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Once, there was a girl who loved saffron. She loved its secrets, its mystery, and best of all, she loved its hint of magic.
After the death of her beloved mother, Nell travels from rural Cornwall to the colour and chaos of Marrakech. Her marriage may be on the rocks, but exploring the heady delights of Moroccan cuisine could help her fulfil her dream of opening her own restaurant.
It's there she meets Amy - a young photographer trying to unravel the story behind her family's involvement in the Vietnam War. The two women develop a close friendship and discover a surprising connection between their own pasts.
This connection will take Nell and Amy on a journey to find their own 'saffron trail' - from the labyrinthine medina and bustle of Moroccan bazaars all the way back home to Cornwall and to the heart of their families' origins.
After the death of her beloved mother, Nell travels from rural Cornwall to the colour and chaos of Marrakech. Her marriage may be on the rocks, but exploring the heady delights of Moroccan cuisine could help her fulfil her dream of opening her own restaurant.
It's there she meets Amy - a young photographer trying to unravel the story behind her family's involvement in the Vietnam War. The two women develop a close friendship and discover a surprising connection between their own pasts.
This connection will take Nell and Amy on a journey to find their own 'saffron trail' - from the labyrinthine medina and bustle of Moroccan bazaars all the way back home to Cornwall and to the heart of their families' origins.
425 pages, Hardcover
First published May 21, 2015
153 people are currently reading
1623 people want to read
About the author
Rosanna Ley
19 books223 followersRosanna Ley has worked as a creative writing tutor for over 15 years. Affiliated to several colleges and universities in England, she also runs her own writing courses in the UK and abroad. She has worked with community groups in therapeutic settings and completed an MA in creative writing for personal development in order to support this. Her writing holidays and retreats take place in stunning locations in Italy and Spain and whilst not teaching or writing she mentors and appraises the work of new writers. Rosanna has had numerous articles and short stories published in UK magazines, and 12 novels of contemporary fiction published in the U.K, Germany, Greece and the U.S.A under a pseudonym. Her books are inspired by the culture and landscapes of Italy, Sicily and the Canary Islands and feature strong female voices from the past and present, along with an intense undercurrent of mystery and romance. Rosanna spends some time every year travelling around Europe looking for writing inspiration and more tranquil settings for writing holidays. She loves cliff walking and her favourite writing place is somewhere with a sea view. When she is not travelling, Rosanna lives with her artist husband in a Victorian cottage in West Dorset by the sea.
(From the author's website)
(From the author's website)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
August 26, 2015
“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.”
----Washington Irving
Rosanna Ley, an English author, pens her latest contemporary fiction, The Saffron Trail that tells the story of a daughter's search for her mother's past in a land of magic and saffron away from the humdrum of a big city in a place which itself has it's own mysteries to tell through it's history. It is also the story of a niece to find for her Aunt's lost son in a land of mystery.
Synopsis:
Once, there was a girl who loved saffron. She loved its secrets, its mystery, and best of all, she loved its hint of magic.
After the death of her beloved mother, Nell travels from rural Cornwall to the colour and chaos of Marrakech. Her marriage may be on the rocks, but exploring the heady delights of Moroccan cuisine could help her fulfil her dream of opening her own restaurant.
It's there she meets Amy - a young photographer trying to unravel the story behind her family's involvement in the Vietnam War. The two women develop a close friendship and discover a surprising connection between their own pasts.
This connection will take Nell and Amy on a journey to find their own 'saffron trail' - from the labyrinthine medina and bustle of Moroccan bazaars all the way back home to Cornwall and to the heart of their families' origins.
Nell visits to her mother's past in Morocco after her mother's sudden death, since after her death, Nell realized that her mother kept her own past, especially the identity of Nell's father from her and only to unravel her mother's past as well as with regards from her husband as a birthday present, Nell travels to Morocco. So despite of the almost broken marriage, she is determined to find out who her mother was, and why she kept her past hidden away from her. Amy is a photographer who is in a bad relationship and she too has lots of family history to unravel especially of the estranged aunt's who once had a life during the Vietnam War and in someway had an involvement in the war. So to unravel her aunt's past and her family's hidden mystery, Amy travels to Morocco, where she meets Nell. Together they explore the Saffron farms, the mysteries of Morocco, it's local cuisine, language, culture etc, only to find a connection between both the family histories.
This is the second book that I'm reading of Rosanna Ley. Her previous book, Return to Mandalay was equally enriching and soul touching. Ley has a way to write stories which can touch the hearts of the readers so deeply, mainly because she writes them with so much compassion. Her writing style is flawless and exquisite wit an evocative prose. The story has so much depth that it has enough power to hold anyone till the very last page. Her stories are always comprised of so many layers- like stories within stories. In this book too, each character had their won story to narrate that finally connects them all when they meet at the crossroads. The story flows like a river, never too slow never too fast, only at it's own pace like a rhythm.
Rosanna Ley has a talent to find and evolve stories in beautiful places and cities of the world, so together with the beauty of a particular place, the author spins a story which has the city's flair and the author's own emotions. She once again captured yet another destination with her elegant words and also wit her mind's eyes- Morocco. The mystical land that has its own beauty and essence and mysteries, are all vividly arrested into this story. As Nell and Amy's story progressed so is the story of the city- Morocco. The author has also captured the timeline during the Vietnam War, which may not have that strong presence in the book, but the past is pristinely featured in the story. Yes Ley's books are always like a magical portal to a different better world.
The characters are drawn realistically with lots of back story and their own guilt to support their demeanor. Amy and Nell both are a victim of pain and are in bad relationships, yet somehow this pain of theirs feels so enriching to the readers, since the author has a way to fill the minds of the readers with sympathy for both the protagonists. The supporting cast is also strongly developed and are featured with lots of realism in their demeanor. Each and every character are etched out with love, thus they all have a way to make the readers feel and move them deeply with the story.
Overall, this is a wonderful story and once again Rosanna Ley captivated both my heart and mind wit her compelling yet emotional story.
Verdict: A must read book for all the contemporary as well as historical fiction fans.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Rosanna Ley's, publishers, for providing me with a copy of her book, in return for an honest review.
