#81 The Last Days of Cafe Leila

The Last Days of Cafe Leila
By Donia Bijan

An easy read, written by an Iranian American. The novel takes place in both the U.S. and in Tehran. Leila grew up in Iran, and her family had owned Cafe Leila for two generations. Before the Islamic dictatorship, the Cafe was a famous gathering place for intellectuals and artists. With the rise of the Islamic regime, things changed, though Cafe Leila endured. Leila and her brother are sent to America, to get away from the oppression in Iran, and they marry and have children. Leila leaves her husband after he has an affair, and she and her daughter Lily, go back to Iran to spend time with Zod, who is dying of cancer. Leila and Lilly face hardships in Tehran, but they stay until Zod's death, and the demise of Cafe Leila.

Interesting descriptions of Persian food. Some difficult scenes when talking about the oppression and brutality of the Islamic regime that are difficult to read.

Rating: 3.5/5
Recommendation: Sure. An easy read, though some difficult sections due to subject matter.