The Stationery Shop

From the New York Times bestselling author of Together Tea and The Lion Women of Tehran, a poignant, "powerful" (The Wall Street Journal) and "affecting novel about first love" (Real Simple) that explores loss, reconciliation, and the quirks of fate.

Roya, a dreamy, idealistic teenager living amid the political upheaval of 1953 Tehran, finds a literary oasis in kindly Mr. Fakhri’s neighborhood stationery shop, stocked with books and pens and bottles of jewel-colored ink.

Then 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—and she loses her heart at once. Their romance blossoms, and the 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 when 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 moves on—to college in California, to another man, to a life in New England—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 you leave? Where did you go? How is it that you were able to forget me?

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Mozhan Marnò gives an extraordinary narration of this audiobook, set mainly in 1950s Iran and the U.S. Raised by progressive Iranian parents, Roya meets Bahman, an activist student, at a Tehran stationery shop. They are planning to marry when Bahman mysteriously disappears. Roya moves to California where she studies science and marries the caring Walter. Sixty years later, Roya seeks answers to what happened to Bahman. Marnò's expressive narration reveals every nuance of Roya's emotional journey, as well as the complexity of loving her husband while mourning Bahman. Marnò slows the story when the moment demands that listeners take a breath to fully experience Roya's feelings. Sensitive portrayals of Roya's family and friends, and vivid descriptions of Iranian food and customs, add depth to this moving listen."

beautiful writing for a beautiful story

If this book "The Stationary Shop " by Marjan Kamali is not on your TBR list you need to add it now. This is such a beautiful love story across the ages. It starts with first loves in Tehran and love not meant to be. To coming to America to start a new life only to find many years later your past is closer than you thought. It is such a beautifully written story that i wish i could start it all over again for the first time. A quick read as you will not be able to put it down.

A love story with many layers...

I was hooked fairly quickly and finished it within 2 days. I am so glad this book was recommended to me. Many societal issues from 1953 are seen played out yet today. I enjoyed the narration.

Speechless

What an amazing book! It’s one of those books you cannot put down and when it’s over you think, “what now?”

It is extremely well written, the narration was the best I’ve heard and the storyline is intriguing. It’s a love story mixed with the decades of turmoil in Iran through the character’s eyes. All I can say is wow! I have found a new favorite author.

great read!

it was a beautifully written story full of life abd love and loss. I highly recommend reading it.

Incredible

This book broke my heart into a million little pieces. It was so delightful and colorful and descriptive and really took me back to my childhood memories of the streets of Tehran. A must read.