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twistinthetale's review against another edition
2.0
Two stars seems a bit harsh and, really, on a scale, this would edge very close to three, for me. I loved the setting and was eager to read about the political upheaval in Iran. It seems I know very little about this long-lived conflict having gleaned information from sporadic media coverage. Reading of the human impact of the political upheaval over this time period was the stand-out feature of this novel. I was intrigued to learn that the author, herself, was born in prison in Tehran, mirroring the events at the beginning of the novel. The novel spans about 30 years and several generations and we see the impact on children growing up amongst uncertainty and fear. My biggest criticism of the novel is that, as the story moves from one character to the next, I didn't seem to remain engaged and invested in the story of each woman.
hisdarkmaterials's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting look at Iran and the revolution in the 1980s and how it affected so many people.
msaari's review against another edition
4.0
Kauniin kannen sisälle kätkeytyy inhottavia tarinoita, mutta onneksi Jakarandapuun lapset ei ollut ihan niin synkkä kuin olisi voinut olla. Iranin islamilaisen vallankumouksen kauhuissa 1980-luvulla kuitenkin ollaan ja ihmisiä vangitaan ja teloitetaan mielivaltaisesti. Kidutus- ja kärsimyskuvausten sijaan pääpaino on kuitenkin lapsissa.
Azar synnyttää tyttärensä vankilassa. Neda-lapsesta tulee sellin naisten lemmikki, mutta kuinka kauan Azar saa lapsensa pitää, ennen kuin tämä otetaan pois? Pieni Omid taas jätetään jälkeen, kun äiti ja isä viedään vankilaan. Lapseton Leila ottaa sisartensa lapset Omidin, Saran ja Forughin hoitaakseen, kun lasten äidit ovat vankilassa. Amir taas viedään vankilaan ennen hänen tyttärensä syntymää – saako hän lainkaan nähdä lastaan ja mitä lapsi saa tietää isästään?
Irakin ja Iranin välisen sodan loppuvaiheissa Iranissa teloitettiin ja joukkohaudattiin poliittisia vankeja, oman maan kansalaisia, tuhansittain. Määräksi arvioidaan alimmillaan 4 000, ylimmillään jopa 12 000. Tarkkaa lukumäärää ei tiedä kukaan. Jakarandapuun lapset puhuu näiden kuolleiden puolesta. Delijanin omat vanhemmat olivat vähällä päätyä tähän lukuun mukaan, mutta vapautuivat vankilasta ennen teloitusten alkamista. Delijanin sedällä ei tällaista onnea ollut.
Iran on monimuotoinen maa, jossa on uskonkiihkoilijoiden ja muiden vaarallisten sekopäiden takana tavallisia ihmisiä tavallisine elämineen. Niitäkin ääniä on hyvä kuulla. Jakarandapuun lapset kuvaa 1980-luvun tapahtumia ja niiden vaikutuksia tähän päivään toiveikkaalla tavalla.
Azar synnyttää tyttärensä vankilassa. Neda-lapsesta tulee sellin naisten lemmikki, mutta kuinka kauan Azar saa lapsensa pitää, ennen kuin tämä otetaan pois? Pieni Omid taas jätetään jälkeen, kun äiti ja isä viedään vankilaan. Lapseton Leila ottaa sisartensa lapset Omidin, Saran ja Forughin hoitaakseen, kun lasten äidit ovat vankilassa. Amir taas viedään vankilaan ennen hänen tyttärensä syntymää – saako hän lainkaan nähdä lastaan ja mitä lapsi saa tietää isästään?
Irakin ja Iranin välisen sodan loppuvaiheissa Iranissa teloitettiin ja joukkohaudattiin poliittisia vankeja, oman maan kansalaisia, tuhansittain. Määräksi arvioidaan alimmillaan 4 000, ylimmillään jopa 12 000. Tarkkaa lukumäärää ei tiedä kukaan. Jakarandapuun lapset puhuu näiden kuolleiden puolesta. Delijanin omat vanhemmat olivat vähällä päätyä tähän lukuun mukaan, mutta vapautuivat vankilasta ennen teloitusten alkamista. Delijanin sedällä ei tällaista onnea ollut.
