What do you think?
Rate this book
Babylon Café #2
Woda różana i chleb na sodzie
More than a year has passed since Marjan, Bahar, and Layla, the beautiful Iranian Aminpour sisters, sought refuge in the quaint Irish town of Ballinacroagh. Opening the beguiling Babylon Café, they charmed the locals with their warm hearts and delectable Persian cuisine, bringing a saffron-scented spice to the once-sleepy village.
But when a young woman with a dark secret literally washes up on Clew Bay Beach, the sisters’ world is once again turned upside down. With pale skin and webbed hands, the girl is otherworldly, but her wounds tell a more earthly (and graver) story–one that sends the strict Catholic town into an uproar. The Aminpours rally around the newcomer, but each sister must also contend with her own transformation–Marjan tests her feelings for love with a dashing writer, Bahar takes on a new spiritual commitment with the help of Father Mahoney, and Layla matures into a young woman when she and her boyfriend, Malachy, step up their hot and heavy relationship.
Filled with mouthwatering recipes and enchanting details of life in Ireland, Rosewater and Soda Bread is infused with a lyrical warmth that radiates from the Aminpour family and their big-hearted Italian landlady, Estelle, to the whole of Ballinacroagh–and the world beyond.
But when a young woman with a dark secret literally washes up on Clew Bay Beach, the sisters’ world is once again turned upside down. With pale skin and webbed hands, the girl is otherworldly, but her wounds tell a more earthly (and graver) story–one that sends the strict Catholic town into an uproar. The Aminpours rally around the newcomer, but each sister must also contend with her own transformation–Marjan tests her feelings for love with a dashing writer, Bahar takes on a new spiritual commitment with the help of Father Mahoney, and Layla matures into a young woman when she and her boyfriend, Malachy, step up their hot and heavy relationship.
Filled with mouthwatering recipes and enchanting details of life in Ireland, Rosewater and Soda Bread is infused with a lyrical warmth that radiates from the Aminpour family and their big-hearted Italian landlady, Estelle, to the whole of Ballinacroagh–and the world beyond.
288 pages, Paperback
First published May 13, 2008
About the author
Marsha Mehran
10 books114 followersMarsha Mehran escaped the upheaval of the Iranian revolution with her family. She grew up in the United States, Australia and Argentina, where her parents operated a Middle Eastern café. She lived in both Brooklyn and Ireland.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
May 29, 2009
When we were in first grade, my sister wrote a book about the sunflower and the very mean lady. The very mean lady kept trying to get rid of the sunflower, and the book ended with "And the sunflower did something to her..." This book reminds me a lot of my sisters book. Not because Marsha Mehran is my sister or six years old, but the book was filled with all kinds of starts but no ends. Layla wants to have sex... Something happened to Marjan in the detention center... The old biddies across the road are going to put an end to the restaurant once they go pee and eat more biscuits... Bahar used to be married... It's just tedious after awhile.
I wanted to like this book, the story of sisters and food, yes please! I thought it would be something similar to Like Water for Chocolate and was totally disappointed. The mentions of food are more "the soup smelled good!" and less deep emotional experiences.
And hello stereotypes! Estelle the Italian widow "oh, me and Luigi, he maka tha pasta!" The Catholic ladies across the street, all spinsters, all mean and nasty meddling types. Oh, but the Iranian sisters, they are dark! mysterious! sexual! The Irish girl, you guessed it - red hair and pale skin!
The only thing I found good about the book was the many Rumi quotes.
I wanted to like this book, the story of sisters and food, yes please! I thought it would be something similar to Like Water for Chocolate and was totally disappointed. The mentions of food are more "the soup smelled good!" and less deep emotional experiences.
And hello stereotypes! Estelle the Italian widow "oh, me and Luigi, he maka tha pasta!" The Catholic ladies across the street, all spinsters, all mean and nasty meddling types. Oh, but the Iranian sisters, they are dark! mysterious! sexual! The Irish girl, you guessed it - red hair and pale skin!
The only thing I found good about the book was the many Rumi quotes.
July 11, 2008
Mehran paints lovely word-pictures of places and foods, and she puts together a compelling cast of characters, but the story left this reader hungry for more depth. A good weekend or rainy day read. Goes well with tea.
