A full book review of "The Stationery Shop" by Marjan Kamali.
'The Stationery Shop' is an emotional, powerful story about young love, sacrifice, and perseverance that will tug at your heart strings more than once and keep you hooked until the very last word. Through heart-wrenching glimpses into the past, Kamali paints a wistful story of passion, hope, and thwarted love.
Against the backdrop of a rapidly changing Iran, Roya finds peace at Mr. Fakhiri's stationery shop, where she discovers herself not only in the timeless novels and poems, but in Bahman too. Tuesday after Tuesday, week after week, Roya and Bahman fall rapidly into an intense, passionate love from which they will never recover. Through a series of stolen moments, breathless encounters, and a frantic need to be together before Iran crumbles, the engaged couple take fate into their hands when they decide to elope. But when that fateful day comes and Roya is left stranded, she resigns herself to a future she never imagined - one without Bahman, in a country half-way across the world. It is not until 60 years later, in an unexpected twist of fate, that they are reunited, and the secrets, lies, and questions that haunted them for more than half a century are finally answered.
The 'Stationery Shop' is a poignant, sweeping novel about compassion, loss, and the everlasting power of love. A must-read for book lovers of any kind!
*Please note the section below contains spoilers*
'The Stationery Shop' turned out to be one of those rare books that left me speechless...which may not be the best place to be in as I write this review! It was a stunning, deeply emotional novel that I loved in so many ways; from the powerful telling of their romance, to the passionate fight for a democratic Iran and the ultimate devastation that wrought so much change. The story had me on the edge of my seat, breathlessly waiting to know more.
The juxtaposition between Roya as a teenager in a turbulent Iran vs. the elegant, sophisticated lady she grew up to be in modern day America was astounding. Kamali did a fantastic job in bringing Roya to life and developing a lovable, endearing character who her readers could feel a connection to Roya. Her story resonated with me on a very personal level as it mirrored so much of the struggles my parents went through as well. Much like Roya, my father was forced to leave a war-torn Lebanon and the only home he had ever known as a young adult in order to build a better future for himself. He worked multiple jobs to sustain his undergraduate and graduate education all while adjusting to a new country, culture, and language. At the same time, much like Roya, my mother was the first female from her hometown to not only study to be a doctor, but to do so abroad. She too forged the path forward for not only for herself, but for all women who were fighting for more. I am in constant awe of these incredible individuals and their stories of strength, perseverance, and success in the face of true uncertainty.
“ The past was always there, lurking in the corners, winking at you when you thought you'd moved on, hanging on to your organs from the inside."
For Roya and Bahman, their love endured over decades, seeing them through marriage to other people to the birth and death of children. Despite all they had faced, their reunion was one of humility, forgiveness, and grace. Through Kamali's beautiful writing, I felt the highs and lows of Roya and Bahman's relationship as if it were my own. They were the perfect H/H for the novel, drawn beautifully with compassion and dignity, infused with countless endearing traits. At the same time, the relationship between Roya and Walter, while not as intense or passionate, was beautiful nonetheless in its devotion, maturity, and respect. Walter showed his love through his continuous support of his wife through the good and bad, his enthusiasm towards her culture, and his understanding when Bahman returned to their lives.
From the secondary characters, Mr. Fakhri was my favorite, with Roya's father coming in a close second. Despite Mr. Fakhri's role in the demise of Roya and Bahman's relationship, his quiet passion in helping unite lost souls through the sanctuary of his bookshop, his regret over the decisions he had made in the past, and his ultimate death that he faced while trying to wrong a right allowed him to be a loveable, sorrowful character who touched the lives of those around him. I thought it a beautiful testament to Mr. Fahkhri for Bahman to open his own stationery shop in the US, giving generations to come the same opportunity to both lose and find themselves in the stories, poems, and lives that pass through his store.
Not only was Roya's father 'liberal' for their time and culture, but he was also an exemplary father who sacrificed a lot to ensure his daughter's had the future they deserved. Although we did not see or hear much of him throughout the book, his continued dedication towards democracy, his love towards his family, and his support of women's rights made him one of the good ones.
As a whole, 'The Stationery Shop' was a moving historical saga tinged with equal parts love and sadness. A must-read for romance, historical-fiction, and book lovers of all kinds!