A review by r_reads2winnie
Together Tea by Marjan Kamali

2.75

Together Tea is the story of an Iranian American family. It focuses on the family’s Mother, Darya, and her daughter, Mina. The family came to the US during the Iranian Revolution in the 1970s. Many years later, Mom and her daughter return to Iran to see their relatives and immerse themselves in the country they left. It is the story of the immigrants’ experience - wanting to belong but longing for the homeland. It is also about the mother’s love and sacrifice as well as the daughter’s coming-of-age and finding identity between the two cultures. The story concludes nicely, but it is cliched and predictable. 

 

I like books set in Iran and have read many. Although I didn’t hate this book, it ranks at the bottom of all other books set in Iran I have read. The author touches upon many topics such as the Iranian Revolution, immigrant experiences, going back to the home country, mother-daughter relationships, and finding identity, but nothing is fully developed. Everything felt mediocre, and her writing was average at best.