Laura FitzgeraldReseñas

I found this collection of highly personal revelations read like a starting point for an autobiography. The subject matter of the poems is familiar to me but not engaging in this format. The power of description was there, but I did not feel it reached me like other poetry.

Two stars is perhaps a little harsh, but I didn't really enjoy this at all. I've written a lot of confessional and autobiographical poetry over the years, some better than this but mostly worse, and reading this reminded me why I stopped. It's not the subject matter, per se. After all, all poetry is to some extent focused on the experience of the poet. Sylvia Plath, for example, is intensely self-referential, almost entirely focused on her own experience and feelings, and her work is sublime, beautiful, and moving. The trouble is that you need to be a fantastic poet to write beautifully and movingly on your on internal world. If you are not, the reader is not engaged, and experiences the various problems with poetic form. In this case, for example, the jarring contortions of metre in the first couple of poems. I was left wondering if there was any metre, or if the apparant use of metre was just an illusion, and I was searching for patterns where there were none. After a couple of poems I gave up.

I hope this doesn't appear cruel. I think that poetry is for everyone, that everyone should write poems about the things that they experience and feel. But very few people are good enough at it or have interesting enough internal lives that it makes for fun reading. I wonder if the author didn't go through the crushing hurt of having their teenage poetry sneered at, rejected, or worse, and was forced to consider what the difference was between their work and the work getting published. Like writing, poetry is an art that needs to be crafted. You need to read a lot of poetry and understand the different forms and techniques and then know why you use one rather than another to get the best words in the best order. Just writing your feels prettily is not always good poetry, though it can be good therapy, which is even more important!

I read this whole book in one day. It was so beautifully written and tugged at the heart. For a first novel this is amazing!

Halfway though I realized that I had, without a doubt, read this book some years before. Not that I minded. It was a good re-read. I do have some concerns with the author's research on Persians and modern day Iran and I don't think all her assumptions are fair or accurate, but other that that I thought it was a good story and premise. A young Iranian woman comes to the United States in order to find a husband (her visa is only good for three months). She wants to escape the radical religious government and have freedom (unlike her parents who are trapped in Tehran). She stays with her sister and her husband and together they look for a suitable Persian American while she takes English classes at the local library. During the midst of this she meets a charming barista at Starbucks but she doesn't give him the time of day because he would never understand her predicament. Or would he?

could be spoilers
This is a nice book. It is very easy to read & the ideas aren't complex. One strength is that it shows how little the people in Tami's new life understand her situation.

I loved 'Veil of Roses', the book that preceded this one, so I was excited to have a change to read this. 'Dreaming in English' expands upon the story of Tamila as she tries to make a life for herself in America with her new husband Ike. Tamila and Ike barely know each other, and their relationship grows and is tested in a variety of ways while Tamila tries to figure out what she really wants at life. This book is not as cute and carefree as 'Veil of Roses' was, but is much more realistic and, in the end, full of hope.

a alle leggi del suo Paese.
Vissuta sempre in Iran fino all'età di 27 anni, si ritrova in America, grazie al visto procuratole da suo padre, per poter raggiungere la sua sorella Maryam, sposata con Ardishir.
Tami è fuori di sé dalla gioia ma la sua felicità ha purtroppo una scadenza e, come nelle favole, i suoi sogni rischiano di tramutarsi in zucche vuote. Il suo visto ha la durata di soli tre mesi ed in questi mesi Tami deve combinare un matrimonio con un uomo iraniano che la sposi e che le permetta anche di restare in America come moglie di un americano.
Maryam si impegnerà a farle conoscere gli uomini più disparati anche se purtroppo nessuno sembra essere quello giusto.
E non sempre va tutto come vorremmo no?
“Molti mariti iraniani sono dolci, gentili e premurosi verso le mogli che considerano persone, non soltanto madri dei loro figli. Però non tutti sono così. Si organizzano té in famiglia, scambi di doni e cene, ma capita spesso che una donna non sia mai stata sola con il proprio fidanzato prima del matrimonio”.
I personaggi sono stati resi dall'autrice molto realistici e alla mano.
Il romanzo è raccontato dal punto di vista di Tami e rende il lettore partecipe dei suoi pensieri. Infatti ho apprezzato molto le sue riflessioni sulla vita in Iran, sul paragone con l'America, e sulle sensazioni che provava nel vivere una vita nuova in questo continente ben diversa e lontana da quella vissuta in passato.
"Il tè non era proprio previsto. Magari dopo il corso, tornando a casa, avrei potuto fermarmi a prenderne una tazza mentre aggiornavo il diario. Però mango e kiwi in Iran non esistono, e così decido di provare. [...] Bleah! Non è mica tè. Freddo, sa di frutta, ma è così dolce che sembra ci sia dentro un quintale di zucchero”.
Questo libro mi ha fatto riflettere, e mi ha fatto pensare a come siamo fortunate noi donne occidentali. Ancora oggi, nel 2012, molte donne, pur non per loro scelta, devono sposare uomini che nemmeno conoscono.
Consiglio "Colazione da Starbucks" a chiunque abbia voglia di sognare, di sorridere, e perché no, anche di commuoversi, con una storia piena di passione e dolce, con un lieto fine molto carino, ma che abbia anche qualcosa di attuale, come in questo caso il richiamo alla cultura ed alla vita delle donne persiane.

