Surviving Marmite: A Memoir of Growing up Iranian in New Zealand

by Anisa MacLean

In 2000, when I was just seven years old, my family immigrated from Iran to New Zealand. Fresh off the plane, we settled in Timaru, a port 'city' where everyone farms and wears gumboots under their rugby shorts. There, we stood out like a bunch of Middle Eastern immigrants in a town where everyone farms and wears gumboots under their rugby shorts. We arrived with zero knowledge of our new country nor the English language.

Surviving Marmite chronicles our wild Kiwi journey; brimming with serious culture shock to hilarious misunderstandings and everything in between.

It features my unconventional family: my overly optimistic taxi-driver father, my overly pessimistic eyebrow-threading mother, and my sister and I, frizzy-haired, confused and clearly incongruous third-culture kids.

Genres: Biography

205 pages, Paperback

Published March 24, 2022

Reviews

[Jemma Smithson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - where do I start with this book? Anisa's style of writing was just so effortless to read, and I truly felt like I was walking right beside her in every experience she shared. Firstly, I love reading books, and on reflection there have hardly been any that I can say have made me laugh out loud. Surviving Marmite delivered - I laughed so much throughout the entire book, multiple times, and I kept revisiting favourite parts!! Hello Asshole, Mrs Orr, Unfortunate Meanings to name a few!

Additionally, on one hand this book truly enlightened me to a world I really don't know much about - (awful Iranian oppression, and also growing up as an immigrant), yet on the other, after experiencing all the horrendous injustices (and with family in Iran who so heartbreakingly continue to suffer through) Anisa's family just shine through this book with so much love and desire to please and bring happiness and joy to others, that as a stranger I have no doubt I would be welcomed with such warmness and love if I randomly popped in for a cup of tea to say hi!

Whilst written so powerfully, this book has also bought joy and lifted me at the end of each day at a busy and stressful time in my life, and now after just finishing this I am craving for more! I want to know more about the next chapter in the strong, kind and compassionate woman's life who wrote Surviving Marmite! I highly recommend this book from the bottom of my heart - get yourself your hands on a copy today!

[Elissa Steel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading snippets of Anisa's writing for years, from her blogging days, so I was keen to get a hold of this book. It's a really enjoyable read. Her family's immigration story is told through a series of vignettes, all with insights into their adventures as they started life in a strange place. There are a lot of funny moments and some a little heartbreaking, all told with gentle humour and an obvious love for her family, and a growing one for her new home. I liked the weaving of these stories with some from Anisa's time living in Japan, adding another layer and showing how cultures can be so different, yet there are things we all share. Watch out for more from Anisa's unique and beautiful voice.

[Felix · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read blog posts and other writing of Anisa’s over the years and she just has this beautiful way of vividly painting a situation within her writing and Surviving Marmite was no different. It is a gorgeous memoir and tells of funny faux pas and situations within her life after having to fully throw herself into New Zealand culture and ability to understand the nuances of that. Once I picked the book up I really struggled to put it down which is just one part of the beauty of it!

I would be lying if I didn’t say how much of a huge fan of Anisa’s work but I honestly cannot recommend this read enough.

[Mahsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was easy to follow and really enjoyable read. This great memoir draws the reader attention from the start and keep reader engaged through the stories. Anisa’s written style helped me to visualize all of the book characters and now I feel quite connected with her family. As an Iranian, immigrated to New Zealand on 2017, some of the stories remind me lots of memories back to Iran and when I immigrated to New Zealand.
Overall, I was fascinated by reading this book and highly recommend to people wants to know more about Iranian culture and know about the challenges of the starting living in new environment.

[greyt_things · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surviving Marmite is the insightful, charming story of author @anisamaclean's journey leaving tyrannical repression in Iran to being transplanted in provincial New Zealand in the early 2000s. How this hasn't been picked up by a mainstream publisher I don't know - the writing is clever, deftly light even on dark matters, and the stories a mix of entertaining and shocking, light hearted and heart rending. I didn't want it to end - and yet I also couldn't stop myself devouring it quickly. It's hands down my favourite read of the month 💖

[Rick Maclean · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful group of stories in her young life. These are the experiences, funny, engaging and rich in content that build depth of character. I so enjoyed the immersion in her family’s journey that it came to life! You will enjoy this reading experience and take joy in the entertainment. God must love laughter because there is no stopping this author from bringing smiles to our faces. Stayed tuned to her future writings- you won’t be disappointed my friends!

[Chris Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this series of short snippets into the life of Anisa. Like others on this forum, I knew little of Iranian culture of the Baháʼí faith. In reading this book I feel connected to this family, this unit, this deep love and connection bridging cultures and experiences.

Full respect for the entrepreneurial spirit that comes through strongly throughout the book, even to the fact that this is a self-published edition.

