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The Lion Women of Tehran Hardcover – July 2, 2024

by Marjan Kamali (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,132 ratings
Editors' pick Best Literature & Fiction
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From the nationally bestselling author of the “powerful, heartbreaking” (Shelf Awareness) The Stationery Shop, a heartfelt, epic new novel of friendship, betrayal, and redemption set against three transformative decades in Tehran, Iran.

In 1950s Tehran, seven-year-old Ellie lives in grand comfort until the untimely death of her father, forcing Ellie and her mother to move to a tiny home downtown. Lonely and bearing the brunt of her mother’s endless grievances, Ellie dreams of a friend to alleviate her isolation.

Luckily, on the first day of school, she meets Homa, a kind, passionate girl with a brave and irrepressible spirit. Together, the two girls play games, learn to cook in the stone kitchen of Homa’s warm home, wander through the colorful stalls of the Grand Bazaar, and share their ambitions for becoming “lion women.”

But their happiness is disrupted when Ellie and her mother are afforded the opportunity to return to their previous bourgeois life. Now a popular student at the best girls’ high school in Iran, Ellie’s memories of Homa begin to fade. Years later, however, her sudden reappearance in Ellie’s privileged world alters the course of both of their lives.

Together, the two young women come of age and pursue their own goals for meaningful futures. But as the political turmoil in Iran builds to a breaking point, one earth-shattering betrayal will have enormous consequences.

Written with Marjan Kamali’s signature “evocative, devastating, and hauntingly beautiful” (Whitney Scharer, author of The Age of Light) prose, The Lion Women of Tehran is a sweeping exploration of how profoundly we are shaped by those we meet when we are young, and the way love and courage transforms our lives.
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  1. Print length
    336 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Gallery Books
  4. Publication date
    July 2, 2024
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.1 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1668036584
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1668036587
  8. See all details
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Popular Highlights in this book
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Previous page
  1. That’s how losses of rights build. They start small. And then soon, the rights are stripped in droves.
    Highlighted by 158 Kindle readers
  2. “Shir zan. Lionesses. Us. Can’t you just see it, Ellie? Someday, you and me—we’ll do great things. We’ll live life for ourselves. And we will help others. We are cubs now, maybe. But we will grow to be lionesses. Strong women who make things happen.”
    Highlighted by 121 Kindle readers
  3. Events that seem to appear in the present from out of nowhere in actuality have a long history behind them.
    Highlighted by 114 Kindle readers
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From the Publisher

The Lion Women of Tehran

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Elegant...A tender, beautifully written examination of two women—and their choices—over more than 30 years."—Oprah Daily

“Riveting...Reminiscent of The Kite Runner and My Brilliant Friend, The Lion Women of Tehran is a mesmerizing tale featuring endearing characters who will linger in readers’ hearts.” —BookPage

“Kamali tells a moving story of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and how a country’s transformation, in turn, transforms the lives of two unforgettable women. Simultaneously heartbreaking and life affirming, it’s a book that you won’t be able to put down until you’ve read every word.” —Adrienne Brodeur, New York Times bestselling author of Little Monsters

"With this masterful, heart-centered novel, Marjan Kamali has crafted a deeply honest look at the true meaning of friendship. Through Homa and Ellie we see the nuances of a perfectly imperfect love that withstands class differences, personal trauma, jealousy, war, and revolution. Their souls are forever intertwined and as a reader it is an honor to bear witness. This book made me incredibly proud to be an Iranian woman—a Lion Woman too." —Shideh Etaat, author of Rana Joon and the One and Only Now

"Marjan Kamali is at it again, this time bringing us a story of friendship and love set against the tumult and terror of the Iranian Revolution. The Lion Women of Tehran is a novel about two girls, who grow up wanting very different things but are united by their affection for each other and their shared desire for a more egalitarian Iran. Kamali is a gifted storyteller at the height of her powers, who manages to connect the country’s complicated history with its present and sing the praises of Iranian women who, even today, are fighting for the most basic of freedoms. If you liked The Stationery Shop, you’ll love The Lion Women of Tehran." —Rachel Beanland, author of Florence Adler Swims Forever and The House is On Fire

