The Stationery Shop of Tehran

The stationary shop of Tehran is a historical romance fiction set in Tehran, Iran. The book follows a girl named Roya who loved spending her time in the stationary shop of Tehran which is also a book store where she meets a political activist Bahman Aslan. Amidst the political turmoil in Tehran, Roya and Bahman fall in love but destiny has different plans for them.The book is written so beautifully and amazingly. I just couldn't put the book down. The book is unpredictable yet it unfolds many tiny secrets from time to time.It's a story about loss and grief; regrets and guilt; political turmoil ; acceptance and forgiveness.This book made me cry so much. This book was sad and heartbreaking yet beautiful. I still feel a lump in my throat! Especially the final pages-they're so hard to get through! But it's all worth it.And to my fellow Indian readers, you guys must be familiar with the ending of Veer Zara, this book has a similar kind of ending.

I just love being left with the feeling of awe and sentimentality and this book hits hard with both. This tale is a depiction of having loved and then lost paired with beautiful writing.The story is so gorgeous yet so sad and leaves you overwhelmed with multiple emotions in the end. The political-historical setting is very straightforward and clear and helps in the portrayal of the culture. There is also the depiction of how time heals all but the scars are always there. It is unpredictable and unfurls the tiniest of secrets or twists all of a sudden. It also talks about the love of books, poetry and stationery shops.The love stories in the story are very passionate and at times very practical as well. I also loved the sister dynamic of Roya and Zari. The whole arc of “Why didn't you reply to my letters?” to “What letters??!!!” was as traumatizing as ever. And the ending is sad yet satisfactory.

The book is so much more than just a romance. It is a little history, a little culture, relationships, psychology, everything mixed into one. Love it. Looking forward to read more books from this author.

Of friendship,of Love, Of Life. - A Review of the Stationery Shop of Tehran byJohn Green in the Fault of Stars quite accurately wrote that - “Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.” The Stationery Shop of Tehran is one such book which I will recommend to every single person, weather a bibliophile or not.The story is set in 1953, Tehran, Iran which is at the helm of a political outrage. It is in this Tehran that a 17 year old Roya meets Bahman in a Stationery Shop. In the midst of the books they love, they fall in love, get engaged and are all set to get married in the summer that follows. But alas, all hope of a bright future is darkened by the disappearance of Batman and the simultaneous coup in Iran. Roya, heartbroken moves to the US with her sister and meets Walter and starts a new life with him with the void created by Bahman’s absence carried deep within her heart. This story spans for over 60 years and is a story of Roya, Bahman, Walter, Zara, Ali, Badri. It is a story of Iran, its food, its people, its hospitality. It’s a story of Roya, Bahman, Walter, Zara, Ali, Badri. It’s a story of a war torn nation which is finding its heart. It is a story of love, friendship, relationships, sisterhood, trauma, betrayal, happiness, grief, loss and closure. It is a story which signifies how you don’t meet anyone you love halfway at any place. They are within each other all along.The statement that I loved the novel is an understatement. I have cried non- stop and I have smiled non - stop. This novel is like a strong ginger tea on a rainy day, provides you with warmth while devouring it, but stays with you long after you have consumed it. Roya, Bahman, Walter. They made me believe in the positivity and non toxicity of true love. It is just so simple. The language is descriptive and the vocabulary is beautiful and the character building is wonderful. I learned so much about the Irani culture and the similarities in the Indian and Irani food and hospitality culture fascinated me the most. The author has done a commendable job and her passion, her integrity can be reflected through Roya and Bahman’s story.My dear friends, please do yourself a favour and read this book. You will not regret it.

The novel is great and deserves a 4+ star, but the quality of the print was very bad. It looks like a photocopy of some original print. Disappointed!