October 27, 2008
Rose Water and Soda Bread by Marsha Mehran is a novel about three Iranian sisters who own a café in Ireland. Their lives are changed when a mysterious “mermaid” girl with a dark secret washes up on the beach. They have trouble fitting in their strict Catholic town, but the three sisters bring excitement to their sleepy little village. This story is similar to the authors own life. Marsha Mehran was born in Tehran and she escaped the Iranian revolution to live in the US, Argentina, and Australia where her parents owned a Middle Eastern café. She now lives in the US and Ireland. This is her first book.
I found the setting of this book to be the most interesting. The setting of a small village on the coast of Ireland was uncommon and striking. The characterization was also interesting. Each of the characters had their own distinct personality. I also liked the way the novel was written with alternating points of view.
One weakness that I found in the novel was that the plot moved along too slowly. The author could have cut out some of the scenes with Mrs.Quigley (the gossiping old lady) and her friends. I also would’ve liked to know more about Layla, the youngest sister. Instead, most of the novel focused on the eldest sister Margaret. Additionally, some of the story lines seemed to end unresolved. For example, the sisters figure out that the girl they found on the beach ran away from her home, they find her father, she returns back home, then the storyline just forgets about her. Even though I liked the alternating points of view, the multiple storylines with multiple points of view made the novel a little hard to follow.
Overall, this novel was fairly enjoyable despite its weaknesses. Anyone who likes cross-cultural stories would enjoy this book.
I found the setting of this book to be the most interesting. The setting of a small village on the coast of Ireland was uncommon and striking. The characterization was also interesting. Each of the characters had their own distinct personality. I also liked the way the novel was written with alternating points of view.
One weakness that I found in the novel was that the plot moved along too slowly. The author could have cut out some of the scenes with Mrs.Quigley (the gossiping old lady) and her friends. I also would’ve liked to know more about Layla, the youngest sister. Instead, most of the novel focused on the eldest sister Margaret. Additionally, some of the story lines seemed to end unresolved. For example, the sisters figure out that the girl they found on the beach ran away from her home, they find her father, she returns back home, then the storyline just forgets about her. Even though I liked the alternating points of view, the multiple storylines with multiple points of view made the novel a little hard to follow.
Overall, this novel was fairly enjoyable despite its weaknesses. Anyone who likes cross-cultural stories would enjoy this book.
November 11, 2009
Maeve Binchy has a natural ear for "quaint" Irish characters. Understandably Mehran does not--and it shows.
Nor does she have an ear for Italian nonna types--Estelle feels more like a yenta from my Bronx neighborhood who wandered briefly into an ashram or something. And she's cloyingly precious.
The love scene with Our Heroine and Our Hero (who is pretty 2 dimensional) on the castle terrace has dialogue worthy of a cheap Harlequin paperback. Or perhaps Ms Mehran read "Twilight".
Lots of gratuitous characters and too many storylines. Most of the storylines either are left hanging (for a sequel) or are resolved all at once near the end.
Adequate entertainment. Interesting idea for a plot. But very unevenly written.
Nor does she have an ear for Italian nonna types--Estelle feels more like a yenta from my Bronx neighborhood who wandered briefly into an ashram or something. And she's cloyingly precious.
The love scene with Our Heroine and Our Hero (who is pretty 2 dimensional) on the castle terrace has dialogue worthy of a cheap Harlequin paperback. Or perhaps Ms Mehran read "Twilight".
Lots of gratuitous characters and too many storylines. Most of the storylines either are left hanging (for a sequel) or are resolved all at once near the end.
Adequate entertainment. Interesting idea for a plot. But very unevenly written.
January 3, 2009
Three Iranian sister living in Ireland and eking out a living running a Persian cafe is interesting enough. But throw in a meddling neighbor, a deejay priest, an unconscious pregnant girl, a handsome young man returning to his Irish roots, secrets galore and you have an entertaining story!
I had not read Mehran's first story of the Aminpour sisters (Pomegranate Soup) but I didn't feel lost. It has been nearly ten years since the girls escaped Tehran in '78 and fled to London. They have made their way to Ballinacroagh where they are warmly regarded by most of the village. I recommend this to anyone who loves food, recipes, Ireland, other cultures, or light romance.
I had not read Mehran's first story of the Aminpour sisters (Pomegranate Soup) but I didn't feel lost. It has been nearly ten years since the girls escaped Tehran in '78 and fled to London. They have made their way to Ballinacroagh where they are warmly regarded by most of the village. I recommend this to anyone who loves food, recipes, Ireland, other cultures, or light romance.
