Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

26 reviews

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

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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

awetzel829's review

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence

fiafiu's review

emotional 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? No

4.25

I really really liked this book!! Such a powerful book about the beauty and wonder of friendship between women. I loved the writing of the characters, they really stood out on the page as fully fleshed people! I read it so fast because the story was so engrossing ahaha

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual assault

camiegil's review

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault

bekkah_co's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring 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

The Lion Women of Tehran was my Book of the Month pick for this month. I am somewhat familiar with Kamali's writing after reading an excerpt of The Stationary Shop for a sociology course. I was blown away with her writing then as I am now. 

Kamali does an excellent job exploring the friendships of Ellie and Homa during Tehran in the 1950s through to 2022. Kamali has two incredbly strong main characters that come from different backgrounds but are bound together because of childhood friendship and mutual respect. This read is absolutely emotional and demonstrates the resilience of friendship and women.

The pacing is stellar; I couldn't put the book down once I got reading. While not a traditional "summer" read, this book is one I would highly recommend if you are looking for a quick read with substance, rooted within reality.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

kwolfie's review

dark emotional 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

This is such a beautiful and heartbreaking story about two completely different women becoming friends, or even sisters, and their journey through life as Iranian women. I know this is a work of fiction, but I genuinely learned a lot from this book and felt so connected to our two main characters. Please read TWs, but if you are able this is a must-read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol

Moderate: Sexual assault and War

Minor: Fatphobia, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Pregnancy