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sahanasri's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
Really enjoyed this! God i love how Marjan Kamali describes food makes me crave Persian food…
Overall I found this pretty similar to Stationary Shop but I liked it more overall. The writing style is quite simple and beautiful and works so well for historical fiction - the level of detail feels so immersive. The characters also really stood out to me! Their dynamic is complex and I loved seeing their friendship develop over time. Also in general makes me so sad to see amazing cities like Tehran go backward (in terms of rights/freedoms) because of the demands of a few rather than the hope and desire for progress of the many. A poignant reminder overall that progress is not linear! Everything can be taken back if you don’t continue to fight for better - and even that doesn’t have to be linear, even if we lose hope we can find it again :,)
Overall I found this pretty similar to Stationary Shop but I liked it more overall. The writing style is quite simple and beautiful and works so well for historical fiction - the level of detail feels so immersive. The characters also really stood out to me! Their dynamic is complex and I loved seeing their friendship develop over time. Also in general makes me so sad to see amazing cities like Tehran go backward (in terms of rights/freedoms) because of the demands of a few rather than the hope and desire for progress of the many. A poignant reminder overall that progress is not linear! Everything can be taken back if you don’t continue to fight for better - and even that doesn’t have to be linear, even if we lose hope we can find it again :,)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Police brutality
Minor: Rape
hyouri's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
4.0
Listened to this on audiobook ~
This book… is so so so so good. It is heart breaking, but so enlightening on the war for rights in Iran. Through two women of very different lives we learn the struggles and culture of everyday life.
The ending was so bittersweet, it brought me to tears.
This book… is so so so so good. It is heart breaking, but so enlightening on the war for rights in Iran. Through two women of very different lives we learn the struggles and culture of everyday life.
The ending was so bittersweet, it brought me to tears.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Torture, and War
abbywj's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Sexism, and War
Moderate: Confinement, Genocide, Infertility, Miscarriage, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Rape
bink_64's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A story spanning several decades of friendship, love and betrayal between two young girls in Tehran. It is the story of the classes, the political upheaval from the 1950’s that continues even today and the story of human and women’s rights and those brave women that fight to be heard and recognized as human and productive members of society!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Alcohol, War, and Classism
Minor: Body shaming, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Police brutality, and Fire/Fire injury
kalizahira's review
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed this book. I found the history woven in interesting and informative and particularly like stories of female friendship as described by women for women. I agree with the view of many reviews that it would have been nice to hear from Homa's point of view earlier, so the switching narratives felt more intentional. The writing style is quite straightforward but once I started I didn't want to put it down.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
larissalipani's review
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Islamophobia, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War
bookmarked_by_kate's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Fantastic book. Beautiful story of women’s friendships and strength in the face of oppression. I liked the book from the start but it just got better and better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
karinreadsalot's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infertility, and Miscarriage
Minor: Rape
sima92's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and War
suchaperson's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
What a poignant story. This is such an important telling of the Iranian fight for freedom. It is especially haunting to read in America right now. Strong themes of the power of women & the never ending fight for freedom and autonomy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
Minor: Miscarriage, Rape, and Pregnancy