The Saffron Kitchen
In the first chapter of The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther, Sara loses her unborn baby in an accident, and as a result, she also loses her mother, Maryam. Unable to handle what has happened to her daughter and her part in the tragedy, Maryam flees London for her native Iran and comes to terms with the events of her childhood — the ones that forced her to escape Iran in the first place. In an effort to understand her mother’s actions, Sara follows Maryam to Iran, and comes to understand how hard it is to turn your back on the past that shapes you.
The Saffron Kitchen flows nicely between Sara’s point of view and Maryam’s, between London and Iran, between the past and the present. It’s a great story about love, independence, and family. I’m a sucker for books about differences in culture, and as a result I’ve read some terrible attempts, but I really did enjoy this one. The only thing that irks me is the ending — I understand it and support it, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. But not all endings in life are happy — or at least, not for everyone.
Comments
Comment from Amy
Time March 9, 2009 at 10:32 am
Definitely let me know what you think! I was talking with someone else about this book and she asked, “Did you want to pick Maryam up and shake her?” So maybe that’s what the author was going for, I don’t know. :)
Comment from zibilee
Time March 4, 2009 at 5:29 pm
I also love books about other cultures, and have been reading a lot about Iran and Iraq. I have heard about this book, but yours is the first review I have read. It sounds good, except for the ending. I might give it a chance anyway. If I do end u reading it, I will let you know what I think.