Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali

52 reviews

taliabasma's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Idk the book was good but bad lol. The writing was poignant and I don’t love time jumps but this one was very well done. (

But we really did not at all need Claire’s pov

)

The best way to describe this is, the fault in our stars was sad on purpose while a walk to remember was a story with sadness. And idk this book felt like it was sad on purpose. 

We don’t really get to know Bahman nor Roya’s full personality. They just had a young love but there wasn’t much depth to their characters nor their relationship outside of the missed factor. 

I also think this book is actually about Bahman’s mom and her life more than anyone else to be honest and it could be a good thing if they gave her character a LITTLE bit more depth. 

If you hate miscommunication this is basically a back and forth novel with a purposeful and manipulative miscommunication.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Abortion, Child death, Emotional abuse, and Grief

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: War, Police brutality, Gun violence, Death of parent, Vomit, Violence, and Death

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 against another edition

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

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

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

jet78's review against another edition

adventurous informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion and Grief

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

decie's review against another edition

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Murder, Grief, and Gun violence

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Sexism

blakeandbooks'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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, War, and Child death

Moderate: Sexism, Terminal illness, Murder, Miscarriage, Abortion, Racism, and Mass/school shootings

mdavis26's review against another edition

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Self harm, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Car accident, Pregnancy, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, Miscarriage, Islamophobia, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness