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51 pages 1 hour read

Marjan Kamali

The Stationery Shop of Tehran

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2019

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

The Stationery Shop of Tehran by Marjan Kamali follows the love story of Roya and Bahman, a young Iranian couple who meet in a stationery shop in 1953 Tehran and plan to marry. However, an apparent misunderstanding separates them. Decades later, a chance reunion in the United States gives them the opportunity to confront and reconcile with the past. The novel explores love, memory, loss, and the intersection of the personal and political. The novel contains references to miscarriage, the death of a child, and death by suicide.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

The Stationery Shop of Tehran by Marjan Kamali is praised for its evocative portrayal of 1950s Tehran and the emotional depth of its characters. Readers appreciate Kamali's lyrical prose and the poignant love story. However, some find the later plot developments predictable and the pacing uneven. Overall, it is a heartfelt and nostalgic novel that bridges past and present effectively.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Stationery Shop of Tehran?

Readers who cherish poignant love stories set against a backdrop of political turmoil will relish The Stationery Shop of Tehran. Fans of Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns or Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale will find similar depth in this evocative tale of love, loss, and resilience in 1950s Iran.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years