January 9, 2024
Deuxième tome un peu plus sympathique à lire que le premier ; l'auteure a viré vers un registre un peu plus fantastique, dans le folklore irlandais. Cependant : une écriture toujours aussi simple, des longs passages dignes des plus grandes fanfictions et des intrigues totalement bâclées. des personnages sont presque totalement oubliés : pas de point de vue de Layla, par exemple. La seule chose qui l'intéresse dans ce tome ? Avoir des relations sexuelles avec son copain. C'est tout ce qui concerne son développement.
Les moments les plus agréables étaient les passages dans le café (café où on ne sert pas de café d'ailleurs, mais du thé et des plats, ce qui en fait un restaurant ou un salon de thé...) avec les descriptions des plats. Par contre, les recettes ne sont plus intégrées au fil de la lecture cette fois mais sont réunies à la fin du livre, c'est dommage.
Je ne recommande pas cette lecture :(
Les moments les plus agréables étaient les passages dans le café (café où on ne sert pas de café d'ailleurs, mais du thé et des plats, ce qui en fait un restaurant ou un salon de thé...) avec les descriptions des plats. Par contre, les recettes ne sont plus intégrées au fil de la lecture cette fois mais sont réunies à la fin du livre, c'est dommage.
Je ne recommande pas cette lecture :(
November 10, 2024
DNF au deux tiers.
J’ai tellement aimé le premier mais cet opus est brouillon, pleins de directions qui ne mènent nulle part mais surtout l’histoire donne trop de place à l’extrémisme religieux… Ce tome a perdu toute trace de poésie et de chaleur du 1er.
J’ai tellement aimé le premier mais cet opus est brouillon, pleins de directions qui ne mènent nulle part mais surtout l’histoire donne trop de place à l’extrémisme religieux… Ce tome a perdu toute trace de poésie et de chaleur du 1er.
July 19, 2025
2.75 ⭐️
September 10, 2008
‘Whatever is in the heart will come up to the tongue.’
More than a year has passed since the three Aminpour sisters (Marjan, Bahar and Layla) sought refuge in the Irish town of Ballinacroagh. Since opening the Babylon Café, they have charmed the locals with both their Persian cuisine, and their warm hearts.
But their lives are turned upside down when a young woman with a dark secret is found on Clew Bay Beach sending the town into an uproar. At the same time, each of the sisters is dealing with her own transformation: Marjan meets a handsome young writer; Bahar finds a spiritual peace; and Layla is maturing into a young woman.
This novel is a sequel to “Pomegranate Soup’ and while it can be read as a standalone novel, I’d recommend reading them both in order. There are a number of interesting secondary characters in the novel, including the wonderful, warm Estelle Domenico, and the interfering busybody Dervla Quigley.
While aspects of the story did not appeal to me as much as the earlier book, the inclusion of some delightful and relatively simple Persian recipes made the experience more satisfying. This is a comparatively light read, and I enjoyed reacquainting myself with the Aminpour sisters, and the people of Ballinacroagh.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
More than a year has passed since the three Aminpour sisters (Marjan, Bahar and Layla) sought refuge in the Irish town of Ballinacroagh. Since opening the Babylon Café, they have charmed the locals with both their Persian cuisine, and their warm hearts.
But their lives are turned upside down when a young woman with a dark secret is found on Clew Bay Beach sending the town into an uproar. At the same time, each of the sisters is dealing with her own transformation: Marjan meets a handsome young writer; Bahar finds a spiritual peace; and Layla is maturing into a young woman.
This novel is a sequel to “Pomegranate Soup’ and while it can be read as a standalone novel, I’d recommend reading them both in order. There are a number of interesting secondary characters in the novel, including the wonderful, warm Estelle Domenico, and the interfering busybody Dervla Quigley.
While aspects of the story did not appeal to me as much as the earlier book, the inclusion of some delightful and relatively simple Persian recipes made the experience more satisfying. This is a comparatively light read, and I enjoyed reacquainting myself with the Aminpour sisters, and the people of Ballinacroagh.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
November 29, 2020
"A woman isn't something to be used for as long as she has flavor, then tossed aside when your taste for her is gone. There's got to be some promise, some agreement that you'll be around."
"With the blanket pulled up all the way to her chest, and the silence that still pervaded her every breath, she could definitely have been mistaken for a Victorian heroine; the Lily Maid, thought Marjan, on her way out of Camelot's reign.
Tennyson's poem had been a favorite of Marjan's when she was younger; she had learned it in high school in Tehran, during a particularly spirited semester of English literature.
