The Stationery Shop

How I love books set in bookish settings where the author creates an atmosphere where the reader can touch and smell the book pages, see the bright colors of pencils and stationery, simply linger on the book category signs in the shop, and relax in a safe haven of words and prose. The Stationery Shop takes place over 3 generations of shop owners and highlights the struggles with Iranian life in Tehran and the tensions of keeping Iranian culture alive as an immigrant in the U.S.This was a heartbreaking and heartwarming story I couldn't put down and found myself reading whenever I had 15 extra minutes. Filled with relatable experiences for immigrant families (including my own) with mouth-watering foods and cultural tensions.

Part one was a little too long - about half way through, I finally felt connected to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed all references and learnings about the Persian/Iranian culture - the building of each character and attention to detail throughout the book is very strong and engaging.

Such a beautiful book. By far a personal favorite (I am sure I will re-read it soon).It was beautifully written, and I knew I had to reach out to Marjan Kamali on instagram to let her know how much I loved the story. Lovely as could be, she responded and we had a short conversation about the story and I will never forget how nice and grateful she was. Authors who interact with their audience are treasuresGoing into the book I didn’t know much about it, especially about the different timelines, and I loved it. The way it was written made this such an enjoyable read, I finished it in one day.The characters in the story were strong and (most of them) well rounded. Every character had a purpose, especially the antagonists and the ones you think are just background characters, you will be surprised. And this story will make you feel ALL the feels. I mean it. You will cry, you will laugh (it is so funny, especially Roya’s mom lol), you will be enraged, and mad, and in awe, etc.I appreciated the culture and history that we got. I wish we could have gotten to see a little more from Bahman but because of he POV and him being an Activist it would have been difficult, because the main characters were not together all the time. In fact, we only get to see and feel what Roya tells us from her side, so I understand if some people don’t feel the “love” connection”. But we have to remember that they fell in love in the 1950s - some people got married after only seeing each other twice for like an hour, (like my grandparents lol). But there are so many themes besides young love in this story, like motherhood, forgiveness, migration, politics and culture, and other love stories.Spoilers: Everything came full circle by the end, and it wasn’t just to tie a beautiful bow at the end but for closure. This is not only a book about young love but of loss. The loss of a child, the loss of a friend, the loss of love, loss of your family (migration to the US), and so much more, and finding peace with it all.

Marjan Kamali has created a world so vivid, so filled with light and sound, so rife with emotions, so rich with the intoxicating scents and sights of Iran, that you want to live in its pages.1953, Tehran. Roya loves nothing better than to while away the hours in the local stationery shop run by Mr. Fakhri. The store, stocked with fountain pens, shiny ink bottles, and thick pads of writing paper, also carries translations of literature from all over the world. And when Mr. Fakhri introduces her to his other favorite customer -- handsome Bahman, with his burning passion for justice and a shared love for Rumi's poetry -- Roya loses her heart at once. But around them, life in Tehran is changing.On the eve of their marriage, Roya heads to the town square to meet with Bahman. Suddenly, shockingly, violence erupts: a coup d'etat that forever changes their country's future. Bahman never arrives.Roya must piece her life back together. Her parents, wanting her to be safe, enroll her in college in California, where she meets and marries another man. But, nearly sixty years later, an accident of fate finally brings her the answer she has always wanted to know - Why did you leave? Where did you go? How is it that you were able to forget me?As I first started reading, I was pulled into the beauty of this story initially through the words on the page and the idea of a romance. From there the plot and characters took me so much deeper into their world and culture. Therefore, as I delved further into the pages of this exquisite story, I began to learn so much more about Iran’s history during a tumultuous time, along with the politics and customs of the region.Not only was this story beautifully written, it was also filed with the savory tastes of Persian food. Whenever Kamali would write about Roya’s family cooking my mouth would water. She really has a way of making the each of the delicacies jump off the page, and had me looking up Persian recipes to try in my own kitchen.I cannot thank Kamali enough for creating the perfect ending to a timeless story. The ending was not rushed, it wasn’t fake, it wasn’t convoluted, and it wasn’t cheesy…It was moving, poignant and real. When I turned the last page and closed the book, I went to bed knowing I had read not only an amazing story, but that I had read a wonderful work of art.Overall, The Stationery Shop is not to be missed for fans of stories about families, cultural reads, delectable food, and historical fiction lovers like me who love all these other things, too. Get ready to read a powerful, emotional love story set on a strong historical backdrop.