Reviews with content warning for Violence - The Stationery Shop

This novel was so well done and the story was such a gift to follow. This book is really sad, but also beautiful.

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.

Content Warnings

taliabasma's review against another edition

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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.

Content Warnings

angada's review against another edition

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emotional sad tense fast-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

4.75

So powertul.

So moving.

So beautifully written!

Your heart will be broken and your box of tissues will be empty.

I had to physically stop reading for a bit because my heart couldn't take it anymore.

Content Warnings

hmwoodward's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.0

This beautifully written and beautifully read book (listened to the audiobook on this one) follows two young people who fell hopelessly in love

and lost each other along the way

in Iran amidst political instability in the 1950s. You primarily follow the story through the eyes of the female main character, Roya, via 3rd person. She's a smart girl who loves books, learning about American culture, and who is on the fringe of politics thanks to her father and her love interest. You get to watch her and her family grow from her teen years through her senior years, seeing how her past follows her, no matter how far away from it she really is.

I read this one per a bookstagramer recommendation, even though historical fiction is not my jam - especially after how long and sad the last one I read was. But, the book was great and I would definitely recommend it - just keep the content warnings in mind.

Content Warnings

simchareads's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This is a beautifully written historical romance! The story centers on two Persian teenagers from families with different socioeconomic and political ambitions, set in the backdrop of a politically volatile Iran in 1953.

I love the tropes of forbidden & impossible love, so this story was right up my alley! The Iranian government upheaval during the 1950’s (The struggles between an ancient monarchy transitioning to democracy, foreign governments trying to disrupt their democracy for personal trade interests, communism trying to regain power in the country, etc) were lighter aspects of the plot line, but still feel powerful in our modern era.

There were a few convenient vices to bridge storylines that were a bit “meh” for me. My main complaint is I felt

Bahman’s mom was a bit unfairly villainized, especially in the epilogue, when Mr. Fahkri was so involved in generational trauma & I would argue he had more power in the dynamic to end it.

Content Warnings

liamliayaum's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-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? Yes

4.5

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