|
Post by bookaddict on Dec 14, 2008 16:56:14 GMT -5
I really liked this next section. It really seems small town to me. I come from a small town and I know the rivalries, the gossip and the small town charm. In this next section we have the opening of the Babylon Cafe. Father Mahoney is the first customer, and he's very comical. The Babylon Cafe doesn't take long to catch on and they soon have many customers and regulars. I love the part with Dervla reporting on who comes and goes from the restaurant for Thomas Mcguire. She reports everything to him: turnover times, food supplies, when Marjan opened the windows or went to the butchers.
When Malarchy starts dating Layla we see the relationship he has with his father. Malarchy has nothing common with his father and wants nothing his father owns. We see how Thomas doesn't believe he is even his son. When Thomas pays attention enough to yell at Malarchy, Malarchy tells him that he didn't even think he knew he was alive. Malarchy is very different from his brother and even his mother. Even Bahar isn't happy about them dating, and doesn't want Layla getting too serious. We see there is another issue with Bahar but she won't mention it. The three sisters are constantly hiding things from each other, and they firmly believe it is to protect one another.
I really liked this section. I thought we really see the progress of the girls and their cafe. They seem to be starting to fit in with the town.
|
|
|
Post by Lucky on Dec 16, 2008 11:16:20 GMT -5
Previous section didn't seem too interesting to me, but I really liked this new section. Important scene for me is the one, when Bahar is in Thomas's pub and she's searching for her sister and then the customers (and Thomas of course too) are very rude. It is interesting scene which shows prejudices in the world.
And I love how the author puts together food and the story..
|
|
|
Post by neveralone on Dec 16, 2008 13:52:29 GMT -5
I think Father Mahoney's obsession with the food is neat. His character in general is probably one of my favorite things about the book. Usually people view church leaders as stuffy people, but Father Mahoney totally isn't!
I'm disappointed that it took this long for the plot to thicken. In a longer book, it's acceptable but with Pomegranate Soup, important things should have started happening in the first section that we read.
|
|
|
Post by greengirlpenguin on Dec 16, 2008 15:34:34 GMT -5
Neveralone has a point with how it should have picked up a little bit before. But I think that in most books this storys lenght it should have already started sooner, but not in this one. In this book it is more of just 3 sisters every day life. So far it has been a lot of little life problem, though there problems would be different form mine, it was how there life is. There biggest problem was the revoultion, where ours would be something different. It made this story more interesting to read because it was just someones life, not just some big event that happened in it. This story is made up of all the little problems in life, the people who don't like them because where they are from, there sister who showed up late, stuff like that.
I also liked how Mehran writes the story. She replays everyones life so you get a sense of what happened to them before they went to this small town, and how they have changed. Like Mahoney's life, how he was about to die and prayed to live and then became a Father. It gives you a sense why everyone in the town got there and how there life has changed.
|
|
Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
|
Post by Kristie on Dec 16, 2008 18:41:19 GMT -5
I think Father Mahoney's obsession with the food is neat. His character in general is probably one of my favorite things about the book. Usually people view church leaders as stuffy people, but Father Mahoney totally isn't! I really like Father Mahoney's character too. He's very good humored, especially for what I'd expect from a man of the cloth.
I really liked this section. I like how we finally learn about the lives of the girls in Iran before they fled. I also like the way Mehran put this information in the book. I've never before read a book with flashbacks. I found it intriguing. It kept me interested because I wasn't sure when a flashback would occur or how long it would last.
I find the relationship between nLayla and Malachy to be moving much faster than in reality. But I do like that they are together. If nothing else for the reason that it makes Thomas mad. But it's obvious that he's not in the relationship for pure spite.
One thing I found particularly interesting was in a flashback of Bahar's. "Independence, Freedom, Islamic Republic!" was on a sign or was being chanted. I just find that a little contradictory. As far as I know (correct me if I'm wrong), Iran was upset with the freedom and looseness in the Western culture and that's why they rebelled for rule under Islam. Freedom and Islamic Republic are just not synonomous in my mind. I thought the people wanted more rules and religious adherance, and that's not freedom to me.
Question: Does anyone think Bahar actually loved her husband? Or was she brainwashed like Marjan thinks? I guess we should keep this question in mind for the rest of the book...
|
|
|
Post by Dominique on Dec 19, 2008 0:11:42 GMT -5
Question: Does anyone think Bahar actually loved her husband? Or was she brainwashed like Marjan thinks? I guess we should keep this question in mind for the rest of the book... [/font][/color][/quote] I don't know, maybe not so much love but foolish adolescent infatuation or admiration? I think that's actually an aspect of the story that could have really used more detail. In the lead up to the marriage we only get Marjan's point of view and not Bahar's - which would have fleshed out the plot point more. It's almost like a major part of the Bahar's story has been taken away from her to be told only by another character. While I'm sure Marjan's opinions are very valid and probably correct, it's too simplistic that way I think.
|
|
|
Post by Lucky on Dec 26, 2008 4:31:53 GMT -5
Well.. what do you think of this book? I think it was good.. I like how she did from food something really important in human lives (I know.. food IS important - but food was extra important there - I have no idea how to explain it better ), but I didn't like the book so much - I would say it was sometimes boring.
|
|
|
Post by bookaddict on Dec 26, 2008 17:44:32 GMT -5
I thought there were parts that were boring, and it was a short book. I enjoyed the first half alot, but I think I wanted more out of the book. Since there was no big conflict, I wasn't really interested. THe characters didn't change or grow very much.
|
|
|
Post by Dominique on Dec 28, 2008 6:30:21 GMT -5
I enjoyed it, it was nice light holiday reading. But at the same time it wasn't incredibly engaging or different and I had trouble thinking of things to say about it in discussion at times.
|
|
|
Post by greengirlpenguin on Dec 28, 2008 13:10:05 GMT -5
It was different. Something I wouldn't pick on my own. The ending, though happy it was, wasn't very interesting. Just like all of a sudden Bahar just out of the blue comes home. It was funny how you read everyones side of the story and that fills in the blanks. I would give it a 3 out of 5 stars, maybe 4.
|
|
|
Post by neveralone on Dec 29, 2008 9:14:39 GMT -5
I agree it could have more depth. The idea of that story was good, but it wasn't used to help the characters grow at all. I too had trouble thinking of things to say here because there wasn't much to comment on.
|
|
|
|
Post by annalovesbooks1983 on Dec 29, 2008 14:18:21 GMT -5
Is it a bit late to get this book and to start joining in the discussion with you all?
|
|
|
Post by Lucky on Dec 29, 2008 17:35:28 GMT -5
Well, if you are really interested.. I think it wouldn't be such a problem , but I think that better option is to wait for another discussion. It will start on January - so it's really soon. We will discuss A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
|
|
|
Post by annalovesbooks1983 on Dec 30, 2008 12:21:56 GMT -5
Maybe I will read Pomegranite Soup just for the sake of it, and Yes I love A tree grows in brooklyn, Im thinking about re reading it right now as I love it so much,
|
|