Gardens of Water

Alan Drew

Two families, both alike in dignity, thrown together in the aftermath of the 1999 Turkish earthquake. Your heart goes out to Kurdish Muslim, Sinan and American Christian, Marcus as they each seek to the do the right thing by their teenage children. When young love and family loyalties clash, is tragedy inevitable?

Extract

He wanted to apologize to her - being loved less was a burden a child shouldn't bear - but he couldn't bring himself to admit such a thing to her face.
'I just want you to live a good life, to be happy,' he said.
'Which do you want more, Baba?' She looked at him now, her chin raised against him. Her eyes reflecting the light, shone like polished steel. 'Me living a good life or me happy?'
'I want both.'
She looked away again.

Parallels