Author Archives: Gabrielle

Book Review: The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern

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The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern

Reviewed by Gabrielle Sutton

When someone experiences a particular difficult event in their life whether it be a death, divorce or other major life changing experience, advice is usually given to take ‘one day at a time’. What if you knew what tomorrow held? Could you change it? Would you want to change it? And what would be the consequences of changing the future?

Cecelia Ahern’s latest book, The Book of Tomorrow’, tells the tale of a young lady, Tamara, whose whole life is sent into upheaval by a death. The events that follow are outside her control, and she has no one to confide in or support her. The book is set in Ireland (Ahern is Irish). Following the death, Tamara and her mother must move from their home in the exclusive Dublin beachside suburb, Killiney, to live with family outside a remote rural town in southern Ireland. Continue reading →

Pomegranate Soup by Marsha Mehran

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Book Review by Gabrielle Sutton

Pomegranate Soup by Marsha MehranThis 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

Rosewater & Soda Bread by Marsha Mehran

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Rosewater & Soda Bread Book by Marsha MehranRosewater & Soda Bread by Marsha Mehran

Reviewed by Gabrielle Sutton

I read this book over a long weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it.  The author, Marsha Mehran is Iranian and has lived in Iran, Argentina, Australia, Ireland and North America and this novel draws on her experiences.

It centers around three Iranian sisters who run a café in a small Irish town.  It is beautifully layered story about the people who live in the town and has a distinctive multicultural flavour.    Mehran has a gift in character development and you begin to feel as though you a member of the community and feel all the outrage, warmth and intrigue as the story unfolds.

I will definitely be handing this book onto my friends, and reading Mehran’s first novel Pomegranate Soup.

Rosewater & Soda Bread RRP $27.95 is published by HarperCollins Publishers

You can purchase online or at any good bookstore from October 1st Continue reading →