Cinnamon City: Falling for the Magical City of Marrakech

by Miranda Innes

Want to escape to a place where the sun always shines? Where passionate music, magic potions and drama of Africa are cooled by the genius of Arabic culture?
Miranda Innes and her partner were lured into buying a beautiful long-neglected riad in the heart of the magical pink-walled city of Marrakech. Only after they'd begun their restoration work did they find that nothing in this place of smoke and mirrors was quite what it seemed.
With her talent for lyrical and evocative descriptions of swirling colours, flavours and aromas, Miranda Innes takes you beyond the tourist track, behind the bolted doors and deep inside the romance that is Marrakech.

Genres: Travel, Morocco, Nonfiction, Memoir, Book Club, Biography

409 pages, Paperback

First published July 5, 2005

Reviews

[Lucas Peters · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of those books that has a lot of promise but never wrote itself out of its stereotypes (both on the part of the protagonist and her family and the Moroccans they meet along the way). It's too bad. The Sultan's House and A House in Fez are similar stories (protagonist purchases a riad in Morocco, the work is overwhelming and more than they expected, but through the work on this old house, a better, deeper understanding of the culture eventually happens)... but these similar stories are done so much better. They're written with much more grace and much less of a "colonial meets the natives" type of mentality that Innes is guilty of throughout this flat work. The Moroccan characters in particular (such as the maids, managers, and souk shop owners) all come across as less-than fully formed humans. It's as if the writer didn't really want to explore the culture and couldn't pen more than a few vapid stereotypes. Perhaps the worst of the bunch is the manager, Hecham, who seems to always begin a sentence with, "Beliv me, Mr. Dan..."

If there was such a thing as writing "blackface" for Morocco, this would be it. Really, just insensitive, shallow writing all the way around. I picked up this book hoping for a little more insight, a little more sensitivity, a little more about Marrakesh, but what I came away with was a bag full of stereotypes, some clunky writing, and a few wasted ours. If you're really interested in Morocco and this idea of what it takes to restore a traditional house in the old cities of Morocco, check out The Sultan's House by Tahir Shah or A House in Fez by Suzanna Clarke. Both of these are far better reads by any measure.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story

Another tale of Morocco, Marrakech. I have learned that I haven't even touched the surface of Marrakech and need to explore more! Thank you Miranda for your story. Loved this book.

[Rachel Glass · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do love a good travel book that is more about people acclimatising to a new culture, language or country. I think the blurb was pretty clear that this book would be based around Innes' experiences buying and renovating a house in Marrakesh, but I think I was expecting a bit more depth in terms of describing the culture and maybe delving into the history a bit more. Instead we get lots of surprise at building work being done differently, lots of food descriptions, and some complaining about paying more than necessary for things.

That said, I did have a couple of chuckle aloud moments, though Innes' constant self-deprecation can get a bit much at times, and the stories of their first two riad 'managers' were certainly horrifying.

Quite similar to 'The Caliph's House' which I read fairly recently, but also different as Innes was doing lots of flitting between Spain and Marrakech whereas Shah lived in the house he and his family were renovating. I would give it 3.5 stars.

[Aiste · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really really wanted to enjoy this book, but... I could not connect with the writing style or with the imbalance of content of house details vs life in Morocco, as the blurb suggested 'where passionate music, magic potions and the dream of Africa are cooled by the genius of Arabic culture?'

Perhaps by reading a lot of similar literature 'A House in Fez', Tahir Shah's books on Morocco, I keep getting disappointed. However, there were some sweet parts - the chapter on the girls time together in Marrakesh that gave a slightly more versatile narrative between 'the Riad' and 'the local life'.

If this is your first book on Morocco (or Marrakesh), go for it. If you have read the previously mentioned books, think twice before you start!

[Plum-crazy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable book about the ups & downs of purchasing a foreign property...in this case in Marrakech.

While I did find myself skimming bits of the book, on the whole I found, as the blurb says the "evocative descriptions of the swirling colours, flavours and aromas, bought the riad to life & the problems encountered with finding a good manager were quite amusing.

I was intriuged enough to look up Riad Maizie on the internet & it was just as I imagined from the books descriptions - beautiful! Take a look for yourself here :o)

All-in-all, an interesting read about moving to a country were the culture is far removed from my own.

[Ligra Nera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tai tikra istorija. Daugybė nuotykių, nesusipratimų, keblumų svetimoje šalyje, svetimoje kultūroje. Ne kiekvienas ryžtūsi tokiai avantiūrai (pirkti nusenusius rūmus svetimoje šalyje, su svetimais papročiais, požiūriu, juos iš paskutinių santaupų remontuoti, tikintis ateityje paversti klestinčiu prabangiu viežbučiu.
Visi autorės patirti nuotykiai ir pojučiai alsuoja tenykštės kultūros kvapais, egzotika tokia viliojančia ir galinčia tapti tokia apgaulinga.
Buvo gera ir idomu skaityti.

