Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali

57 reviews

chaitra_brewedbookworm's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The Stationery Shop of Tehran is a beautifully written, heart-wrenching novel that truly tugs at your emotions. It made me cry, feel deeply for the characters, and reflect on the ease of life we enjoy today compared to the struggles of the past. Though I'm not typically a romance reader, this book pulled at all the right strings, making me want to know more about the boy who would change the world and his beloved, Roya Joon.
The depiction of political unrest and its lasting impact on people’s lives is breathtaking. The way Marjan Kamali weaves history into the love story is seamless, capturing both personal and political turmoil. Written in multiple timelines with third-person narration, the story also includes poignant letters that provide a deeply personal touch.
I cried, hurt, and even cursed at the characters' fate as I experienced their journey through love, loss, and betrayal. This story is filled with so much—passion, sisterhood, dreams, trauma, trust, friendship, and psychological struggles. The ending left a lump in my throat; it was so painful yet so incredibly moving. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Classism

Moderate: Cancer, Death, and War

artemismoon057's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad tense 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Violence, Grief, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexism, Police brutality, Abortion, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism

lomesia's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

erebus53's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

4.0

This one is a quiet cozy, but melancholy and tear jerking story of love, loss, and.. ok more loss.

Teens meet in Tehran, are separated, and come back together in the end of lives that are rivers of joy and sadness.

I liked the story, but it's more evocative than plot-filled. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

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

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

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

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, Mental illness, Self harm, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Mental illness, Violence, Police brutality, 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: Child death, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Gun violence, Islamophobia, Mass/school shootings, Abortion, and Murder

Minor: Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , 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: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Miscarriage, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and War

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: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, and War