What an absolutely INCREDIBLE book this was! I am so in love with Kamali's writing.

I moved from one Western English-speaking country to another at 12 which is far less scary than moving to the US speaking a different language and learning an entirely different culture and getting away from a revolution. Nonetheless, when Mina talks about going to Iran and seeing all her family and all friends, I completely started tearing up (OOOOOOON the subway, ALWAYS on the subway) because it was so absolutely relatable and, well, same. It sucks. Kamali has done an incredible job of capturing those sentiments.

I also am a HUGE fan of Iranain culture, and having visited and been a tourist there myself, it was really fun to read about their adventures and their customs. It wasn't overly in your face and it wasn't the main point of the story, but it added a lot. Underneath it all, this has a really delightful women's fiction premise of being about a mother and daughter coming to peace together, about finding a husband, and about what's important for one to do.

10/10. ( )

I thought this book was going to be a humorous beach read, but it turned out to be an intimate account of the difficult transition to American life of an Iranian family. The story was clearly written from the author's own experience, augmented by solid research and a touch of humor. I feel I understand the difficult position Iranian refugees are in both politically and emotionally. I highly recommend this book. ( )

Its wonderful story, engaging characters, and informative short course in Persian culture make Together Tea one of my favorite recent reads. I look forward to reading more from Marjan Kamali! ( )

An enjoyable and engrossing read, although sometimes a bit uneven. A young Iranian-American woman and her matchmaking mother return to contemporary Ivan to discover themselves. Good portrayal of Iran and contemporary immigrant experience. ( )

Together Tea overflows with all the family, love, kindness, romance, colors, scents, touches, cooking, fear, and death that were left behind in Iran during the Revolution
which followed the overthrow of the Shah. The move to New York City brought safety and, ultimately, jobs, money, university educations, and freedom.

Yet the highly entitled Darya shows little gratitude for all she has and that her husband has achieved for her and their family. Her daughter, Mina, similarly takes much for
granted - who is paying for her apartment, her education, and for the return trip to Iran (which she just decides to take without even asking for the considerable
money it will cost her family)...?

Where's the Gratitude Tea?

Instead, Darya flirts with another student and lies to her husband, then she and Mina depart for Iran.
The dangers they and Bita and Ramin face there feel contrived and do not elicit any real awareness
of the violence, torture, and murder they kept exposing themselves to.

The disappearance of Mina's black eye spots felt unreal.
Teas in lukewarm water was way overdone - if anything, restaurant water arrives too hot.

Parviz comes across as a caricature - hard to picture all this "jumping" - yet he is the only one with a
real sense of humor and perspective. Sam remains a mystery - what attracted him to Darya and what
were his actual intentions if she responded to his invitations? Same with Ramin - what were his thoughts?
Those of Agha Jan? and, were Cyrus and Darius really good leaders to their people...?

TOGETHER Tea was an enjoyable book and I look forward to more and deeper volumes from Marjan Kamali,
illuminating even more of the rich Iranian and Persian culture she has so beautifully described. ( )