Dreaming in English by Laura Fitzgerald is the sequel to Veil of Roses and a fantastic two book story. I absolutely loved both books.

Dreaming in English continues the story of Tamila Sorush, an Iranian woman who came to America on a three month visa with the hope of entering an arranged marriage so she would be able to remain in America. After two failed attempts at arranged marriages to Persian men, Tami marries the man she truly loves, Ike, an American.

Both Tami and Ike are special characters. The reader wants their marriage to be successful and their dreams to come true. Together they are an exceptional couple, but not without their critics. Ike's parents, especially his mother, is outraged by the marriage and tries to bully Tami into going back to Iran. A previous failed suitor, who has his own set of problems, is out to make sure her new marriage plans fail. Throughout the story, the reader is rooting for Tami and hoping that Immigration will approve her permanent residency request.

I so enjoyed the minor characters in this book as well. Rose, Tami's friend, and Ardisher, Tami's brother-in-law were two of my favorites.

This book will have you laughing, crying and cheering for Tamila. I highly recommend this satisfying sequel.

This was a pretty good book. The story was intriguing and I wanted Tami to get her permanent new life in America. The characters were colorful - Tami meets so many people with such different personalities it was interesting on a human condition level to see them interact. And even though Tami is a bit on the "wild" side for an Iranian girl - she has no idea what to expect from her new life in America. Her "wild" side is nothing in comparison to what her American friends do on a daily basis.

As a main character Tami was great. She was trying to learn how to fit-in in a culture that she'd only dreamed about becoming a part of. Even though she desperately tries to shed her Iranian lifestyle, there are parts of it that she struggles with. Even when she starts to open up to a new idea her sister - who tries to keep her "pure" pushes her back to some of the things she wants to break out of. Her only hope is to find a man who will marry her quickly. But that becomes a struggle in itself - she's too Iranian for some and too American for others. Her whole trip to America is a struggle for her to find her identity and where she fits in to her new life. The supporting characters made Tami's story that much better. But all the different influences pull Tami along in a way that leaves her confused and frustrated. But she does make some great friends and gets herself into a few funny situations. Well, funny from the outside, at the time Tami was mortified by some of the things she experiences.

While this is a story about finding love, and marriage (not necessarily in the same person) I think it is more of a look into American culture and how overwhelming it can be for someone who's not used to the freedom America offers. Tami's first interaction on her own in a store is just one example of how different things can be. When she accepts a free sample and then the cops just happen to show up at the store she's at, she panics... It was amusing but it also made me feel kind of sad that Tami was made to feel like she was doing something wrong by doing something so common. Then when her friend from her ESL class Eva takes her on a shopping trip the differences between cultures is even more apparent. Eva isn't American, but she's adapted to the lifestyle extremely well, and while good she has good intentions she ends up putting Tami in quite a few uncomfortable situations.

This was a well written book. I enjoyed the story and I also enjoyed being able to see the American culture from the eyes of someone who's trying to find where she belongs in our culture.

I had Veil of Roses by Laura Fitzgerald on my book pile for quite some time before I recently decided to read it. I am very glad that I did. It is an easy read, but the story has substance and held my interest. Tami, the main character, is just so nice. She was a character you would like to have as a friend. There were also other charming characters such as Ike and Tami's brother-in-law. It was enjoyable to read about Tami building a group of friends from the students in her English-Speaking class. I wasn't the biggest fan of Tami's sister, but I understood her better towards the end of the book. Her sister even surprised me with an incredibly kind gesture that she makes to one of Tami's friends.

