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Book Reviewed by:A sparkling debut novel about an unlikely romance between an Iranian immigrant and an American college student.
Isolated and far from his native Iran, Ushman Khan has
worked hard to build a wealthy, reliable clientele for his
wares: exquisite hand-woven rugs from his home city of
Tabriz.
With perfect rectitude, he caters to clients like
New York’s Upper East Side grand dame Mrs. Roberts, who
plies him for stories about his exotic origins and culture
to feed her own imagination. But like many immigrants, he’s
living only half a life. He dreams of the day his beloved
wife, Farak, will be able to join him in New York and
complete his vision of the American dream. But when she
tells him that she is leaving him for another man, Ushman is
shattered. He begins to wander aimlessly through the
terminals of JFK Airport, imagining a now-impossible reunion
with Farak.
Unexpectedly, he meets Stella, a Barnard College
student who has just bade farewell to her parents en route
for an Italian vacation. After Stella, isolated in her own
way, finds herself at Ushman’s Manhattan store, they embark
on an improbable and powerful romance. Together this
American girl from the Deep South and the Iranian aesthete
form a tender bond that awakens them both to the possibility
of joy in a world full of tragedy.
Chapter 10
He cannot believe that it's true, but she is actually standing there
at six o'clock, on the corner of Broadway and 116th Street, wearing
an orange woolen poncho and baggy jeans. She has headphones covering
her ears and she's bouncing to the beat. For a moment Ushman
hesitates. There is no possible connection he could have to this
girl. They did not learn the same songs as children, she does not
know how the banks of the Talkheh become awash with color from the
rising or setting sun. In her heart is the memory of a different
landscape. She is from a different world; her trajectory, even
momentarily, could never mirror his own.
Against his better
judgment, he stops and lifts his hand from the steering wheel in
recognition. When she climbs in and smiles as she pulls off her
headphones, he reminds his cynical self how nice she smells. Her
eyes are welcoming, familiar. She is not a stranger. No more ...
At first glance a romance between an Iranian immigrant and an American college student almost half his age might lead the reader to expect shades of Lolita - but that is far from the case. What Mullins offers in her low key first novel is a lovely, melancholy story about shaking free from disappointment and finding connection and acceptance in whatever form they appear...continued
Full Review
(370 words)
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(Reviewed by BookBrowse Review Team).
Aurelie Sheehan,author of The Anxiety of Everyday Objects and History Lessons For Girls
Meg Mullins has written a moving, crystalline tale of love, reminiscent of E.M. Forster. Her prose is precise, nuanced, and vivid. I was enchanted and intrigued with this tale from the beginning, and found myself pondering its intricacies long after I'd put the book down. Rene Steinke, author of Holy Skirts, finalist for the 2005 National Book Award in fiction
The Rug Merchant is a moving, intelligent portrait of the immigrant Ushman's double life, and the absorbing story of a love affair brimming with surprises. Mullins' writing is incisive and emotionally acute---a beautiful debut.Meg Mullins was born and raised
in New Mexico, where she now lives with
her husband and their two children. The
story that formed the basis of The
Rug Merchant appeared in The Best
American Short Stories 2002.
About Tabriz
Ushman is from
Tabriz, which is the capital of the
Iranian province of Eastern Azarbaaijaan.
it looks like a beautiful place - mild
summers make it a popular summer
vacation spot for those escaping the
heat of the south, and it's a popular
winter sports destination due to the
proximity of snow filled mountains.&...
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