Anahita's Woven Riddle

by Meghan Nuttall Sayres

Book Overview

"A richly textured, carefully researched novel . . . excellent use of Sufi poetry and a strong cast of characters make this more than memorable. Romantic, delightful and educational too!"- Kirkus... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0810954818
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: Amulet
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.77 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 1.3" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

Anahita's Woven Riddle

I chose this book simply because I like to pick books about topics that I know little about. Although a book of fiction, I found myself learning much about the history of Iran (Persia) and the nomadic people who lived there. The story was well told and kept me interested and intrigued until the end. It was so good that I wasn't able to use this book to help me fall asleep as I often do with books in the evening. Definitely read this one. You won't be disappointed. FYI: I didn't realize until I finished the book that there is a glossary at the end with the meaning of the few Farsi words that the author uses occassionally throughout the book. While I got through the story just fine without it, it would make the book more enriching to refer it so be sure to do so.

Anahita's Woven Riddle

I had the privilege of living in Iran for five years in the 1970's and I fell in love with the people and the culture. This book was researched for 10 years before it was written and the details are highly accurate but it is much more than that. It is a beautiful loving story which could have only have been written by someone who knows and loves Iran. For this reason the author was invited to present her book at the First International Children's Book Festival in Kerman. Her work speaks to the qualities we identify as goodness that transcend all cultures and boundaries; it describes what we recognize as the qualities of compassion that we humans share, as well as the generosity, good naturedness and kindness that so predominate the common culture of the Iranian people at a time that a propoganda war has been mounted against Iran in a run up to another possible war. A book that puts Iranians in such a positive light and speaks of their past struggle for a constitutional monarchy in 1906 to curb the excessive power of tyranical monarchs and empower the elected parliament, their struggle against Tzarist Russian expansionism, their struggle between traditional ways and modern change, between nomadic life style versus settled, their struggle between material and spiritual values, all helps those ignorant of Iran to better understand the Iranian experience and to put a human face on Iran. Most of all this book makes the characters very believable...the struggles of a young girl against the social pressure to be married off in an arranged political union to someone she cannot love, which would benefit everyone in her tribe except her own chance at happiness, her struggles with the inevitable transition from childhood to adulthood, her first encounters with legitimate feelings of romantic love, her rivalry with her girl cousin, the humorous aspects of human existence, the admirable leadership qualities of her father, his fairness and courage to stand up against corruption, the self sacrificing loyalty of her childhood friend Daryioush, the noble qualities of the prince and the mystery of love at first sight which will always remain a mystery... In the end this book leaves you with a heart warming glow and it becomes a friend you want to spend time with and not put down until it is read. It is not a Polly Anna fairy tale but rather quite realistic and yet the good guys win and the bad guys are brought to justice in a comic rather than cruel way...and the theme of weaving the carpet from sheep to work of art runs through the whole story, dying it, tying it together and leaving no loose ends until they tie the knot...and by the way, it is a suspenseful tale and full of surprises which will keep you riveted to it until the very end... I highly recommend this book for the young and the young of heart, Brian H. Appleton

Anahita's Woven Riddle

Picked this book up in the library and enjoyed the story enough to want to own the hardcover for my collection. A nice, clear, well told story. Highly recommend it!

A beautiful woven story....

Anahita is a change maker in a time in old Iran (Persia) where change is slowing coming. There is talk about opening schools for women and the nomadic tribes are being forced to settle. Anahita's tribe, which is known for its finely woven carpets, is one of the tribes feeling the pinch. Anahita refuses to marry the khan (tribe's leader), instead wishing to change tradition by choosing her own husband - the one that can guess the riddle in her wedding carpet. Many step forward to guess, including the khan but only one will truly know her heart. A very touching story about a way of life few of us in the west know about. The nomadic tribes of the Middle East have hardly had their say in to our consciousness. The history and the culture were nicely woven into the story of a very strong young woman who wants to be master of her fate. I'm so very glad to have stumbled onto this book - I hope more will discover its treasures!

Great book!

An intriguing, romantic story about a young Persian woman's attempt to choose the man she will marry. Sounds like a reasonable goal, right? Not if the man who plans to marry you is the powerful khan. Not if the khan can shut off the town's water with a single command, or revoke the nomadic tribe's age-old right to traverse certain lands, or have your father arrested. Ms. Nuttal has found a rich and wonderful character in Anahita, and the story of how Anahita decides her own fate by weaving a riddle into her wedding carpet is as moving as it is illuminating. A terrific read for most YA girls--and maybe a few boys, too!