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kdeligreeds's review against another edition
4.0
I really loved the combination of family history, recipes, and drama.
quiltmom14's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this one - and yes, the food descriptions helped make it amazing. (The author used to be a chef so the descriptions are REALLY good). The characters were interesting, the locations were beautifully described, the situation in Tehran was made crystal clear. As an immigrant, I could totally understand and empathize with the main character’s inner conflicts. However...I hated the ending....so 4 stars instead of more.
seeinghowitgoes's review against another edition
5.0
At times this novel brought me to tears, walking through the crowds at my train station I suddenly felt my chest heave with pain and for the rest of the night I was consumed with thoughts of Cafe Leila and the four generations of family who had laughed, loved and lived in its walls.
Despite having lived in America for the past 30 years, it's to her homeland Iran and Cafe Leila that Noor turns to when her marriage begins to disintegrate, dragging a reluctant Americanised daughter in her wake. She has returned to see her father Zod, an endearing totem standing strong in the walls of her childhood home, but it doesn't take long for her to realise that the Tehran of her childhood is very different to the reality of today.
Broken into generations of family, we explore via music, food, family, culture and the sheer poetry of words what it is to have an identity. As a child of immigrants the entire novel struck a chord with me, and I devoured every word.
Despite having lived in America for the past 30 years, it's to her homeland Iran and Cafe Leila that Noor turns to when her marriage begins to disintegrate, dragging a reluctant Americanised daughter in her wake. She has returned to see her father Zod, an endearing totem standing strong in the walls of her childhood home, but it doesn't take long for her to realise that the Tehran of her childhood is very different to the reality of today.
Broken into generations of family, we explore via music, food, family, culture and the sheer poetry of words what it is to have an identity. As a child of immigrants the entire novel struck a chord with me, and I devoured every word.
zellm's review against another edition
3.0
Heartwarming but very slow paced. I enjoyed the story and the family, but felt that the characters were underdeveloped and there wasn't much growth in them. Beautiful writing but felt like a lot of filler in the beginning/middle, then super quickly moving suddenly at the end.
jarichan's review against another edition
3.0
Donia Bijans Audiobiographie ist ein Highlight aus dem letzten Jahr. Ebenso die Rezepte, die darin zu finden sind. Was Romane betrifft muss sie jedoch noch ein wenig üben.
Insgesamt ist es ein ganz nettes Buch. Für jene, die Familiengeschichten mit etwas Drama mögen, ist es perfekt. Auch wenn man etwas sucht, das man einfach so nebenbei lesen und dann vergessen kann. Nach der Lektüre des Homesick Pies hatte ich mir jedoch ein wenig mehr erhofft. Eher etwas von der Qualität einer Nadia Hashimi. Aber damit kann Bijan leider nicht mithalten.
Die Figuren sind übertrieben emotional, es kommt zu oft zu Repetitionen und es fehlt an Tiefe. Nur Zods Geschichte konnte mich packen und überzeugen. Nur dort war ich emotional involviert. Ansonsten war ich entweder mit den Gedanken irgendwo anders oder genervt ab den Figuren.
Lillys Entwicklung ist ein weiterer positiver Aspekt, der dazu geführt hat, dass ich dem Buch doch noch drei Sterne verpasst habe. Ohne diesen Punkt wäre es eine Zwei Stern-Rezension geworden. Bijan hat definitiv Potential, aber vielleicht einfach nicht im belletristischen Bereich.
Insgesamt ist es ein ganz nettes Buch. Für jene, die Familiengeschichten mit etwas Drama mögen, ist es perfekt. Auch wenn man etwas sucht, das man einfach so nebenbei lesen und dann vergessen kann. Nach der Lektüre des Homesick Pies hatte ich mir jedoch ein wenig mehr erhofft. Eher etwas von der Qualität einer Nadia Hashimi. Aber damit kann Bijan leider nicht mithalten.
Die Figuren sind übertrieben emotional, es kommt zu oft zu Repetitionen und es fehlt an Tiefe. Nur Zods Geschichte konnte mich packen und überzeugen. Nur dort war ich emotional involviert. Ansonsten war ich entweder mit den Gedanken irgendwo anders oder genervt ab den Figuren.
Lillys Entwicklung ist ein weiterer positiver Aspekt, der dazu geführt hat, dass ich dem Buch doch noch drei Sterne verpasst habe. Ohne diesen Punkt wäre es eine Zwei Stern-Rezension geworden. Bijan hat definitiv Potential, aber vielleicht einfach nicht im belletristischen Bereich.
indianajane's review against another edition
4.0
I needed half stars for this book, so I could give it four and a half. it made me wish that I could go to Tehran before the Revolution. It made me want to cook Persian food. it was only some elements of the last part of the book that made me not give it 5 stars.
andimontgomery's review against another edition
3.0
This was a quick read, but I thought I’d enjoy it more than I did. The author wrote with a dispassionate style that never really drew me into the story or made me feel for any of the characters. I also wasn’t really fond of the passive Noor, either. I did enjoy the descriptions of the food they ate (and it made me hungry for Persian food!), however.
kaneebli's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Police brutality, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Xenophobia
gracescanlon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Misogyny, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Miscarriage and Car accident