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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
A lovely book with wonderful sounding recipes.
The story of three Iranian sisters who escape the revolution to the British isles.
The story of three Iranian sisters who escape the revolution to the British isles.
Wonderful book - multi-cultural, recipes, and unique characters - all things that make my favorite type of "read-for-pleasure" books.
This book reminds me a lot of one of my favorite books, Like Water for Chocolate. I love the way that is centers food and recipes in a story about overcoming hardship and being different in a place where people are all the same. A well written and exciting novel.
emotional
lighthearted
I enjoyed it. It’s definitely not the best book ever but it’s enjoyable. I like the recipes that ties into the story but I wasn’t always a fan of the word choices, especially during the descriptions of bodies.
Wonderful character development between the 3 sisters. I highly recommend this book.
A friend said the author was “trying too hard” and I didn’t know quite what that meant… until I read the book.
I did not like this.
It’s contrived, the characters are stereotypes and cardboard, and the “magical realism” doesn’t fit any of the over-described writing. The fun premise of Like Water for Chocolate meets Waking Ned Devine is utterly obliterated by the poor writing.
When she describes “the surly drinks baron’s” walk up to Estelle’s cottage with phrases like “his hairless thighs” and wiping “his sweaty meat brow” I was done. Mehran clearly attended the adjective abundant school of writing. Also, huge missed opportunity for a quirky, happier ending that involved the “potato head bar owner” getting a disco instead of a coronary.
Lastly, the recipes aren’t good. Many of them don’t work out as if you weren’t really supposed to make them.
I did not like this.
It’s contrived, the characters are stereotypes and cardboard, and the “magical realism” doesn’t fit any of the over-described writing. The fun premise of Like Water for Chocolate meets Waking Ned Devine is utterly obliterated by the poor writing.
When she describes “the surly drinks baron’s” walk up to Estelle’s cottage with phrases like “his hairless thighs” and wiping “his sweaty meat brow” I was done. Mehran clearly attended the adjective abundant school of writing. Also, huge missed opportunity for a quirky, happier ending that involved the “potato head bar owner” getting a disco instead of a coronary.
Lastly, the recipes aren’t good. Many of them don’t work out as if you weren’t really supposed to make them.
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Writing is eloquent. The integration of food and subtle magical realism is what was most captivating for me. The pacing could have been better spread out, the emotional/should have been heartwarming ending felt a bit rushed but it's an enjoyable read. Marjan in particular is such a likeable character that you empathise for.
Is that a thing? I didn't realise the profusion of novels there are which contain recipes. Goodreads have at least one list with novels with recipes in them, on which is only one of the three such beasts that I have read in the last year - The Kitchen Daughter. They missed this one and the amazing Red Sparrow which is a spy novel, written by a man (am I wrong to be surprised - probably) which has recipes at the end of each chapter referring to something eaten in the chapter (unexpected for the genre, but awesome!) This novel speaks about three sisters who have come, via other locales to be in a small Mayo County village in Ireland, from their native Iran, under circumstances not wholly revealed but in which there is some intrigue and sadness. They start a subtle and unmeant war, pitting their foreignness against acceptance through the aroma and allure of their Persian food. Sometimes a tad dramatic, I nevertheless loved this book. Loved it for my most favourite reason - beautiful writing.
This book is a quick and fascinating read. It also includes some cool recipes to try.