It was also interesting and emotional to read about Tami's plight. Tami was willing to marry people that were not worthy of her in order to remain in the United States, but she did not compromise her integrity. Tami is a loved character...by her family, friends, Ike and the reader.

Please note that there are some parts of the story that were at times too coincidental and a little hard to believe, but it did not stop me from highly rating this book. I think because the characters are developed and the novel is well written and thought out I was able to move past it.

First of all, I wish I had won this book from the Early Reviewers. . . alas, I was not picked for it, though I had read the first book, "Veil of Roses", five years ago or so. Anyway, of course my local library had this book and the first one as the author is local to my present location. Five years ago, I had now idea I'd been moving to Tucson the next year. . . but that is another story. I am still hoping to meet the author one of these days.

I love the character of Tami, and how she develops in this book. She learns to really fight for her freedom and not to give up. I love the relationship between her and Ike. I enjoy how Tami sees the world, too. What sticks with me after finishing "Dreaming in English" are a few things in particular. For instance, Tami points out that Americans seem to find it odd that when you have guests visit, you must have a "giant bowl" of fruit when you serve tea as well as nuts (in our household - my husband is persian-american - because of my nut allergies, bowls of nuts are verboten). I have learned how to serve giants bowls of fruit! Another thing thing that sticks with me are the places and locations specific to Tucson that are mentioned throughout the book. It makes it fun if you can really see the places in your mind. . . but if you've never been to Tucson, it should not take away from your reading experience, either.

I might have missed something, but Alibaba (the local Tucson restaurant) is never mentioned in this book, nor any of the middle eastern stores (we have one we go to on occasion.) I though that was kind of weird . . . I mean, I know my husband's opinion on their (Alibaba's) food, service, ambiance, etc, but apparently none of these characters ever go there? Hmmm.

I,too, hope there might be a third book someday!

Laura Fitzgerald, where have you been all my life? First of all, I did not pay close enough attention that this was a sequel. And I did not wait to read the first one. Oh my gosh, I cried and cried and laughed and cried some more. I finally found a character I can cheer for. This is a story about Tami, an Iranian young woman who finds herself being sent back to Iran after her visa expires if she doesn't do something drastic. I think I hit just about every emotion with this book. (I still do not like Ike's mom...evil woman). I feel sorry for whatever I read next, it certainly couldn't compare to this one. Wow!

Even though I really, really liked this book I am going to start this review with a complaint. I can't help it. Minor rant here and then we can move on to happy things. This has nothing to do with the book and more to do with the route in which it came to be in my hands. I participate in the LibraryThing EarlyReviewers program. I have almost since I started blogging. I thoroughly enjoy it. If they had included in the synopsis that this was sequel I wouldn't have requested the book and that would have been fine because it is a SEQUEL and I deserve to know this. However, no where in the copy in which I was given to choose this book did that come into play. I feel like it's false advertising. I deserve to know when I am reading a sequel out of order because then I would like to read the first one ahead of it if I can. Ok rant over!

I went into Dreaming in English with some misgivings, afraid I wouldn't know the characters or what the heck was going on. I shouldn't have worried! I quickly picked up the story and became enamored with Tamila and her plight in America. Tamila finds herself swept off her feet in Tucson, AZ by the American boy of her dreams, Ike. However all is not to be so easily blessed. Tami was here on a tourist visa from Iran. Even though her family had high hopes that she would perhaps marry one of the Iranian men they had arranged for her, she did not, and instead, at the last minute, married Ike and now she needs to apply for the proper paperwork to keep her in the country.

There is also the minor detail of telling Ike's family. See, Ike and Tami knew each other and fell in love before they got married but it was kind of a 'love at first site' situation, not a traditional date for a while, meet everyone's friends and family and then get married situation so Ike's parents might be a little blindsided by their new daughter-in-law. And yes, they are not happy, particular Tami's new mother-in-law.

What follows is a story of how a new couple fights not only to stay together but to stay in America. Yes, it's a sweet story but you can't help but root for the good guys and jeer the bad ones. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am so glad, in the end, I read it. Even if it was out of order!

Dreaming in English is a story about the American dream, told from the view of Tamila Soroush, a young Iranian woman attempting to stay in the U.S. through her marriage to an American citizen. Tami really wants her marriage to Ike Hanson to work, but she meets obstacles in the form of her in-laws, former fiances, and a new business, not to mention a looming immigration interview. Nevertheless, Tami is repeatedly encouraged to take her destiny into her own hands and fight for the freedom she so desperately desires. A good read that truly makes one think about what it means to be American and the promise the American dream holds for so many people.

