From Publishers Weekly

In Iranian-American Amirrezvani's lushly orchestrated debut, a comet signals misfortune to the remote 17th-century Persian village where the nameless narrator lives modestly but happily with her parents, both of whom expect to see the 14-year-old married within the year. Her fascination with rug making is a pastime they indulge only for the interim, but her father's untimely death prompts the girl to travel with her mother to the city of Isfahan, where the two live as servants in the opulent home of an uncle—a wealthy rug maker to the Shah. The only marriage proposal now in the offing is a three-month renewable contract with the son of a horse trader. Teetering on poverty and shame, the girl weaves fantasies for her temporary husband's pleasure and exchanges tales with her beleaguered mother until, having mastered the art of making and selling carpets under her uncle's tutelage, she undertakes to free her mother and herself. With journalistic clarity, Amirrezvani describes how to make a carpet knot by knot, and then sell it negotiation by negotiation, guiding readers through workshops and bazaars. Sumptuous imagery and a modern sensibility (despite a preponderance of flowery language and schematic female bonding and male bullying) make this a winning debut. (June)
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From School Library Journal

Adult/High School—This is the tale of a 17th-century Persian village girl who makes her way with her mother to a rich uncle's house in the city of Isfahan. As poor relatives, they are treated as servants. The uncle, a master rug maker for the shah, grudgingly teaches her his trade, his love and respect for her increasing with her perseverance and obvious talent. His greedy wife convinces him to accept a three-month "marriage" contract for the girl with a rich horse trader. She learns how to please her "husband" (and herself) sexually, but also learns that he has no intention of making her his permanent wife as she has no money. She vows to make beautiful rugs on her own, and thus ensure her and her mother's financial security. She is banished from her uncle's house when she tells her friend about the marriage contract. She trusts a foreign merchant with her rug and he steals it. Now she must beg and find shelter and a way to begin a new rug. Like Sheherazade, the heroine's mother is a master storyteller, telling tales within this tale that Amirrezvani tells so magically. Readers will not be able to put this book down, from the once-upon-a-time beginning to the well-crafted end.—Ellen Bell, Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Debiutiniame Anitos Amirrezvani romane pasakojama istorija apie moterį, kovojančią už savo gyvenimą XVII a. Irane. Istorijos sudėtingumas, minklumas ir grožis prilygsta tos moters kuriamiems kilimams.

Ventana abierta a un mundo tan lejano como desconocido, rica en fascinantes detalles sobre la vida cotidiana en la Persia del siglo XVII, esta novela cuenta la historia de una joven audaz y perseverante que logra transformar su vida gracias a su extraordinario don para confeccionar alfombras.A los catorce años, tras la prematura muerte de su padre, la protagonista ve cómo sus posibilidades de matrimonio se desvanecen, lo que la obliga a marcharse del pueblo con su madre y trasladarse a la capital, Isfahán, donde un pariente lejano las acoge como sirvientas. Sin dote y condenada a depender de la caridad ajena, la joven huérfana no tendrá más remedio que aceptar un sigué, un contrato de matrimonio temporal, pero gracias a la ayuda de su tío, diseñador de alfombras en la corte del sah, tendrá ocasión de descubrir los secretos del antiguo arte de tejer alfombras, su tradición, el significado de sus dibujos y el origen vegetal de sus vibrantes colores.El rojo de las flores narra una hermosa historia de aprendizaje y pérdida de la inocencia en un mundo evocado con meticulosidad, desde la vida de los ricos y los pobres a la suntuosidad de la arquitectura, desde el bullicio de los bazares a la confección de las alfombras, cuya belleza incomparable mantiene viva hasta hoy la fama de IsfahánReseñas: «Una primera novela asombrosa, llena de suntuosas imágenes y escrita con una sensibilidad moderna.» Publishers Weekly «Una impactante primera novela que entreteje la historia de la protagonista con leyendas.» Kirkus Reviews «La historia, enriquecida con leyendas iraníes y fascinantes detalles del arte de las alfombras persas, posee asimismo ecos de Las mil y una noches.» Booklist «La protagonista es tan interesante y compleja como las alfombras que teje.» Library Journal «Cada detalle de esta novela es tan real como asombroso.» San Francisco Chronicle