A review by gattolinos_nerdy_nook
The Stationery Shop of Tehran, by Marjan Kamali
dark
emotional
slow-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? It's complicated
4.5
This book was an amazing read. I really loved how the relationship is developed in part one and then parts two - four is about taking the reader on a journey through the aftermath and seeing how their lives went on and how it all came to be.
I found myself confronted with so many emotions reading this, which has now left me in an emotionally confused state as I keep processing this book and everything in it. It does not shy away from making very complicated characters, that you despise for their actions, but sympathetic because of their circumstance, but then frustrated as those circumstances are not an excuse for their actions, and so the cycle continues whilst reading. It leaves you in a strange but also real situation where not everything is black and white.
The plot at the beginning had me interested but not hooked. I enjoyed it for the most part, but when I stopped reading at part 3 during my first sitting of this book, I could have left it as I didn't have me hooked (granted I was also in a bit of a slump so that contributed to this feeling as well). Part 3 was much of the same from part 2 but had some really heart breaking and warming moments that felt so real., but part 4 is where this book shines in my opinion. This part hit me like a train. I was all over the place and the epilogue had me stunned and tore my heart from my chest with the emotions that I felt and everything that lead to that moment.
I highly recommend this book , but also encourage to look up the trigger and content warnings as there is some heavy and triggering moments in this book.
I found myself confronted with so many emotions reading this, which has now left me in an emotionally confused state as I keep processing this book and everything in it. It does not shy away from making very complicated characters, that you despise for their actions, but sympathetic because of their circumstance, but then frustrated as those circumstances are not an excuse for their actions, and so the cycle continues whilst reading. It leaves you in a strange but also real situation where not everything is black and white.
The plot at the beginning had me interested but not hooked. I enjoyed it for the most part, but when I stopped reading at part 3 during my first sitting of this book, I could have left it as I didn't have me hooked (granted I was also in a bit of a slump so that contributed to this feeling as well). Part 3 was much of the same from part 2 but had some really heart breaking and warming moments that felt so real., but part 4 is where this book shines in my opinion. This part hit me like a train. I was all over the place and the epilogue had me stunned and tore my heart from my chest with the emotions that I felt and everything that lead to that moment.
I highly recommend this book , but also encourage to look up the trigger and content warnings as there is some heavy and triggering moments in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death, Miscarriage, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Abortion, Violence, and Child death