Female Life on Planet Earth

A daughter uncovers the secrets of her mother's past in this darkly funny, lyrical novel

When Heti's mother, Ana, dies, she leaves behind a lifetime of unconditional love, immigrant grit, and impeccable retail sales records at her job at Nordstrom. But a mysterious package upends everything: a collection of photographs of Ana as a young woman-armed, robed in the garb of Muslim fundamentalism, pointing a gun at sobbing women and posing beside burning buildings-reveals a life Heti never imagined.

And with these images comes a staggering question: who was Ana before America, and what has Heti inherited? Now, a year on from her mother's death, it falls to Heti to organise an anniversary gathering. She finally has an opportunity to demand answers from the other women in her family. But in learning the truth about Ana's past, Heti risks losing her mother all over again.

With sparkling wit and emotional precision, Female Life on Planet Earth is the stunning new novel from award-winning author Laleh Khadivi.