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Book Summary and Reviews of Half a Cup of Sand and Sky by Nadine Bjursten

Half a Cup of Sand and Sky by Nadine Bjursten

Half a Cup of Sand and Sky

by Nadine Bjursten

  • Critics' Consensus (34):
  • Readers' Rating (8):
  • Published:
  • Oct 2023, 402 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

Finalist of the PEN/Bellwether Prize for fiction, Half a Cup of Sand and Sky is a moving portrait of one woman's search for love and belonging cast against a nuanced backdrop of political turmoil.

It is 1977, and the anti-shah protests at Tehran University are intensifying, but Amineh is not like her peers who want a say in the future of their country. Her thoughts are on the beautiful literature of another era and her past of rose harvests and Sufi poetry evenings under the desert sky. A chance encounter with Farzad, an opposition leader and disarmament activist, will thrust her into a life she didn't ask for and didn't want. Nobody wanted the tyranny that is quickly turning worse than the tyranny it replaced. But maybe Amineh has been looking at her life all wrong-Maybe the thing she is seeking is not in the past at all.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Rich with longing, heartbreak, romance, and intrigue... [A] standout debut... Bjursten's prose is clear, polished, and touched with poetry and insight but never getting in the way of the heart of the story: a woman fighting for her family, love, and freedom from political injustice. Well-drawn characters and a tangible sense of living through history will grip readers of realistic and historical fiction, especially as Amineh dares to tell her own story. The final pages will bring tears. " —Publishers Weekly, BookLife Editor's Pick

"...Enticing... Thought-provoking... An emotional historical journey through the recent history of nuclear armament." —Kirkus Reviews

"From beautiful images of Iran, Sweden, and the UK, to heavily researched historical events, and to characters that are deeply human in their joys, mistakes, and dreams, Bjursten has written quite an exceptional book. This is a necessary story of maturity and resilience told from a perspective that is often overlooked by Western readers. Half a Cup of Sand and Sky will captivate folks of all genres and ages with its craft, vitality, and wisdom." —Independent Book Review (starred review)

"An engrossing tale of a woman's quest for love in a world threatened by nuclear proliferation and a nation struggling with the aftermath of a bloody revolution. Deceptively easy to read...richly layered...a real gem." —Mahbod Seraji, author of Rooftops of Tehran

"A captivating story that respects the complexity of Iran and its history and shines a light on the many courageous Iranians striving for democracy, human security, and freedom." —Trita Parsi, author of Treacherous Alliance

"A wise, beautiful novel featuring a woman facing the eternal challenge how to create an authentic self. Amineh, our memorable heroine, emerges in a time of revolutionary change--with its hope, fears, and dangers--as well as usual gender expectations. Bjursten writes with subtlety about Amineh's conflicts, skilling weaving her into her historical context. I adored this book." —Joan Steinau Lester, PEN Josephine-Miles Award-winning author of Loving Before Loving: A Marriage in Black and White

"A searing love story unfolds against the violent background of Iran's Islamic Revolution and the upheaval that followed. This is a book full of passion and spirit. Persian tradition combines with Iranian modernity to shape a rich tapestry of history and emotion." —Stephen Kinzer, author of All the Shah's Men

This information about Half a Cup of Sand and Sky was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

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Author Information

Nadine Bjursten Author Biography

Nadine Bjursten grew up north of New York City in Garrison and now lives in Lund, Sweden, with her husband and twin daughters. She is the former editor of the Washington, DC-based journal Arms Control Today. Half a Cup of Sand and Sky is her first novel.

Author Interview
Link to Nadine Bjursten's Website

Name Pronunciation
Nadine Bjursten: nay-deen BJUR-sten

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