July 2024

A few years ago, I read and loved Marjan Kamali’s THE STATIONERY SHOP, which was so beautifully done. I am happy to share that her latest book, THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN, is just as special. While readers will see it as a touching story of a friendship, it is much more as Marjan gives us an inside view of the political situation that erupts again and again in Tehran, Iran.

Two girls, Ellie and Homa, become friends at school. Ellie’s background had been in much higher standing until her father passed away, and she and her mother had to move to a lower-class area. While Ellie’s mother resents this lack of social standing, Ellie enjoys the simpler life at Homa’s house, where there is lots of joy. When Ellie’s mother remarries, they move to a more posh part of town, and the friendship between the two girls unravels.

Fast forward a few years, and Homa becomes a scholarship student in the very prestigious academy where Ellie is now going to school. What happens between them, as well as the way their lives came together in their younger years, will have lasting ramifications. There is a lot here about class and status. One memorable line explores this when Ellie sees a homeless woman and points out “the silent acknowledgement of the randomness of the wheel of fortune.” That is exactly how these girls live their lives; their stations in life are different just due to their stations at birth.

Marjan weaves in the culture of Tehran seamlessly so we can picture the bazaars and the sights and sounds. She will have you looking up recipes for some of the foods shared within the pages. She also will have you thinking about long friendships. And she will have you pondering what it takes for a friendship to remain important to two women, across decades, oceans and political regimes. There is so much to talk about here and a lot to spur an excellent discussion for book groups.

To hear more from Marjan about THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN, enjoy my “Bookreporter Talks To” video or podcast with her.