A real page-turner, with a bravura, heart-stopping ending * * Sunday Telegraph * *
Deftly balances the story of nation against that of family . . . heart-shattering -- Kamila Shamsie * * Guardian * *
A stunning novel * * Observer * *
The authenticity shines through beautiful, simple prose * * Harper's Bazaar * *
A striking story of a spirited mother struggling to bring up her children * * Financial Times * *
Compellingly twists the personal and the historical, humming with handed down wisdom * * Literary Review * *
Anam has done a service to her country . . . No other writer has treated the subject with such clarity before * * Times Literary Supplement * *
A stunning debut. Anam writes of torture, brutality, refugees and desperation, but she also writes of love and joy, food and song * * Observer * *
I had tears in my eyes * * Woman's Own * *
An ambitious and powerful debut * * New Statesman * *
An assured, moving read * * The Times * *
Pays tribute, with sensitivity and restrained passion, to those who fought for one such arbour: a country called home * * Independent on Sunday * *
A steely tale of how one family deals with political unrest . . . Moving and beautifully written * * Woman * *
An outstanding debut that glows with the golden hue of the title * * Easy Living * *
The book touches on love, devotion and hope -- Hephizibah Anderson * * Vogue * *
Anam is an intelligent, evocative and subtle writer and her tale of war from a woman's perspective is artful and moving * * The Age * *
