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cdkm9's review
challenging
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
5.0
An amazing novel that was hard to put down. The author brings the reader along a rollercoaster of a journey through both the horrible and lighthearted/joyful moments in Ellie and Homa’s lives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, and War
Minor: Drug abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Torture, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
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
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and War
blueberrydahlia's review
challenging
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Rape
pomoevareads's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
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
A beautiful and heartrending story of the strength of female friendship, women’s rights and activism in Tehran set against the backdrop of the revolution.
Kamali has written some special characters in The Lion Women of Tehran. Ellie and Homa meet as seven year old girls in Tehran’s downtown where Ellie and her mother have had to move because of a change to their financial situation. Ellie is envious of the close knit family of Homa and wishes she could be part of their family. Her own mother, comes across as selfish and snobbish and doesn’t allow Ellie to invite her new friend Homa to their home. Ellie’s mother sees Homa as below their station. The young girls are inseparable and it isn’t until Ellie and her mother move back to their uptown area of past that the bonds between the girls are strained. We see them come together again for a time and then a pivotal event creates a divide between them. Then many years later, one of the women sends a letter to the other with a request. That is where the story begins.
I had been hearing great things about this book and knew I had to get my hands on it. I am so glad I did as I feel better for having read it. Many of my friends growing up had families that had left Iran because of the politics. I have a love for the food and remember being schooled on how to hold the sugar cube in my mouth when I drank tea from special cups. I feel this book would be a good introduction to the changes in Iran over the last 75 years and a snapshot of where it sits today in comparison.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Rape, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War
christinesreads's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
Moderate: Miscarriage, Rape, and War
Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, and Death of parent
grotealli's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Death of parent
louiepotterbook's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War
heartfelthullabaloo'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? No
4.5
The writing in the book was so beautiful. The author has a real talent for vividly describing food, locations, and people in a way that just brought the story to life. I know basically nothing about Iranian culture and history so it was really educational and I looked up several things that were mentioned. I didn’t love the ending, Bahar’s chapter in particular didn’t elevate anything for me and I wish that would have been done differently. Besides that the story exceeded my expectations. It didn’t hide any of the faults that come with being a real person and what that looks like when having a long term friendship. It was an honest look into these women’s lives, both the ups and downs.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Miscarriage, Rape, and War
okiecozyreader's review
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I am so grateful to Marjan Kamali sharing her family’s culture from Iran with us. Her stories are so helpful to see these loving Iranian families and get to experience their culture, language and food, too! (I loved how many words and phrases we got to see translated. I feel like so many books seem to talk in American language and I liked how this one gave me more insight into real conversation).
THE LION WOMEN OF YEHRAN splits between two points of view. We meet the main character Ellie (Elaheh) in 1950 as a young girl, as she and her mother have their lives downgraded and move into a small apartment by her uncle. She makes a good friend Homa, who we get to hear from occasionally. Ellie’s mother doesn’t want her to associate with people of a lower class like Homa, but their friendship is rare and uniquely special to both of them. We see their friendship through several ups and downs (alluded to the very first chapter, which gives us some perspective of what will happen by 1980, the end of the book - which has the most interesting culture observations).
I really loved their friendship, which overcame so many obstacles, and that it was the main love of the book.
I got to meet the author in person at Watermark Books in Kansas and she talked about how history books tell you what happened, but fiction books tell you how it made people feel. Her books do this so well; they help us feel and have greater empathy for other people.
I also thought this book has some great men in it! I loved several of the relationships and how loving and supportive the men were (and also in some of the political events for women).
—-
“You know what we'll both become when we grow up?"
"I do not," I said.
"Shir zan. Lionesses. Us. Can't you just see it, Ellie? Someday, you and me we'll do great things. We'll live life for ourselves. And we will help others. We are cubs now, maybe. But we will grow to be lionesses. Strong women who make things happen." P38
“But I should have known that some friendships fracture and rupture beyond belief.” P241 (interesting here in relationship to Iran and America / and interpersonal relationships)
THE LION WOMEN OF YEHRAN splits between two points of view. We meet the main character Ellie (Elaheh) in 1950 as a young girl, as she and her mother have their lives downgraded and move into a small apartment by her uncle. She makes a good friend Homa, who we get to hear from occasionally. Ellie’s mother doesn’t want her to associate with people of a lower class like Homa, but their friendship is rare and uniquely special to both of them. We see their friendship through several ups and downs (alluded to the very first chapter, which gives us some perspective of what will happen by 1980, the end of the book - which has the most interesting culture observations).
I really loved their friendship, which overcame so many obstacles, and that it was the main love of the book.
I got to meet the author in person at Watermark Books in Kansas and she talked about how history books tell you what happened, but fiction books tell you how it made people feel. Her books do this so well; they help us feel and have greater empathy for other people.
I also thought this book has some great men in it! I loved several of the relationships and how loving and supportive the men were (and also in some of the political events for women).
—-
“You know what we'll both become when we grow up?"
"I do not," I said.
"Shir zan. Lionesses. Us. Can't you just see it, Ellie? Someday, you and me we'll do great things. We'll live life for ourselves. And we will help others. We are cubs now, maybe. But we will grow to be lionesses. Strong women who make things happen." P38
“But I should have known that some friendships fracture and rupture beyond belief.” P241 (interesting here in relationship to Iran and America / and interpersonal relationships)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism