Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali

88 reviews

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.

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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

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. 

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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.

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. 

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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

sawshiwen's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, and War

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

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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

uhohzmia's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: War and Mental illness

emlittle's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

This book was beautiful and heartbreaking and  hurt me in a way I didn’t know a book could hurt me. I couldn’t adore it more. Roya’s worries at the beginning of the book feel too familiar: the polarization of politics at school, civil unrest, and uncertainty about the future. At one point, she assures herself America’s government would have nothing to do with overthrowing her own in Iran- that one felt like an extra kick in the stomach. Kamari tells a story through Iran’s coup in the 50’s that holds up a pretty relevant mirror.

The character work throughout the story is great; the main focus stays on Roya, but Kamari weaves a web of interconnectedness that feels so real. We get to see how different characters interact with each other and get insight into their personal histories. We get to see Roya change as she is touched by love, heartbreak, contentedness, and tragedy. You’re not just reading; Kamari ensures you’re LIVING Roya’s life.

I also really enjoyed the non-linear story telling. There are bits of the present intercut with long bouts of flashbacks and other people’s stories peppered in along the way. It feels so complete and there’s a satisfaction to the level of context you’re given- which makes the ending even more heartbreaking. I’m so glad to have gotten this book recommended to me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, War, Blood, Death, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Xenophobia, and Child death

bookishcookiemonster's review

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

I really enjoyed the layers and complexity of the story. 
Its more than just a love story. So beautiful, so heartbreaking ans yet also full of hope.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Self harm, Mental illness, Mass/school shootings, Toxic relationship, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, and Abortion

777elia's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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? No

4.5

The writing style of this book was absolutely beautiful. The author could repeat the same details over and still add nuance and renew the same feelings I felt when first reading the event. I thought when the plot was revealed in the first chapter that this book wouldn't surprise me much but my god it did. Some moments were gut-wrenchingly heartbreaking and others filled with so much love. I couldn't put this book down it kept drawing me in. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a powerful love story that withstands the test of time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and War

Moderate: Abortion, Sexual content, Blood, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Murder, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, and Violence

caitder's review against another edition

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? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Child death, War, Suicide attempt, and Abortion