Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

15 reviews

nehaanna's review

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

4.0

This is a lovely story to introduce the history of Iran and fall into extremist dictatorship to those who are not aware of it. Told through the eyes of two young women, the history of Iran unfolds around them. The novel covers a lot of time and political events, so sometimes the timing is rushed. As it stands, the last chapter or so is rushed, and feels a touch out of place in compared to the rest of the pacing of the story. However, the book has a relevant and well fleshed out theme that needs to be heard today. Feminism and the rights of women are a global struggle, a global war, against religious extremist groups, dictators, and so called democracies here in America. This book introduces those unfamiliar to this struggle in a new light. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

allthelovelylit's review

emotional inspiring medium-paced

4.0

The Stationery Shop by Kamali was one of my favorites. I think Kamali creates gorgeous characters and stories set in very specific places in history. For me, while I was so engaged in this story, there were times when the writing felt underdeveloped in The Lion Women. There were so many sentences/paragraphs where I really wished there was less telling and more showing... I think the first person narration possibly added to this sense? I don’t want to hear the narrator tell me she loves this boy so much without any descriptions of why. It was an underlying frustration while I read, even as I appreciated the overall story, the friendship, and the history. Still an excellent story and for that 4 *

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence

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

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Content Warnings

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

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

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!

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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

bearnecessities's review

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, and Classism

Moderate: Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual violence, and Fire/Fire injury

courtney_scott1025's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

A little more lighthearted than I typically like to read, but a beautiful book nonetheless. What an inspiring story and it gave me a lot of insight on Iranian politics that I didn’t know much about. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and War

Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, and Xenophobia

maybak's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, and War