[Bethan Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy Miranda’s style of writing which is highly descriptive if a little retrospective. She has humour and wit with an element of feminism that reflects her age and working success. Sometimes you think well surely you knew Morocco would appear to be sexist to western eyes and hardly likely to be less than exploiting of unsuspecting foreigners.the book is amusing and funny but lacks as much of Miranda’s presence as her previous read.

[Harriet Yates · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this after staying in the Riad which Innes writes about. It is a lovely place and it is fascinating to read about the process of purchase and renovation against the backdrop of actually knowing the place. So it gains a star for that.

However, the writing comes across as self-absorbed, often self-pitying, and insensitive. Perhaps the book simply hasn’t aged well, but the writer’s misogyny is evident throughout most descriptions of her relationships and unfettered jealousy of other women.

[Ann Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely read about a couple who buy a house in Marakkech. The house is an impulse buy and results in much stress. There are though some lovely descriptions of Marrakech, not sure if I would want to live there!

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this book was completely up my alley (or zaqaq in this case).
So much my favourite genre, and luxuriously written.

Imagine my delight, upon reluctantly finishing, to find the prequel in my TBR pile.

[Helen Cherry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enjoyable, but gave no insight into the culture. Innes was surprisingly unfamiliar with the country she was moving to, having fallen in love with the aesthetics. That said, I’d love to stay in her riad (which has since been sold on)

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit that I was disappointed in this book. Marrakech is such an intriguing place, yet the author somehow seems to overlook this for much of the book as she is caught up in restoring a riad.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I probably enjoyed this book, as I read it whilst in Marrakech and finished it when I came home. I could picture many of the places mentioned by the author and had enjoyed the sensory overload that she wrote about. A little repetitive in parts but on the whole, an enjoyable read.

[Sister Boom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this woman and her tale, she brought me back to Marrakech with all it's joys and frustrations and I enjoyed the company.

[Emmi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not like this one. The author's voice is ignorant and I found it annoying. The book is more about clothes, shopping and food than Marrakech.

[Stewart Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

She was brave to undertake such a project and it can be an interesting insight into Moroccan culture but you get lost in flowery descriptions at times.

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting because of the experiences owning a riad in marrakech. However poorly written, much too detailed sometimes and naively complaining of all her OWN mistakes. Same story could have been written in about 100 pages.

[Noel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting memoir of a woman who decides, on a whim, to buy property in Marrakech, remodel and turn it into a small hotel/B&B. While I enjoyed this book, it rang very similar to The Caliph's House, but the writing is not nearly as crisp nor as culturally satisfying.

http://www.naturallymorocco.co.uk/Bro...

Website showcasing the stunning finished product. Makes my mouth water to return to Morocco.

[Claire Luck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable easy read, but if you have a real interest in reading about an expat renovating in Morocco better to read The Caliph's House. Miranda Inness wasn't living in Morocco when she wrote this, and I dont think lives there now, so I don't feel she was as immersed in the culture as other similar authors writing on the same topic. Simple holiday read for anyone who likes Morocco or it's people though.

[Anna Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sadly this is not a lyrical or evocative adventure. The narrative lacks any passion of its characters, locations or its people. Despite the author's tenacity and determination in pursuing her dream of renovating a riad in the evocative Marrakech, we are left with a diary- account of how the author financial arrangements helped to realise this dream - and a warning to never to trust a house manager imposed on you!

[Scott Langston · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved the theme and the idea and was genuinely looking forward to discovering Marrakech. However, all too often this felt like reading s list of clichés. I found myself flipping ahead to see when the chapter finished. Characters were two dimensional at best and the narrative was pedestrian and dull. I should have listened to my gut when I saw the Daily Mail Book Club sticker on the cover of this copy. We live and learn.

[Mukhtar]

I can smell the spices already ;-)

[Claire Elwood · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quite interesting read and definately get the atmosphere as I have been to Marrakesch, but not a riveting read.

[Debbie Walker · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated this book, not really any insight into the City of Marrakech. Poorly written and not very interesting at all, shame as I was looking forward to it.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining at the start but then I got rather irritated with the main narrator so it took me some time to finish this.

[Aeren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the book humorous and a bit incredible at times. But it was entertaining.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I must admit I thought that this book was going to be more about Marrakech. I found it poorly written and it didn't really capture me to carry on reading. I lost interest quite quickly.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took a while for me to get into this book. Once I had become familiar with the heavily descriptive style I began to enjoy it for what it was and picture the scenes.

[Robin Bower · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great read showing the trials of renovating a riad in Morocco. Nicely written and an amusing tale by someone who has actually done it. Some nice descriptions of Morrison.

[Sue Cossins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed finding out more about Marrakech