Iran on monimuotoinen maa, jossa on uskonkiihkoilijoiden ja muiden vaarallisten sekopäiden takana tavallisia ihmisiä tavallisine elämineen. Niitäkin ääniä on hyvä kuulla. Jakarandapuun lapset kuvaa 1980-luvun tapahtumia ja niiden vaikutuksia tähän päivään toiveikkaalla tavalla.
coala's review against another edition
4.0
Neda, geboren im Gefängnis, wird ihrer Mutter kurz nach der Geburt weggenommen und wächst behütet im Kreis der Großeltern auf. Zusammen mit Ihren Cousinen kann sie die Kindheit genießen, bis ihre Eltern entlassen werden und Neda ihre Welt verlassen muss. Erst Jahre später begreift Neda, welch Leid Ihre Eltern ertragen mussten und wofür sie gekämpft haben. Nicht nur Ihre Eltern, sondern auch sie hat die Vergangenheit nachhaltig geprägt, dass erkennt sie ausgerechnet, als ihre Liebe Reza ihr gesteht, dass sein Vater zu den Revolutionswächtern gehörte.
Einfühlsam, aber auch sehr eindringlich berichtet das Buch anhand der Geschichte um Neda und ihrer Familie vom Leben im Iran nach den Revolutionen und wie diese Zeit Familien und Schicksale beeinflusst hat. Geschichtliche Fakten werden geschickt eingebunden und man erfährt viel Neues. Sehr anschaulich wird die doch recht fremde Welt dargestellt und man kann sich gut in die verschiedenen Gefühle und Darstellungen hineinversetzen. Sprachlich weiß das Buch zu überzeugen und kann die verschiedenen Gefühle und Stimmungen gut übermitteln. Einzig die teilweiße doch recht vielen Handlungsstränge und Wechsel von Ort und Zeit machen es etwas schwer, der Handlung zu folgen und erfordern einiges an Aufmerksamkeit. Diese ist jedoch mehr als gut investiert, wird man doch mit einem anschaulichen Stück Zeitgeschichte eines Landes belohnt, welches ansonsten so weit entfernt erscheint.
Ein beeindruckendes Buch und ein sicherlich eine Art Befreiung für die Autorin, welches durch eine sehr anschauliche und nicht schonende Darstellung der Umstände im Iran zu überzeugen weiß und zudem durch eine tolle Sprache punkten kann.
Einfühlsam, aber auch sehr eindringlich berichtet das Buch anhand der Geschichte um Neda und ihrer Familie vom Leben im Iran nach den Revolutionen und wie diese Zeit Familien und Schicksale beeinflusst hat. Geschichtliche Fakten werden geschickt eingebunden und man erfährt viel Neues. Sehr anschaulich wird die doch recht fremde Welt dargestellt und man kann sich gut in die verschiedenen Gefühle und Darstellungen hineinversetzen. Sprachlich weiß das Buch zu überzeugen und kann die verschiedenen Gefühle und Stimmungen gut übermitteln. Einzig die teilweiße doch recht vielen Handlungsstränge und Wechsel von Ort und Zeit machen es etwas schwer, der Handlung zu folgen und erfordern einiges an Aufmerksamkeit. Diese ist jedoch mehr als gut investiert, wird man doch mit einem anschaulichen Stück Zeitgeschichte eines Landes belohnt, welches ansonsten so weit entfernt erscheint.
Ein beeindruckendes Buch und ein sicherlich eine Art Befreiung für die Autorin, welches durch eine sehr anschauliche und nicht schonende Darstellung der Umstände im Iran zu überzeugen weiß und zudem durch eine tolle Sprache punkten kann.
laurennmiller's review against another edition
4.0
The subject matter was arresting and the descriptions were very well done...I only wish the author had delved more into each character rather than flitting around between so many. I realize that the point was to relate the experience of many interconnected people, but there were many people of whom I would have liked to see more than just a snapshot.
renee_pompeii's review against another edition
3.0
Nice writing, though the ending was somewhat treacle-y for my tastes.
nisah_books's review against another edition
3.0
All in all, the whole story is not that interesting. The details and descriptions was poetic and beautiful though.
