Book Review by Gabrielle Sutton

This book is a prequel to Rosewater and Soda Bread and is based around three Iranian sisters who have fled Iran and are re-establishing their lives in Ballinacroagh, a small town in Ireland.

The sisters open a café cooking traditional Peruvian dishes and slowly weave their magic with exotic spices and aromas. Each chapter begins with a recipe which relates to the chapter’s storyline.  It is quite similar to Under the Tuscan Sun and Chocolat.

It explores the history of the sisters and how that has impacted on the way they behave as well as dealing with prejudices, egotism, bullying, friendship, survival and small town life.

The book is beautifully written.  Mehran has a way of capturing the essence of each character within the town and looking at their inner feelings and fears and contrasting that with the, often misconceived, public perception of that person.  Mehran has a knack for character development as well as capturing the beauty of the Irish countryside and people.  You will fall in love with some of the towns folk whilst you will loath others.  It is an easy and enjoyable read.

I read the sequel, Rosewater and Soda Bread first but recommend that they be read in order. I loved both books and eagerly await Mehran’s next novel.

Review of Rosewater and Soda Bread by Marsha Mehran