A Girl Called Rumi by Ari Honarvar

Release: September 21st 2021
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Forest Avenue Press
Source: Suzy approved Book Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N

“A magical journey to a world of mystical delights.” — Deepak Chopra, MD

A Girl Called Rumi, Ari Honarvar’s debut novel, weaves a captivating tale of survival, redemption, and the power of storytelling. Kimia is a successful spiritual advisor whose Iranian childhood continues to haunt her. She collides with a mysterious giant bird in her mother’s California garage. She begins reliving her experience as a nine-year-old girl in war-torn Iran. This includes her friendship with a mystical storyteller . He led her through the mythic Seven Valleys of Love. Grappling with her unresolved past,

Kimia agrees to accompany her ailing mother back to Iran, only to arrive in the midst of the Green Uprising in the streets. Against the backdrop of the election protests, Kimia begins to unravel the secrets of the night that broke her mother and produced a dangerous enemy. As past and present collide, she must choose between running away again or completing her unfinished journey through the Valley of Death to save her brother.

About the Author:

Ari Honarvar is the founder of Rumi With A View. It is dedicated to building music and poetry bridges across war-torn and conflict-ridden borders. Her writing has appeared in The Guardian, Teen Vogue, Washington Post, and elsewhere. She is the author of the oracle card set and book, Rumi’s Gift. She lives in San Diego, where she has befriended a hummingbird named Taadon..

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A Girl Called Rumi Review:

“A Girl Called Rumi” is a beautiful, heart-wrenching tale about family and friendship amidst a life of war and loss, and I could not put it down.

Firstly, I applaud the author for weaving such a beautiful tale as a debut novel. As soon as you start reading the story, you get transported into Kimia’s world. The author creatively toggles between the past and the present, where we see Kimia’s life from Shiraz and San Diego and all the events that transpired. You can see how Kimia’s life contrasts between the past and the present, and the flashback scenes with Baba Morshed were gripping. Moreover, the author also changes the perspectives between Kimia, Arman, and other characters like Morteza.

The author also portrayed the characters realistically. Kimia is a beautiful protagonist. I loved how the author showed the relationship between Reza and Arman. I could relate to her conflicted feelings as she goes back to Iran. The author also adds in thought-provoking conversations like the freedom of speech. I also appreciate the author for including a translation of terms to help us understand some of the dialogues. These dialogues and make the story as authentic as possible. There are also some unique scenes, like when Kimia meets the storyteller with the bird. Some moments will crawl under your skin, especially when the author details about the war, like the scenes where Arman witnesses the bomb explode or when he finds himself in solitary confinement.

Overall, “A Girl Called Rumi” is one of those books that provide a glimpse of the struggles people face and makes you appreciate your life. It is a beautiful book that is easy to read for its short chapters, and I recommend it to anyone in the mood for pleasant literary fiction.