So, at first I was thinking more like two stars but after learning that The Rose Hotel was the authors real life journey I felt compelled to give it an additional star. Also, the author can write a story. By the time that I got a little over halfway thru the book I was wishing for the book to end. I felt like the events were amazing and seeing the struggle and the shame of the family was remarkable. When I was reading how deep the dialogue was in the story I felt like there were times that I felt like the author gave too much detail which caused me not to be able to place myself in the story as I wanted to. I think that the struggle themselves were heartbreaking and although I found myself torn about this book I will say that I hope and pray that the author knows that her story is a good one no matter what the rating of the book is. I think that there were other portions of the book that bothered me but then I had to see the story through the authors eyes and that somehow changed my point of view. So I am going to leave this at 3 stars and move on from here with a new eye-opening experience in the life of this author. I was in the middle of a reading funk, nothing was keeping my attention. Then I picked up this book. I was instantly hooked and drawn into the life of four year old Rahimeh whose world is about to be turned upside down. I just kept wanting things to get better for the family. It's a highly emotional, incredibly well written book which kept me reading at the expense of anything else I was supposed to be doing. I really wish I could say more but it's one of those books that's difficult to describe to someone who hasn't read it.
Awesome book. It sucks you in and you just want to read more. Definitely worth your time.
—aishu
Set during the fall of the Shah in Iran--It was disappointing. Amateur writing.
—kelvbaker
Painful to read but it gives some background info on the area and time.
—Digwaz
I can't put it down...
—Roselani89