----Washington Irving
Rosanna Ley, an English author, pens her latest contemporary fiction, The Saffron Trail that tells the story of a daughter's search for her mother's past in a land of magic and saffron away from the humdrum of a big city in a place which itself has it's own mysteries to tell through it's history. It is also the story of a niece to find for her Aunt's lost son in a land of mystery.
Synopsis:
Once, there was a girl who loved saffron. She loved its secrets, its mystery, and best of all, she loved its hint of magic.
After the death of her beloved mother, Nell travels from rural Cornwall to the colour and chaos of Marrakech. Her marriage may be on the rocks, but exploring the heady delights of Moroccan cuisine could help her fulfil her dream of opening her own restaurant.
It's there she meets Amy - a young photographer trying to unravel the story behind her family's involvement in the Vietnam War. The two women develop a close friendship and discover a surprising connection between their own pasts.
This connection will take Nell and Amy on a journey to find their own 'saffron trail' - from the labyrinthine medina and bustle of Moroccan bazaars all the way back home to Cornwall and to the heart of their families' origins.
Nell visits to her mother's past in Morocco after her mother's sudden death, since after her death, Nell realized that her mother kept her own past, especially the identity of Nell's father from her and only to unravel her mother's past as well as with regards from her husband as a birthday present, Nell travels to Morocco. So despite of the almost broken marriage, she is determined to find out who her mother was, and why she kept her past hidden away from her. Amy is a photographer who is in a bad relationship and she too has lots of family history to unravel especially of the estranged aunt's who once had a life during the Vietnam War and in someway had an involvement in the war. So to unravel her aunt's past and her family's hidden mystery, Amy travels to Morocco, where she meets Nell. Together they explore the Saffron farms, the mysteries of Morocco, it's local cuisine, language, culture etc, only to find a connection between both the family histories.
This is the second book that I'm reading of Rosanna Ley. Her previous book, Return to Mandalay was equally enriching and soul touching. Ley has a way to write stories which can touch the hearts of the readers so deeply, mainly because she writes them with so much compassion. Her writing style is flawless and exquisite wit an evocative prose. The story has so much depth that it has enough power to hold anyone till the very last page. Her stories are always comprised of so many layers- like stories within stories. In this book too, each character had their won story to narrate that finally connects them all when they meet at the crossroads. The story flows like a river, never too slow never too fast, only at it's own pace like a rhythm.
Rosanna Ley has a talent to find and evolve stories in beautiful places and cities of the world, so together with the beauty of a particular place, the author spins a story which has the city's flair and the author's own emotions. She once again captured yet another destination with her elegant words and also wit her mind's eyes- Morocco. The mystical land that has its own beauty and essence and mysteries, are all vividly arrested into this story. As Nell and Amy's story progressed so is the story of the city- Morocco. The author has also captured the timeline during the Vietnam War, which may not have that strong presence in the book, but the past is pristinely featured in the story. Yes Ley's books are always like a magical portal to a different better world.
The characters are drawn realistically with lots of back story and their own guilt to support their demeanor. Amy and Nell both are a victim of pain and are in bad relationships, yet somehow this pain of theirs feels so enriching to the readers, since the author has a way to fill the minds of the readers with sympathy for both the protagonists. The supporting cast is also strongly developed and are featured with lots of realism in their demeanor. Each and every character are etched out with love, thus they all have a way to make the readers feel and move them deeply with the story.
Overall, this is a wonderful story and once again Rosanna Ley captivated both my heart and mind wit her compelling yet emotional story.
Verdict: A must read book for all the contemporary as well as historical fiction fans.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Rosanna Ley's, publishers, for providing me with a copy of her book, in return for an honest review.
July 13, 2015
If you're like me and love books that transport you to a different place/country, then this is a book for you. Every sense was covered as the author described the essence of Morocco. Add to this a good storyline and you've got The Saffron Trail. I would highly recommend this book. It was my first read from this author and it has certainly left me looking for more.
April 7, 2017
Entre as 4/4,5*. Foi difícil entrar na história, os saltos constantes entre as histórias dos personagens quase me levaram a desistir, não fosse as descrições de Marraquexe e de Essaouira, que conheci numas férias por Marrocos e teria abandonado a sua leitura. Mas a lembrança do the à la menthe oferecido por todo o sítio, os odores das especiarias, os sabores do tagine berbere e os tons quentes das suas terras fizeram-me continuar.
Ainda bem que o fiz, quando as peças do puzzle começaram a encaixar-se a leitura passou a ser empolgante.
Ainda bem que o fiz, quando as peças do puzzle começaram a encaixar-se a leitura passou a ser empolgante.
April 28, 2017
Aqui a minha opinião sobre este livro maravilhoso
http://www.clubedoslivros.pt/2017/04/...
Um livro 1000⭐️
http://www.clubedoslivros.pt/2017/04/...
Um livro 1000⭐️
February 2, 2017
The book could (in my opinion) easily have been cut 100-200 pages shorter. The book was waaaaaay to long, and therefore, became boring at multiple sequences. What a shame.
February 22, 2018
Nell e a mãe eram muito unidas, mas agora que a mãe morreu Nell sente-se completamente desamparada. A juntar a isso, a relação com o marido Callum está a passar por uma fase menos boa.
Talvez para tentar alegrar a sua esposa, Callum oferece-lhe uma viagem a Marraquexe, juntamente com um curso de culinária, como prenda de aniversário.
Amy trabalha como fotógrafa numa galeria de arte que, através de de um projecto que quer implementar sobre a cultura marroquina, em Dorset, parte para aquele país. O objectivo é também procurar o paradeiro de um primo, desaparecido há mais de 30 anos.
Juntas vão encontrar-se no hotel Riad Lazulli e tornam-se companheiras de viagem e confidentes.
O facto de Nell querer saber mais sobre o passado da mãe, beber mais da cultura que a sua mãe gostava tanto vai fazer com que esta viagem seja uma forma de conhecer ainda mais sobre Marrocos e a mãe. O ambiente, os cheiros das especiarias, a comida, tudo nos remete para o açafrão, para o amarelo, para as cores fortes e garridas. [...]