Tami comes to Tucson from Tehran officially to visit her sister, but hoping to find a Iranian man to marry before her visa expires so that she can establish residency in the US. After a string of unsuitable suitors, a handsome American from a coffee shop she had frequented proposes just before she heads back to Iran. The rest of the book discusses her readying for her interview with Immigration, establishing herself in her marriage, and with her new in-laws, and starting a new business with her new husband.
This book is a bit predictable, but it's still an engaging story with a tear-jerker ending.½

Sorry it took so long to review this lovely book: I first had to track down its predecessor book, Veil of Roses, which my public library didn't carry. AFTER reading Veil of Roses, I was ready to continue the story of Tami (and her family and friends) in the second installment, Dreaming in English. I thoroughly enjoyed the ups and downs of Tami's new life in the US and her coming into her relationships. I wonder if there will be a third installment (maybe?). I REALLY want to know if they eventually went back to the airport to pick up Ardeshir's aunty, who seemed to be totally forgotten at the end of the book (ha!).....

Fitzgerald's sequel to Veil of Roses picked up where the first book left off, right into Tami's Las Vegas marriage to Ike. The story is a little slow to show its real substance- Tami finding herself and her freedom. The climax comes to a wonderful close, and you can't help but smile at the end of the book.

I read this book without reading the first part, Veil of Roses. Although I enjoyed this different perspective of the American Dream, I think reading the first book would have added to the depth of the story.

I liked this book, but I didn't love it. The character development was wonderful, but the story (life in Iran, married life) was lacking a bit, as was the dialogue between characters. I'm anxious to read the first book to see how it compares.

I enjoyed this book very much. I loved reading further on the characters from Veil of Roses. I would love to know what happens next too!

This is a story filled with hope and promise. A sequel to Veil of Roses gives an insider's look at Tami, a young woman from Tehran, Iran, who lives from happiness in her search for love, family and freedom. Through Tami's eyes we see glimpses of enviable freedom in America...and we also see some of the prejudices and roadblocks that might just prevent others from reveling in their courageous pursuits.

It's Tamalia Soroush's twenty-seventh birthday and she receives a small blue perfume bottle filled with sand. Some would say this is an unfit or disappointing gift. Tamila couldn’t be happier with the bottle of sand from the beaches of California. Growing up in Iran, Tamalia has lived a veiled life of a repressed woman just like her mother. But when this birthday arrived she is met with the perfume bottle and a one-way ticket to America. Her father tells her to return to the sand to that San Franciscan beach he left so many years ago, he wishes she will find a suitable Persian man with American citizenship and hopefully never return to Iran again. Her visa allows 3 months, and time is ticking. America brings the freedom and opportunities Tami has dreamed of her whole life. She is surprised of the outgoing women and the friendly and welcoming sidewalks. With each day comes a new experience, which never ceases to fascinate Tamalia. With a chance at America come new experiences as well as Tami building new friendships. But when America starts to distract Tami from her original goal: to find a way to stay there permanently. Her dreams start to be threatened.

Veil of Roses is a modern story with heartwarming touches of romance and hints of comedy. The book was a page turner, with each sentence propelling the story that much more and with unexpected twists, it was far from disappointing. Laura Fitzgerald combined modern themes to the foreign traditions of the Middle East. The views of Iran and America that are portrayed are set in such a raw compelling way. The characters she has created had such a range in personality that ultimately complimented each one. This book is definitely worth reading and it won’t disappoint.

‘“Shh, shh”. He quieted my sobs, rocked me back and forth. “This is your chance. You go to America and make us proud “’.When Tamalia comes to America to live with her sister and brother and law she is set in such a welcoming environment. Each day she walks to her English class, where the readers as well as Tami each meet a new character who displays the American dream. From Nadia, a pregnant, abused mail-ordered-bride who wishes to break free from the shackles of her hurtful marriage and raise her baby in a loving environment of America. To Eva, the care free spirit from Germany married to an American solider. With a witty exterior and a modernized view of America, Eva takes Tami's world by storm. Inspired by all her new classmates, Tami starts forming dreams of her own. With a budding talent and passion for photography, Tami dreams of starting her own photo studio. The story is surrounded by the American dream, as told by many different cultures and not just Tami. The story was very enjoyable and truly inspiring. -V.B.

