Reviews tagging 'Child death'

The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali

132 reviews

jenhowell8's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

doublel11's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No

1.25

I wanted to like this book. I love Iran and the Persian language and culture. But this book, it started out pretty boring and the love story wasn't convincing. Why did they love each other? I'm still not sure. Are we just supposed to accept that they were 17 and fell in love at the drop of a hat? 

Once we finally got to the big reveals at the end, I was quite disappointed. It all amounted to being the evil mother-in-law trope, which is a misogynistic writing choice in my opinion. I already knew that's what had happened, but the way Kamali made Badri so hysterical and evil was over the top. 

Kamali didn't't need to remind the reader after more than 5 mentions that Nowruz is the Persian new year and first day of Spring. If the reader doesn't remember after 2 or 3 mentions, that's on them. 

Last rant, you don't have 2 stillbirths and then lose a baby at 8 months pregnant. That is also a still birth. That's 3 stillbirths. Writing like that is idiotic and why dumbass Republicans think it's possible to just have a late-term abortion for personal reasons. You have to deliver a baby that late in the term, no way around it. 

On a positive note, this book made me miss Farsi and now I want to get back into reading the language and watching films, etc.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Gun violence

hmwoodward's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful 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

This beautifully written and beautifully read book (listened to the audiobook on this one) follows two young people who fell hopelessly in love

and lost each other along the way

in Iran amidst political instability in the 1950s. You primarily follow the story through the eyes of the female main character, Roya, via 3rd person. She's a smart girl who loves books, learning about American culture, and who is on the fringe of politics thanks to her father and her love interest. You get to watch her and her family grow from her teen years through her senior years, seeing how her past follows her, no matter how far away from it she really is. 

I read this one per a bookstagramer recommendation, even though historical fiction is not my jam - especially after how long and sad the last one I read was. But, the book was great and I would definitely recommend it - just keep the content warnings in mind.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Child death, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Pregnancy, War, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Self harm

Moderate: Death of parent, Infertility, Gun violence, Medical content, Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Stalking

diem_reads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death and Suicide attempt

Minor: Abortion

liamliayaum's review against another edition

emotional inspiring 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? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, War, Death, and Child death

Minor: Abortion

k_ro's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

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

4.0

Une belle histoire d'amour sur fond de troubles politiques iraniens dans les années 50. C'est beau, c'est triste, c'est un tourbillon d'émotions passionnées qui nous emporte pour nous faire voyager et espérer, et qui ne nous lâche plus jusqu'au dénouement. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Grief

Moderate: Child death, Self harm, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Abortion, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Mental illness, Police brutality, Violence, and War

Seul regret de ce roman : l'identité des "coupables" à l'origine de la fin de l'histoire de Bahman et Ruya est assez évidente, et le mystère ne résiste pas longtemps. J'aurais (presque) souhaité un rebondissement, comme l'implication de Zari, par ex.

jsprenk's review against another edition

emotional 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? No

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Abortion, Child death, and Miscarriage

erinkellyreads's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

 Easily, this is in the running for best book of the year for me, if not best book of the last few years. The writing is stunning, the characters are complicated and nuanced, and the story is heartfelt and heartbreaking. If this isn't on your TBR, it should be. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Child death, Classism, Colonisation, Xenophobia, and Grief

Moderate: Mass/school shootings, Islamophobia, Abortion, Murder, and Gun violence

Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Cancer, and Pregnancy

kailiyahknight's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death, Violence, Abortion, Gaslighting, Child death, Gun violence, Murder, Gore, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Blood, Child abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, War, Miscarriage, Alcohol, Vomit, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

devirnis's review against another edition

emotional reflective

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Suicide attempt

Moderate: War and Abortion