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alayamorning's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Blood, Child death, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Miscarriage, and Suicide attempt
lit_with_lauren's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Child death, Gun violence, and Miscarriage
nevermindthefall's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
well it was a great reading. unfortunately i read this book in russian translation and it has some flaws. it doesn’t affect the storytelling or understanding of the plot but left me with strange taste in my mouth, so my review is kind of a trigger warning for those who’ll decide to read the book in russian
overall the book depicts tehran in the 50s, it’s beautiful culture and complicated history. 100% recommend reading
overall the book depicts tehran in the 50s, it’s beautiful culture and complicated history. 100% recommend reading
Content Warnings
Minor: Abortion, Blood, Child death, Chronic illness, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Gun violence
ncoletti's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Miscarriage, Infertility, War, Gun violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Mental illness
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide attempt, Grief, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Death, Abortion, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Police brutality, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Cancer
kaiulanilee's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Overall I loved this book. The writing was absolutely stunning, especially the way she describes food and certain cultural moments. I thought the messages surrounding love, family, culture, and understanding were absolutely incredible and gripped at my heart a ton. She was able to mix in a lot of political and historical issues going on which made the book even more fleshed out, in my opinion. You never felt like you were in a class but I definitely learned a good amount about Iran, Persian culture, and the dynamics in the country at this time. The way she wrote Roya’s family and their dynamic was so stunning it absolutely melted my heart. I also thought her use of time was quite well done!
On the negative side, there were moments where I felt like ideas kept repeating when they didn’t need to, particularly in regards to Roya’s internal monologue as she’s missing Bahman. It felt slightly repetitive in that aspect but it was nothing to bad. I also found the letter he writes to her at the end to be so focused on explaining what happened that it didn’t actually feel like a letter to someone. I know she had to have a way that things are explained but it was especially odd in letter format, to me.
This all being said, I would HIGHLY recommend this book. It’s stunning and captures so much about love for the people in your life so incredibly well.
On the negative side, there were moments where I felt like ideas kept repeating when they didn’t need to, particularly in regards to Roya’s internal monologue as she’s missing Bahman. It felt slightly repetitive in that aspect but it was nothing to bad. I also found the letter he writes to her at the end to be so focused on explaining what happened that it didn’t actually feel like a letter to someone. I know she had to have a way that things are explained but it was especially odd in letter format, to me.
This all being said, I would HIGHLY recommend this book. It’s stunning and captures so much about love for the people in your life so incredibly well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
thisblondeisbooked's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Roya, a teenager living in Iran in 1953, finds her safe haven in Mr. Fakhri's stationary shop amongst the books and fountain pens every Tuesday. One day, the bell rings and in walks a boy named Bahman. They lock eyes and from that moment on, they knew they were destined to spend their lives together. A few months later on the eve of their wedding, Roya agrees to meet Bahman in the town square so they can get their marriage papers signed at the marriage office. However, while Roya waits for Bahman to show up, violence erupts and she never sees Bahman again - until 60 years later when fate brings them together. Roya is living in America married to another man. And she needs the answer to her question: "Why did you leave and where did you go?"
.
.
I am UNWELL. I had full on hyperventilating sobs while reading this one. It turned me into an absolute puddle. When I gained my composure again, the epilogue punched me right in the gut. I went into this book not knowing what to expect, and I felt like my body was on an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. This book was so eloquently written and the author's writing was so descriptive that I imagined myself walking among the fountain pens and pages in the stationary shop. I absolutely loved (and loathed) the characters and I felt emotionally invested in their story.
.
The Stationary Shop has easily become one of my top 5 favorite books of all-time. I highly recommend this one (but I do not recommend starting this as an audiobook on your way to work - just from personal experience). This book is going to stay with me for a long time.
.
.
I am UNWELL. I had full on hyperventilating sobs while reading this one. It turned me into an absolute puddle. When I gained my composure again, the epilogue punched me right in the gut. I went into this book not knowing what to expect, and I felt like my body was on an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. This book was so eloquently written and the author's writing was so descriptive that I imagined myself walking among the fountain pens and pages in the stationary shop. I absolutely loved (and loathed) the characters and I felt emotionally invested in their story.
.
The Stationary Shop has easily become one of my top 5 favorite books of all-time. I highly recommend this one (but I do not recommend starting this as an audiobook on your way to work - just from personal experience). This book is going to stay with me for a long time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Violence, and Gun violence
Minor: Suicide attempt
ks19'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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Abortion, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, and Miscarriage
whatannikareads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
hello reporting to you from the depths of my pain!!!!!!!! i loved this book!!!!!!!!!!!
i wouldn't go into this expecting to learn a lot of history about iran. the 1950s political scene is the backdrop of the plot and is involved with the characters but isn't loaded with facts and information, so adjust your expectations accordingly!
i loved this book because it was like "The Notebook" (the movie, haven't read the book) but ethnic and thus more interesting lol. while there are some cliches, i didn't mind them in this particular sense because it wasn't used distastefully, i don't think. when i put myself in roya's shoes, it felt like i was experiencing the new love and glamour that is associated with 1950s nostalgia (yes it was not a good time period for ethnic people i know).
i loved the main couple as well as the supporting couple and characters. i think they all sort of stood out, or at least helped move the plot along. i loved the time jump between the 1950s and modern times (1953) and i love that the "second lead" of sorts wasn't made to just juxtapose the first love; they were both good people to love in different ways, which pulled at your heartstrings even more.
the reasons i gave this a 4.75 instead of a full 5 (i know, tragic right): i'm not sure if the way mental illness is portrayed is mmmm PC? but also i think that's the point of how it's written—since this is a time and place where mental illness wouldn't really be handled with utmost care so i get it. also, i'm not sure if i liked the lgbtq small twist just because it was kinda random and not developed? it would've been interesting to dive into that more.
doesn't detract from the fact that i teared up at 3am when this ended!!!!!!
i wouldn't go into this expecting to learn a lot of history about iran. the 1950s political scene is the backdrop of the plot and is involved with the characters but isn't loaded with facts and information, so adjust your expectations accordingly!
i loved this book because it was like "The Notebook" (the movie, haven't read the book) but ethnic and thus more interesting lol. while there are some cliches, i didn't mind them in this particular sense because it wasn't used distastefully, i don't think. when i put myself in roya's shoes, it felt like i was experiencing the new love and glamour that is associated with 1950s nostalgia (yes it was not a good time period for ethnic people i know).
i loved the main couple as well as the supporting couple and characters. i think they all sort of stood out, or at least helped move the plot along. i loved the time jump between the 1950s and modern times (1953) and i love that the "second lead" of sorts wasn't made to just juxtapose the first love; they were both good people to love in different ways, which pulled at your heartstrings even more.
the reasons i gave this a 4.75 instead of a full 5 (i know, tragic right): i'm not sure if the way mental illness is portrayed is mmmm PC? but also i think that's the point of how it's written—since this is a time and place where mental illness wouldn't really be handled with utmost care so i get it. also, i'm not sure if i liked the lgbtq small twist just because it was kinda random and not developed? it would've been interesting to dive into that more.
doesn't detract from the fact that i teared up at 3am when this ended!!!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Gun violence, Police brutality, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Dementia
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