I honestly think that the beautifully organized sentences were the reason this novel reached 200+ pages. The story is pretty 'bland' and straightforward, with no climax etc. However, considering that it's the story of the 'aftermath', I'd say it's acceptable for it to be the way it is.
It's a good explanation of the children of political prisoners and the sufferings each of their families underwent as they grew up, but unfortunately not the best.
I honestly think that the beautifully organized sentences were the reason this novel reached 200+ pages. The story is pretty 'bland' and straightforward, with no climax etc. However, considering that it's the story of the 'aftermath', I'd say it's acceptable for it to be the way it is.
It's a good explanation of the children of political prisoners and the sufferings each of their families underwent as they grew up, but unfortunately not the best.
larewenofdale's review against another edition
4.0
An incredibly relevant book if you have just a little interest in Iran.
nathan_hetrick's review against another edition
4.0
Received as a galley copy. This debut novel by Sahar Delijani tells the story of three generations of men and women in Tehran during and after the Revolution in Iran. Neda is born in prison, taken from her mother after only a few precious months. Three-year old Omid witnesses the arrests of his politically active parents. Twenty years after the violent purge in Tehran's prisons, Sheida learns that her father was one of those executed. The children of those imprisoned during the revolution witness a new wave of protest and political strife.
Overall I thought this book had strong writing and interesting story lines. What made it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the lives of the characters was that I found the work a bit uneven. Some characters seem to have better character development than others. One of the stories of a character not mentioned above doesn't necessarily seem to fit in with the rest of the work as well. That being said, I thought it was an excellent debut from an author from whom I hope to read more.
Overall I thought this book had strong writing and interesting story lines. What made it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the lives of the characters was that I found the work a bit uneven. Some characters seem to have better character development than others. One of the stories of a character not mentioned above doesn't necessarily seem to fit in with the rest of the work as well. That being said, I thought it was an excellent debut from an author from whom I hope to read more.
lostinagoodread's review against another edition
3.0
This review and others can be found on Cozy Up With A Good Read
In such a small amount of pages this book really brings up some heavy issues. I did take awhile to read this story because of everything that is going on and the large cast of characters. The book jumps around between the different people, from those that were inside the prison, to their children and how their lives have been affected by the past. Sahar Delijani has a beautiful writing style but at times I felt like it was a little disjointed because of how confused I could get of who I was following.
Sahar Delijani writes with conviction and this book really shows how easily one generation impacts the following generations, as we see those who have survived the prisons now come back to teach their children about the past and these are the people left to clean up the mess. The one thing that was difficult was how the story was not told in a linear way, it jumps around from the parent to the child and how they have moved on from the war but never forgotten what happened.
When a new generation begins protesting and having political strife, the new generation looks back at history and how that impacted what is happening now. All these characters have so much to deal with, it is hard to imagine being in any of their places. Honestly, as much as I had difficulties with some things, I did love how emotional and beautiful Delijani has made this story. I really enjoyed what came out of this story, especially bringing out a real look into what happened years ago in Tehran and how those people dealt with the aftermath.
In such a small amount of pages this book really brings up some heavy issues. I did take awhile to read this story because of everything that is going on and the large cast of characters. The book jumps around between the different people, from those that were inside the prison, to their children and how their lives have been affected by the past. Sahar Delijani has a beautiful writing style but at times I felt like it was a little disjointed because of how confused I could get of who I was following.
Sahar Delijani writes with conviction and this book really shows how easily one generation impacts the following generations, as we see those who have survived the prisons now come back to teach their children about the past and these are the people left to clean up the mess. The one thing that was difficult was how the story was not told in a linear way, it jumps around from the parent to the child and how they have moved on from the war but never forgotten what happened.
When a new generation begins protesting and having political strife, the new generation looks back at history and how that impacted what is happening now. All these characters have so much to deal with, it is hard to imagine being in any of their places. Honestly, as much as I had difficulties with some things, I did love how emotional and beautiful Delijani has made this story. I really enjoyed what came out of this story, especially bringing out a real look into what happened years ago in Tehran and how those people dealt with the aftermath.