A Hundred Veils

Written by Rea Keech

Narrated by Rea Keech

A young American professor at the University of Tehran falls in love with an Iranian artist and is thwarted by social, political, and religious forces that seem beyond his control. Set in the time of the Shah, this is a heart-warming picture of the Iranian people who befriend, guide, love, and laugh at the naive foreigner who wants more than anything to fit in.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Real Nice Books
• Release date: Jan 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798985667059

Rea Keech

Rea Keech taught English at the University of Tehran from 1967 to 1969. He says he wrote A Hundred Veils as a tribute to the warmth, humor, and love of the Iranian people he came to know. He is the author of five other novels. One is set in Japan, one in Afghanistan, and three in a fictional American suburb. He lives is Severna Park, Maryland.

Reviews for A Hundred Veils

[nilouf-426864 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a very engaging love story recounting the challenges of navigating the somewhat fraught but rich exchanges between people from two cultures, Iran and U.S. The political backdrop of the pre-revolutionary Iran, and the rural/city dichotomy of the cultural norms of the Iranian society, were characterized well. These details added robust colors to the foregrounded story. Having lived in Iran during this period, it allowed me to relive some of my past experiences. The concepts of US colonial rule and Shah's intelligence presence in governing people's actions, the societal rules restricting women's freedom and everyone's general scrutiny/interference in the lives of the people in their orbit, are all aspects of my own background, and were sketched well.

I appreciated the occasional terms/places illustrating the everyday experience of the main characters. Weaving poetry through the story evoked the right romantic milieu for the two protagonists; that said, the author's rendition/accent in reciting the poems was somewhat jarring and took away from the overall experience.

[thehappylittlelady · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A star crossed love story that has some build up then it kind of falls off with some side experiences of the main character without anymore about the romance until the very end. Then a sudden ending without a clear conclusion. I just feel unsatisfied. It reminds me of gone with the wind. I think I would have enjoyed reading it better than the audio book. I like a quicker pace. I enjoyed the narrator's voice and characters. However, it was read at a slow lumbering pace and some parts felt rambling. It also didn't have a lot of action or excitement to keep my interest. The story has some moments I though were leading to some drama and action but, then the main character changes his mind or they are easily resolved. I did enjoy the descriptions and peak into another world and culture. I feel like some parts didn't add to the story at all. As much as I enjoy the descriptions sometimes it got in the way of the story and was distracting. Chapter 74 was disturbing to me.

[vintage1series1lisa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A story about Marco who went to Iran to teach English. It was a very difficult time when the Shah was in power, many demonstrations and protests, shouting "Death to America". Religious and political turmoil, language barriers (Although he knew Farsi, he still faced difficulties), cultural differences. Through all of this, he fell in love with an Iranian lady. They faced many difficulties throughout the book. During a powerful earthquake, a twist of fate came for the two of them. Rea Keech does it again! He gets me to read books outside of my typical genre. Rea's own experiences while living and teaching in Iran lends so much character and credibility to the book. Rea Keech never disappoints!

[sheriawilkinson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A Hundred Veils by Rea KeechMarco is teaching at the University of Tehran, he is learning about the culture, religion and the people in this foreign land. Farhad is his colleague and his best friend is there to teach him the Irainian customs, religion and ways of life. Soon Marco starts to fall in love with Farhad's sister Mastaneh. This becomes a challenge since it is basically unheard of for and Iranian woman to be with a foreigner.Well written , moving at a steady pace, with well developed characters.I was able to feel the emotions of each person, and (really) get a feel of life in Iran. A heart-felt story of uforbidden love, friendship, and the trials of living in a a war torn country. I was dran in from the first page. I highly recommend A Hundred Veils .

[imlilie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Ifeel the storyline of this book is good. I realish learning aboutother countries and their customs. But there was something about it that just did not pull me in. After reading some of the other reviews I wouls have to say it was the narator that fell short. I just didn't feel the conviction in the reading.