Still, it took a minute for her to remember the story's fateful outcome: the Lady of Shalott had not made it alive out of the fabled kingdom; she had left on her death barge, floating on a dark river."
"With the blanket pulled up all the way to her chest, and the silence that still pervaded her every breath, she could definitely have been mistaken for a Victorian heroine; the Lily Maid, thought Marjan, on her way out of Camelot's reign.
Tennyson's poem had been a favorite of Marjan's when she was younger; she had learned it in high school in Tehran, during a particularly spirited semester of English literature.
Still, it took a minute for her to remember the story's fateful outcome: the Lady of Shalott had not made it alive out of the fabled kingdom; she had left on her death barge, floating on a dark river."
May 10, 2025
Eau de rose et soda bread est la suite du livre Soupe à la Grenade, que je n'ai malheureusement pas lu mais cela ne m'a pas empêché d'apprécier le roman.
Nous y retrouvons trois soeurs iraniennes qui se sont installées en Irlande pour ouvrir un restaurant après avoir fui l'Iran.
J'ai beaucoup aimé l'ambiance du roman, très romantique, qui m'a un peu rappelé l'ambiance de Gilmore Girls, puisque nos héroïnes vivent dans un petit village irlandais où les traditions conviviales demeurent. La météo irlandaise, la nature et les descriptions culinaires en font un voyage chaleureux et très immersif.
Les personnages sont attachants, j'ai beaucoup aimé la relation entre les trois soeurs (les différents rapports de force, le caractère de chacune).
La réalité nous rattrape dans le roman avec les quelques évocations des violences subies par les soeurs en Iran, le racisme très présent en Irlande ainsi que l'impact de la religion sur les droits des femmes (avortement prohibé et très vivement critiqué). Un personnage énigmatique et dramatique fait son apparition et apporte une petite touche de "fantastique", de légende, tout en permettant d'aborder des sujets concrets, j'ai trouvé cela pertinent et plutôt bien fait.
J'ai apprécié ce contraste même si j'aurais aimé plus d'approfondissement sur ces questions (peut-être que le premier livre est plus dramatique et profond).
Autre petit bémol, j'ai trouvé la romance très clichée et inutile et certains dialogues un peu "cringe" car trop niais ou superficiels.
En conclusion, j'ai passé un bon moment de lecture, tout en légèreté, je suis ravie d'avoir découvert cette auteure et je pense lire son premier livre pour en apprendre davantage sur nos protagonistes.
Nous y retrouvons trois soeurs iraniennes qui se sont installées en Irlande pour ouvrir un restaurant après avoir fui l'Iran.
J'ai beaucoup aimé l'ambiance du roman, très romantique, qui m'a un peu rappelé l'ambiance de Gilmore Girls, puisque nos héroïnes vivent dans un petit village irlandais où les traditions conviviales demeurent. La météo irlandaise, la nature et les descriptions culinaires en font un voyage chaleureux et très immersif.
Les personnages sont attachants, j'ai beaucoup aimé la relation entre les trois soeurs (les différents rapports de force, le caractère de chacune).
La réalité nous rattrape dans le roman avec les quelques évocations des violences subies par les soeurs en Iran, le racisme très présent en Irlande ainsi que l'impact de la religion sur les droits des femmes (avortement prohibé et très vivement critiqué). Un personnage énigmatique et dramatique fait son apparition et apporte une petite touche de "fantastique", de légende, tout en permettant d'aborder des sujets concrets, j'ai trouvé cela pertinent et plutôt bien fait.
J'ai apprécié ce contraste même si j'aurais aimé plus d'approfondissement sur ces questions (peut-être que le premier livre est plus dramatique et profond).
Autre petit bémol, j'ai trouvé la romance très clichée et inutile et certains dialogues un peu "cringe" car trop niais ou superficiels.
En conclusion, j'ai passé un bon moment de lecture, tout en légèreté, je suis ravie d'avoir découvert cette auteure et je pense lire son premier livre pour en apprendre davantage sur nos protagonistes.
August 12, 2026
Un an après "la soupe à la grenade", on retrouve dans ce nouvel opus nos trois sœurs iraniennes installées en Irlande.
Je ne me rappelais pas toute l'intrigue du premier tome, ce qui a parfois gêné ma lecture parce que même si certains évènements sont brièvement rappelés, il y avait des parties qui me manquaient.
