The Stationery Shop of Tehran by Marjan Kamali (2019): A Review
Author: Marjan Kamali
Publication Year: 2019
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pages: 312
Source: audiobook @storytel.tr
Genre: literary fiction, coming-of-age, historical fiction, Persian Literature
This is the third Marjan Kamali novel I’ve read, and once again, she made me ugly cry (seriously, don’t attempt this one if you’re already emotionally fragile or if you've just survived two days of a headache). Kamali’s novels may revisit similar moments in Iranian history, but each feels vibrant and distinct, animated by her gift for bringing unique, unforgettable characters to life. Her writing is so evocative that you can practically smell the saffron and cardamom wafting from the pages; her food descriptions alone are enough to transport you straight to a bustling family kitchen in Iran. No other Iranian diaspora writer has made me this homesick or moved me as much. Kamali remains my favorite Persian author by far.
The novel centers on Roya, whose world is thrown into chaos during the 1953 Iranian coup, a pivotal event that, for once, takes center stage instead of the more familiar Islamic Revolution. At its heart, this is a bittersweet love story: Roya and her first love are separated by forces well beyond their control (including a meddling soon-to-be mother-in-law, whose timing couldn’t be worse). After her heartbreak and the city’s unrest, Roya’s father sends her to the United States for school, echoing the classic narrative of the Iranian diaspora. In America, Roya doesn’t seek a new love or a fresh start, yet life unfolds in unexpected ways. While I usually cringe at the love-at-first-sight tale of Roya in Tehran, I found myself genuinely touched by the quiet strength and warmth of Roya’s later relationship with her future husband.
Kamali never shies away from the realities of trauma and loss. Her characters (like so many in the Iranian diaspora) endure heartbreak and upheaval, but Kamali always leaves room for resilience and hope, even if it’s fragile. For me, the most gut-wrenching sorrow wasn’t the sweeping historical tragedies of a nation or personal lost love, but the quieter, personal loss Roya suffers in America. Those moments are what truly brought me to tears.
What truly sets this novel apart is its focus on intimate, personal themes. Even though my knowledge of Iranian history let me anticipate most of the plot turns in all her novels, Kamali’s storytelling is so immersive that I was captivated from start to finish. The novel weaves together many threads (family, loss, migration, resilience, just to name a few) in ways best discovered for yourself. Trust me: you’ll want a box of tissues close by.
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