When the Apricots Bloom

Inspired by her own experiences while stationed in Baghdad during Saddam Hussein's rule, former foreign correspondent Gina Wilkinson's evocative, suspenseful debut is told through the eyes of three very different women in Iraq at the turn of the millennium. A secretary, an artist and a diplomat’s wife, each must confront the complexities of trust, friendship, and motherhood under the rule of a dictator and his ruthless secret police…

At night, in Huda’s fragrant garden, a breeze sweeps in from the desert encircling Baghdad, rustling the leaves of her apricot trees and carrying warning of visitors at her gate. Huda, a secretary at the Australian embassy, lives in fear of the mukhabarat—the secret police who watch and listen for any scrap of information that can be used against America and its allies. They have ordered her to befriend Ally Wilson, the deputy ambassador’s wife. Huda has no wish to be an informant, but fears for her teenaged son, who may be forced to join a deadly militia. Nor does she know that Ally has dangerous secrets of her own.

Huda’s former friend, Rania, enjoyed a privileged upbringing as the daughter of a sheikh. Now her family’s wealth is gone, and Rania too is battling to keep her child safe and a roof over their heads. As the women’s lives intersect, their hidden pasts spill into the present. Facing possible betrayal at every turn, all three must trust in a fragile, newfound loyalty, even as they discover how much they are willing to sacrifice to protect their families.

“Through two decades of living in hotspots across the globe, I’ve found that while we might pray in a certain way, cover our hair or not, bake our bread flat or leavened, at heart we all want the same things—safety, peace, love. We share far more in common than that which divides us. I hope this book shows that.”

– Gina Wilkinson

This discussion guide was shared in partnership with Kensington Books.

Book club questions for When the Apricots Bloom by Gina Wilkinson

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

When the Apricots Bloom was partly inspired by the author’s own experiences living in Baghdad under Saddam Hussein, at a time when Western sanctions kept Iraq virtually cut off from the outside world. During that period, her closest Iraqi friend worked as a secret police informant and reported on her every move. Did her portrayal of life in Baghdad seem realistic to you? What did you learn about life for ordinary Iraqis that surprised you?

If you were in Huda’s situation, how would you have responded to the orders from the secret police? Should Huda have felt guilty about any of her actions?

Compared to Huda, how does Rania handle pressure from the regime? Does her family’s status protect her, or is that just an illusion?

Rania is an artist—a respected role in Iraqi society. How does this compare to prevailing attitudes toward artists in your own culture?

Ally is desperate to find a connection with her mother. Given the restrictions she’s under, do you think her subterfuge is justified, or is her search for clues to her mother’s past irresponsible? What would you have done differently?

Huda’s husband, Abdul Amir, plays a key role in the book. To what extent does he influence Huda’s decisions? Did your perception of him alter over time? If so, how?

The novel alternates between Huda’s, Rania’s, and Ally’s points of view. How are their worldviews and attitudes reflected in their narrative styles? Do you prefer one to the other? How would the novel have differed if it had been told from only one perspective?

The daily lives of Huda, Rania, and Ali are very different from our own, but in some ways they may feel very familiar. While reading this novel, were there any day-to-day details, activities, or concerns that you found surprisingly similar to your own? Did you find any parallels between the lives of these women and your own life?

In the acknowledgments, the author references the debate over #OwnVoices. To what extent do you agree or disagree with her statements? Do you think it was appropriate for her to write from an Iraqi woman’s point of view?

When the Apricots Bloom Book Club Questions PDF

Click here for a printable PDF of the When the Apricots Bloom discussion questions

A BuzzFeed Most Anticipated Historical Fiction Release

A Publishers Marketplace Buzz Books Selection

A Target Book Club Selection

“In Wilkinson’s vivid debut, set in early 2000s Baghdad, secrets and lies mingle as easily as the scent of apricot blossoms and nargilah smoke…Wilkinson weaves in the miasma of fear and distrust that characterized Hussein’s regime with convincing detail. Scenes from Iraqi life—paying for work with food items, or snacking on “counterfeit ‘Keet Katts’”—offers a glimpse into a country crippled by economic sanctions…richly drawn characters and high-stakes plot” – Publishers Weekly

“It is hard to imagine how hard life must have been, although Wilkinson does a marvelous job depicting the fear that all of these characters experienced. Her personal experience in Iraq during the years prior to the Iraq war adds genuine depth to this story and the characters’ lives. Reading this story gave me an appreciation for my life in a free country! It was riveting from beginning to end. I loved the characters and their strength and perseverance. A great read!” – Stephanie Crowe, Page & Palette (Fairhope, AL)

“Wilkinson’s atmospheric and suspenseful novel explores the complicated relationships between two

Iraqi women and a diplomat’s wife during Saddam Hussein’s tyrannical rule. It powerfully illustrates the

peril women faced under his misogynistic, autocratic regime, and the risks, lies and betrayals they had to

commit in order to protect their families. I read this novel with my heart in my throat.” – Lisa Johnson, Penguin Bookshop (Sewickley, PA)

“It is so easy to forget that there are families behind the headlines, and women desperately clinging to

them, willing to risk everything to protect what they hold dear. The stories of these three women are

each compelling on their own, but when intertwined they become formidable. The sights and smells of

Iraq are so vivid, casting hope where there seems to be only despair. This stunning novel has such an

authentic voice it is easy to forget that it is a novel rather than a memoir or history.” – Jennifer Winberry, Hunterdon County Library (Flemington, NJ)

“Reading this novel, I felt the warmth of the sun and tasted the sweetness of the lime tea. The

intricately woven relationship between these characters and the expert pacing had me at the edge of

my seat, turning the pages as fast as possible all the while wanting to savor every sentence, and even

going back to reread a particularly beautiful passage.” – Kaitlin Smith, Copperfield’s Books (Healdsburg,

CA)

This recommended reading and discussion guide are shared and sponsored in partnership with Kensington.