telynor's Full Review: Marsha Mehran - Pomegranate Soup
I've always been drawn to novels that tell the stories of outsiders who find themselves in a new place. Perhaps it was because I was nearly always the 'new kid' when I was growing up. Or that I seem to have a near constant itch to travel and see new places. But when I had several people recommend Marsha Mehran's novel, Pomegranate Soup, to me, I knew it was one that I had to find.
Three sisters arrive in a small Irish town in County Mayo. Ballinacroagh is fairly nondescript, harkening back to a simpler time with the local pub and small shops nestled together. But underneath the cozy exteriors, there are plenty of tensions simmering away. While the Aminpour sisters are only looking for a safe place to live after fleeing the revolution overtaking Iran, little do they know what they're about to unleash.
Marjan, the eldest, is struggling to keep her younger sisters, Bahar and Layla, happy and healthy. We follow them along as they rent a derelict bakery from its owner, the widowed Estelle Delmonico, who is delighted to see her property come to life again. Indeed, with Marjan's innate knowledge of Persian cooking and spices, the Babylon Cafe is soon bewitching it's customers with savoury stews, breads, and sweets, all having the aromas and tastes of the exotic, somewhat forbidding, orient.
Not everyone is happy about the new arrivals. Especially the local Big Man, Thomas McGuire, who had his own private plans for the bakery, and watches in fury as the new cafe lures people away from his staples of cabbage, roast meats and mash. The town snoop and gossip, Dervla Quigley, with her hard heart and vicious disposition, knows that these 'hippies' will do their small town no good, with their dirty ways and no doubt, drug dealing out of the lime-green van that they drive. Just as bad as those no-account tinkers who rolled through recently.
While we do get to see several of the various residents of the town, most of the story centers around the three sisters and their struggle to not just establish themselves, but also forget the dark memories of why and how they fled Iran. All of them have tragedy in their past, and it's heartbreaking to read about, with the particular depth that an eyewitness account can only bring.
It was Bahar's story that touched me the most, her brittle nature hiding an immense pool of unhappiness. At first I just thought she was grumpy, but as her story is revealed, it nearly brought me to tears as I read.
But sadness isn't the only emotion here. All of the seven deadly sins are explored in various ways, with Thomas McGuire possessing nearly all of them -- and yet, I could still feel pity for him. Throughout the book I was able to catch whiffs of the exotic spices that Marjan uses, and was quite frequently seized with an urge to find the nearest Persian restaurant and order nearly one of everything.
While this novel really doesn't have a plot, per se, it is a good slice-of-life novel, delving into the minds of those who live in exile from their homes. What really catches hold here is the rich use of language, and very vivid descriptions of the people who inhabit Ballinacroagh. While some might consider the writing to be on the florid side, at times I found myself laughing out loud over the descriptions, which was rather pleasant.
At the start of each chapter there is a recipe for a traditional dish -- including a headache remedy! -- which has me planning a shopping trip soon to restock my spice cabinet, and to give these dishes a try.
It's not a very long novel, and easily taken in over the course of an evening or afternoon. Recommended for those who like a novel that is insightful, rather than action packed, and not afraid to try something new. A sequel was released earlier this year, Rosewater and Soda Bread. In addition to the story, there is an interview with the author, suggestions for further reading, and a set of questions for reader's groups.
Four stars overall. Recommended.
Pomegranate Soup
Marsha Mehran
2005; Random House
ISBN 0-8129-7248-1
Beneath the holy mountain Croagh Patrick, in damp and lovely County Mayo, sits the small, sheltered village of Ballinacroagh. To the exotic Aminpour s...More at HotBookSale
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