Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

6 reviews

clairebartholomew549's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? Yes

4.0

This is a really striking story about generational change, what it means to fight for justice in your own way, lifelong friendships, and making peace or making waves. I felt deeply for both Homa and Ellie, and I learned so much about Iran. This book also had vivid descriptions of food that had my mouth watering, and it told a beautiful story of how food connects us and has so many memories and significance. The love story between Homa and Eleah really starts and ends with food, and it was a really meaningful throughline. It also made me very hungry, lol!

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Classism

ivi_reads_books's review

dark emotional informative sad

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

3.75

This novel presents 20th-century Iranian history through the perspectives of two girls, and later women, who respond very differently to the political upheavals that shape their country. I found their complex friendship fascinating, and I learned a great deal about Iran’s history along the way. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Infertility, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Blood

micaelamariem's review

challenging emotional inspiring reflective tense slow-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

This was a heartbreaking story set in the backdrop of the Iranian revolution and our two friends, one more politically minded than the other but both want reform in their own ways. The book expertly navigates the themes of coming of age, family, friendship, feminism, and even jealousy with the idea of an “evil eye.” 
The book had me enraptured. It was well written, descriptive, had compelling characters that caused me to care about them despite their flaws, and taught me more about Iranian history that I’m ashamed to say I didn’t know. And the sad thing is, Iran is still facing the same unfair policies today. If I learned anything from the book, is that we must keep fighting for what’s right, no matter the cost. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Classism

pomoevareads's review

adventurous emotional informative 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

4.0

A beautiful and heartrending story of the strength of female friendship, women’s rights and activism in Tehran set against the backdrop of the revolution. 

Kamali has written some special characters in The Lion Women of Tehran. Ellie and Homa meet as seven year old girls in Tehran’s downtown where Ellie and her mother have had to move because of a change to their financial situation. Ellie is envious of the close knit family of Homa and wishes she could be part of their family. Her own mother, comes across as selfish and snobbish and doesn’t allow Ellie to invite her new friend Homa to their home. Ellie’s mother sees Homa as below their station. The young girls are inseparable and it isn’t until Ellie and her mother move back to their uptown area of past that the bonds between the girls are strained. We see them come together again for a time and then a pivotal event creates a divide between them. Then many years later, one of the women sends a letter to the other with a request. That is where the story begins. 

I had been hearing great things about this book and knew I had to get my hands on it. I am so glad I did as I feel better for having read it. Many of my friends growing up had families that had left Iran because of the politics. I have a love for the food and remember being schooled on how to hold the sugar cube in my mouth when I drank tea from special cups. I feel this book would be a good introduction to the changes in Iran over the last 75 years and a snapshot of where it sits today in comparison. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Rape, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War

ashleyjean6's review

challenging emotional informative inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.25

Very good book, but as I anticipated, a difficult read. I loved the writing and character development, the vivid descriptions of food and clothes and setting. It's incredible to read about Iran before the revolutions and to know they're still being controlled by extremists today. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Classism

torturedreadersdept's review

emotional hopeful 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Islamophobia, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism