Leila's Secret : Karimi, Kooshyar: Amazon.com.au: Books

Leila's Secret : Karimi, Kooshyar: Amazon.com.au: Books
 

Leila's Secret
by Kooshyar Karimi (Author) Format: Paperback
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (681)

Spellbinding and heartbreaking, Leila's Secret shows us everyday life for women in a country where it can be a crime to fall in love. But for all its tragedy, this unforgettable book is paradoxically uplifting, told from the heart of Kooshyar's immense sympathy, in the hope that each of us - and the stories we tell - can make a difference.

In fundamentalist Iran, new life sometimes means certain death. When Leila comes to see Doctor Karimi, both are in danger.

Born in a slum to a Muslim father and a Jewish mother, Kooshyar Karimi has transformed himself into a successful doctor, an award-winning writer, and an adoring father. His could be a comfortable life but his conscience won't permit it- he is incapable of turning away the unmarried women who beg him to save their lives by ending the pregnancies that, if discovered, would see them stoned to death.

One of those women is 22-year-old Leila. Beautiful, intelligent, passionate, she yearns to go to university but her strictly traditional family forbids it. Returning home from the library one day - among the few trips she's allowed out of the house - she meets a handsome shopkeeper, and her fate is sealed. Kooshyar has rescued countless women, but Leila seeks his help for a different reason, one that will haunt him for years afterwards and inspire an impossible quest from faraway Australia.

Spellbinding and heartbreaking. Leila's Secret shows us everyday life for women in a country where it can be a crime to fall in love. But for all its tragedy, this unforgettable book is paradoxically uplifting, told from the heart of Kooshyar's immense sympathy, in the hope that each of us - and the stories we tell - can make a difference.
' A remarkable book . . . Karimi earns our trust through his experiences and his sympathy with the plight of the marginalised.' Owen Richardson, Saturday Age

'A profoundly moving story, beautifully told with extraordinary insight, and filling us with awe at the strength of the author's moral courage.' Robin de Crespigny, author of The People Smuggler

'An absolutely stunning book. Leila's story is deeply affecting and Kooshyar Karimi is a consummate storyteller.' Shirley Walker, Author of The Ghost at the Wedding

'Leila's Secret brims with compassion and yearning and eloquently shares the story of a regime suffocating its people and losing all that was great about it. To read this book is to see inside a culture and understand the desperation of its people.' The Hoopla

'A riveting account of one girl's innocent spirit defying the tyranny of Iran's crushing regime. It is a masterpiece of moral impossibilities and climactic suspense.' Bob Brown

'Inspiring . . . often harrowing . . . Offers insight into how and why one man is willing to put the welfare of others before his own safety.' Townsville Bulletin

'Compelling and powerful.' Sunday Age
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Product description

Review

'[A] remarkable book . . . Karimi earns our trust through his experiences and his sympathy with the plight of the marginalised." --Saturday Age

Book Description

Spellbinding and heartbreaking, Leila's Secret shows us everyday life for women in a country where it can be a crime to fall in love. But for all its tragedy, this unforgettable book is paradoxically uplifting, told from the heart of Kooshyar's immense sympathy, in the hope that each of us - and the stories we tell - can make a difference.

About the Author

Kooshyar Karimi was born in Tehran and now lives in Sydney. He is the author of several books on Iranian, Chinese and Assyrian myths and history, one of which was banned from publication by the Iranian government. His memoir I Confess- Revelations in Exile was published in Australia in 2012. He is also an award-winning translator of Gore Vidal, Kahlil Gibran and Adrian Berry, among others.

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Publication date ‏ : ‎ 20 March 2017

Customer Reviews: 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars   (681)

 Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars

    

Top reviews from Australia

Elvira Meyer

5 out of 5 starsGood read

Reviewed in Australia on 4 November 2024

Format: Kindle

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Good read

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Lana

4 out of 5 starsGreat book.

Reviewed in Australia on 11 May 2015

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Great book. Really liked the way the author told the story. Give a great insight into how women are treated in Iran.