J'ai néanmoins beaucoup apprécié de retrouver l'ambiance cosy du premier tome, les trois sœurs, leur café et le petit village irlandais avec plein de personnages hauts en couleurs. C'est d'ailleurs ce que j'ai le plus aimé dans ce livre, l'ambiance irlandaise, les personnages secondaires (mention spéciale pour le prêtre qui anime une émission de radio), ainsi que la dynamique entre les trois sœurs, les descriptions des plats qu'elles proposent au restaurant... Il était très intéressant aussi de replacer les événements dans le contexte de l'Irlande très catholique des années 80, dans laquelle l'avortement est strictement interdit, les relations sexuelles hors mariage prohibées etc.
Sur l'intrigue, il y a plusieurs choses qui se passent en parallèle, parfois un peu trop, ce qui fait qu'on a un peu de mal à suivre. Entre la "sirène" retrouvée sur la plage et soupçonnée d'avoir voulu avorter, l'intrigue amoureuse de Marjan, les cachotteries de Bahar sur ses disparitions les après-midi... Tout cela manquait un peu de cohérence.
Une lecture qui reste agréable mais pas forcément inoubliable.
Je ne me rappelais pas toute l'intrigue du premier tome, ce qui a parfois gêné ma lecture parce que même si certains évènements sont brièvement rappelés, il y avait des parties qui me manquaient.
J'ai néanmoins beaucoup apprécié de retrouver l'ambiance cosy du premier tome, les trois sœurs, leur café et le petit village irlandais avec plein de personnages hauts en couleurs. C'est d'ailleurs ce que j'ai le plus aimé dans ce livre, l'ambiance irlandaise, les personnages secondaires (mention spéciale pour le prêtre qui anime une émission de radio), ainsi que la dynamique entre les trois sœurs, les descriptions des plats qu'elles proposent au restaurant... Il était très intéressant aussi de replacer les événements dans le contexte de l'Irlande très catholique des années 80, dans laquelle l'avortement est strictement interdit, les relations sexuelles hors mariage prohibées etc.
Sur l'intrigue, il y a plusieurs choses qui se passent en parallèle, parfois un peu trop, ce qui fait qu'on a un peu de mal à suivre. Entre la "sirène" retrouvée sur la plage et soupçonnée d'avoir voulu avorter, l'intrigue amoureuse de Marjan, les cachotteries de Bahar sur ses disparitions les après-midi... Tout cela manquait un peu de cohérence.
Une lecture qui reste agréable mais pas forcément inoubliable.
August 12, 2019
Such a clash of cultures integrating society. Harsh reality mixes with wit and a dash of spice.
August 7, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
January 11, 2025
Uenne vraie douceur ce livre ! J'ai adoré replonger dans le quotidien des sœurs Aminpour, surtout qu'un peu de magie se glisse dans ce tome.
Read
July 22, 2026What a joy to return to the West of Ireland!! And there are recipes in the back
March 24, 2024
Un joli livre, mais qui m’a beaucoup moins touchée et emportée que le premier, « Une soupe à la grenade ».
February 19, 2026
excellent, tellement beau, j'avais déjà adoré le premier
August 1, 2008
**This now includes an "update" at the end!
Goodreads needs to have a system where you can award only a portion of a star. That way I would have been able to pick 3.5 stars. I find that I'm always putting 4 stars for everything. That's got to stop. Sorry I've chosen this author to start with. :-(
I very much enjoyed this book but am giving it 3.5 stars because it really kinda left me wanting. I didn't quite feel like everything was as neatly wrapped up as I would have liked. I actually would like to see a sequel to this book. In fact, I think the author could really conceivably write three sequels - following the lives of each sister. Oh, and then yet another chronicling the lives of the other townspeople. Normally when a story ends, I'm okay with it. But for some reason, I want to know more. I want to know what these people are doing today. Crazy!
The recipes at the end sound really yummy. Someday, oh yes, someday, I might even attempt to make them, especially the tacheen and the rosewater ice cream.
UPDATE: Little did I know when I wrote the above review, that the book I had just finished was in fact a sequel to her debut novel, Pomegrante Soup!!! Now, my entire world feels like it is slightly off keel and ready to slip of its axis. My chi is totally unaligned and everything. What I'm saying is: I READ THE SECOND BOOK BEFORE THE FIRST!!! That's a serious No-No in my world.
Anyway, just got Pomegrante Soup and found out it's the back story or prequeal about these three sisters and how they got to where they were in Rosewater and Soda Bread.
