Pomegranate Soup: A Novel - Vendido!

by Marsha Mehran
Random House – August 2005
256 pp.

*Rights sold to:
*** Editora Jaboticaba (Brasil) ***
Sirene (The Netherlands), sold at auction
Neri Pozza (Italy), preempted
HarperCollins (Australia),
Random House (UK),
Blanvalet/Random House Germany (Germany), sold at auction
Grijalbo (Spain),
Euromedia (Czech),
WAB (Poland),
Hakusuisha (Japan),
Ikar (Slovak).

A magical debut novel that tells the story of three Iranian sisters who escaped the Islamic Revolution in the early eighties (just as the chador was implemented and the morality squads began their street patrols), and who have ventured to the damp little Irish town of Ballinacroagh in hopes of a sweeter life. Once in Ireland, the sisters set up the Babylon Cafe right at the heart of Main Mall, where they serve up traditional Persian dishes (Mehran shares with us the recipes) -- like fresh herb kuku, lamb abgusht, and elephant ear fritters -- along with friendship and an air of something truly magical. This is part displacement story, part fairy-tale; very readable, semi-autobiographical and filled with charm.

Like her characters, Mehran fled Iran in the 80s and set up a café with her family (though they settled in Buenos Aires). She has lived in Australia and Ireland and is now married to an Irishman and living in New York.

book news: Pomegranate Soup by Marsha Mehran
Press Release November 13th, 2004

For the inhabitants of the town of Ballinacroagh in the West of Ireland, the repertoire of gastronomic delights has never extended beyond the limp meals at the local inn’s carvery. This all changes when the beautiful Middle Eastern Aminpour sisters sweep into town and open the exotic Babylon Café.
Eldest sister Marjan Aminpour is the nurturer with culinary gifts, who concocts tempting treats like dolmeh (stuffed grape leaves) and rose-water infused baklava. Layla, the beguiling teenager, finds first love with the son of a narrow-minded town bully. And middle sister, Bahar, dreads memories of the Iranian Revolution and the looming return of her ruthless, radical husband.
But not everyone in the village welcomes them with open arms -- some of the older battle axes fear for the sanity of their husbands; the town’s tyrannical publican has his eye on their property to open the disco he’s been dreaming of for years, and his foul-mouthed namesake, Tom Junior has his eyes on Layla...

Part displacement story, part fairy-tale, part comedy of errors, part love story, Pomegranate Soup stirs up a magical tale with delicious recipes for readers of Chocolat and Like Water
for Chocolate; it will no doubt leave readers hungry for a second helping
from this bright new author.
“An enchanting tale of love, family and renewal that illuminates the magical qualities of Persian cuisine." -- Firoozeh Dumas, Funny in Farsi


Born in Tehran on the eve of the Iranian Revolution, Marsha Mehran escaped the upheaval with her family for Buenos Aires, Argentina. There her parents set up a Middle Eastern café while she attended a Scottish private academy, where the self-assured tones of bagpipes and rudimentary school kilts instilled in her a life-long love of all things Celtic. Marsha Mehran has also lived in the US and Australia. She now resides in the West of Ireland with her husband Christopher, who is constantly called upon to taste her experimental cooking. The press release above was sent to us by Christopher Collins.
Photo Credit: Jordan Matter
http://www.persianmirror.com/community/2004/books/pomegranatesoup.cfm