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A review by doublel11
The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
1.25
I wanted to like this book. I love Iran and the Persian language and culture. But this book, it started out pretty boring and the love story wasn't convincing. Why did they love each other? I'm still not sure. Are we just supposed to accept that they were 17 and fell in love at the drop of a hat?
Once we finally got to the big reveals at the end, I was quite disappointed. It all amounted to being the evil mother-in-law trope, which is a misogynistic writing choice in my opinion. I already knew that's what had happened, but the way Kamali made Badri so hysterical and evil was over the top.
Kamali didn't't need to remind the reader after more than 5 mentions that Nowruz is the Persian new year and first day of Spring. If the reader doesn't remember after 2 or 3 mentions, that's on them.
Last rant, you don't have 2 stillbirths and then lose a baby at 8 months pregnant. That is also a still birth. That's 3 stillbirths. Writing like that is idiotic and why dumbass Republicans think it's possible to just have a late-term abortion for personal reasons. You have to deliver a baby that late in the term, no way around it.
On a positive note, this book made me miss Farsi and now I want to get back into reading the language and watching films, etc.
Once we finally got to the big reveals at the end, I was quite disappointed. It all amounted to being the evil mother-in-law trope, which is a misogynistic writing choice in my opinion. I already knew that's what had happened, but the way Kamali made Badri so hysterical and evil was over the top.
Kamali didn't't need to remind the reader after more than 5 mentions that Nowruz is the Persian new year and first day of Spring. If the reader doesn't remember after 2 or 3 mentions, that's on them.
Last rant, you don't have 2 stillbirths and then lose a baby at 8 months pregnant. That is also a still birth. That's 3 stillbirths. Writing like that is idiotic and why dumbass Republicans think it's possible to just have a late-term abortion for personal reasons. You have to deliver a baby that late in the term, no way around it.
On a positive note, this book made me miss Farsi and now I want to get back into reading the language and watching films, etc.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Gun violence