Opinião completa aqui: http://marcadordelivros.blogspot.com/...
Talvez para tentar alegrar a sua esposa, Callum oferece-lhe uma viagem a Marraquexe, juntamente com um curso de culinária, como prenda de aniversário.
Amy trabalha como fotógrafa numa galeria de arte que, através de de um projecto que quer implementar sobre a cultura marroquina, em Dorset, parte para aquele país. O objectivo é também procurar o paradeiro de um primo, desaparecido há mais de 30 anos.
Juntas vão encontrar-se no hotel Riad Lazulli e tornam-se companheiras de viagem e confidentes.
O facto de Nell querer saber mais sobre o passado da mãe, beber mais da cultura que a sua mãe gostava tanto vai fazer com que esta viagem seja uma forma de conhecer ainda mais sobre Marrocos e a mãe. O ambiente, os cheiros das especiarias, a comida, tudo nos remete para o açafrão, para o amarelo, para as cores fortes e garridas. [...]
Opinião completa aqui: http://marcadordelivros.blogspot.com/...
March 22, 2017
Reading this book was a wonderfully colourful and rich experience. Not because of the story itself, which was rather disappointingly predictable from the start. And equally annoyingly unrealistic. But luckily, whatever you might feel cheated out of due to the lacklustre plot, Rosanna Ley makes up for with her vivid descriptions of Morocco, and especially it's culinary marvels.
The mouthwatering dishes she cooks up for you throughout the pages, combined with the polychromatic landscape of Marrakech, and Essaouira, will make you long to experience the sensory overload of Northern Africa. So much so that my reading this book ultimately culminated in a Morrocan themed feast I prepared for friends and family, which was a roaring success!
Definitely a must read for anyone with an interest in travel, or the culinary arts!
The mouthwatering dishes she cooks up for you throughout the pages, combined with the polychromatic landscape of Marrakech, and Essaouira, will make you long to experience the sensory overload of Northern Africa. So much so that my reading this book ultimately culminated in a Morrocan themed feast I prepared for friends and family, which was a roaring success!
Definitely a must read for anyone with an interest in travel, or the culinary arts!
March 23, 2021
Kazkaip is knygos ir istorijos tikejausi daugiau, giliau, stipriau, man ji pasirode tokia, sakykim, pavirsutiniska ir net labai pavirsutiniska. Vietomis jau taip pilstoma is tuscio i kiaura, kad vaje vaje...nu visiskai ne mano knyga. Link galo siek tiek situacija pasitaise ir pasidare idomiau skaityti, bet vistiek nieko labai ispudingo ir nenuspejamo ten nevyko.
Marokas suveda dvi merginas, jos susidraugauja, pasidalina savo jausmais ir isgyvenimais, bet ir pacios nei nenutuokia kaip susipins ju gyvenimas, praeitis, dabartis ir netgi ateitis. Fone smezuoja senesni laikai, moteris paskatinus sunu begti is Amerikos, kad nebutu paimtas kariauti, jos gyvenimo peripetijos, sunaus likimo vingiai, netekties skausmas, bei atradimo dziaugsmas.
Rodos, skanus kokteiliukas buti turetu,bet visgi jam kazko pritruko ir smarkokai pritruko!
Marokas suveda dvi merginas, jos susidraugauja, pasidalina savo jausmais ir isgyvenimais, bet ir pacios nei nenutuokia kaip susipins ju gyvenimas, praeitis, dabartis ir netgi ateitis. Fone smezuoja senesni laikai, moteris paskatinus sunu begti is Amerikos, kad nebutu paimtas kariauti, jos gyvenimo peripetijos, sunaus likimo vingiai, netekties skausmas, bei atradimo dziaugsmas.
Rodos, skanus kokteiliukas buti turetu,bet visgi jam kazko pritruko ir smarkokai pritruko!
August 13, 2020
Wenn man dieses Buch liest, kriegt man sehr schnell Hunger - und Lust auf einen Trip nach Marokko. Das war für mich eigentlich nie ein Reiseland, das ich in Betracht gezogen hätte, aber Juliet Hall hat mir tatsächlich Lust darauf gemacht, genauso wie auf die marokkanische Küche. Ich fand zudem sehr angenehm, dass hier die Protagonisten tatsächlich auch gewachsen sind, dass die Veränderung nicht nur erzählt, sondern gezeigt wurde (show, not tell) und es auch nicht hopplahopp ging, sondern ein Prozess war, den man mitverfolgen konnte. Gerade Nell hat sehr viele Einsichten gewonnen und festgestellt, dass an mancher Situation eben nicht nur eine Partei Schuld ist. Etwas genervt hat mich, dass manchmal ziemlich abgeschweift wurde, auch mitten im Gespräch!, und zwei Seiten später wurde die Unterhaltung einfach wieder fortgeführt. Für den Lesefluss wäre es deutlich angenehmer gewesen, wenn hier mehr mit Absätzen gearbeitet worden wäre. Zudem waren einige der Plot Twists sehr vorhersehbar und ich ahnte etwa bei der Hälfte des Buches bereits, was genau diese "Familiengeheimnisse" sind. Deswegen ein Stern Abzug.
Ansonsten hat mich das Buch jedoch positiv überrascht, muss ich sagen. Ich hätte nicht gedacht, dass es mir so gut gefallen würde. Außerdem habe ich viel über Safran und Marokko gelernt, ohne das Gefühl zu haben, einen Info Dump vorgesetzt zu kriegen. Daher: ein kurzweiliges Vergnügen, das ich durchaus empfehlen kann :)
Ansonsten hat mich das Buch jedoch positiv überrascht, muss ich sagen. Ich hätte nicht gedacht, dass es mir so gut gefallen würde. Außerdem habe ich viel über Safran und Marokko gelernt, ohne das Gefühl zu haben, einen Info Dump vorgesetzt zu kriegen. Daher: ein kurzweiliges Vergnügen, das ich durchaus empfehlen kann :)
August 27, 2019
Gostei sobretudo das paisagens e descrições de Marrocos. As personagens são interessantes, mas há bastantes lacunas e o enredo vive demasiado de mal-entendidos e coisas não ditas. A falta de comunicação em família está muito presente e há atitudes e comportamentos que acho pouco credíveis. A edição ou revisão tem falhas (acredito que não sejam falhas da autora) que me incomodaram. Achei a ideia interessante e quero ler outros livros da autora.
