Pomegranate Soup
Registered by YowlYY on 4/8/2006
12 journalers for this copy...
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Beneath the holy mountain Croagh Patrick, in damp and lovely County Mayo, sits the small, sheltered village of Ballinacroagh. To the exotic Aminpour sisters, Ireland looks like a much-needed safe haven. It has been seven years since Marjan Aminpour fled Iran with her younger sisters, Bahar and Layla, and she hopes that in Ballinacroagh, a land of "crazed sheep and dizzying roads," they might finally find a home.
From the kitchen of an old pastry shop on Main Mall, the sisters set about creating a Persian oasis. Soon sensuous wafts of cardamom, cinnamon, and saffron float through the streets- an exotic aroma that announces the opening of the Babylon Café, and a shock to a town that generally subsists on boiled cabbage and Guinness served at the local tavern. And it is an affront to the senses of Ballinacroagh's uncrowned king, Thomas McGuire. After trying to buy the old pastry shop for years and failing, Thomas is enraged to find it occupied- and by foreigners, no less.
But the mysterious, spicy fragrances work their magic on the townsfolk, and soon, business is booming. Marjan is thrilled with the demand for her red lentil soup, abgusht stew, and rosewater baklava- and with the transformation in her sisters. Young Layla finds first love, and even tense, haunted Bahar seems to be less nervous.
And in the stand-up-comedian-turned-priest Father Fergal Mahoney, the gentle, lonely widow Estelle Delmonico, and the headstrong hairdresser Fiona Athey, the sisters find a merry band of supporters against the close-minded opposition of less welcoming villagers stuck in their ways. But the idyll is soon broken when the past rushes back to threaten the Amnipours oncemore, and the lives they left behind in revolution-era Iran bleed into the present.
Infused with the textures and scents, trials and triumph,s of two distinct cultures, Pomegranate Soup is an infectious novel of magical realism. This richly detailed story, highlighted with delicious recipes, is a delectable journey into the heart of Persian cooking and Irish living.
Beneath the holy mountain Croagh Patrick, in damp and lovely County Mayo, sits the small, sheltered village of Ballinacroagh. To the exotic Aminpour sisters, Ireland looks like a much-needed safe haven. It has been seven years since Marjan Aminpour fled Iran with her younger sisters, Bahar and Layla, and she hopes that in Ballinacroagh, a land of "crazed sheep and dizzying roads," they might finally find a home.
From the kitchen of an old pastry shop on Main Mall, the sisters set about creating a Persian oasis. Soon sensuous wafts of cardamom, cinnamon, and saffron float through the streets- an exotic aroma that announces the opening of the Babylon Café, and a shock to a town that generally subsists on boiled cabbage and Guinness served at the local tavern. And it is an affront to the senses of Ballinacroagh's uncrowned king, Thomas McGuire. After trying to buy the old pastry shop for years and failing, Thomas is enraged to find it occupied- and by foreigners, no less.
But the mysterious, spicy fragrances work their magic on the townsfolk, and soon, business is booming. Marjan is thrilled with the demand for her red lentil soup, abgusht stew, and rosewater baklava- and with the transformation in her sisters. Young Layla finds first love, and even tense, haunted Bahar seems to be less nervous.
And in the stand-up-comedian-turned-priest Father Fergal Mahoney, the gentle, lonely widow Estelle Delmonico, and the headstrong hairdresser Fiona Athey, the sisters find a merry band of supporters against the close-minded opposition of less welcoming villagers stuck in their ways. But the idyll is soon broken when the past rushes back to threaten the Amnipours oncemore, and the lives they left behind in revolution-era Iran bleed into the present.
Infused with the textures and scents, trials and triumph,s of two distinct cultures, Pomegranate Soup is an infectious novel of magical realism. This richly detailed story, highlighted with delicious recipes, is a delectable journey into the heart of Persian cooking and Irish living.
One of the books out of LyzzyBee's wishlist reserved for the "Not So Secret Easter Bunny" project 2006 - enjoy :)
Received as part of my NSSEB gift - thank you so much! This looks brilliant and has been on my wish list for ages.
What happens when three Iranian sisters try to set up a cafe in a small, traditional, conservative Irish village...?
An excellent culture-clash novel, filled with the drama and tragedy of the girls' escape from Iran, balanced by the humour and pathos of their new life in Ireland, as well as fantastic recipes!
Thank you so much for this YowlYY - another NSSEB hit! I am going to offer this on a ring as I'm sure there's a few people out there who would like to share it!
