Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

54 reviews

caroltaylorlovesbooks's review against another edition

challenging 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, and War

karwc's review against another edition

challenging inspiring reflective sad 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Infertility, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, and War

cynranne's review

emotional inspiring medium-paced

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

4.5

I tend to be stingy with my stars, but this was truly one of the best-written and most engaging novels I’ve read in years. The story of two friends shaped by different backgrounds, upbringings, and life paths was as inspiring as it was compelling. Through their journey, the novel offers a powerful look at Iran’s transformation (and regression) from the 1950s to 2022, highlighting the challenges faced by these young women and their families. The immersive descriptions transported me so completely into their world that I could almost smell the meals they shared- and I absolutely wished I could have tasted them!
This is the kind of book that I will be thinking of for a long while after reading.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War

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

4.5

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. 

---

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

panickat123's review against another edition

challenging 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: Violence, Police brutality, and Classism

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Alcohol

Minor: Miscarriage and Vomit

jesse_eli's review

emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

To say I’m stunned would be an understatement. Marjan Kamali wrote this masterclass of a novel, spanning from 1950s Tehran to the 2022 Woman Life Freedom protests in the wake of the murder of Zhina Amini by the Morality Police. The story is told from multiple points of view across the decades, following women and the men around them as they grapple with increasing attacks on women’s rights in the midst of the many power struggles in Iran during the ~70 years this book spans. 

It’s about politics, it’s about friendship and family, it’s about fighting for better. It’s a story of resilience, of Lion Women fighting for more. Truly one of those books that stick will stick with you for a long time. And when I say I cried for the last 100 pages or so, I really mean it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5, recommend to EVERYONE. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, and War

christina_reads7's review

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Rape

madflatt's review against another edition

• 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Alcohol, and War

wishesandpages's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring 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

5.0

This was such an incredible historical fiction, a coming of age story spanning decades, from 1950s Tehran to New York in the 1980s. I loved it even more than the author's previous book, as this one focused on Ellie and Homa's friendship, whereas The Stationery Shop's focus was more on a romance. I couldn't stop thinking about the characters for the days I was reading it, and closing the book made my heart aches so much. Couldn't recommend it enough!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Police brutality, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Rape, Violence, and War

bookish_in_bklyn's review

emotional informative 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? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Violence and War