Author Laura Fitzgerald continues the story of Tamila Soroush, an Iranian immigrant in her latest novel, Dreaming in English, the sequel to her bestselling book, Veil of Roses. Readers will love finding out what happened to Tami and the love of her life, Ike after their hasty Vegas wedding. Fitzgerald draws on the experience of her husband, a man of Iranian descent to bring authenticity and beliveability to this book, but it's Fitzgerald's knack for character development that readers will fall in love with.

While visiting her sister on a three month visitor's visa, Tami makes a spur-of-the moment decision to marry Ike Hanson, the man she has dreamed of her whole life. America will afford her many of the freedom's she could never have in Iran. Leaving her parents and family behind she head to Tucson to start her new life. But, things don't seem to be going her way when she Ike's mother becomes convinced that Tamila is using Ike to get her citizenship. The Immigration Department and Ike's parents are keeping a close eye on their relationship to see if it's real or just a sham. Will she and Ike be able to rise above the controversy and create a life for themselves or will Tami's dream of freedom in America be at an end?

Laura Fitzgerald tackles the controversial issue of immigration in her both of novels about Tamila Soroush and her family. Her descriptions about the life of women in Iran and the obstacles they faced are remarkable. I really enjoyed seeing Tami as she began to adjust to life in America. To seeing all the differences from how her life would have been in Iran. Both Veil of Roses and Dreaming in English are well written, with great clarity and emotion. The first book introduced us to Tami, but the second really shows her growth and how she held on to her dreams and made decisions that may have seemed hasty turn into something wonderful.

I am sympathize with both sides of the story. Tami had come to America to visit her sister and in hopes of finding someone to marry so she could stay. But she didn't expect to really fall in love. Her relationship with Ike was a surprise and a dream come true, but she didn't consider how it would be viewed by others. I can see why Ike's parents might have been skeptical and worried for their son, but I think his mother took things to the extreme with her behavior. I can totally see how this situation could have transpired in real life and I think the author did an amazing job of bringing the reader a love story that is current and full of possibilities.

Fitzgerald's development of the characters was flawless. Tami just seems to bloom as she comes in to her own. She is strong and tenacious but she is also vulnerable and her self-worth and image are challenged a lot in this book. But she comes across as resilient and easily bounces back. I cannot imagine the fear that must go through the minds of women in her situation, knowing that they could be deported and sent back. I think the author did a great job of conveying that earnestness and anxiety. Ike was also a great character, though I wished he would have stood up to his mother a little more forcefully at times. Tami's new friends add a lot of comic relief to the book as there are times when it gets a bit emotional.

This book could be read as a stand alone but I think readers would much rather read the two together to get the full effect of the story. I recommend Dreaming in English to all of my readers. It is a great story about the American dream from a different perspective. It is extremely well written and will hold the interest of the reader from start to finish. It's full of wonderful characters and a fast paced plot. This would be a great one to curl up with and read the weekend away.

Tamila Soroush comes to America ostensibly to visit her sister, but hoping to find someone to marry so she can stay in America. Her sister tries to arrange a marriage between Tami and a Persian man, but all efforts fall through. On the last day before she must go back to Iran, Tami opens her hotel door to see Ike, an American man she has come to love. Ike knows about her need to marry and so he marries her right away. Even though Tami and Ike love each other, many people don't believe it, instead choosing to believe that Tami only married Ike for a green card. His parents are particularly hostile to Tami. But Ike and Tami continue as a couple, even starting a business together, but the time for Tami's immigration interview is getting closer and she is getting nervous. Will she get to stay in America or will she lose Ike and her freedom completely?

Dreaming in English is a sequel to Fitzgerald's previous book, Veil of Roses, the story of Tam's sister. Either book can stand alone, but it's nice to read both. I liked Dreaming in English. The story is told by Tami in first person, present tense. The reader knows what Tami is seeing and thinking at all times. Sometimes funny and sometimes sad, she paints a powerful picture of the reason so many people leave everything and everyone they know to come to this country. Tami is a wonderful character and I didn't want the book to end. Highly recommended.

This sequel to "Veil of Roses," is reall more of a continuation than a sequel. It would not stand alone in that much of the character development is contingent on the earlier book. I

It is a good story that follows Tamila Soroush's attempt to become a permanent US resident after marrying American, Ike Hanson. While the story is well put together, there are few real surprises and the ply chugs along to an expected conclusion.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did, but I found it to be rather dull and predictable. Most of the secondary characters were just flat and lifeless cardboard. I enjoyed Veil of Roses more.