First Sentence: As I walk past the playground on my way to downtown Tucson, I overhear two girls teasing a third: Jake and Ella sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G.
Comments: This is my favorite kind of “chick-lit” – heavier on the “lit,” and having more substance than one might expect. (Does that upgrade it to “women’s fiction”? I’m still not entirely clear on the distinctions.) On the other hand, the cover illustration makes it look like a more serious book than it actually is. While the plot of Veil of Roses isn’t exactly groundbreaking – girl wants to find husband, but there are obstacles – and I found the outcome predictable, I really enjoyed reading this.
Laura Fitzgerald tells this story from an outsider’s perspective, and Tami is an engaging character. Her desire to stay in the United States, and to experience the sort of freedom and choices that would not be available to her in contemporary Iran, gives a sense of urgency to her three-month visit to her her sister and brother-in-law in Tucson, Arizona; the most likely way to extend that stay is to find a husband herself, and that is the primary goal of her trip. Tami’s experience of life in America, both among other immigrants and with natives, gave me a fresh appreciation for what we have in this country, particularly as women, when compared to other places in the world. Tami notices that too, and at times doesn’t think that Westerners appreciate their freedoms enough; she sometimes struggles to make her new acquaintances understand that she comes from a very different worldview, and that they take certain things for granted that she cannot.
I didn’t have much trouble visualizing the action in this novel as I read it, particularly in the last third of the book. With some tweaking, it’s not hard to imagine this story on a movie screen, as a multicultural romantic comedy. I’d probably see that movie, actually.
I selected this for my book club to discuss at our next meeting, and I’m curious to know what the other women in my group will have to say about it.
Rating: 3.5/5
Other bloggers’ reviews:
Melody’s Reading Corner
I need to reread this book… I bought it just before my daughter was born & took it to the hospital with me. Yeah, I didn't get very far there lol.. finished it while BFing in early days so I don't remember much about it other than I like it.
Mama Kalila – Read it again when you get the chance; you’ll probably still like it :-).
Oh, I enjoyed reading this book. Here’s my link. 🙂
Melody – Thanks for sharing your excellent review! I’ve edited the post to include it.
I have been seeing this title pop up now and then. It does sound like a good one. When you mentioned that it was chick lit but heavier on the lit, Hindi Bindi Club came to mind. I prefer my chick lit like that too.
Literary Feline – I’ve heard of Hindi Bindi Club but haven’t read it – I’ll have to look for it.