I read my books cover to cover, including the acknowledgements, reviews, etc. and I do not recall seeing that this book was a follow up to Pomegrante Soup. I could have missed that fact, it's possible, but I really don't think I did. Well, maybe.... It's so unlike me though. I'm seriously a stickler about reading books in order. Luckily I'll be reading them close enough together that it shouldn't matter -- too much. Ugh!!!
Goodreads needs to have a system where you can award only a portion of a star. That way I would have been able to pick 3.5 stars. I find that I'm always putting 4 stars for everything. That's got to stop. Sorry I've chosen this author to start with. :-(
I very much enjoyed this book but am giving it 3.5 stars because it really kinda left me wanting. I didn't quite feel like everything was as neatly wrapped up as I would have liked. I actually would like to see a sequel to this book. In fact, I think the author could really conceivably write three sequels - following the lives of each sister. Oh, and then yet another chronicling the lives of the other townspeople. Normally when a story ends, I'm okay with it. But for some reason, I want to know more. I want to know what these people are doing today. Crazy!
The recipes at the end sound really yummy. Someday, oh yes, someday, I might even attempt to make them, especially the tacheen and the rosewater ice cream.
UPDATE: Little did I know when I wrote the above review, that the book I had just finished was in fact a sequel to her debut novel, Pomegrante Soup!!! Now, my entire world feels like it is slightly off keel and ready to slip of its axis. My chi is totally unaligned and everything. What I'm saying is: I READ THE SECOND BOOK BEFORE THE FIRST!!! That's a serious No-No in my world.
Anyway, just got Pomegrante Soup and found out it's the back story or prequeal about these three sisters and how they got to where they were in Rosewater and Soda Bread.
I read my books cover to cover, including the acknowledgements, reviews, etc. and I do not recall seeing that this book was a follow up to Pomegrante Soup. I could have missed that fact, it's possible, but I really don't think I did. Well, maybe.... It's so unlike me though. I'm seriously a stickler about reading books in order. Luckily I'll be reading them close enough together that it shouldn't matter -- too much. Ugh!!!
April 11, 2008
After a very promising start, the book fizzled a bit because the author didn't resolve many of the storylines. As the title says, this is a novel about three sisters (Marjan, Bahar, and Layla), two countries (Ireland and Iran), and the language of food.
The author pulled off the language of food (including restorative and medicinal properties), and there are 8 tasty sounding recipes from Ireland or Iran at the end of the book. The portraits of Ireland and Iran while slightly incomplete were well painted. The three sisters are realistically presented, each with their own backstory, personality, and dreams.
The problem is that many of the secondary characters drawn into the story simply disappear. I'm not sure if Ms. Mehran didn't know how to end it, became bored a little over half way through, was told by her publisher that she was out of pages, or intends to write a sequel, but for whatever reason it all kind of just ended. You know how you're never supposed to resolve a problem by having the character wake up? Well, the resolution to this story's problem stopped just one step shy of this. The girl left (I don't want to give anything away so I'll leave this rather vague statement at that), and all of the people inconvenienced, jeopordized, or in trouble with the law are left hanging out there with the reader left to guess whether they're still in trouble or everything was miraculously resolved.
Is it worth reading? Well, I enjoyed it up until the end and it whet my appetite for more facts about Ireland, Iran, Ireland's merrow or Iran's Baraka, and especially Iranian food, but the reader should beware getting caught up in the side stories for they will probably be left with more questions than answers.
The author pulled off the language of food (including restorative and medicinal properties), and there are 8 tasty sounding recipes from Ireland or Iran at the end of the book. The portraits of Ireland and Iran while slightly incomplete were well painted. The three sisters are realistically presented, each with their own backstory, personality, and dreams.
The problem is that many of the secondary characters drawn into the story simply disappear. I'm not sure if Ms. Mehran didn't know how to end it, became bored a little over half way through, was told by her publisher that she was out of pages, or intends to write a sequel, but for whatever reason it all kind of just ended. You know how you're never supposed to resolve a problem by having the character wake up? Well, the resolution to this story's problem stopped just one step shy of this. The girl left (I don't want to give anything away so I'll leave this rather vague statement at that), and all of the people inconvenienced, jeopordized, or in trouble with the law are left hanging out there with the reader left to guess whether they're still in trouble or everything was miraculously resolved.
Is it worth reading? Well, I enjoyed it up until the end and it whet my appetite for more facts about Ireland, Iran, Ireland's merrow or Iran's Baraka, and especially Iranian food, but the reader should beware getting caught up in the side stories for they will probably be left with more questions than answers.