April 14, 2017
9 de 10*
Rosanna Ley surpreendeu-me no seu primeiro romance editado em Portugal, “Regresso a Mandalay”, pela forma como transmitiu cheiros e sabores e como me fez viajar para locais longinquos. Em “O Feitiço de Marraquexe” volta a fazê-lo de forma brilhante! A escritora refere que viaja muito e isso reflete-se bem nos seus livros, cuja acção se passa sempre em lugares onde os sentidos são explorados de forma intensa. É uma leitura sensorial, onde o açafrão é o rei!
Comentário completo em:
http://abibliotecadajoao.blogspot.pt/...
Rosanna Ley surpreendeu-me no seu primeiro romance editado em Portugal, “Regresso a Mandalay”, pela forma como transmitiu cheiros e sabores e como me fez viajar para locais longinquos. Em “O Feitiço de Marraquexe” volta a fazê-lo de forma brilhante! A escritora refere que viaja muito e isso reflete-se bem nos seus livros, cuja acção se passa sempre em lugares onde os sentidos são explorados de forma intensa. É uma leitura sensorial, onde o açafrão é o rei!
Comentário completo em:
http://abibliotecadajoao.blogspot.pt/...
May 17, 2024
Demorei muito a entrar na história, principalmente porque são muitas personagens diferentes. No fim todas as personagens acabam por se cruzar de forma muito simples. Conheço Marraquexe pelo que me vi a andar novamente pelos jardins Majorele, pelos mercados cheios de cor e cheiros. Algumas personagens viveram vidas cheias de arrependimento, mais vale viver do que no fim da vida pensar no que poderíamos ter vivido.
September 30, 2018
Tikrai per daug ištęsta istorija, mano nuomone, viską būtų buvę galima puikiai papasakoti ir su 250 puslapių. Skaitant šią knygą, neatsirado jokio ryšio, jokių ypatingų jausmų. Tos pačios situacijos ir istorijos, knygoje, perpasakojamos po kelis kartus... Tiesiog likau klaidingai sudominta knygos pavadinimu.
April 10, 2023
Graži istorija apie žmonių likimus per šafraną. Ir apie tai kaip svarbu nuoširdžiai kalbėtis ir nedaryti išankstinių išvadų. Lengvas, įtraukiantis pasakojimas.
June 25, 2015
Travel the book locations here: Booktrail to Morocco
Even the name sounds good to us – Scent of Saffron and a trail to Morocco! Yes please! Don’t read if you’re hungry though…
Whatever you do, don’t read this book if you are the slightest bit hungry! I did and well I had to raid the fridge for anything exotic I could find. The next day I did pop out to buy some Moroccan food such was the pull and attraction of it from this very novel.
Like a series of ingredients all mixed together bubbling away in a tagine, take off the lid and boom – you’re in Morocco, eating, tasting, hearing and feeling the pulse of the city. From the dusty streets and the ancient walls, to taking your first aroma of saffron, this is a book which I am now going to use as a springboard for learning more about what I can do with the tagine someone bought me last christmas and those broken tiles I’d collected from my travels.
I was swept away by the stories and legends contained in this novel. There is so much to this story that at first the cover and blurb might not do it justice. This is no flowery story but a deep and meaningful search for the truth in to family secrets.
Once again Rosanna Ley has transported me to a whole new world and inspired me to read more about Morocco and its vibrancy.
Despite the focus being on Marrakech and Essaouria, not to mention early scenes in a Paris bookstore – Shakespeare and Company? Cornwall also takes a leading role in the story and the saffron farm on the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall where Nell grows up helps to explain her wanderlust for Morocco now.
Utterly and totally recommended for a literary travel experience of a lifetime!
Even the name sounds good to us – Scent of Saffron and a trail to Morocco! Yes please! Don’t read if you’re hungry though…
Whatever you do, don’t read this book if you are the slightest bit hungry! I did and well I had to raid the fridge for anything exotic I could find. The next day I did pop out to buy some Moroccan food such was the pull and attraction of it from this very novel.
Like a series of ingredients all mixed together bubbling away in a tagine, take off the lid and boom – you’re in Morocco, eating, tasting, hearing and feeling the pulse of the city. From the dusty streets and the ancient walls, to taking your first aroma of saffron, this is a book which I am now going to use as a springboard for learning more about what I can do with the tagine someone bought me last christmas and those broken tiles I’d collected from my travels.
I was swept away by the stories and legends contained in this novel. There is so much to this story that at first the cover and blurb might not do it justice. This is no flowery story but a deep and meaningful search for the truth in to family secrets.
Once again Rosanna Ley has transported me to a whole new world and inspired me to read more about Morocco and its vibrancy.
Despite the focus being on Marrakech and Essaouria, not to mention early scenes in a Paris bookstore – Shakespeare and Company? Cornwall also takes a leading role in the story and the saffron farm on the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall where Nell grows up helps to explain her wanderlust for Morocco now.
Utterly and totally recommended for a literary travel experience of a lifetime!
February 9, 2016
Novel set in Morocco and Cornwall.
An interesting and intriguing book that explores complicated relationships spanning the decades. Stories interwoven in an enjoyable manner that leaves the reader not wanting to put the book down as the story unfolds.
The book is set in Cornwall and Morocco and centres around saffron as the title suggests. Nell is having difficulty is coming to terms with the death of her mother who tended her own saffron field in Cornwall. As a birthday present, Nell is given a cookery course in Marrakech by her husband Callum.
In Marrakech, Nell meets Amy, a photographer who is involved in taking photographs for a Moroccan exhibition. They pair up and decide to extend their stay and further explore the country, eventually visiting a saffron farm and meeting a mysterious man.
