Scent of Butterflies
After Soraya finds out that her husband had been cheating on her with one of her closest friends, she leaves her home, family, and friends in Iran to make a new life for herself in Los Angeles. Constantly confronted with the contrasts between traditional Muslim culture and the ways of urban America, Soraya struggles to find a comfortable identity among so many conflicting ideals. It isn’t until she uncovers a terrifying, amazing secret that she realizes how clear her future has suddenly become. In her latest, Mossanen (The Last Romanov, 2012) examines what happens when one woman’s predictable routine, treasured relationships, and sense of self have all been shattered. Soraya’s enduring love of the natural world lets Mossanen sprinkle the scientific names of many plants and insects throughout the text, which mix appealingly with the often dreamy and lyrical narration. Fans of Elizabeth Gilbert and Kristin Hannah will appreciate Soraya’s story as Scent of Butterflies sets betrayal, forgiveness, identity, and obsession against the tumultuous landscapes of post-shah Iran and Southern California. --Stephanie Turza