February 14, 2023
I have a deep love for Iranian writing and poetry so upon learning about Marsha Mehran I had to read her work. Sadly the author passed away in 2014 so there will be no more work by her, she only has 2 novels published- the first is Pomegrante soup (which I'm yet to read) and Rosewater & Soda Bread.
I should have read Pomegrante soup first, but oh well.
What a gentle read this is. We’re shown a simple life in Ireland lived by a family of Iranian sisters in the cafe they run. Marjan makes and sells beautiful partly Iranian, partly Irish food which sounds mouth-wateringly delicious. I love how the story weaves it’s characters together, eventually bringing them all to an acceptance of each other and their ways of life. There’s just a hint of magic about the story, brought by the hands of a healer, a young girl with her own problems but always ready to help others - particularly Estelle. It’s really a beautiful story. I thoroughly enjoyed the overwhelming softness and gentle way it comes across.
If you like these books: Chocolat, Like water for Chocolate and Under the Tuscan Sun, then you'll like this.
I should have read Pomegrante soup first, but oh well.
What a gentle read this is. We’re shown a simple life in Ireland lived by a family of Iranian sisters in the cafe they run. Marjan makes and sells beautiful partly Iranian, partly Irish food which sounds mouth-wateringly delicious. I love how the story weaves it’s characters together, eventually bringing them all to an acceptance of each other and their ways of life. There’s just a hint of magic about the story, brought by the hands of a healer, a young girl with her own problems but always ready to help others - particularly Estelle. It’s really a beautiful story. I thoroughly enjoyed the overwhelming softness and gentle way it comes across.
If you like these books: Chocolat, Like water for Chocolate and Under the Tuscan Sun, then you'll like this.
December 6, 2008
Best enjoyed as a sequel to the fabulous Pomegranate Soup, but can be read as a stand alone
A wonderful story of three Iranian women who flee the Revolution and finally settle in a quaint Irish town. The sisters' Persian cafe quickly becomes a bit hit with the locals, and the exotic foods are a nice part of the books (recipes included).
Each book weaves a tale of the sisters' individual lives, their lives together working at the cafe, and the friendships with the very colorful locals.
I like the exploration and blending of cultures ... we learn bit by bit about the sisters' lives living under the Shah's rule, a bit about their time in London. The small Irish town is strictly Catholic, and not all of the residents welcome anyone or anything outside a very narrow set of what is "acceptable" in their village.
Ms. Mehran is a talented writer, and I'm hoping she's planning a third book. So far no such info on her website. She certainly leaves the door open for future developments!
www.marshamehran.com
A wonderful story of three Iranian women who flee the Revolution and finally settle in a quaint Irish town. The sisters' Persian cafe quickly becomes a bit hit with the locals, and the exotic foods are a nice part of the books (recipes included).
Each book weaves a tale of the sisters' individual lives, their lives together working at the cafe, and the friendships with the very colorful locals.
I like the exploration and blending of cultures ... we learn bit by bit about the sisters' lives living under the Shah's rule, a bit about their time in London. The small Irish town is strictly Catholic, and not all of the residents welcome anyone or anything outside a very narrow set of what is "acceptable" in their village.
Ms. Mehran is a talented writer, and I'm hoping she's planning a third book. So far no such info on her website. She certainly leaves the door open for future developments!
www.marshamehran.com
October 9, 2016
Aminpourin kauniit iranilaiset sisarukset Marjan, Bahar ja Layla tulivat tutuiksi Lumoavien mausteiden kahvilasta, joka kirjassa sai nimen Babylonian cafe. Tämä Marsha Mehranin jatkokirja Ruusuvettä ja lammaspataa (Rosewater and Soda Bread 2008 suom. 2009) jatkaa vuoden päästä uusin tapahtumin hiljaisen kylän elämänmenoa, jossa jokainen tuntee toisensa paremmin, kuin itse tuntisi itsensä.
Perheen nuorin tytär 16 v. Layla jatkaa opiskeluaan lukiossa ja seurustelee poikaystävänsä kanssa ja Bahar on löytänyt elämälleen uuden suunnan, jota haluaa seurata koko sydämestään. Perheen vanhimmalle tytölle Marjanille kirjan tarinassa on viritelty rakkautta ja suuria tunteita, mutta myös huolenaiheita ihan riittämiin. Marjan on siskoksista se, joka hoitaa ja huolehtii asioista enemmän, kuin yksi ihminen jaksaa kantaa, joten pientä uupumista ja sekoilua on luettavissa kirjan sivuilta.
