WHAT WE OWE by Golnaz Hashemzadeh Bonde is a relatively quick but extraordinarily emotional read, particularly if you are a mother or a daughter. Bonde was born in Iran in 1983 and fled with her parents to Sweden. She builds on that personal experience since her novel tells a story of Nahid, both as a young woman in pre-revolutionary Iran living though the revolution and as a mature woman dealing with a cancer diagnosis in her country of refuge, Sweden. Nahid is filled with anger, including towards her adult daughter, Aram ("Maybe pain moves in a circle. Maybe I caused her pain to avenge my own.") and she comments frequently on the ability to survive versus just live. At one point, Nahid comments: "Right and wrong, it's so hard to know which is which as the years go... Sometimes I wonder if right and wrong are even the opposite of each other, or just two ways of expressing the same thing." Nahid speaks of luck, too, and readers will be contemplating the sacrifices that a refuge makes (freedom versus roots), wondering if they would prefer a relatively easy life filled with good luck or the opportunity to build resilience due to facing and overcoming bad luck. In an almost journal-like format, Nahid reflects upon her life and that of her family, including recently deceased husband Masood: "If only we'd cried together instead of letting the pain turn into a thorn between us, maybe our lives wouldn't have turned out like this. Maybe then we wouldn't have been so alone."

Book groups, especially, will find much to discuss in WHAT WE OWE which received starred reviews from both Booklist ("a must-read") and Kirkus ("a startling meditation on death, national identity, and motherhood").

Many thanks to NetGalley, Mariner Books, and the author for the opportunity to read this powerful debut book - 4.5 stars!

Nahid and her boyfriend, Masood, are 18 year olds starting out at university with bright futures. But they join the revolution to overthrow the Shah's regime. It's all exciting and clandestine, until the night that Nahid brings her younger sister along to a huge demonstration. Then nothing will ever be right. The young couple are scared for their lives and flee to Sweden.

Now 55 and newly diagnosed with cancer, Nahid is angry, lonely, mean to those around her, full of regrets and feeling like no one can understand what she's been through, and why she feels like she doesn't belong anywhere Not always likable, Nahid's story will pull at your emotions.

Highly recommended!

This is a gut wrenching book. Following the life of Nahid as she learns she has cancer and six months to live was a short, but powerful story. Nahid is now 55, but we learn of her early life as a refugee from Iran to Sweden. She tells of her abusive marriage and her strained relationship with her daughter. Bonde writes in short bursts that allow you to really feel Nahid's frustration and anger. This will be a book that stays with me for long time.

A solid read by Bonde. We felt the main character's every emotion, especially her anger. Recommended for anyone who has been touched by cancer, or for anyone looking for a spectacularly unique read.

Beautiful novel about the death of a survivor--her struggle in letting go and finding peace with her daughter is captivating.

This book! I couldn't put it down. It was so heartwrenching and so beautiful. I loved the dynamic between the characters. I ached for this family. It's a beautiful story and I know that it will be high on the best sellers list later this year. So relevant too.

This is a very soulful sorrowful book. It left me with the feeling of enormous sadness.
It is about living and dying and how short life is and how some of us caught in the darkest events of history have so little preparation for what’s to come and no control over the events in our life. There is the element of being born into war, revolution, bloodshed and no ability to withstand it. Nahid saves herself but at the same time looses all sense of meaning and joy of life.
It felt like life happened to her and before she knew it it was over. Written in a very beautiful prose and so well rendered it doesn’t feel like a translation at all. This is my top 2018 title.