This was a very sweet book. I really liked the main character's relationship to her son. The problem I had with it was that there is no real overriding problem to be solved. In the last third of the book, it seemed more that the author was making a checklist of ways to extend the narrative than actually exploring the characters. Meg needs to get out more and find a boyfriend: done. She needs to have a better relationship with her ex-husband: done. She needs to see her parents as real people: done. That marred my enjoyment, as did the rather one-dimensional portrayal of an Iranian-American hero. Kudos for actually going outside of the box, but there's no real exploration of what being different in America can mean in a post 9/11 world. Overall, I did enjoy this book, but I would have enjoyed it a lot more if it focused on the relationship between Meg and Ahmed rather than just Meg. A friend recommended this book to me because she said that the main character reminded her so much of me and I just had to read it. I'm glad I did. It was a quick and easy read--great for summers at the beach or by the pool. It's not a book you need to study but it is a beautiful little story. If I'm anything like the main character I hope my ending is like hers (yeah, if you've been reading my reviews, I very much prefer happy endings). Another great thing about this book is that it explores (in a very easy no-nonsense way) the intricacies of family--between daughter and father, mother and son, etc. I also loved the light shed on the difficulty a single mom has with dating and all that she has to give up to raise her child. But my favorite part about this book was the cross-cultural link.
Do You like book One True Theory Of Love (2009)?
Loved the characters and the story. What more could one ask for?
—nora
WON from Stephanie at The Written Word, gave to Beth F
—tamekaforrestb4u
Very cute. I got some great quotes from this book too.
—nanaaaaa
