Reviews tagging 'Miscarriage'

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

30 reviews

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Death of parent and Classism

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

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. 

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, and Miscarriage

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.

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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

llamallama527's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

5.0

Probably the easiest five stars I've ever given a book. The narration is impeccable. The story is incredible. I learned so much - about history, about Iranian culture, and more. And it's current relevance (I'm thinking specifically of the U.S. but I know it's relevant elsewhere as well) is astounding. A beautiful story of family and friendship, of betrayal and forgiveness, of despair and hope, of fear and love. Just incredible.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Xenophobia, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Alcohol, and Classism

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.

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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

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Rape, Torture, and Alcohol

ringofkeyz's review

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

Moderate: Infertility, Misogyny, Police brutality, Grief, and Alcohol

Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, and Miscarriage

leslie_overbookedsocialworker's review

emotional hopeful informative 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism

bookwitch's review

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? Yes

3.75

While not AS heavy as another book I read this same year (that takes place in a similar time/area), it was still so very informative of what it might have been like to live through that history. What I find so interesting is that when you look for books about World History, you would think events like the ones that took place in this book and others, would have been a big chapter, but they are still to this day, whitewashed out of our history. It is devastating, and shameful that western education has excluded cultures like Ellie and Homa's, and the events that took place in the not so distant past. 
I did not absolutely love the story as a whole, but that does not take away from how upsetting it was to read about their experiences with a politically tumultuous Iran, and how their wealth/classes effected how they ended up. I very much enjoyed reading about Iran's history, and from female perspectives, though I did not always agree that these particular character's actions were smart or understandable. 

Following the friendship of Ellie and Homa through time, and distance, this book explores a lot of interesting themes of friendship and what someone is willing to do for their friends. 
Another one I read for book club, that I wouldn't have necessarily picked up for myself, and ended up really enjoying.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, and War

Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Death of parent

Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, and Torture

abigaelf's review

challenging hopeful inspiring 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage, Rape, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism