Two people, one city, different times; connected by a memoir. Can love exist in a city destined for decades of misery?Adnan leads a weary existence as a bookshop owner in modern-day, war-torn Baghdad, where bombings, corruption and assault are everyday occurrences and the struggle to survive has suffocated the joy out of life for most. But when he begins to clean out his bookshop of forty years … bookshop of forty years to leave his city in search of somewhere safer, he comes across the story of Ali, the Gardener of Baghdad, Adnan rediscovers through a memoir handwritten by the gardener decades ago that beauty, love and hope can still exist, even in the darkest corners of the world.
more
Such an interesting story.I love a good story, and this was amazing. Learned much about Baghdad, and of the revolution. The characters were endearing and so brave. I loved this story!
A wonderful tale of everlasting love.
I did not know what to expect but was wonderfully surprised. I wanted to hold on to the storyline and finish at the same time. Really, captivating.
This was such an amazing book
Really enjoyed this book. Hard to put down. Will read it again I enjoyed it so much.
A view of Baghdad during late colonial period. A good story about a place and time in transition touching on family, socio-economic social political change as it affects well drawn characters.
Although it is not “the best book I have ever read”
I gave it 5 stars because as it is so much better than much of what passes for literature.
I had a wonderful feeling reading it.
A wonderful life and love story.
This books gives a new perspective to this part of of the world. It is a very good story that shows people fall in love against all odds and prevail! Loved this book!
I enjoyed this book for the reason that it gives a perspective of Iraq through the eyes of an ordinary people. I forget that are real people in the middle east who just want a good life and to be able to live in peace with their families.
Very sad. Multi cultural and tragic.
Iraq, historical-places-events, historical-romance, memoir
A beautiful tale of love, discrimination, obsession, and a city and country that have suffered much in the last fifty odd years. The bookseller in Baghdad lives in precarious times, and while unhappily examining a book he finds that its innards have been replaced by a locket and the …