An excellent culture-clash novel, filled with the drama and tragedy of the girls' escape from Iran, balanced by the humour and pathos of their new life in Ireland, as well as fantastic recipes!
Thank you so much for this YowlYY - another NSSEB hit! I am going to offer this on a ring as I'm sure there's a few people out there who would like to share it!
BOOK RING!Usual rules apply...
Make a journal entry when you receive the book
Contact the next reader for their address when you are almost done
Post a review when you've read the book - please try to send it on within a month of receipt if you can
Make a journal entry or controlled release notes when you send the book on
PARTICIPANTS
Playinghearts UK (UK pref)
Heaven-Ali UK (anywhere)
CaterinaAnna UK (anywhere)
pjmom8025 US (US pref)
glade1 US (US)
valentina1209 US (pref US/Can)
Azuki US (pref US)
Eskielover US (anywhere)
Stuff-Nonsense Canada (anywhere)
GateGypsy Canada (anywhere)<--- it's here
No need for this to come back to me - I look forward to see it travelling onwards!
Second ring is here if you want to see the JE's!
Journal Entry 6 by LyzzyBee at A Bookcrosser in A BookCrosser, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Friday, July 21, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (7/22/2006 UTC) at A Bookcrosser in A BookCrosser, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Giving to playinghearts on the first stage of its ring.
Giving to playinghearts on the first stage of its ring.
Caught from Lizzybee at the meet yesterday.
Journal Entry 8 by playinghearts at Hudson's, 122-124 Colmore Row in Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Friday, August 25, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (8/26/2006 UTC) at Hudson's, 122-124 Colmore Row in Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Passing on to heavens_ali at the meet tomorrow.
Passing on to heavens_ali at the meet tomorrow.
Journal Entry 9 by Heaven-Ali from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, August 26, 2006
oooh this looks lovely I'm really looking forward to reading this. I should be ready to start this tomorrow. Thanks PlayingHearts for passing on.
Journal Entry 10 by Heaven-Ali from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Sunday, August 27, 2006
Well what a lovely read!! I was passed this book yesterday afternoon, and by this afternoon, I had finished the book I was reading yesterday, and read this one too! A wonderful sunday afternoon read. I loved the characters of the Aminpour sisters, each of them a distinct from each other and well drawn. The story of their lives, and escape from Iran was fascinating, and a complete contrast with their new lives, they are still adapting to in Ireland. So many wonderful characters who support the sisters against those who seek to see the back of them as quickly as possible, make this a memorable and heartwarming feel good read.
I will be sending on as soon as possible.
I will be sending on as soon as possible.
Journal Entry 11 by Heaven-Ali at A fellow bookcrosser in By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, August 31, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (8/31/2006 UTC) at A fellow bookcrosser in By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Sent to CaterinnaAnna today
Sent to CaterinnaAnna today
Journal Entry 12 by Caterinaanna from Coventry, West Midlands United Kingdom on Friday, September 1, 2006
Has arrived safely & is likely to be read very soon ...
Journal Entry 13 by Caterinaanna from Coventry, West Midlands United Kingdom on Friday, September 1, 2006
Not sure why there were three identical journal entries for this: site wierdness I suspect, so am editing each at different times.
This was a nice gentle read - the violence seemed distant & sanitised - but, truth be told, I preferred 'Chocolat' to which it has several similarities.
The recipies in this are better though, & I must tremember to note the migrane cure before passing on.
This was a nice gentle read - the violence seemed distant & sanitised - but, truth be told, I preferred 'Chocolat' to which it has several similarities.
The recipies in this are better though, & I must tremember to note the migrane cure before passing on.
Journal Entry 14 by Caterinaanna from Coventry, West Midlands United Kingdom on Friday, September 1, 2006
Has arrived safely & is likely to be read very soon ...
Oh, good. Another book off my wishlist. I will try to get to it by this weekend. Heading off to get Glade1's address.
I enjoyed the story and they way Mehran tied up all the lose ends. Putting it in the mail tomorrow to glade1.
This book arrived in today's mail. I had been having a lull but have been hit with a number of bookring books lately. I'm reading as fast as I can! More later...
I'd had this book for far too long and it didn't look as if I would get it read anytime soon, so I have mailed it on to valentina1209. I'm sorry I didn't have time to read it but life got in the way...
book is safely on Long Island, New York! This has been on my wish list for a long time, and I'm looking forward to reading it ASAP. Thanks for including me in this bookring!
