The Stationery Shop of Tehran

Product Information

something like making a favourite childhood meal with someone left me with so much yearning jfkldjfkla my goodness it's just SO, SO, SO GOOD

A blast of cold air filled the lobby when Walter walked out the double doors and descended into the icy parking lot. I decided to read this after reading reading the enthusiastic review from my GR friend, Elyse. Unfortunately I didn't respond in the same manner. There are parts of it that I really liked and parts that just drove me up the wall. Kayhan Life caught up with Kamali for a conversation about the television adaptation, her life and writing career. You studied English literature at UC Berkeley, then got an MBA. What led you to take up writing after that and get an MFA? Omg this was such a heartfelt, wonderful, emotional, utterly heartbreaking read. It’s the perfect eye opening to the Iran culture and customs and it’s political conflicts and what happened to their country in the past. It’s story of loss and love and remembrance. The book taught me so many things and effected me so deeply 💕Perhaps I was hoping for a story with a greater focus on the political conflict in 1950s Tehran but The Stationery Shop is first and foremost a love story. This love story features many clichés and banalities which seem more fitting of a soap opera. But one day, Bahman and his family disappear and Roya can only communicate with him by the letters hidden inside the books with the help of Mr. Fakhri. During the summer of 1953, a couple fell in love. Roya and Bahman were 17 years old. Both bright educated students. They were engaged to be married.

Friends, this book is as lovely as that stunning cover. I savored every word. This reminded me a little of another gorgeous book I read about Iran last year, Song of a Captive Bird, which took place during the same time period. I adored both books. The Iranian-American author Marjan Kamali, whose novel “The Stationery Shop” was published in 2019, is about to see it come to life as an HBO series. bahman mother ( the evil soul): I’m burning with hate for this woman. Omg i loath her. She outdid satan guys . I’m pretty sure his proud of what she did 😭 the woman is evil. She’s the one responsible for my misery rn 🌝 her name is on top on my death list 🔪 the author has a way of being so real and honest with the reader about these characters. she's able to grab that special aspect of human interaction and vulnerability and put it into words and give you a glimpse of something so personal and precious.

Mr. Bahman Aslan.” The words came out of Roya’s mouth slowly, like rings of smoke, visible and real. It had been years since she’d said his full name out loud. I felt incredibly sad for people who worked hard for good changes in the world, but then saw themselves as failures, or worse....dead. a GR friend's favorable review a few years ago, along with the stunning cover art (yes, I sometimes judge a book by its cover), had me adding it to my WTR list; and, Go on, then,” Roya said gently to her husband. She raised herself on her toes to kiss Walter’s freshly shaven cheek. The crepey skin, his Irish Spring soap scent. She wanted to reassure him.

Bahman wondered what his generation learned. He had worked hard to do all the right things to bring about political change… Democracy…I enjoyed learning more about the culture of Iran, and especially that tumultuous time in the 50s. The love between Roya and Bahman was effervescent, and I loved that they were reunited for some closure. Misunderstanding, miscommunication and a mental health issue of an important character played a major role leading to heartbreaking events. This is historical fiction done right! The Stationery Shop is the beautifully told story of Roya Kayhani, a 17-year old lover of Persian poetry and Bahman Aslan, an energetic young man already known as a political activist. The two meet in Mr. Fakhri’s stationery shop and begin to fall in love. Despite the objections of Bahman’s class-conscious mother, they become engaged. Their passionate romance is set against the political passions of 1953 Iran. Roya and Bahman decide to marry and arrange to meet, but a coup d’état against Mossadegh causes chaos in Tehran and Bahman does not show. Heartbroken, Roya decides to go to college in America where she meets and marries a young Boston law student and settles down. Sixty years later, she discovers that Bahman is a resident in a nursing home nearby. Roya decides to visit him and finally piece together the truth about their ill-fated story. Many people in Iran loved Mossadegh. They believed he was their democratic leader who had the courage to stand up to foreign powers wanting their oil. Mossadegh was ‘hope’ for the many people in Iran who believed in him. They felt he was the right man to achieve democracy. Is it true that your book was inspired by an elderly man you met in an assisted living center who had met Spanish royalty and traveled with Charles de Gaulle?

I’ve been waiting,” a voice suddenly said in Farsi, and Roya’s body buzzed. That voice had both energized and comforted her when they were inseparable. I have some issues regarding the mental health description/depression of the character as it's not just depression that she was suffering from. There's also this issue of paedophile which was not made much of a problem in the story. They fell in love when they were 17. They got engaged and against Bahman's mother's rejection who were suffering from psychological problems, they planned to get marry at the summer as the political turbulence commotion, danger of upcoming coup rising like Damocles' sword over their heads!

Beyond the Book

The Stationery Shop is a beautiful and timely exploration of devastating loss, unbreakable family bonds, and the overwhelming power of love.