The descriptions of the spice market in Marrakech were wonderful and I could remember visiting it myself, buying saffron and other spices. Memories of the aromas and characters of the market came back and tempted me to try some recipes with saffron and other spices.
Apart from the story of Amy and her journey to understand her mother and delve into the question of who her father was, Nell too has a story.
Her great-aunt Lilian, a strong woman who travelled back to Cornwall after being in America for many years. She has a secret. Descriptions of the GI’s arriving in Cornwall when she was a teenager, her subsequent marriage to a GI and how her life unfolded before she returns home to make amends with her sister.
Rosanna has a gift with words as her characters develop and the story unfolds. Well worth reading.
An interesting and intriguing book that explores complicated relationships spanning the decades. Stories interwoven in an enjoyable manner that leaves the reader not wanting to put the book down as the story unfolds.
The book is set in Cornwall and Morocco and centres around saffron as the title suggests. Nell is having difficulty is coming to terms with the death of her mother who tended her own saffron field in Cornwall. As a birthday present, Nell is given a cookery course in Marrakech by her husband Callum.
In Marrakech, Nell meets Amy, a photographer who is involved in taking photographs for a Moroccan exhibition. They pair up and decide to extend their stay and further explore the country, eventually visiting a saffron farm and meeting a mysterious man.
The descriptions of the spice market in Marrakech were wonderful and I could remember visiting it myself, buying saffron and other spices. Memories of the aromas and characters of the market came back and tempted me to try some recipes with saffron and other spices.
Apart from the story of Amy and her journey to understand her mother and delve into the question of who her father was, Nell too has a story.
Her great-aunt Lilian, a strong woman who travelled back to Cornwall after being in America for many years. She has a secret. Descriptions of the GI’s arriving in Cornwall when she was a teenager, her subsequent marriage to a GI and how her life unfolded before she returns home to make amends with her sister.
Rosanna has a gift with words as her characters develop and the story unfolds. Well worth reading.
May 12, 2020
I really liked this light and fluffy holiday type read. Some lovely description of Moroccan life and customs. Made me want to travel-fat chance at the moment!
January 21, 2023
I liked the way Morocco was brought to life in the writing but the story itself was somewhat predictable.
February 16, 2020
Első olvasásom a szerzőtől, a megvásárlás oka a gyönyörű borító és az egzotikus helyszínen játszódó cselekmény volt. Az eleje lassan indul, a különböző idővonalakból mind kapunk egy kis részt. A jelenben két teljesen különböző nő, a független Amy és a bizonytalan, gyászoló Nell viszi a történetet. A múltról Lilian és Glenn mesélnek. A kérdésekre a választ pedig a jelen Marokkójában találjuk, ahol minden összeér.
July 25, 2022
Story covers settings in Cornwall, Morocco and America, the main characters Nell and Amy who meet whilst on a cookery course in Morocco , they form a friendship, but later they discover their lives are linked more closely. A good read I enjoyed learning about saffron and envisaging the landscape of the country.
May 3, 2015
The Saffron Trail is a lovely written book, it's full of descriptive passages both of the country of Morocco and of Moroccan cuisine. I would have thought I'd love it and in parts I did but it was just too much descriptive content for me. The book could have been half the length without it and a much better read. I found the endless descriptions of every chapter distracted me from what was happening and in the end I skim read this missing out these passages and getting down to the conversation and what was happening.
Overall the story line was good but as I said pace was obstructed for me. The story has two main characters, Nell and Amy both of whom at the start don't know each other. They come together for the first time when they meet in Morocco. Nell has been given a birthday present from her husband Callum of a Moroccan cookery experience and Amy is visiting Morocco for a photo shoot to promote a Moroccan event for her gallery in Lyme Regis. Nell is recovering from the sudden and unexpected death of her mother and Amy is searching for her cousin Glenn. Amy is taking photos and including the Moroccan cookery course as part of her exhibition photos and meets with Nell. They seem to have an immediate bond with each other and become good friends over the week of the trip. Secondary characters are introduced over the course of the story and it flows along nicely bringing the lives of the two main characters together.
I won't spoil the story by giving anything away suffice it to say that there is a nice twist and it's not entirely predictable which was a nice surprise. As I said it was just too wordy and too long for me, I was in danger of not finishing it which would have been a shame as it deserves to be read to the end. I can give this 3.5 stars but it would have been more if it had been shorter - descriptions of saffron are lovely but really once was enough without labouring the point and endless passages of descriptive narrative on cuisine smells were for me overkill.
I have rounded it up to 4 stars for goodreads and Amazon. I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
Overall the story line was good but as I said pace was obstructed for me. The story has two main characters, Nell and Amy both of whom at the start don't know each other. They come together for the first time when they meet in Morocco. Nell has been given a birthday present from her husband Callum of a Moroccan cookery experience and Amy is visiting Morocco for a photo shoot to promote a Moroccan event for her gallery in Lyme Regis. Nell is recovering from the sudden and unexpected death of her mother and Amy is searching for her cousin Glenn. Amy is taking photos and including the Moroccan cookery course as part of her exhibition photos and meets with Nell. They seem to have an immediate bond with each other and become good friends over the week of the trip. Secondary characters are introduced over the course of the story and it flows along nicely bringing the lives of the two main characters together.
I won't spoil the story by giving anything away suffice it to say that there is a nice twist and it's not entirely predictable which was a nice surprise. As I said it was just too wordy and too long for me, I was in danger of not finishing it which would have been a shame as it deserves to be read to the end. I can give this 3.5 stars but it would have been more if it had been shorter - descriptions of saffron are lovely but really once was enough without labouring the point and endless passages of descriptive narrative on cuisine smells were for me overkill.
I have rounded it up to 4 stars for goodreads and Amazon. I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2018
Delightful, beautifully written, and moreish.
My first impression of the book was that the language was very descriptive. In some other author’s hands I might have found it too much. Yet somehow it not only went with the atmosphere of mystery about saffron and the people in the story, it made the atmosphere. The author really excelled at painting pictures with words, just as one of the protagonists tells stories with photographs.
