Rabinyan, Dorit. Strand of a thousand pearls, a novel.

Random House. 268p. c2001. 0-375-76003-2. $13.95. A

Readers interested in the strife-torn setting of modern Israel will be disappointed in the lack of politics in Dorit Rabinyan's latest book. Instead she delves into the emotionally tangled world of a Persian Jewish family, the Azizyans, looking at each member and the destructive choices they make surrounded by a family filled with love. Starting with the passionate affair between parents Solly and Iran, the book progresses through the four daughters-beautiful Sofia, obsessed Marcelle, oversexed Lizzie, the young, mentally ill Matti--and outsider son Maurice. The flavors of Persian cooking waft out of this volume to tantalize while the psychological turmoil of each family member disturbs the reader. The Azizyans raise their children to believe that all their ills will disappear upon the occasion of their marriage. As the girls marry one by one they find only more unhappiness and despair, just as their parents feel the guilt and worry of their misguided advice. Matti, wrestling with mental illness seemingly brought on by the death at birth of her twin brother, flits toward puberty in this unhappy environment, posing a danger to herself and others as she tries to mold herself in her dead sibling's image.

The strong sensual overtones and sexual imagery, as well as the emphasis on the psychology of the characters, make this work more suitable for advanced senior high students and adults. An excellent reader's guide accompanies this imprint. Librarians wishing to expand collections on the Middle East would do well to add this cultural perspective. Courtney Lewis, Libn., Wyoming Seminary College, Kingston, PA