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cozylifewithabby's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I understand the appeal of this book for others, but it was not for me. It had all of my least favorite tropes and minimal character development. Definitely check trigger warnings as it is full of trauma (not the ones you would assume from the back of the book) This book is The Notebook only partly in Iran
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Child death, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Abortion, Gun violence, Violence, and Miscarriage
Minor: War
rachelbug's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Gun violence, Child death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, and Police brutality
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Vomit
jashanac's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
This was well-written and I generally enjoyed it, however unrequited first love (from teen years) is not exactly the romance trope for me. I simply can't get invested in it because all my brain thinks is, "Just... move on already???" It just doesn't compute in my brain, so I don't find it deeply profound or tragic or moving like I think I'm supposed to - haha
Also it was wildly frustrating that the main characters basically had a decades long miscommunication happening and I found it hard to believe that neither one of them ever even CASUALLY made a comment to their mutual friend, about their understanding of what happened between them all those years ago... no "well she chose to leave me", "well he decided to call off the engagement..." -- nothing?? I mean I guess maybe they weren't THAT close to this mutual friend or it just wasn't culturally something they would have said even casually... but it just seemed a bit far fetched to me that they never got wind of this misunderstanding and then it was really frustrating when they were in person again finally and we had to have one scene of INFURIATING miscommunication, where she thought he was just losing his mind and was brushing him off as he was trying to explain... ugh!
I think I would have found this more emotional and profound if these were two adults who met later in life after having other serious relationships who fell in love and then had a tragic end and then unrequited love for each other... I'd find it more believable and genuine. I think it's probably easy to think super fondly of your first love simply for the fact that it was your first love and our emotions run so much wilder when we are young. But to pine after that person for decades, literally always thinking about them? Swearing off relationships years and years later because you're still so irrevocably heartbroken? It just isn't something I can get invested in.
Also it was wildly frustrating that the main characters basically had a decades long miscommunication happening and I found it hard to believe that
I think I would have found this more emotional and profound if these were two adults who met later in life after having other serious relationships who fell in love and then had a tragic end and then unrequited love for each other... I'd find it more believable and genuine. I think it's probably easy to think super fondly of your first love simply for the fact that it was your first love and our emotions run so much wilder when we are young. But to pine after that person for decades, literally always thinking about them? Swearing off relationships years and years later because you're still so irrevocably heartbroken? It just isn't something I can get invested in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Abortion, Gun violence, Miscarriage, and War
amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Classism, Colonisation, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Blood, Gun violence, Self harm, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, and Miscarriage
Minor: Abortion
hollymich's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? No
5.0
The Stationery Shop has absolutely become a favourite of mine! I was swept up by the romance and felt deeply for these characters. This melancholic love story had me in tears many times.
I appreciated learning about the political landscape of Iran in the 1950s and beyond. Marjan Kamali did a fantastic job depicting how central the political unrest was in the personal lives of the characters. Overall, a lovely exploration of Persian culture, womanhood, immigration, mental health, love and loss.
I appreciated learning about the political landscape of Iran in the 1950s and beyond. Marjan Kamali did a fantastic job depicting how central the political unrest was in the personal lives of the characters. Overall, a lovely exploration of Persian culture, womanhood, immigration, mental health, love and loss.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Violence, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Abortion, Sexism, and War
asclafani's review against another edition
challenging
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? Yes
5.0
My heart ached with every page that I turned and I felt, at least a sliver, of connection with every character. Each person’s perspective/emotion is painted like a beautiful picture, my emotions those on the page. A reflection of how cruel time & society can be and the importance of blending tradition and conversation. I felt a lot of questions about my own & the joy and obligation of others, consistently rising in my mind.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence, Infertility, and Miscarriage
laheath's review against another edition
emotional
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
Set mostly in Iran during the 1950's around the time of the overthrow of the democratically elected Prime Minister in favor of the monarchical Shah, the story focuses on 2 teenagers who meet in The Stationery Shop and begin a forbidden romance. The book is not weighed down with the history but gives enough information as is important to the storyline. Political events and family secrets separate, then keep them apart for decades as they both move on with their lives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Child death
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Abortion, Gun violence, and Miscarriage
ailli1's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Miscarriage, Grief, and Child death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Infertility, Mental illness, and Gun violence
marissasa's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
I never thought I would cry listening to an audiobook but boy did this one prove me wrong. The Stationery Shop was full of love and culture and humanity and sadness, so much so that it felt like the characters were real people and this was a true retelling of their lives rather than a historical fiction. The descriptive setting of a politically-charged Tehran, all the side characters full of personality, the themes of the pursuit of knowledge and truth through literature and social justice, and the mouthwatering descriptions of traditional Iranian food brought this story to life and helped to make it memorable to me as more than just a star-crossed lovers plot. Although it was slow in the start and I didn't immediately connect with Roya and Bahman's relationship because of how fast it happened, my mind changed by the end once I had seen all the angst, pain, yearning, heartbreak, and acceptance that they had to go through to get to the point when they would finally meet again 60 years later. With each detail of how Bahman's memory of Roya lived on in his heart and mind every single day, my own heart hurt. From the stationery shop he established in the US modeled after the place they first met, to his favorite poem from Rumi that he shared with Roya and exchanged letters through which his children then read at his funeral, I was tearing up. Just when I thought this sweet and sad story couldn't tear my heart out anymore, the epilogue started and the tears were just flowing. This book was a truly emotional one full of the losses, joys, and complexities of life that make up the human experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Mental illness, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Classism, and Gun violence
Moderate: Abortion
ellenwilberg's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Grief, Classism, Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, Child death, Terminal illness, Murder, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death
Minor: Fire/Fire injury