Behrooz Parhami

The Saffron Kitchen
A novel by Yasmin Crowther
Audiobook read by Ariana Fraval and Mehr Mansuri
Penguin Audio, 2006.

REVIEW
Yasmin Crowther's debut novel contains a story told from two viewpoints: those of Maryam (voiced by Mehr Mansuri), a first-generation Iranian immigrant to the UK, and Sara (voiced by Ariana Fraval), the daughter born to Maryam and her British husband, Edward.

Sara feels perplexed and resentful when Maryam’s dark past, involving her relationship with her domineering father and memories of her first love, Ali (whom she abandoned when she left Iran), begins to overwhelm her. Maryam’s visit to her birthplace near Mashhad intensifies her inner conflicts and further strains the mother-daughter relationship. Eventually, Maryam convinces Sara to travel to Iran with her and it is during this trip that the two come to understand each other.

The book and its author have enjoyed many positive reviews. For example, Sunday Telegraph characterizes Crowther as “a novelist of exceptional honesty and grace.” Goodreads.com opines that “Crowther writes with great insight about attempting to cast off one's past—and the impossibility of doing so.” Finally, Zohreh Khazai Ghahremani, writing in Iranian.com (Feb. 9, 2007), ends her review with the hope that “the new generation of Iranian writers will continue to be the voice of those who have crossed far too many borders, climbed invisible mountains, and survived devastating storms.”

The author’s description of Maryam’s personal ordeals and her familial relationships is very engaging, but her account of Iran’s history, political figures, and social conventions comes across as naive.

Listening to the audiobook provides a richer experience than reading the book, especially in view of Mansuri’s authentic pronunciation of Persian names.

For a longer snapshot and information about the author, see here.