Blood Orange

Blood Orange is the debut novel by Parvaneh Saravani. This novel has won the Mandegar First Novel Award. Previously, a poetry collection by this author had been published. Nazli, the main character of the novel, is a dealer of second-hand goods from the wealthy. She has a passive and indecisive husband, so she decides to take on her family’s responsibilities herself. However, her domineering father-in-law is completely opposed to her. Despite this, Nazli also manages a clothing boutique. An accident confines her to the orange grove at home. Nazli has hated this grove since childhood. For her, the grove is a monster that always requires money. The harsh life at her father’s and husband’s house deepened her dislike for the grove and anything related to it. Nazli’s forced confinement and responsibilities in the grove bring about changes in her perspective on gardening, but an unfortunate event affecting the youngest child of the family disrupts Nazli’s plans and dreams of gardening and continuing her life. “Blood Orange” is the story of a motherly love that drives Nazli beyond borders, risking everything, even her life, to ensure her sons’ comfort. Nazli is not flawless; like all humans, she has her faults. This makes her character relatable and believable to readers, who empathize with her. Nazli tries to cope with difficulties and strives to improve her life and that of her sons. She is trapped in a traditional family whose narrow-minded and one-sided view forces her to put in all her effort to live and work independently and tackle the many challenging responsibilities she faces. The story depicts both the inner and outer journey of the novel’s protagonist. The author has aimed to address social and historical issues alongside Nazli’s journey. Furthermore, objects, symbols, and elements in the story not only advance the plot but can also be interpreted metaphorically. “Blood Orange” is a compelling story set within a family. It tells the tale of a family protected by love, a motherly love that drives the heroine to face numerous dangers to safeguard her family.