Reviews tagging 'War'

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

46 reviews

chervancas's review

emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Kidnapping, and War

crystaljacksonwriter's review

dark emotional hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This started slowly for me, but by the time the story transitions into college years, I was hooked. This was a beautiful story of both friendship and the power of women to change lives. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Death of parent and Classism

Minor: Body shaming, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, and War

meacopes's review

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and War

Minor: Sexual assault

nataliebootlah's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

“Shir zan. A woman with the courage of a lion.” 

 

This gave me the FEEEEELS. I haven’t been touched by a book like this in a long time, what a gift! 

 

I knew next to nothing about the Iranian Revolution prior to reading this. Despite that, Kamali beautifully mixed fiction with historical facts to tell the tale of two young girls from different socio-economic classes become fierce friends. This is their story. The themes of girlhood, feminism, courage, political upheaval, resilience, and friendship—among others—portrayed in this story are relatable and incredibly timely. 

 

There were moments that had me laughing, crying, and rereading portions due to their profoundness. Sadly, it does not go unnoticed that the struggle for women’s rights seen in these pages is reminiscent of what many women around the world still face today, even here in America. And yet, this story sprinkles a bit of light into the darkness. 

 

What a truly fascinating, heartfelt read! One of the best I’ve read this year so far. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Death of parent, and War

Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, and Miscarriage

jfortney23's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This was a beautiful book. It was hard to read because it reads like a cautionary tale for women losing their rights gradually until we look back and don't know what happened. 

I loved the friendship and culture and history of this book. It was well written and kept me engaged start to finish.

I would have given 5 stars except for the epilogue. It is written as a letter from one character to another that explains what happened after the last chapter. It felt off, and there is one mention that conflicts with the last chapter of the book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Classism

Moderate: Infertility, Rape, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, and War

Minor: Alcohol and Pandemic/Epidemic

annamay1021's review

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Sexism, Death of parent, and War

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Domestic abuse and Infidelity

agnesbebon's review

4.0

Girl, it’s so confusing sometimes to be a girl 


Very well written, very interesting. I love a story about a decades long friendship, I love a story about women resisting and learning and growing and being politically active. I did find that the few chapters where the POV switched didn’t flow as well but overall a very engaging and powerful book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, Alcohol, War, and Classism

Moderate: Child death, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Islamophobia

arand's review

dark emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, and War

kimveach's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This book resonated with me.  The story of women losing their rights in Iran in the late 1970s due to conservative religious men seems very timely.  The friendship between two young girls who grow into very different women is lovely.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Miscarriage

belava's review

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Death of parent, and War

Minor: Rape, Torture, and Alcohol