While other Iranian girls of the early twentieth century cook, sew, and hope for marriage, Gohar climbs trees, reads books, and plays tar despite the banning of music in Iran. But when her forbidden correspondence with a non-Muslim boy is discovered, fear of banishment forces the fatherless Gohar to welcome the protection of a powerful nobleman. At 14, she marries his choice of husband, a 55-year-old politician—expecting to enter her marital home in a white chador and leave it in a white shroud. But fate takes her to Tehran, just as the Iranian parliament embarks on ending internal corruption and meddling by foreigners, despite Russian opposition. As the Russians conspire to overthrow the Iranian government and stop the reforms, Gohar joins a group of secular women to resist them.
Once their plans to overthrow the Iranian leadership fail, the Russians occupy northern Iran to pressure the central government to stop the reforms. People in Tehran rise in protest. As Tehran burns, Gohar falls in love with Aslan, a young Russian advocating democracy in Iran who had been instrumental in foiling the Russian plans. As the Russians approach Tehran, they demand the hand-over of all Russians who have collaborated with Iranian reformists, forcing Gohar to decide between her desire to join Aslan in exile and her duty to stay in Iran with her family and honor her marital vows.
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Silenced Whispers is an enthralling cross-cultural love story set against the backdrop of social upheaval in pre-WWI Tehran. Gohar is caught up amongst the sociopolitical turmoil in a tense and thought provoking story which has a profound impact on the reader.
Prose: Bellisario's novel benefits from an excellent level of description and historical accuracy which propels it to the next level. The prose is sharp, the characters are well rounded and the storyline is consistently compelling.
Originality: Silenced Whispers is a provocative drama with a heart-wrenching and emotional storyline that is gripping and affecting. Bellisario's excellently crafted tale also provides an lluminating insight into the harsh and oppressive social landscape of early 20th century Iran.
Character/Execution: Silenced Whispers is a character-led story with tense, naturalistic and affecting dialogue. The central character of Gohar, an adopted orphan forced to marry a politician 40 years her senior, is particularly well crafted and the reader forms an immediate connection with her plight.
Blurb: A tense and absorbing Iranian drama.
Date Submitted: April 17, 2024
Silenced Whispers, by debut novelist Afarin Bellisario, is a sumptuous feast of a book: deeply felt romance, political intrigue, fascinating history, and a female protagonist set in early 20th century Iran, whose goals and desires make her a heroine we can easily root for today. A must-read!
A captivating and page-turning tale of a cross-cultural love affair set in Iran at a time of political upheaval and societal change by an author with intimate knowledge of her homeland...Magnificent for its historical, political, and cultural breadth.
Silenced Whispers, by debut novelist Afarin Bellisario, is a sumptuous feast of a book: deeply felt romance, political intrigue, fascinating history, and a female protagonist set in early 20th century Iran, whose goals and desires make her a heroine we can easily root for today. A must-read!
Riveting
Silenced Whispers is a riveting and beautifully written tale. Afarin's prose is purely lyrical at times. The story will have you on the edge of your seat. Don't skip the book!
- Raquel Howard, host
Gripping
Gohar is strong, resilient, passionate, and driven to do right even when it clashes with her desires. I was on pins and needles as I turned the pages to discover what might happen to her in this suspenseful novel filled with complex and compelling characters.
- Jennifer Bolanos, host
Didn’t want to put the book down to sleep. Well written, well-plotted, and historically interesting. The book is well editted and professionally produced, a rare feat these days even from major publisher, let alone a small one.