12/30/06
For sure, this is one of the best books I've read this year! A wonderfully told exotic story, brilliant characterizations, realistic dialogue. I was enchanted by the culture clash and how everything is centered around food, which became the cohesive healing factor. As a previous journaler said, this story has some similarities to Chocolat, but it is also distinct and unique in its own right, and I liked it better. I'd love to try some of the recipes, especially the migraine "cure", but I wonder where I'd find some of the rare spices, even in a culturally diverse place like New York.
12/30/06
For sure, this is one of the best books I've read this year! A wonderfully told exotic story, brilliant characterizations, realistic dialogue. I was enchanted by the culture clash and how everything is centered around food, which became the cohesive healing factor. As a previous journaler said, this story has some similarities to Chocolat, but it is also distinct and unique in its own right, and I liked it better. I'd love to try some of the recipes, especially the migraine "cure", but I wonder where I'd find some of the rare spices, even in a culturally diverse place like New York.
Journal Entry 20 by valentina1209 at RABCK in a RABCK, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, December 31, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (12/31/2006 UTC) at RABCK in a RABCK, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Release #119 (and my last one for 2006) in the Keep Them Moving Challenge to read and release books received from other bookcrossers.passing onto Azuki, along with some children's books for her M-bag to a Phillipine orphanage
Received the book, thank you! I love the cover, and the recipes in the back make my mouth water already! Thank you to everybody who has passed this book along its journey so it finally reaches my hand.
However... I have received 6 bookrings this week... I am avoiding the mailbox now. So kindly be patient if I don't get to it in a month.
However... I have received 6 bookrings this week... I am avoiding the mailbox now. So kindly be patient if I don't get to it in a month.
Thankfully I got to finish this before the soup gets cold.
It's a very good story. At first I thought it would be just a charming, light-hearted story about three sisters stirring things up in a quiet little Irish town, with a dash of humor and romance. However, as the Iranian girls' past unfolds in flashback, the story goes to a darker and deeper level.
I have Eskielover's address already and the book will travel on today or tomorrow.
Thanks LyzzyBee for sharing this delightful read!
It's a very good story. At first I thought it would be just a charming, light-hearted story about three sisters stirring things up in a quiet little Irish town, with a dash of humor and romance. However, as the Iranian girls' past unfolds in flashback, the story goes to a darker and deeper level.
I have Eskielover's address already and the book will travel on today or tomorrow.
Thanks LyzzyBee for sharing this delightful read!
My computer's been down and then the book got buried on my desk, and it hasn't disappeared into a black hole. Thanks for sending it.
Journal Entry 24 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Sunday, August 26, 2007
FAO Eskielover
I have tried to PM you twice about this book but have had no reply. Either you didn't receive my PM's or I didn't receive your replies. Please update on the status of this book, which has been in your possession since March - has it been read and passed along? Please post a Journal Entry here and / or email me at the address on my profile, [email protected]
There are many people after you on the list, so I'd appreciate if it could get moving again soon.
Thank you
EDITED TO ADD: have heard from Eskielover, the delay was due to personal circumstances and there is absolutely no blame attached. The ring will get sorted out one way or another. 17/09/07
EDITED TO ADD: Eskielover contacted Yowlly to check what to do with the book - I replied back Jan 2008 to please send it back to me...
I have tried to PM you twice about this book but have had no reply. Either you didn't receive my PM's or I didn't receive your replies. Please update on the status of this book, which has been in your possession since March - has it been read and passed along? Please post a Journal Entry here and / or email me at the address on my profile, [email protected]
There are many people after you on the list, so I'd appreciate if it could get moving again soon.
Thank you
EDITED TO ADD: have heard from Eskielover, the delay was due to personal circumstances and there is absolutely no blame attached. The ring will get sorted out one way or another. 17/09/07
EDITED TO ADD: Eskielover contacted Yowlly to check what to do with the book - I replied back Jan 2008 to please send it back to me...
Journal Entry 25 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, February 28, 2008
FAO Eskielover - could you please try to send on to the next person, otherwise feel free to return the book to me - but please let me know if you are able to do this and where it's going. I don't think PM's are working that well at the moment, hence this message!
Thanks
Thanks
Journal Entry 26 by Stuff-Nonsense from Parksville, British Columbia Canada on Sunday, March 9, 2008
This lovely gem arrived in the post at a very busy time, but I'm ready to send on to the next person & have PM-ed them & Yowlyy regarding where to send it next.
This arrived in the mail today, thanks so much! I'm definitely looking forward to this.