Overall, a highly recommended, feel good read that looks at the world with the myriad of shades of colour that make life interesting.

[Trudy Sturkenboom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this treasure from Anisa. So well written, easy to read, hard to put down. Lots of 'laugh out loud' moments and 'aww' moments as well. I've learnt so many bits and pieces about both the Iranian and Japanese cultures, but also about the NZ culture as well. This light hearted book of wonderful stories gives an awesome respect to those of any culture who have packed up and left their lives as they know them, to give their children a better start. How hard this is to do in so many many ways. Thanks Anisa for this wonderful eye opening collection.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anisa has a great way with words which really bought her stories to life. A really interesting insight into cultural differences portrayed through the eyes of a child. There were several ‘laugh out loud’ moments throughout the book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute delight. The chapters are arranged as different short stories which means we get to experience a range of moments from Anisa's life. It's often hilarious, sometimes serious and absolutely a cultural experience.

[Raana · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book to read, filled with memories you could laugh with, distinguished the difference between Iranian culture and the western culture. A book that I would recommend to my daughter to read when she is older to learn about her Persian culture and how Bahai's were treated in Iran.

[Kate Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surviving Marmite is such a delightful read. I absolutely loved reading about Anisa’s journey to New Zealand and the anecdotes she shared about immigration, growing up in Aotearoa and her wonderful family. I laughed a lot and also learned so much. I have recommended this to many people - Anisa is a fantastic storyteller and anyone would enjoy reading this book!

[Laura Jenkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every moment of this wonderful journey. I teared up many times, andI laughed just as many. I read so many excerpts to my husband who also laughed a lot. Anisa has a wonderful and unique writing style, which had me hooked and I finished the book in a couple of days. Highly recommend.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely memoir of Anisa and her family immigrating from Iran to NZ when she was a child. Hilarious and wonderfully written.. a great insight into seeing the world through 7 year old Anisa's eyes and all the misunderstandings and cultural differences the ensued. 5 stars from me!!

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a special one, filled with enlightening stories of Anisa's experiences as a child and through to adulthood. The honest, heart-filled and sometimes confronting accounts will leave you feeling joy, sadness, empathy, gratitude and many emotions in between. A highly recommended, hard-to-put-down read.

[Viktorija · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hidden gem of modern literature! The book is easy to read, yet takes you onto emotional rollercoaster (no spoiler alerts!). Highly recommend to anyone with love for travel, current of future immigrants. Well done, Anisa!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will make you laugh out loud at times, it might bring you to tears other times. The great balance of the two makes it an easy to read book that gives a great insight into this lovely family's journey. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Beck]

Surviving Marmite was a thoroughly memorable read. Anisa the author takes you on a cultural journey in which your head is filled with insight, your belly is filled with laughter, your eyes occasionally filled with tears and your heart...is always filled with joy. A must-read!

[Karen Daly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this book - what a special treasure for Anisa and her family and such a treat for us all to read!

[Hossein Najaf zadeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Anisa's memoir. Very pleasant book to read.
To Anisa:
Thanks for sharing your story with us. I am looking forward to read your next book about baba sirous stories with his passengers

[SeYoung Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 recommend this book! Filled with heartwarming stories with touch of humour, got to understand Anisa’s culture more and enjoyed every single chapter!

[Li Ching · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every bit of the book. What a unique and humorous account of a migrant's journey through kiwi culture.

[Jill Sidaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited and proud to read Anisa's book as I knew her from when she joined us at Timaru South School. Its a very good book Anisa, and I have now passed onto another friend. A teacher who remembers you too.

[Kirsten Stagg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loving Surviving Marmite! It has incredible insight into Anisa and her families life. Highly recommend.

[Katie Spring]

Loved this book. So insightful and honest about the realities of living in Iran and the challenges of imagrating to a new country. I was in fits of laughter throughout the book! Everyone must read this book to open their hearts and minds!

[Adelaide Shotwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully wholesome read, I often found myself laughing out loud! Couldn’t think of a better book to power through on a rainy weekend… thank you for the stories, Anisa!

[Holly Barratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book with beautiful stories. Belly laughs, tears and everything in between.

[Rachel Parkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story - a series of insights into and memories from the author's life - had it all for me. I laughed a LOT at the hilarity that often ensued with Iranian and Kiwi life coming together, was fascinated by Anisa's insights into Iranian culture and... had a few tears. But mainly it was the laughs, she had me at "couscous"😜

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Read this book in one sitting! I literally couldn’t put it down. I loved the storytelling, I could picture the scenes vividly. Can’t wait for the next book Anisa!! ❤️

[Nicole Lutze · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful, honest and heartfelt read from an emerging writer with a natural talent. Highly recommend.