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Sabine C

5 out of 5 starsAn eye opener

Reviewed in Australia on 2 November 2016

Format: Kindle

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I loved the book. It is such a sad story and unfortunately a true story. It is an eye opener on the way women are treated in some countries, you sort of know it but you haven't been exposed to it and therefore you don't really believe it.

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Lisa James

5 out of 5 starsThe curse of being a woman in Iran

Reviewed in Australia on 17 February 2025

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I couldn’t put this book down. The despicable treatment of women and girls in Iran shocked me to the core. Reading this, I could not help but feel incredibly grateful to have been born in a Western country. I am also grateful to the doctor who gave so many women and girls their lives back.

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skreads

3 out of 5 starsnon-fiction, with a good bit of fiction

Reviewed in Australia on 4 July 2015

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Sad that oppression of women happens in the Middle East. Much preferred Geraldine Brooks' Nine Parts of Desire to this book. This book (Leila's Secret) seemed to be not a book of fiction based on true events, but rather a non-fiction that included quite a bit of imagined, maybe true, maybe not, fiction. It's doubtful, in the short amount of time he knew Leila, that the doctor/author could have come to know so much about her life. If one keeps that in mind, the book is both a fiction and a honest reporting of what women are subject to in Iran. As a writer, the author succeeded in crafting the story.

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Veronica

4 out of 5 starsWomen’s rights are human rights

Reviewed in Australia on 22 February 2021

Format: Kindle

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This story about the oppression of females in Iran, that ultimately hinders everyone, is both heart breaking and a balm for the soul. Even under the strictest regime, humans still find a way to help humans, regardless of gender, status or religion. Thank goodness. Of course, the conditions need changing too though...

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Lee W

5 out of 5 starsAren't We The Lucky Ones

Reviewed in Australia on 29 June 2019

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Beautifully written, wonderful sensitivity to the plight of women and girls in the fundamentalist muslim countries, in this instance, Iran. Sad that societies deteriorate to this level. A very good book to get inside a muslim family and see what life is like for the women, treated harshly and with no future, limited education, bleak outlook.

Recommended reading.

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marnie

5 out of 5 starsLoved your book! Well done Doctor

Reviewed in Australia on 24 May 2018

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Couldn't put this book down! Totally absorbed me from beginning to the very last page. Amazingly well written ...loved how the author injected humour into serious and heartbreaking moments. I notice that the author now lives in Sydney, also my home, and hope he is being treated with the respect and kindness he deserves

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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer

5 out of 5 starsleila's secret

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 June 2020

Format: Kindle

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i came across this book 3 years ago while visiting Australia - when i returned to the UK i tried to locate it, but was unsuccessful.

im so glad i persevered, all i can say is that this is a book you absolutely cannot put down.

a very emotional book that left me in tears

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Jaydee

5 out of 5 starsA compelling read on a very sensitive subject

Reviewed in the United States on 4 May 2015

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I wanted to write to the author after reading this book as it moved me so much. Beautifully written about such a taboo subject. It was awful to read how these poor girls live, not only in fear of their parents but the stigma of becoming pregnant and unmarried was fearful. A compelling read from start to finish, well done Kooshyar karimi

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Amazon Customer

4 out of 5 starsInteresting read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 October 2018

Format: Paperback

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Very interesting read but without ruining it for other would be readers it left me wanting more.........

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Angela Giffin

4 out of 5 starsA great true story and great insight to things we on ...

Reviewed in the United States on 15 October 2015

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Written from a Drs view living and working in the Middle East. He is torn by human rights and Sharia Law. He goes through his life in constant fear of the author tie and his own life and safety to assist women who find themselves pregnant! A great true story and great insight to things we on the west take for granted.

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Kezlyn

5 out of 5 starsA tale of empathy and great courage!

Reviewed in the United States on 1 May 2015

Format: Kindle

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I loved this book, especially as it is a true story. The writer has portrayed the feelings of the young girl so beautifully. The courage and empathy of the young doctor gives me hope for humanity. The writer draws you right in to another world. An excellent read!

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