The Stationery Shop
The Stationery Shop, by Marjan Kamali begins with Roya, an elderly Persian woman living in New England, running unexpectedly into Bahman, a man she fell in love with 60 years earlier.
From the author’s website:
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.
I enjoyed the glimpses into Persian culture, and the relationship between Roya and her sister, as well as the tertiary stories that ended up shaping the events more than I expected they would. Definitely recommended.
4 Comments
Ally Bean
Sounds like a lovely story, the kind I’d enjoy. I’ve not heard of this novel, so thanks for bringing it to my attention.
J
Ally, I wish I could remember where I heard of it, I need to start keeping track. I really enjoyed it though!
Margaret
This book sounds fascinating but heart-wrenching. I can only read a limited number of those type of books. Then I have to go back to my mysteries with their predictable plots and resolutions.
J
Yeah, sometimes after too many ‘heavy’ books, it’s nice to have a palette cleanser!