Introduction

From the award-winning author of East of the Sun, a powerful love story set against the unstable and exotic cities of Cairo and Istanbul during the height of World War II.

At twenty-three, Saba Tarcan knows her only hope of escaping the clamor of Cardiff Bay, Wales, lies in her voice. While traveling Britain, singing for wounded soldiers, Saba meets handsome fighter pilot Dom Benson, recovering from burns after a crash. When Saba auditions to entertain troops in far-off lands, Dom follows her to London. Just as their relationship begins to take root, Saba is sent to sing in Africa, and Dom is assigned a new mission in the Middle East. As Saba explores Cairo’s bazaars, finding friendship among the troupe’s acrobats and dancers, Dom returns to the cockpit once again, both thrilled and terrified to be flying above the desert floor. In spite of great danger, the two resolve to reunite.

When Saba learns that her position makes her uniquely qualified for a secret mission of international importance, she agrees to help the British Secret Service, concealing her role from Dom. Her decision will jeopardize not only her safety but also the love of her life.

Based on true accounts of female entertainers used as spies during World War II, Jasmine Nights is a powerful story of danger, secrets, and love, filled with the colors and sounds of the Middle East’s most beautiful cities.

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Excerpt

Chapter 1

Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, 1942

It was only a song. That was what he thought when she’d put her hat on and gone, leaving the faint smell of fresh apples behind. Nothing but a song; a pretty girl.

But the very least he could say about the best thing to have happened to him in a long time was that she’d stopped him having the dreams.

In the first, he was at the end of a parachute with about three and a half miles between the soles of his feet and the Suffolk countryside. He was screaming because he couldn’t land. He was rushing through the air, a light, insubstantial thing, like thistledown or a dead moth. The bright green grass, so familiar and so dear, swooped toward him, only to jerk away again. Sometimes a woman stood and gaped at him, waving as he floated down, and then was gone on a gust of wind. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

When Dom first watches Saba perform at Queen Victoria Hospital, he sees her as “half imp, half angel.” (p. 12) Do you agree with Dom’s description? Do you think Saba truly has a dual nature? How is she different from the other women Dom has encountered before? Why is she different?


After he is shot down, Dom realizes how lucky he was to survive the crash. Why does Dom feel guilty about surviving? How does the crash change Dom?


Compare Saba’s love for singing to Dom’s passion for flying. How do Saba and Dom feel similarly about these passions? How do they feel differently? When do they bond over their separate callings and when do their careers cause a rift in their relationship?


Discuss the theme of working women in Jasmine Nights. How has the war changed the lives of Saba, Arleta, and Mrs. Tarcan? How do their fathers, husbands, and boyfriends react to their new professions brought on by the war?


Compare where Dom and Saba came from and the kind of households they grew up in. What do Saba and Dom learn about marriage from their parents? What regrets do Saba and Dom’s mothers hold? How do Saba and Dom try to live and love differently than their parents?


Reread Saba’s letters to her father on pages 53, 126, and 195. Why do you think Saba’s father reacted so harshly to her leaving? What was his motivation? Is it pride? Control? Jealousy? Do you think they ever reconcile? Why or why not? Consider what Mr. Ozan’s wife, Leyla, tells Saba on page 369 in your response.


Dom’s mother warns her son about Saba: “If she’s like that, her life will be as important as yours. You will have to understand this and it will be very, very hard for you.” (p. 187) Do you think Dom’s mother sees something of her former self in Saba? Why or why not?


As Dom falls in love with Saba, he realizes: “With her, he would have to fly blind.” (p. 187) How much does Dom know about Saba at the beginning of their relationship? What leaps of faith must he take in order to be with her? What sacrifices?


Saba sings in a number of settings—from gloomy hospitals to smoky back rooms to outdoor pavilions. Which of Saba’s performances was most memorable? Why?


Consider the role jealousy plays in Saba and Dom’s relationship. How does Saba react when she sees Dom talking to Jacko’s former girlfriend on their first date? How does Dom handle his feelings of envy when he sees Saba perform for the troops?

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