The narrative ebbs and flows, with a backstory for a character who is obviously significant intertwined between Nell’s and Amy’s stories. Or is it Lilian’s? Many times I found myself certain of the reason, only for doubt to creep in and leave me just thinking about relationships, and time, and the links between saffron and other things.
This book was most unusual for me. It was one I could get absorbed in, then leave for periods of time without losing the plot. I don’t know whether the author instilled some of the Moroccan ‘live in the present’ ethos, which allowed me to cogitate, always looking forward to reading more. Yet the urgency was not there, only a sense of destiny. I didn’t ‘need’ to read on, I would when I had the time to reflect and enjoy.
Was this the power of Ms Ley’s writing? Was it the subject matter? I don’t know. It made me give it five stars, though. And I’m looking forward to reading more of this author’s work.
My first impression of the book was that the language was very descriptive. In some other author’s hands I might have found it too much. Yet somehow it not only went with the atmosphere of mystery about saffron and the people in the story, it made the atmosphere. The author really excelled at painting pictures with words, just as one of the protagonists tells stories with photographs.
The narrative ebbs and flows, with a backstory for a character who is obviously significant intertwined between Nell’s and Amy’s stories. Or is it Lilian’s? Many times I found myself certain of the reason, only for doubt to creep in and leave me just thinking about relationships, and time, and the links between saffron and other things.
This book was most unusual for me. It was one I could get absorbed in, then leave for periods of time without losing the plot. I don’t know whether the author instilled some of the Moroccan ‘live in the present’ ethos, which allowed me to cogitate, always looking forward to reading more. Yet the urgency was not there, only a sense of destiny. I didn’t ‘need’ to read on, I would when I had the time to reflect and enjoy.
Was this the power of Ms Ley’s writing? Was it the subject matter? I don’t know. It made me give it five stars, though. And I’m looking forward to reading more of this author’s work.
November 10, 2024
Dviejų šeimų istorija įpinta į ryškiaspalvę vakarų karalystę - Maroką.
Dvi istorijos susitinka mieste kuris pilnas spalvų, kvapų, muzikos. Kiekvienas istorijos dalyvis ieško savo atsakymų, bet tik nuo jų pačių priklausys tai ką jie atras.
Knygoje smagiai susipina istorija, menas, kulinarija, architektūra ir knygos fabula. Prijauti knygos herojams ir negti gali patikėti, jog tokia istorija turėjo teisę būti.
Dvi istorijos susitinka mieste kuris pilnas spalvų, kvapų, muzikos. Kiekvienas istorijos dalyvis ieško savo atsakymų, bet tik nuo jų pačių priklausys tai ką jie atras.
Knygoje smagiai susipina istorija, menas, kulinarija, architektūra ir knygos fabula. Prijauti knygos herojams ir negti gali patikėti, jog tokia istorija turėjo teisę būti.
June 8, 2015
Another wonderful read from Rosanna Ley. having read her previous books and enjoyed them Ihad high hopes for this one and it didn't disappoint. two women find themselves in Morocco trying to find out about their secret pasts'
January 29, 2016
Having visited Morocco last year this book transported me straight back to the sights, sounds and smells of Marrakech. Rosanna Ley combines wonderful description, great characters and a story that manages to be both heart-wrenching and heart-warming at the same time!
December 29, 2016
Woefully slow placed and predictable. Yawn.
April 7, 2023
A book full of color and smells of Saffron cooked food.
“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavour by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.”
Washington Irving
Once, there was a girl who loved saffron. She loved its secrets, its mystery and, best of all, she loved its hint of magic. After the death of her beloved mother, Nell travels from rural Cornwall to the colour and chaos of Marrakech. Her marriage may be on the rocks, but exploring the heady delights of Moroccan cuisine could help her fulfill her dream of opening her own restaurant. It’s there she meets Amy, a young photographer trying to unravel the story behind her family’s involvement in the Vietnam War. The two women develop a close friendship and discover a surprising connection between their pasts. This connection will take Nell and Amy on a journey to find their own ‘saffron trail’ – from the labyrinthine medina and the bustle of Moroccan bazaars all the way back home to Cornwall and to the heart of their families’ origins.
I had never read any books by Rosanna Ley before. The book was full of colors and smells, and I could smell myself all the Saffron-cooked food and could imagine I was in Morocco. A very light-hearted and enjoyable book to read.
I found this a very engaging story from beginning to end, as well as being believable from a 1970s point of view. A good read from a new-to-me author. This was the first book in a long time that I could not put down. The plot was different to most books, and it was great that all the characters got to tell their story.
Nell visits to her mother's past in Morocco after her mother's sudden death, since after her death, Nell realized that her mother kept her own past, especially the identity of Nell's father from her and only to unravel her mother's past as well as with regards from her husband as a birthday present, Nell travels to Morocco. So, despite of the almost broken marriage, she is determined to find out who her mother was, and why she kept her past hidden away from her. Amy is a photographer who is in a bad relationship, and she too has lots of family history to unravel especially of the estranged aunts who once had a life during the Vietnam War and in some way had an involvement in the war. So, to unravel her aunt's past and her family's hidden mystery, Amy travels to Morocco, where she meets Nell. Together they explore the Saffron farms, the mysteries of Morocco, it's local cuisine, language, culture etc, only to find a connection between both the family histories.
Her previous book, Return to Mandalay was equally enriching and soul touching. Ley has a way to write stories which can touch the hearts of the readers so deeply, mainly because she writes them with so much compassion. Her writing style is flawless and exquisite with an evocative prose. The story has so much depth that it has enough power to hold anyone till the very last page. Her stories are always comprised of so many layers- like stories within stories. In this book too, each character had their own story to narrate that finally connects them all when they meet at the crossroads. The story flows like a river, never too slow never too fast, only at its own pace like a rhythm.
Rosanna Ley has a talent to find and evolve stories in beautiful places and cities of the world, so together with the beauty of a particular place, the author spins a story which has the city's flair and the author's own emotions. She once again captured yet another destination with her elegant words and wit her mind's eyes- Morocco. The mystical land that has its own beauty and essence and mysteries, are all vividly arrested into this story. As Nell and Amy's story progressed so is the story of the city- Morocco. The author has also captured the timeline during the Vietnam War, which may not have that strong presence in the book, but the past is pristine featured in the story. Yes, Ley's books are always like a magical portal to a different better world.
