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: Violence, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Animal death, Sexism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Misogyny, and Torture
Minor: Miscarriage, Xenophobia, Infidelity, and Sexual content
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: Grief, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Misogyny, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Miscarriage and Car accident
abigailrainam's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
5.0
Wow. What a story. About family, leaving, returning. Homesickness. Love. Finding your place, or rediscovering it. One of the books that makes you cry really hard because it feels real. It is real.
bkish's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book. It just was so human all of it. The author is a chef and she had famous restaurant in Palo Alto which is now closed. However the cuisine was french and this book really delves into displays iranian or persian cuisine. Its such a rich book of love and death and family and immigrants and parents and the danger of extreme politics leading to murders. Its a tale of people trying to find their path their way.
She is a good writer good not great...
She is telling somewhat of her own story
Judy
She is a good writer good not great...
She is telling somewhat of her own story
Judy
thain's review against another edition
3.0
Good family drama set in Iran. Enjoyed the old father's backstory and the peripheral characters more than the rather annoying mother-daughter duo. Lots of mouth-watering descriptions of Persian cuisine.
jess_segraves's review against another edition
4.0
Make sure you have a snack handy when reading this book. Although there were aspects of the book I disliked - the big catalyst in the book, for example - I thought it was well-done and heartfelt.