Bitter Orange

Product Information

Given that Fran has never had a friend, I shared her elation when the couple makes an effort to know her and includes her in their activities. It was also nominated for the 2015 Edinburgh First Book Award, long-listed for the 2016 Waverton Good Read Award, and a finalist in the American Booksellers Association's 2016 Indies Best Books Award. And fans will recognize Alharthi’s fluid treatment of chronology and setting, once again gorgeously translated by Booth. Seated in a magnificent Timbered Park of 764 acres with ornamental lake, Fountain, Parterre, Walled kitchen garden, classical bridge, orangey of outstanding design, stable block, model dairy, ice house, Grotto, Mausoleum, Sundry Follies inc. I enjoyed Swimming Lessons last year more than some other readers, and I'm sure there are others who will really enjoy this one.

Review: Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller - Criminal Element Review: Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller - Criminal Element

My Review: Celestial Bodies, Author Alharthi and Translator Booth's previous literary collaboration, revolved around three women and their men.Since this is a character driven story - it’s not important one way or another to like the characters. When her bedridden mother whom she was nursing died, Fran left London on a new job assignment in hopes of a new beginning. Taken for granted, ignored, blind in one eye, Bint Aamir’s physical condition deteriorates with age until she is no longer able to walk.

Bitter Orange Tree by Jokha Alharthi | Goodreads Bitter Orange Tree by Jokha Alharthi | Goodreads

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published. He wants to know what really happened that fateful summer of 1969, when Frances - tasked with surveying a dilapidated country house - first set eyes on the glamorous bohemian couple, Cara and Peter. It is also cultivated for the essential oil expressed from the fruit, and for neroli oil and orange flower water, which are distilled from the flowers. The three become fast friends, much to Frances's delight as she has never experienced before the joy of friendship, and she quickly becomes obsessed with Peter and Cara.

Grounded in long-buried secrets, cunning lies, and scheming subterfuges, this spellbinding psychological thriller doesn't appear to be that at all until the book has you deep in its clutches. The unsettling plot is carefully nuanced to lure the reader into this spellbinding tale of deception. Her bed-ridden mother, for whom she’s been the only caretaker for the last ten years, died a month ago and she finds herself alone in the world without much money. From Fran’s ‘confession’ to the vicar and her recollections of the conversations she had with Cara from twenty years ago, one learns regrettably the secrets that shape the trio’s destiny.