Initialy, I chosed Le Parfum de l´Innocence without too much previous information about the book. After reading The Gardens of Consolation I was interested in following more books by Parisa Reza whose storytelling superpowers charmed me. The book is though a continuation of The Gardens... although it can be read independently. But once you know the first episode, the sequel is the promise of even more stories well told.
There is a continuity, indeed, between the two books, and the episodes of the Iranian history are moving forward until the eve of the Islamic Revolution in 1979. The new generation represented by Elham is more carefree than that of their parents - after all, her mother would disappear in mysterious circumstances in fact being killed as a communist believer - they spend their holidays in Europe where they can observe from direct interactions the everyday life in the Western part of the world but are looking forward to a future in their country. Young girls and boys are free to chose their partners, but the parents play the role of advisors but they rarely try to impose their choices to their children - at least in Tehran.
Elham is growing up with her father, Bahram, who allows her full independence. He is living in an intellectual world of ideas and although he is against the regime of the Shah he is rather careful in expressing openly his political opinions. She fells for Jamshid, a young man whose father is a faithful general of the Shah, who is preparing to be a military pilot. (Sidenote: I love everything about pilots, from books to real persons).
Like in the first story, Reza´s storytelling is captivating. She builds out of details of historical and social order and character features narratives which are staying with the reader for a very long time. (Ok, I may be very biased for falling so easy for pilot characters anyway and there are not too many pilots featured in books unfortunately, so the choices are scarce). The narrative is complex and complicated and there is nothing simple about the ways in which the relationships are built on. The pressure and speed we, in the Western world, we are oversaturated with, are replaced by a spider net of emotions and touches which are building up very slowly. It requires a strong character and deep feelings to live such a life.
I was fascinated by the love story between Elham and Jamshid for its impossibility and inconclusiveness. It´s tragically beautiful and leaves the reader with so many expectations and second thoughts. What actually happened to their story? Did they survive the violent revolutionary waves and met again ? I wish Parisa Reza will write a new sequel of the story...
Rating: 4 stars
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