Perheen nuorin tytär 16 v. Layla jatkaa opiskeluaan lukiossa ja seurustelee poikaystävänsä kanssa ja Bahar on löytänyt elämälleen uuden suunnan, jota haluaa seurata koko sydämestään. Perheen vanhimmalle tytölle Marjanille kirjan tarinassa on viritelty rakkautta ja suuria tunteita, mutta myös huolenaiheita ihan riittämiin. Marjan on siskoksista se, joka hoitaa ja huolehtii asioista enemmän, kuin yksi ihminen jaksaa kantaa, joten pientä uupumista ja sekoilua on luettavissa kirjan sivuilta.
September 7, 2008
I liked this book, but found it very odd. It is almost more like a young adult novel, but clearly is not. It is almost like a romance novel, but includes elements--abortion, wife-beating, and Iranian revolution, which are not likely to appear in any romance novel. It is almost like a mystery--who is the strange young girl who washed up on the beach?--but is not. The idea of 3 Iranian sisters living in a small town in Ireland sounds like fun, and while this is probably chick lit, it is not as fluffy as some. The recipes look really, really good, I'm dying to try them. I will read her previous book, Pomegranate Soup, about the same set of characters.
June 23, 2008
I really looked forward to this sequel to Mehran's first book, "Pomegranate Soup" which I adored.
Unfortunately, "Rosewater and Soda Bread" disappointed me. I thought the writing was not nearly as good as the other book, it was disorganized, and had too many story lines going on. Additionally, the majority of the story lines were unresolved (the girl, Julian, etc.) Did the author just run out of steam or what?
And where was an editor, to make this book a cohesive whole instead of a disorganized mess?
Unfortunately, "Rosewater and Soda Bread" disappointed me. I thought the writing was not nearly as good as the other book, it was disorganized, and had too many story lines going on. Additionally, the majority of the story lines were unresolved (the girl, Julian, etc.) Did the author just run out of steam or what?
And where was an editor, to make this book a cohesive whole instead of a disorganized mess?
October 22, 2008
When I got the book I couldnt put it down, and given Ive got a toddler and a 9mth old its fair to say I usually dont find time to pick up a book! I really struggled with the ending though. So many questions unanswered and incomplete stories. I can only assume there will be a sequel given the author lists 2 pages of readers questions that basically cover all the frustrations I have.
On the upside, having travelled to Ireland I loved the references and enjoyed the reminiscing. Im also a food lover and this book did make my mouth water! Looking forward to trying some of the recipes.
On the upside, having travelled to Ireland I loved the references and enjoyed the reminiscing. Im also a food lover and this book did make my mouth water! Looking forward to trying some of the recipes.
November 28, 2008
I loved the focus on food in this book and am thrilled that there are recipes at the end. However, I thought that a lot of aspects of the story were glossed over and not developed as much as they could have been. I didn't realize this was a sequel until I was nearly done reading it, and I may have felt differently if I'd read Pomegranate Soup first. There wasn't really much closure at the end, either, though I don't know if that was intended for the purposes of writing another book or not. Overall, a nice, if a little fluffy, read.
January 20, 2014
I really enjoyed the book that came before this, "Pomegranate Soup" but for some reason, found this one to be so boring! I really tried hard to get into it and not give up on it but the storyline just wasn't engaging enough for me. I didn't care about the mysterious woman who washed up on shore, I didn't really care for the potential romance plot line and I didn't care about the middle sister's spiritual reawakening. But I won't give up on this author just yet... I'll see what else she has to offer in other books.
July 29, 2014
I gave up about two-thirds of the way in. I liked the first one in this series well enough. It was light and fluffy and maybe a bit of a relief from whatever I had been reading. This one isn't as good and it's context in my reading life wasn't as favorable. Enough of the three Iranian sisters in the little Irish village. I feel badly saying this, because they are three admirable women and the author is working very hard to engage us. Still, it didn't work for me. I'd still read the first one, but I'd call it a day at that. (And to think there were supposed to be seven?)
August 24, 2008
The title is what caused me to buy the book. It just sounded interesting. The book had been sitting on my bookshelves for quite awhile until I recently picked it up. I wasn't sure about it at first. But the more I read, the more intriguing the story became. This is a light read. I love the combination of cultures between the two cultures. I am on the lookout to for some Persian recipes now to try because of this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews