Tuesday, June 23, 2020

The Last Days of Cafe Leila


Another to be read book that I finally got around to. It was a pretty good story. On the title alone I thought this was a story about a  Cafe on its last days of closing. But it's so much more. About one country's culture to another, father daughter, father, son, brother to brother, and mother to daughter. And finally husband to wife.

The characters were ok. Noor goes back to her country Iran after having difficulty with her husband and to find where she belongs. She brings her daughter Lily back to where her father has made a place of comfort. Either in food and, or company.

As the story progresses we find out a bit about Noor's family between she being in San Francisco with her husband and daughter, and her family (mother, father, brother, and close relations) in Tehran. How she and her brother ended up in California.
She longed for that family connection of 3 generations in the food world, a homecoming. As she visited her father Zod, and seen how passionate he was about food, making people feel happy. And that happiness Zod had. It was a struggle for she and her daughter Lily.
Of course Lily the brat that she was in the beginning I believe she was the most annoying character in that story. Why is it always the way that children need to be mean to their parents before actually finding they are not so bad.

There is a thread going through the story on pre/ post-revolution Iran. Especially works well on how Noor's mother died. Whatever happened to her. And to give the readers a look on why the people have to do what they had to do. Which Lily refused to want to understand. A family that was torn apart by loss, tragedy and a distance for a person to wonder why did she ever come back when she knew it was nice to stay in San Francisco. Noor does remember with fondness the beauty and customs of how she lived and wanted to pass that on to Lily.

Eventually a story that a reader can get wrapped up into her family and each character does find some solace in what life throws out in Iran. For Noor, Lily, Zod, and Noor's brother. Also Noor and her husband finally come to a calmness.

And for The Last Days of Cafe Lelia, is there? Interesting... 


I give The Last Days of Cafe Lelia 4 

Tuesday, June 09, 2020

The Other Mrs


Although I figured it out what was going on, (sort of).When I look at the title I think, oh must mean something about an ex wife, or maybe another Mrs, a mistress. As I read on I was a little confused with the chapters of different characters. Until certain things fell in place and yes, then I knew. The character Sadie was complex enough to want to know what else happened. 

The author I believe did a terrific job on the characters. Imogen was very interesting. Dark but understandably why. Mary Kubica had some twist and turns for them all. Made me hate them, and to  say why can't she just say or stick up for herself, I seen myself root for them all the way. Even though  ups and downs were there.

Without giving too much away its very difficult for something to be wrong with a person and not know it. Especially tragic things happening around and to ones self.
Sadly there is no one to count on but your family/friends. And to find out who you can't trust. It's like the whole bottom of your world that got knocked out from under you. You protect yourself in a way you don't realize. As Otto, Tate, and even Imogen thought Sadie went blank in her head. I can see why.

I read the reviews. And I must say for the most part agree. But for some they read so much of one kind of genre. That the seen it/read it makes their reviews jaded. So even though they liked the book I still get the feeling that there will never be a great book. Maybe they should format their review a bit differently. Those kind of review did not help me.


Wouldn't mind reading another book by this author. And I look forward to seeing The Other Mrs on Netflix. And have some highlights that were made from my kindle I will share.

Even though the chapters a bit too long. I still give The Other Mrs 5