The Bibliophile's Compass

Title : The Stationery Shop of Tehran 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 wo...

Title : The Lion Women of Tehran Author : Marjan Kamali Publication Year : 2024 Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Pages : 327 Source : audiobook @storytel.tr Genre : literary fiction, coming-of-age, historical fiction, Persian Literature Opening Sentence : I stood on the lacquered floor—a small woman in black with a rectangular name badge on my chest. My coiffed, contented look was calculated so I’d appear not just satisfied but quietly superior. In America, I’d learned the secret to being a successful salesperson was to act like one of the elite, as if spritzing perfume on customers’ blue-veined wrists were doing them a favor. The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali is a deeply somber story about two friends whose bond is tested by class, political upheaval, and migration. This book was incredibly hard for me to get through. Even if it hadn’t echoed my own history, I know I would have cried for Ellie and Homa. But because their story felt so close to home, I found myself in tears before the tr...