The Rug Merchant - Meg Mullins
This was a peculiar little book. It’s written by an American woman but from the perspective of a middle-aged Iranian man who has immigrated to America. When his wife back in Iran ultimately leaves him, he starts a relationship with a 19 year-old college student. Normally I would think this is leading to a Lolita-esque story of predatory relationship but it wasn’t. It was an odd relationship but both characters seemed to have evolved for the best through it and after it.
I just watched a video from John Greene where he said, “I suppose every book I read shifts my perspective in some way and I always feel like my life is richer for having read a book even if the book wasn’t particularly good.” I don’t have any quotes in-depth analysis to pull out of this one right now but I thought it was particularly good and I think my life is probably just a bit richer for having read it too. Time well spent.