Sky of Red Poppies

I thought I did a pretty good job of it! :-)......more

"Like a picture slowly developing in the darkroom, the injustice around me became clearer with time. Forbidden thoughts grew and multiplied in my head. How many others had disappeared before her, and who would be next?" This is my mom's book, and when I read it, I couldn't put it down. Honestly, my m......more

I am perhaps the worst critic this book could have, being Middle Eastern, an avid literary fiction reader, and a former publishing professional. That said, I had read the book and I just reread it again this week. 5 stars again. It is page-turning, emotionally gripping, and extremely informative abou......more

Ms. Ghahremani’s almost lyrical prose gently guides us through a story filled with sorrow and joy taking place in a strict society where a schoolgirl friendship blooms amid the changes of the people surrounding them, of shifting politics, the growing oppositionist activities and even land reforms. D......more

This is a stunning novel that I was scared to finish because I didn’t want it to end — and this despite the gradually building tension and my desperate need to know what would happen to the young women. I first read Sky of Red Poppies in 2020 and am reading it again in 2025 as I work on my second no......more