Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Blood of Flowers  By  cover art

The Blood of Flowers

By: Anita Amirrezvani
Narrated by: Shohreh Aghdashloo
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.95

Buy for $24.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

In 17th-century Persia, a 14-year-old woman believes she will be married within the year. When her beloved father dies, she and her mother find themselves alone and without a dowry. With nowhere else to go, they are forced to sell the brilliant turquoise rug the young woman has woven to pay for their journey to Isfahan, where they will work as servants for her uncle, a rich rug designer in the court of the legendary Shah Abbas the Great.

Despite her lowly station, the young woman blossoms as a brilliant designer of carpets, a rarity in a craft dominated by men. But while her talent flourishes, her prospects for a happy marriage grow dim. Forced into a secret marriage to a wealthy man, the young woman finds herself faced with a daunting decision: forsake her own dignity, or risk everything she has in an effort to create a new life.

©2007 Anita Amirrezvani (P)2007 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Sumptuous imagery and a modern sensibility...make this a winning debut." ( Publishers Weekly)

Editorial Review

I knew Iranian actress Shohreh Aghdashloo from her Oscar-nominated performance in The House of Sand and Fog, and hoped for another star turn in her narration of Anita Amirrezvani's debut novel—I wasn't disappointed. Aghdashloo's deep, raspy voice is absolutely haunting, whether describing the (surprisingly) fascinating intricacies of rug-making or re-telling the Iranian folktales that are woven into the story. A colorful, lush tale that remains on my all-time favorite list.Diana D., Audible Editor

What listeners say about The Blood of Flowers

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,558
  • 4 Stars
    882
  • 3 Stars
    296
  • 2 Stars
    71
  • 1 Stars
    49
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,421
  • 4 Stars
    493
  • 3 Stars
    140
  • 2 Stars
    48
  • 1 Stars
    40
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,195
  • 4 Stars
    646
  • 3 Stars
    214
  • 2 Stars
    46
  • 1 Stars
    32

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

a wonderful and unique story

I enjoyed the story so much. it gave insight into 17th century life in Iran

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome book!

This is a wonderful story about women in Iran. The reader does a magnificent job of telling the story. The Blood of Flowers paints a beautiful picture of what life was like during the period of this story and how complex family life and expectations involved the place of women. Well worth the time to read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

intriguing

Would you listen to The Blood of Flowers again? Why?

I may in 10 years. I am certainly going to pass it along.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I think the descriptions of the rug-making process was the most interesting "character".

What does Shohreh Aghdashloo bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her rich voice and authentic background

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were moments when I could not stop listening because of the intrigue!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding

Fantastic performance by the reader! This is an intriguing story of an improvising, talented, but rash girl as she comes of age. The compelling tale occurs in 17th century Iran and the setting and characters are richly drawn. Recommend it highly

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Beautiful narration

A classic tale set in 17th century Persia, brought to life by a skilled narrator. Shohreh Aghdashloo's silken voice transports you back (on a magic carpet) to colorful bazaars filled with exotic rugs and fragrant spices. Five stars for her performance.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I learned so much!

What made the experience of listening to The Blood of Flowers the most enjoyable?

The performance is excellent, it put me in the setting. The plot intertwined stories, the craft of Persian rug making, and a woman's struggle to become her own entity in a more challenging place and time. So good!

What about Shohreh Aghdashloo’s performance did you like?

Her voice evokes the setting and mood perfectly.

If you could take any character from The Blood of Flowers out to dinner, who would it be and why?

It would have to be the lead, I would want to listen about rug making and tell her how times and resulting freedoms for women have changed and are continuing to change.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful!

Loved the window into the art form of carpet making as well as the culture and lives of women in Persia/Iran.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Really enjoyed this book.

Well narrated; interesting story; captivating glimpse of the iranian culture and woman's role in the society.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I liked this book...

...it was interesting, but sometimes scary to learn about a woman's life in Iran. It was nice that the woman turned out to be strong. The narrator did a very good job, I like that her accent is Iranian.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Hard to "put down"

Would you consider the audio edition of The Blood of Flowers to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version.

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed the culture, the spirit of the girl, the good story.

What does Shohreh Aghdashloo bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her accent and pronunciation of names and places.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!