This was a good book, if you"re into studying the culture of Iran. All of the characters in this book really confused me. I read couple of reviews on the book, and finally got everything straightened out. After reading the first half of the books, I finally understood who everyone was.
I find myself in debates with my younger brother over many political aspects, just like Yusof and Khan did. I sided with Yusof, providing that his actual views weren't altered, coming through the eyes of his wife. Yusof was a much more moral character than his older brother, and in turn was much more moral with the people around and below him. I feel he was totally in the right to appose any occupation of the British and Russians. His brother was just jumping on the band wagon for his own selfish ends. Unfortunately, the good guy doesn't always win in the end, especially when the odds are not at all in your favor. .
The perspective in the book was kind of muttled in my opinion. It seemed to shift awkwardly between a second-person and a first-person idea. One minute it's a narration of a story, and the next minute it's the direct thoughts of Zari. I"m more of the opinion that it should have stayed as a first-person narrative through Zari. It might have skewed the ideas relayed in the story more to one side, but I would have had a much easier time reading it.
The idea of her always returning to the garden was confusing last week, and after finishing the book, I still feel that she only went out there to settle her thoughts as she told the reader. I've read many books where this is the case. Many palaces had large gardens to either have private meetings or to be someplace quiet to reflect and calm your thoughts. Is a garden a metaphorical reflection spot? This all reminds me of modern businessmen going out on gold course and making it a quiet business meeting.