The characters are drawn realistically with lots of back story and their own guilt to support their demeanor. Amy and Nell both are a victim of pain and are in bad relationships, yet somehow this pain of theirs feels so enriching to the readers, since the author has a way to fill the minds of the readers with sympathy for both the protagonists. The supporting cast is also strongly developed and are featured with lots of realism in their demeanor. Each character are etched out with love, thus they all have a way to make the readers feel and move them deeply with the story.
“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavour by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.”
Washington Irving
Once, there was a girl who loved saffron. She loved its secrets, its mystery and, best of all, she loved its hint of magic. After the death of her beloved mother, Nell travels from rural Cornwall to the colour and chaos of Marrakech. Her marriage may be on the rocks, but exploring the heady delights of Moroccan cuisine could help her fulfill her dream of opening her own restaurant. It’s there she meets Amy, a young photographer trying to unravel the story behind her family’s involvement in the Vietnam War. The two women develop a close friendship and discover a surprising connection between their pasts. This connection will take Nell and Amy on a journey to find their own ‘saffron trail’ – from the labyrinthine medina and the bustle of Moroccan bazaars all the way back home to Cornwall and to the heart of their families’ origins.
I had never read any books by Rosanna Ley before. The book was full of colors and smells, and I could smell myself all the Saffron-cooked food and could imagine I was in Morocco. A very light-hearted and enjoyable book to read.
I found this a very engaging story from beginning to end, as well as being believable from a 1970s point of view. A good read from a new-to-me author. This was the first book in a long time that I could not put down. The plot was different to most books, and it was great that all the characters got to tell their story.
Nell visits to her mother's past in Morocco after her mother's sudden death, since after her death, Nell realized that her mother kept her own past, especially the identity of Nell's father from her and only to unravel her mother's past as well as with regards from her husband as a birthday present, Nell travels to Morocco. So, despite of the almost broken marriage, she is determined to find out who her mother was, and why she kept her past hidden away from her. Amy is a photographer who is in a bad relationship, and she too has lots of family history to unravel especially of the estranged aunts who once had a life during the Vietnam War and in some way had an involvement in the war. So, to unravel her aunt's past and her family's hidden mystery, Amy travels to Morocco, where she meets Nell. Together they explore the Saffron farms, the mysteries of Morocco, it's local cuisine, language, culture etc, only to find a connection between both the family histories.
Her previous book, Return to Mandalay was equally enriching and soul touching. Ley has a way to write stories which can touch the hearts of the readers so deeply, mainly because she writes them with so much compassion. Her writing style is flawless and exquisite with an evocative prose. The story has so much depth that it has enough power to hold anyone till the very last page. Her stories are always comprised of so many layers- like stories within stories. In this book too, each character had their own story to narrate that finally connects them all when they meet at the crossroads. The story flows like a river, never too slow never too fast, only at its own pace like a rhythm.
Rosanna Ley has a talent to find and evolve stories in beautiful places and cities of the world, so together with the beauty of a particular place, the author spins a story which has the city's flair and the author's own emotions. She once again captured yet another destination with her elegant words and wit her mind's eyes- Morocco. The mystical land that has its own beauty and essence and mysteries, are all vividly arrested into this story. As Nell and Amy's story progressed so is the story of the city- Morocco. The author has also captured the timeline during the Vietnam War, which may not have that strong presence in the book, but the past is pristine featured in the story. Yes, Ley's books are always like a magical portal to a different better world.
The characters are drawn realistically with lots of back story and their own guilt to support their demeanor. Amy and Nell both are a victim of pain and are in bad relationships, yet somehow this pain of theirs feels so enriching to the readers, since the author has a way to fill the minds of the readers with sympathy for both the protagonists. The supporting cast is also strongly developed and are featured with lots of realism in their demeanor. Each character are etched out with love, thus they all have a way to make the readers feel and move them deeply with the story.
August 10, 2022
After the death of her beloved mother, Nell travels from rural Cornwall to the colour and chaos of Marrakech. Her marriage may be on the rocks, but exploring the heady delights of Moroccan cuisine could help her fulfil her dream of opening her own restaurant.
It's there she meets Amy - a young photographer trying to unravel the story behind her family's involvement in the Vietnam War. The two women develop a close friendship and discover a surprising connection between their own pasts.
This connection will take Nell and Amy on a journey to find their own 'saffron trail' - from the labyrinthine medina and bustle of Moroccan bazaars all the way back home to Cornwall and to the heart of their families' origins.
Essaouira is a port city in the western Moroccan region of Marakesh-Safi, on the Atlantic coast.Beginning in the late 1960s, Essaouira became something of a hippie hangout.Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the "saffron crocus". The vivid crimson stigma and styles, called threads, are collected and dried for use mainly as a seasoning and colouring agent in food. Although some doubts remain on its origin, it is believed that saffron originated in Iran.However, Greece and Mesopotamia have also been suggested as the possible region of origin of this plant.
Saffron has long been the world's costliest spice by weight.Saffron crocus cultivation has long centered on a broad belt of Eurasia bounded by the Mediterranean Sea in the southwest to Kashmir and China in the northeast. The major producers of antiquity—Iran, Spain, Kashmir, and Greece—continue to dominate the world trade.Saffron symbolises feelings of happiness and joy. It is thought to relate to the emotions of youth as well, and childlike wonder.Moroccan cuisine is generally a mix of Arab, Andalusi,Berber and Mediterranean cuisines with slight European and sub-Saharan influences.Moroccan cuisine uses many herbs, including cilantro, parsley, and mint; spices such as cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, cumin, and saffron; and produce such as tomatoes, onions, garlic, zucchini, bell peppers, and eggplant.
It's there she meets Amy - a young photographer trying to unravel the story behind her family's involvement in the Vietnam War. The two women develop a close friendship and discover a surprising connection between their own pasts.
