Together Tea

By: Marjan Kamali

Narrated by: Negin Farsad

Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Darya has discovered the perfect gift for her daughter's 25th birthday: an ideal husband. Mina, however, is fed up with her mother's endless matchmaking and grading of available Iranian American bachelors.

After Darya's last ill-fated attempt to find Mina a husband, mother and daughter embark on a journey to Iran, where the two women gradually begin to understand each other. But after Mina falls for a young man who never appeared on her mother's spreadsheets and Darya is tempted by an American musician, will this mother and daughter's tender appreciation for each other survive?

©2013 Marjan Kamali (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers

Astonishingly Deep, Intense, Beautiful!

I must admit that I had fairly low expectations going into this book. I thought it'd be one of my shameful treats (Fair warning: Reviews of "Stay" and "Dogs Aren't Men" coming. See? Shameful treats!). I expected light writing, adequately developed characters, and not much in the way of plot.
How different this turned out to be. A young woman, trapped between the world of Iran she grew up in and the America she seems to be floundering in. A mother who desperately misses her life in Iran and who feels frustration about stagnation, fear that her children are wholly foreign to her, and who misses the life she could've had. Not your usual mother/daughter story.
What I really enjoyed, if you can call it that, is the second part of the book that deals with their past in Tehran. I was a pup during the whole Iran Revolution/Hostage Crisis/Iran-Iraq War, so this was a history, a painting of life that put faces to the whole thing. It added a sense of fear, horror and heartbreak that we, those far away from any crisis, seem smugly not to notice or think about. It was so well-developed!
And who gives a narrator, for heaven's sake, 5 stars? I do! Because Negin Farsad was icing on a pretty terrific cake. She doesn't make the mistake of turning men into nothing but low, growly voices. She just reads them, their words, with warmth and emotion.
This is a wonderful, wonderful book that I'll be using another credit for... 'cause I know my mom would love it. Mothers and Daughters? We're just that way, aren't we?

Very Enjoyable

After listening to Stationary Shop, I was yearning for another one of Ms. Kamali novels and came upon Together Tea. I enjoyed both of these novels very much. It gave a interesting insight into Iranian customs and history. I hope she continues to write about her culture.

Bringing Back Memories

What did you love best about Together Tea?

This book was so well written. A lot of attention was given to enlightening the reader as to cultural values in Iran...Some of which are brought to America by Persians now living here. I was born and lived in the Middle East until I was 10 years old. My family would travel to Iran on vacation. This book awakened those memories of smells, flavors, sounds..etc.

Beautiful

If you could sum up Together Tea in three words, what would they be?

Beautiful.
Charming.
Enlightening.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Together Tea?

All of the scenes in Iran were so well painted by the author. Though I will never likely see Tehran myself, it was enjoyable to be brought into the country and culture through her words. A much different picture than our media has depicted.

What does Negin Farsad bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Being unfamiliar with Iranian ways of speaking myself, Farsad was able to add that dimension perfectly, creating a fuller story for me. The accents and tones were so beautifully executed.

Excellent Trip to Iran!

Excellent story especially in light of what is going on in Iran today. It is a wonderful glimpse into another culture and the way the oppressed circumnavigate the oppressors. I would love to go to Iran and experience their culture…someday.

Amazing

Give you similar feels as the stationary shop. Such a sweet love story. Narration was great and brought the story to life.

Together Tea

Together Tea was a marvelous rendition of how Iranian Americans lives wee interrupted after the Iranian revolution of 1979. I loved all the little details of tge Persian culture, food, and customs so vividly described by Marjan. Thank you for writing this historical fiction that takes reader back to so many great memories of Iran the way we remember it.

Wonderful Book!

This book was a big surprise! I had read the Stationary Shop of Tehran by the author and loved that one. In looking for another book by the author, I found this one. It was totally different but I enjoyed it more. The humor and cultural traditions complimented each other. I could imagine myself as an Iranian Mom and loved the dialogue and customs. Unique book, highly recommend!

Nicely done!

Having lost my own mother just recently back in Iran, while I couldn’t visit her for the last time, listening to this book made me cry many times. At the same time it made me smile as the story went through the family’s experiences similar to many of us, Iranians. It reminded me of my sweet and bitter experiences throughout the years after Iran’s revolution and reminded me that I was still somewhat lucky to have some happy moments with my own beautiful family back home.

beautiful

Beautiful, moving, very relatable...I will definitely recommend this book to friends and family. Spoke to my heart