An Emotion of Great Delight
From bestselling and National Book Award–nominated author Tahereh Mafi comes a stunning novel about love and loneliness, navigating the hyphen of dual identity, and reclaiming your right to joy—even when you’re trapped in the amber of sorrow.
It’s 2003, several months since the US officially declared war on Iraq, and the American political world has evolved. Tensions are high, hate crimes are on the rise, FBI agents are infiltrating local mosques, and the Muslim community is harassed and targeted more than ever. Shadi, who wears hijab, keeps her head down.
She's too busy drowning in her own troubles to find the time to deal with bigots.
Shadi is named for joy, but she’s haunted by sorrow. Her brother is dead, her father is dying, her mother is falling apart, and her best friend has mysteriously dropped out of her life. And then, of course, there’s the small matter of her heart—
It’s broken.
Shadi tries to navigate her crumbling world by soldiering through, saying nothing. She devours her own pain, each day retreating farther and farther inside herself until finally, one day, everything changes.
She explodes.
An Emotion of Great Delight is a searing look into the world of a single Muslim family in the wake of 9/11. It’s about a child of immigrants forging a blurry identity, falling in love, and finding hope—in the midst of a modern war.
In the realms of love and loss, Tahereh Mafi's "An Emotion of Great Delight" unravels a tapestry of intricate emotions and profound connections. Protagonist Juliette Ferrars possesses a deadly secret: her touch can inflict excruciating pain. Branded as a monster, she is imprisoned by the government and subjected to inhumane experiments. Amidst her solitary confinement, she finds solace in the written word, pouring her heart out in a notebook.
Enter Warner, a mysterious and enigmatic figure who becomes Juliette's tormentor and unlikely savior. As their paths intertwine, a forbidden romance blossoms, challenging Juliette's perception of herself and the world around her. Love becomes a battlefield where she must confront her inner demons and fight for her own humanity.
Mafi's writing is a symphony of lyrical prose, deftly capturing the nuances of Juliette's emotional turmoil. She delves into the depths of despair, rage, and vulnerability, painting a vivid portrait of a character struggling to find her place in a world that fears and misunderstands her.
"An Emotion of Great Delight" transcends the boundaries of dystopian fiction, exploring universal themes of acceptance, identity, and the transformative power of love. It is a story that lingers in the heart long after the last page is turned, leaving readers with a profound sense of empathy and a renewed appreciation for the human spirit.
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