A Girl Called Rumi, Ari Honarvar
A Girl Called Rumi, Ari Honarvar
List: $22.95 | Sale: $16.07
Club: $11.47

A Girl Called Rumi

Author: Ari Honarvar

Narrator: Rasha Zamamiri

Unabridged: 11 hr 51 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/08/2022

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.

About Ari Honarvar

Ari Honarvar, artist and refugee advocate, is the founder of Rumi with a View, dedicated to building music and poetry bridges across war-torn and conflict-ridden borders. Her writing has appeared in the Guardian, Teen Vogue, Slate, the Washington Post, and elsewhere. She is the author of the oracle card set and book, Rumi’s Gift. She lives in San Diego, where she has befriended a hummingbird named Taadon.

About Rasha Zamamiri

Rasha Zamamiri is an actress, a singer, and a voiceover artist who was born in the Middle East and raised all over the world. She has a vast knowledge of cultures, customs, and religions, which have helped her character portrayals on stage, on TV, and in the booth. She was also the first Muslim featured in a national commercial wearing the hijab, which was televised during the Super Bowl, Olympics, and multiple national events.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Heather

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 du......more

Goodreads review by MeMe

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 bo......more

Goodreads review by Pamela

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,......more

Goodreads review by Enrique

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 an......more

Goodreads review by Susan

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 nightm......more

Quotes

“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.” Deepak Chopra, New York Times bestselling author

“Honarvar’s gorgeously evocative prose subtly captures the young Kimia’s irrepressible delight in the face of oppression…A story that draws beautifully on the power of Iranian fables to unearth the magical, restorative world that Kimia finds beneath the rubble of war.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Readers hunger for stories like this—full of fascinating new worlds and redemptive outcomes.” Rene Denfeld, author of The Child Finder

“Honarvar manages to weave potent Sufi teaching stories, a gripping mystery set in the midst of the upheaval of the Iran-Iraq War, and beautiful writing into a magic carpet that transported me from the moment I opened the book to the moment I reluctantly turned the last page. Highly recommended.” Mirabai Starr, author of Wild Mercy

“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

“Rasha Zamamiri’s captivating performance of this timely audiobook will enchant listeners…Zamamiri expresses the emotional core of each character, and her accents and pronunciation of Farsi words are impeccable.” AudioFile

Awards

  • Ms. Magazine Pick
Add to Cart
Add to Wish List