Veil of Roses
Book Review

Veil of Roses BOOK SYNOPSIS

This is the story of Tamila, Tami, who comes from Iran to America to live with her sister. Her parents give her a chance to get out of her homeland which is extremely oppressive to women to make a new, better life for herself. In order for her to stay in America she must find herself a husband within the 3 months before her Visa expires. During her stay she takes an English class and makes some unusual but true friends. Her quest is sometimes funny but often sad because of the possibility she will have to return to the harsh reality of Iran.

QUEENIE D SAYS

Cute and fun but not really deep. I don't mean that every book I read has to be deep but I like to take something away when I'm done and with Veil of Roses I really didn't learn much I didn't already know.

I cannot possibly imagine living in Iran as a woman so it's not totally fair of me to judge this book. I think that any woman who finds a way to get out and make a better life for herself is brave and fortunate. Tami was sincere in her innocence and her love for her freedom was pure. That was the best part of the novel for me.

Would I recommend it? Only if you like a lighthearted romance with a somewhat unbelievable ending.

THE QUEENS COLLIDE: A DEBATE ON VEIL OF ROSES

Queenie B: Tami Joon, as her father calls her, is an absolutely charming breath of fresh air!

Queenie D: Agreed. Her total innocence in every situation was endearing - and not fake!

QB: So true! How can we, as American women, not feel the emotional tug for the Iranian women’s plight which this book brings to life…I mean the woman comes to America and it’s like a total rebirth!

QD: We’re agreeing on all points so far - crazy! Tami’s life seems so ordinary and simple after she moves in with her sister. She walks to an English class, she has coffee, she hangs out with her new friends - all things we take for granted. For her, each one of these is a HUGE freedom she could not have in Iran.

QB: I don’t want to sound apathetic toward any woman who comes from this situation but I have trouble understanding why she didn’t just take control of her life and tell them to shove it! The mother should have figured out a way to come back instead of hiding and being miserable for so long.

QD: I guess it’s easy for us to say because we don’t understand - we’ve never lived it.

QB: And thank God we never will.

QD: Yep, that’s what this book did for me. It showed me once again how lucky I am to live in America.

QB: Amen! Did you actually like the book though?

QD: Not my normal style but I didn’t hate it.

QB: Bottom line, I thought it was boring.

QD: Definitely not much to discuss. I think we got everything out of it that we could.

QB: And then some...

Veil of Roses DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Were you shocked by the cultural differences between the American women and Tami Joon?
2. Was Tami Joon’s sister "Americanized?"?
3. Why don't more of these women come to America to escape ill treatment?

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