Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

10 reviews

jmmreads's review

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, and Death of parent

Moderate: Miscarriage, Rape, and War

Minor: Xenophobia

nataliecoyne's review

emotional informative 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

I won a hardcover copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway, and so I first want to thank Goodreads and the publisher for that (also, it only took 3 days to arrive which was incredible!). Winning it, and having it arrive so quickly, is the reason I was even able to read this in 2024, as I had been on a long waiting list to get a copy from the library (my local library system in total has 2 copies, but by the time this arrived, I was still 8th in line, there are so many holds). Anyway, all of that said, this is an incredible book (and is definitely worthy of all of those holds)!

I was a bit worried about reading it as I read a book earlier this year that also had to do with Iranian women and found that book quite boring (won't name it in this review). I was worried that maybe I just find the subject manner boring. But that was definitely not the case, as I really enjoyed this read and this is easily a 5-star read. I definitely plan to look into Marjan Kamali's other books.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Infertility, Rape, Xenophobia, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and War

Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Vomit, Antisemitism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

nashaytreads's review

challenging hopeful inspiring slow-paced

• 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

4.0

Loved the story and the journey across these women’s lives and friendship form childhood to adulthood. I particularly enjoyed how the author wrote how each women navigated the political landscape with their differing social class. And their friendship was absolutely beautiful.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Violence and Xenophobia

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

jfortney23's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring tense fast-paced

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

4.5

This was a beautiful book. It was hard to read because it reads like a cautionary tale for women losing their rights gradually until we look back and don't know what happened. 

I loved the friendship and culture and history of this book. It was well written and kept me engaged start to finish.

I would have given 5 stars except for the epilogue. It is written as a letter from one character to another that explains what happened after the last chapter. It felt off, and there is one mention that conflicts with the last chapter of the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Classism

Moderate: Infertility, Rape, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, and War

Minor: Alcohol and Pandemic/Epidemic

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

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

artemismoon057's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Rape, Violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, and War

Minor: Xenophobia

liloopie's review

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

4.75

This was such a great read!  I didn't know what to expect since I read the back of this book two months ago.  I loved how Kamali (author) took us through the history of Ellie and Homa that lasted six decades of their lives.  The history of which also discuss the real life history of Iran's fear, repression, and abuse of the women of the country.  Unfortunately, this continues today.  I loved how Homa and her unrelentless fight for the women of Iran.  Ellie's role reflects what happens when you doubt what and who your real friends are.  Her story is bit less clear cut in her intentions however by the end the focus is more sharpen and clearly defined. This book similar to Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow - reflects the morphing of friendships and circuitous paths it can take before it returns home.  This is a very worthy read.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and War

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