This connection will take Nell and Amy on a journey to find their own 'saffron trail' - from the labyrinthine medina and bustle of Moroccan bazaars all the way back home to Cornwall and to the heart of their families' origins.
Essaouira is a port city in the western Moroccan region of Marakesh-Safi, on the Atlantic coast.Beginning in the late 1960s, Essaouira became something of a hippie hangout.Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the "saffron crocus". The vivid crimson stigma and styles, called threads, are collected and dried for use mainly as a seasoning and colouring agent in food. Although some doubts remain on its origin, it is believed that saffron originated in Iran.However, Greece and Mesopotamia have also been suggested as the possible region of origin of this plant.
Saffron has long been the world's costliest spice by weight.Saffron crocus cultivation has long centered on a broad belt of Eurasia bounded by the Mediterranean Sea in the southwest to Kashmir and China in the northeast. The major producers of antiquity—Iran, Spain, Kashmir, and Greece—continue to dominate the world trade.Saffron symbolises feelings of happiness and joy. It is thought to relate to the emotions of youth as well, and childlike wonder.Moroccan cuisine is generally a mix of Arab, Andalusi,Berber and Mediterranean cuisines with slight European and sub-Saharan influences.Moroccan cuisine uses many herbs, including cilantro, parsley, and mint; spices such as cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, cumin, and saffron; and produce such as tomatoes, onions, garlic, zucchini, bell peppers, and eggplant.
September 27, 2017
I didn’t want all 521 pages of this wonderful story to end. There is a tangle of characters that, at first, I had to concentrate to get to know but, slowly and surely the “dusty red threads” of saffron and the lives of the personalities all came together in a moving finale. The plot is rich with missing relatives, broken relationships and journeys of self-discovery. There is a lot going on but I always felt that the author was well in control of her labyrinthine creation.
The descriptions of Morocco are lush – the “living theatre” of the country, the songs from the Medina, the blues, yellows and purples of Amy’s photo subjects, the splash of vibrant colour from the saffron fields, the mouth-watering descriptions of food…tapestry is an overused noun when it comes to trying to describe a rich picture. But it fits in this case.
Then there are the various mysteries, like tentacles, that wind in and out of the narrative. We have flashbacks to domestic pictures during the Second World War, the horrors of Vietnam, physical abuse, neglected children…
There is a lot of musing. I needed a “vino di meditazione”, so I could join in with the philosophical statements that abound. Glenn realises that “true peace comes from within”; Lillian concludes that “the whole truth was sometimes a matter of perspective” that “a tangle of lies could hold you in its power, as if it were a viper’s nest…”; Nell thinks that in life, “you were “never just yourself – always part of something else.” On being old, Lillian comments “we start off fresh and vibrant and we end up dried to a crisp”…just like the old rose she preserves from a wedding.
That is perhaps my only criticism. I like these thoughts scattered like confetti through the book, but not everybody thinks as deeply as this so much of the time and for me, there were too many deep thinkers.
I was transported to Morocco in this book and I look forward to travelling with this author elsewhere.
The descriptions of Morocco are lush – the “living theatre” of the country, the songs from the Medina, the blues, yellows and purples of Amy’s photo subjects, the splash of vibrant colour from the saffron fields, the mouth-watering descriptions of food…tapestry is an overused noun when it comes to trying to describe a rich picture. But it fits in this case.
Then there are the various mysteries, like tentacles, that wind in and out of the narrative. We have flashbacks to domestic pictures during the Second World War, the horrors of Vietnam, physical abuse, neglected children…
There is a lot of musing. I needed a “vino di meditazione”, so I could join in with the philosophical statements that abound. Glenn realises that “true peace comes from within”; Lillian concludes that “the whole truth was sometimes a matter of perspective” that “a tangle of lies could hold you in its power, as if it were a viper’s nest…”; Nell thinks that in life, “you were “never just yourself – always part of something else.” On being old, Lillian comments “we start off fresh and vibrant and we end up dried to a crisp”…just like the old rose she preserves from a wedding.
That is perhaps my only criticism. I like these thoughts scattered like confetti through the book, but not everybody thinks as deeply as this so much of the time and for me, there were too many deep thinkers.
I was transported to Morocco in this book and I look forward to travelling with this author elsewhere.
November 3, 2021
Review:
https://clife.blog/2021/09/22/book-re...
I often find myself enjoying novels that involve a great passion towards something. Whether it’s for travel, food, love, something that shows a lot of knowledge and research into making it. There’s just something about this that makes a novel great, even if it is not of my particular interest I appreciate the energy that has went into the novel.
The basis of this novel that took place involved a few different timelines of events that interlink together in some way. I feel the Glen story that had the reader going back in time was a little annoying. Especially at the beginning where the reader is only discovering the characters and trying to get a few for the novel. This offset my balance. I really enjoyed Amy’s story the most. I think this was due to the fact she didn’t have as much baggage as Nell and I related more towards Amy if I had to choose. With Nell I really wanted her to shake her and tell her to leave her husband because he was very disrespectful towards her.
Overall, all characters showed development and progress as expected. Especially the two women on their journey together where they had met originally. I did find this to be slow paced and the multiple points of views did not help however it was an interesting plot.
3/5 stars
https://clife.blog/2021/09/22/book-re...
I often find myself enjoying novels that involve a great passion towards something. Whether it’s for travel, food, love, something that shows a lot of knowledge and research into making it. There’s just something about this that makes a novel great, even if it is not of my particular interest I appreciate the energy that has went into the novel.
The basis of this novel that took place involved a few different timelines of events that interlink together in some way. I feel the Glen story that had the reader going back in time was a little annoying. Especially at the beginning where the reader is only discovering the characters and trying to get a few for the novel. This offset my balance. I really enjoyed Amy’s story the most. I think this was due to the fact she didn’t have as much baggage as Nell and I related more towards Amy if I had to choose. With Nell I really wanted her to shake her and tell her to leave her husband because he was very disrespectful towards her.
Overall, all characters showed development and progress as expected. Especially the two women on their journey together where they had met originally. I did find this to be slow paced and the multiple points of views did not help however it was an interesting plot.
3/5 stars
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