. When she was a nine-year-old girl she was always looking for adventures, the ones which comes with trouble. But she was not alone in this as she never misses to drag her best friend 'Reza' in her expedition.
Now, she has a pretty stable life in the U.S., a respected job, a welcoming home, her mother, her brother and the thing she always longed for - Freedom. But even after so many years, her childhood memories of war, the boundless restrictions on women in the post revolution Iran and the consequences of breaking them still haunts her.
Every character in this novel has their own back story, from their own point of view and their character development is phenomenal. Every character in the story goes through various stages of friendship, love, happiness, betrayal, guilt, terror and much more to find their true self. Overall, the book is a rollercoaster ride of emotions and a must read.
The novel tells the story of a girl named 'Kimia' who is an immigrant from Iran and is currently living in San Diego. When she was a nine-year-old girl she was always looking for adventures, the ones which comes with trouble. But she was not alone in this as she never misses to drag her best friend 'Reza' in her expedition.
Now, she has a pretty stable life in the U.S., a respected job, a welcoming home, her mother, her brother and the thing she always longed for - Freedom. But even after so many years, her childhood memories of war, the boundless restrictions on women in the post revolution Iran and the consequences of breaking them still haunts her.
Every character in this novel has their own back story, from their own point of view and their character development is phenomenal. Every character in the story goes through various stages of friendship, love, happiness, betrayal, guilt, terror and much more to find their true self. Overall, the book is a rollercoaster ride of emotions and a must read.
September 20, 2021
This debut novel releasing Sept 21, is a difficult but beautiful story that I highly recommend. Taking place over multiple timelines between California and Iran this book tells the story of Kimia and her family and what the effects of war have on individuals and families. In addition to seeing Iran post-revolution in the early 1980’s we also see it in the early 2000’s where traumas still exist. We also experience some magical realism when Kimia encounters the Storyteller who uses The Seven Valleys of Love as a basis for her spiritual journey. Seeing Kimia and her family during these two times and how the past has affected them all is a testament to what the horrors of war and its aftermath can do to people and how they try to make peace with the past and heal. I give this 4.5 stars out of 5 and thank Suzy’s Approved Book Tours and Ari Honarvar for the chance to read and review this book.
September 28, 2021
I receive this for honest review. Thank you so much!
This is my first time reading from this author and it was a other wonderful amazing read.
What a great read. This novel had everything in it.
This had me all over the place. My heart beating so fast! I couldn't believe what I was reading. If had me in shock. Every page was a page turner. I couldn't believe my eyes what I was reading. I highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. It will surprise you in every way.
4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
The storyline was very good!
The theme and setting was well put together. The characters was well put together in the story.
Was so well put in the story.
Everything all in one book.
It was just perfect!
This is my first time reading from this author and it was a other wonderful amazing read.
What a great read. This novel had everything in it.
This had me all over the place. My heart beating so fast! I couldn't believe what I was reading. If had me in shock. Every page was a page turner. I couldn't believe my eyes what I was reading. I highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. It will surprise you in every way.
4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
The storyline was very good!
The theme and setting was well put together. The characters was well put together in the story.
Was so well put in the story.
Everything all in one book.
It was just perfect!
May 29, 2022
A refreshingly non-western story that blends elements of magical realism, mysticism and Persian folklore. And a great story to boot. You are really transported back to Iran in the 1980's and get a real feeling for, not just life as was it was during the war, but the inner life of a Persian family steeped poetry, beauty and flavor, and the innerworkings of a traumatized young girl as she searches for meaning. The interweaving of the 'Conference of the Birds' into the story is done masterfully and introduced me to a different sort of story than I had discovered previously. This is a book that honors Persian literature and poetry and all storytelling as a something that can be powerful and redemptive.
October 23, 2021
Mysterious
Mythical
Magnificent
A Girl Called Rumi, Ari Honarvar’s debut novel, is a well written and beautifully told debut novel that weaves together, the present and the past in the backdrop of the Iran election protest and uprising, with a mystery to keep those fingers turning this satisfyingly complex story.
A Persian story, a migrant story, a survival and resilience story that will resonate to anyone having to fight for injustice, trauma,in the political and fanatic realm, this book will be treasured. Set in the backdrop of classic Persian poetry and mythical tales, this book transcends the past and present into a new world - I really enjoyed the writing of this magnificent book.
Mythical
Magnificent
A Girl Called Rumi, Ari Honarvar’s debut novel, is a well written and beautifully told debut novel that weaves together, the present and the past in the backdrop of the Iran election protest and uprising, with a mystery to keep those fingers turning this satisfyingly complex story.
A Persian story, a migrant story, a survival and resilience story that will resonate to anyone having to fight for injustice, trauma,in the political and fanatic realm, this book will be treasured. Set in the backdrop of classic Persian poetry and mythical tales, this book transcends the past and present into a new world - I really enjoyed the writing of this magnificent book.
April 26, 2021
The story as confusing as it is coming from the past and the present and many charaters written in first person made me first curios and then tie to the magic of a storyteller. It keeps you wanting to know what is going to happen. The trauma of war, leaving the country, loosing a father and a best friend, with all the poetry and the history of Iran-Iraq wars, it brings the traumas of war to its maximum.
February 18, 2022
In the best books there is at least a moment of transcendence where the author takes us to some extraordinary place beyond the quotidian and expected. This book, which starts out seeming to be a realistic historical novel about a chilling time in Iranian history expands into a magical story landscape. It is about that magic itself -- the magic of story, the magic of poetry. It's beautifully written and its themes are powerful.
February 19, 2022
A fantastic debut novel that tells an incredibly important story of the journey so many Americans have taken from a old homeland to new, and the challenges, mysteries, struggles and joys we experience. The book gives important insights into the wonders of life, poetry, war, inter-family relationships, living between two cultures and how we reconcile our histories, both public and personal. I couldn't put it down and can't wait to read it again.
March 4, 2022
the best book I have read so far this year--I am still thinking about it. Beautifully told historical fiction told in two timelines --one when "Rumi" is a young girl in war torn Iran just as fanatics are taking away girls and women's freedom , and the other when she is an adult in California and as she returns to Iran to accompany her mother who wants to return to her homeland before she dies. There is a magical realism component and poetry included which just add to the beauty and mystery.
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