Part historical fiction, part coming-of-age story, Aria by Vancouver author Nazanine Hozar opens with a baby being birthed, then abandoned, in an alleyway. Upon being discovered by Behrouz, a kind driver for the army, the child is rescued and named Aria.
The story is set against the backdrop of the Iranian revolution.
The country is in a state of political unrest and religious divide, and in this book, it’s all seen through the eyes of a child.
Throughout the novel, Aria crosses paths with three different women: Zahra, the cruel wife of Behrouz; Fereshteh, an affluent but guarded lady of wealth; and Mehri, a troubled mother with long-held secrets.
Each woman will shape Aria’s path to adulthood.
Margaret Atwood says of this book: “Here comes a sweeping saga about the Iranian revolution as it explodes — told from the ground level and the centre of chaos. A Doctor Zhivago of Iran.”
As beautifully written as it is heart-wrenching, this stunning debut novel ultimately tells the tale of one young girl’s tumultuous journey growing up in a changing Tehran.
