The Allspice Bath
by Sonia Saikaley
Narrated by Norah Noble
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Pub Date Aug 10 2020 | Archive Date Jan 31 2021
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Description
It is 1970. The evergreens are thick with snow despite it being the month of April. In an Ottawa hospital, another daughter is born to the Azar family. The parents are from Kfarmichki, a village in Lebanon but their daughters were born in Canada. Four daughters, to be precise. No sons. Youssef is the domineering father. Samira is the quiescent mother. Rima, Katrina and Mona are the traditional daughters. Then there is Adele, the newest member. “You should’ve been born a boy,” Samira whispers to Adele shortly after her entrance into the world.
As she grows, Adele learns there are certain rules Lebanese girls must follow in order to be good daughters. First off, they must learn to cook, master housework, learn Arabic and follow the traditions of their culture. Above all, they must save themselves for marriage. But Adele dreams of being an artist. When she is accepted to the University of Toronto, this is her chance to have a life outside the confines of her strict upbringing. But can she defy her father?
When Youssef surprises her with a family trip to her ancestral home, Adele is excited about the journey. In Lebanon, she meets Elias. He is handsome and intelligent and Adele develops feelings for him until Elias confides to her that her unexpected meeting with him was actually a well-devised plan that is both deceitful and shocking. Will this unravel the binding threads of this close-knit Lebanese family?
Crisscrossing between Ottawa, Toronto, and Lebanon, The Allspice Bath is a bold story about the cultural gap and the immigrant experience.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Audiobook |
| ISBN | 9781771338585 |
| PRICE | |
| DURATION | 10 Hours, 11 Minutes |
Featured Reviews
Marcia L, Reviewer
I gave this book about a Canadian-Lebanese family 5 stars. The main character, Adele, who was born in 1970, is the final child and--unfortunatlely--the fourth daughter born to a traditional Lebanese couple. Although Adele's parents imigrated to Canada, they continue to live and to raise their daughters under the values of their old village. Adele's life journey is about finding her place amid the two worlds.
The author conveyed a picture of what it looked, felt, and even smelled like to grow up in a traditional Lebanese home. I came to understand not only what was expected of a traditional Lebanese woman, but also what it was like for Adele--or any human being--to grow up constantly being belittled just forbeing yourself.
At the beginning of the book, Adele's overly-critical, domineering father Youssef and her submissive, sheltered mother Samira were detestable, and I couldn't understand how she put up with them. As the story progressed and I came to understand the circumstances that shaped Youssef and Samira, I was able to understand how Adele was able not only to forgive them, but also to love them. By the end of the book, I felt hopeful for Adele because I think she found her own way to "be part of and yet separate from her family."
Sonia Saikaley is a gifted writer and I'm looking forward to her next book. I'm recommending this one for my book club.
I listened to the audible book. The narrator did an excellent job distinguishing the voices of the various characters.
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