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nataliecoyne'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? It's complicated
5.0
At first, I didn't really understand the decision to include a romance between Ali and [name I'm not including to avoid spoilers], when I read the chapter with introducing that romance at the beginning of part 2 I was like "okay, this is random??" But, by the end, it made a lot of sense.
I absolutely would recommend this to others. Easy 5 stars.
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Drug use, Infertility, Infidelity, Racism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Vomit, Islamophobia, Dementia, Religious bigotry, Abortion, and War
adoto's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Child death, Miscarriage, Police brutality, and Abortion
jalapeno89'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
I read this book in two days because I was so invested in Bahman and Roya’s story. I picked up this novel based on The Book Girl’s list for their Book Lover’s Challenge. The prompt was “character’s connecting through books,” and this story nailed it! I loved seeing how the stationary shop continued to play a vital part in a blossoming and enduring romance. A wonderful story, yet so heartbreaking!
Moderate: Child death, Miscarriage, Violence, Abortion, and Suicide attempt
elizabethpowers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Abortion
chloewakham'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness and Violence
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Miscarriage and Abortion
artemismoon057'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
5.0
Moderate: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Colonisation, and War
adrians_library's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Violence, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexism, Police brutality, Abortion, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism
cajun_reader'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Violence
lomesia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Self harm, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Abortion, and War
Minor: Cancer, Incest, Pedophilia, and Police brutality
mugsandmanuscripts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
A short summary: Roya and Bahman, members of different economic classes, meet and fall in love with each other during a time of political turmoil in Iran through a stationery/book shop they both frequent. Despite social customs and Bahman's mother's strong feelings against Roya, they become engaged and begin planning their wedding. All falls apart on August 19, 1953, the day of 28 Mordad Coup D'état, when Roya goes to the city square to meet Bahman to secretly elope but he never shows.
This story is one of heartbreak (and many kinds of it, at that) and enduring love. Both Bahman and Roya spend the next 60 years with other partners, having children, and otherwise living lives bereft of each other. By chance, Roya finds out he lives in an assisted living facility nearby and visits him to ask him why he never showed. An emotional narrative told through flashbacks and multiple POVs follows.
A few things stood out to me about this novel. First, it's just artfully written. The prose flows elegantly, the pacing is perfect, and the characters are both believable and lovable, flaws and all. Second, it's very well-grounded in its time and place. I learned a lot about Iran and the events of the 1953 coup, as well as several cultural practices and class issues (at least from the 1920s-50s). My interest is definitely piqued, and I'm hoping to read more books exploring Iranian heritage.
Graphic: Child death and Miscarriage
Moderate: Violence