The Stationery Shop

Author: Marjan Kamali
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Type: Trade Paperback
Pages: 308
Source: Publisher
Publisher: Gallery Books
First Published: June 18, 2019
Opening Lines: "I made an appointment to see him."

Book Description from GoodReads: Roya is a dreamy, idealistic teenager living in 1953 Tehran who, amidst the political upheaval of the time, finds a literary oasis in kindly Mr. Fakhri’s neighborhood book and stationery shop. She always feels safe in his dusty store, overflowing with fountain pens, shiny ink bottles, and thick pads of soft writing paper.

When Mr. Fakhri, with a keen instinct for a budding romance, introduces Roya to his other favorite customer—handsome Bahman, who has a burning passion for justice and a love for Rumi’s poetry—she loses her heart at once. And, as their romance blossoms, the modest little stationery shop remains their favorite place in all of Tehran.

A few short months later, on the eve of their marriage, Roya agrees to meet Bahman at the town square, but suddenly, violence erupts—a result of the coup d’etat that forever changes their country’s future. In the chaos, Bahman never shows. For weeks, Roya tries desperately to contact him, but her efforts are fruitless. With a sorrowful heart, she resigns herself to never seeing him again.

Until, more than sixty years later, an accident of fate leads her back to Bahman and offers her a chance to ask him the questions that have haunted her for more than half a century: Why did he leave? Where did he go? How was he able to forget her?

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

My Rating: 4 stars

My Review: The Stationery Shop is part romance, part family drama and part historical fiction that weaves the history, political tensions, social mores, ahhmazing food and beauty of Iranian culture within an engaging and touching story. 

The story is told using two time frames. The first is set in 1953 Tehran, Iran during a tumultuous time when future of that country would be influenced by a political coup. The second picks up in 2013 Boston and continues to follow the characters. The first half of the book has a slower pace as the background is set but as the pieces of the story come together, it becomes an engaging and heartwarming story about family, culture, loss and the enduring and changing aspects of love and how societal changes influence familial relationships.

The author addresses some bigger issues that are relatable to readers. From women's changing roles, political tensions and uncertainties, traditional versus progressive beliefs and the effects of mental illness on a family. Paired with a good twist and a scene that made this reader tear up (no mean feat!), this was a wonderful read.
 

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Gallery Books for providing me a complimentary digital copy in exchange for my honest review.