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niamhbereading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
roya, our main narrator, is so enchanting. the story is told in third pov but the kamali does a great job of infusing roya's voice in it. she's human & messy & i can see myself in her. her reactions to the plot felt like something i would do, too.
the romance was so sweet. roya & bahman were the perfect teenage love story. i was rooting for them! & when it all went wrong it hurt me deeply :( though i wouldn't say this book is a romance, because it focuses on so much more than roya & bahman's romantic love. the plot is much richer than two teenagers falling in love.
the story begins in 1953 iran, & a good chunk of the book takes place there. even when it moves to the us, persian culture is seen everywhere through roya's voice. i'm not persian & i don't engage w/ persian culture really, but damn this book made me fall in love w/ it. i can see the research kamali did to create such a rich world. i'm extra impressed bc this book takes place in 1950s iran AND us, so kamali had to do double the period research.
the plot was so complex. three generations playing in one love story! everything falling together! wow
the depiction of iranian political conflict was so interesting. never did i think i would find myself, a silly american in 2023, learning about iranian coups seventy years prior. kamali is such a wordsmith that it was interesting.
n e way wonderful read! i would recommend this book to fans of sweet romances, period pieces, & complex stories. i think if you love "the princess bride" by william goldman you'll be into this.
Moderate: Suicide attempt, War, and Violence
this story takes place in 1953 iran, during political conflict. there is a coup &nicolebooks's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Classism, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Violence, War, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, and Death
Moderate: Abortion
joshtuttle's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Moderate: War, Blood, Cancer, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Violence, and Abortion
valrunin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Child abuse
Moderate: Violence and Abortion
Minor: Cancer
katonthejellicoe's review against another edition
- 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? No
this book was filled with melancholy, nostalgia, and love that could never be forgotten. i didn't cry (tho i was certain i would) but it caused a pang of pain on my chest for so many reasons.
(thirteen hours after i've read this book...)
this was perfectly written — from the characters and their complex personalities and dynamics to the atmospheric setting to its seamless timeline. it was accessible yet poetic in its own way. the historical and romance aspects of it intertwined smoothly with one another which made it a well-balanced novel.
objectively, this is a five-star book. it was probably the best historical fiction i've read in a while. but as you all know, i NEED to cry in books (lols). hence, from personal experience, it wasn't a favorite but it was almost there. in numbers, this may very well be a 4.95 out of 5 stars.
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, and Police brutality
Minor: Child death, Death, and Abortion
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- 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
“The Stationary Shop” follows a woman named Roya throughout the majority of her life. As a teenager, she seeks refuge from her war torn country in Mr. Fakhri’s stationary shop. One afternoon, she meets Bahman and they instantly bond over their love for Rumi. When they are driven apart, they continue to communicate via letters they leave each other in books in the stationary shop. Unfortunately, on the day they are set to reunite disaster strikes, and they never hear from one another again. Now, decades later, Roya is living her life in America with her loving husband and now grown children. She is quietly content, until she learns that Bahman is not too far from her. Will she finally be able to get the answers from him that she needs?
This book will simultaneously break your heart and make you believe in love again. Roya and Bahman’s love is so pure and you want with all of your soul for them to be together. You are enraged at their circumstance and heartbroken to read about their country falling apart. I really loved seeing them profess their love, adoration, and hope for one another through letters. Writing is slowly becoming a last art and seeing a love story play out in this way was incredible.
The writing itself in this novel is beautiful. Marjan Kamali is an immensely talented author. Once I started this book, I devoured it within 24 hours because I needed to see Roya and Bahman have their redemption as well as I was continually in awe of the prose.
I also really enjoyed reading about the politics of Tehran in such an approachable way. There is so much turmoil that occurred in this country and it was interesting as a reader to see the revolution that was brewing in 1953, but not have it take away for the story. The discussions about the corrupt leadership and violence told through an innocent citizen’s life were humbling.
Marjan Kamali has quickly become a new favorite author and I look forward to reading more of their books in the future.
Graphic: Police brutality, Toxic relationship, Death, War, Violence, and Grief
schausjk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Suicide attempt, Police brutality, Mental illness, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Gore, Mass/school shootings, War, Violence, Abortion, Sexism, Colonisation, Police brutality, and Racism
Minor: Pregnancy, Infertility, Blood, and Cancer
kalmia31's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Abortion, Classism, Colonisation, Grief, Mental illness, Child death, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, and Violence
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
- 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
it was so enlightening on the tribulations many Iranian people faced during that time. i felt my heart break when the characters faced grief and loss.
i would recommend this 1000%, please just check trigger warnings!!!
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Child death, Colonisation, Infertility, Medical content, Death, Chronic illness, Classism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Self harm, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Blood, Abandonment, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, Police brutality, Vomit, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Xenophobia, and War
chaoticnostalgia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Self harm, Suicide attempt, Miscarriage, Violence, Gun violence, Grief, Child death, Abortion, Death, Classism, and Mental illness
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexism, and Infertility
Minor: War, Dementia, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, Police brutality, and Religious bigotry