"In The Lion Women of Tehran, Marjan Kamali brings to life the beauty and tragedy of Iran in the 1960s. From the delicious scent of spices simmering, to the colors of the bazaar, to the snowflakes landing on a certain character’s hair, this story came brilliantly alive to me from the very first page. Courage, friendship, loyalty, hardship, love—this novel has everything." —Mary Beth Keane, New York Times bestselling author of Ask Again, Yes

"Kamali's storytelling is both evocative and hauntingly beautiful, creating a vivid portrayal of the characters' lives and the cultural tapestry of Tehran. The Lion Women of Tehran is not merely a novel; it is a sweeping exploration of the enduring influence of early connections, the resilience of the human spirit, and the transformative power of love and courage in the face of political upheaval. This novel is a testament to Kamali's storytelling prowess and her ability to create a deeply moving and thought-provoking narrative. I loved this book!" —Jean Kwok, New York Times bestselling author of Searching for Sylvie Lee

"A moving tale of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness, unfolding into a deep and powerful exploration of feminist protest in Iran. The contrast between Ellie and Homa’s voices is a narrative all of its own, and Homa deserves a place as one of the true heroines of literature.” —Erica Bauermeister, New York Times bestselling author of No Two Persons

"An evocative read and a powerful portrait of friendship, feminism, and political activism." —People

"More than a tale of friendship or a coming-of-age story, it’s a beautifully crafted and subtle exploration of love, family, friendship, ambition, betrayal and redemption in a socio-political powder keg...This finely written novel emphasizes the human experience in the face of turmoil.” —Bookreporter

About the Author

Marjan Kamali, born in Turkey to Iranian parents, spent her childhood in Kenya, Germany, Turkey, Iran, and the United States. She holds degrees from UC Berkeley, Columbia University, and New York University. She is the 2022 recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Award. She is the author of The Lion Women of Tehran, The Stationery Shop, and Together Tea. Marjan lives with her husband in the Boston area. They have two children.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gallery Books (July 2, 2024)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1668036584
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1668036587
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.1 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,132 ratings

About the author

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Marjan Kamali

Marjan Kamali

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Marjan Kamali is the award-winning author of The Stationery Shop (Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster), a national bestseller, and Together Tea (EccoBooks/HarperCollins), a Massachusetts Book Award finalist. She is a 2022 recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellowship. Kamali’s novels are published in translation in more than 20 languages and The Stationery Shop was awarded the Prix Attitude in France. Her essays have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Literary Hub, and the Los Angeles Review of Books. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of California, Berkeley, an MBA from Columbia University, and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from New York University. Born in Turkey to Iranian parents, Kamali spent her childhood in Turkey, Iran, Germany, Kenya, and the U.S.

Visit the author at marjankamali.com, on instagram at @marjankamali7, on facebook at www.facebook.com/MarjanKamaliAuthor or on twitter at @MarjanKamali.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
1,132 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the storyline meaningful, memorable, and gripping. They also appreciate the beautifully developed characters and eloquent writing style. Readers describe the emotional storyline as interesting and emotional from beginning to end.

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StorylineCharacterizationWriting styleEmotional storyline
12 customers mention "Storyline"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the storyline meaningful, interesting, and emotional from beginning to end. They also appreciate the impactful characters, rich history, important themes, and eloquent writing. Readers also appreciate that the imagery and story are overlaid on inspiring struggles.

"...She adds timeliness to the story with reference to Mahsa Amini, the Kurd who was murdered for having shown a bit of hair...." Read more

"...I don't mean it as an insult but a compliment: I loved the history presented in this novel. I loved the characters and the imagery...." Read more

"A hauntingly beautiful story of two unlikely best friends that spans eight decades of fighting for women’s rights, classism, violence, and political..." Read more

"Beautifully developed characters, imagery and story overlaid on the inspiring struggles of Iranian women...." Read more

6 customers mention "Characterization"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters beautifully developed.

"I loved The Lion Women of Tehran. I loved the novel’s main characters...." Read more

"...I loved the characters and the imagery. I love the rhythm of the story...." Read more

"Beautifully developed characters, imagery and story overlaid on the inspiring struggles of Iranian women...." Read more

"I absolutely loved everything about this book; the character development, the history, the author’s style of writing, everything...." Read more

4 customers mention "Writing style"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style of the book eloquent.

"Very well written, through the eyes of girls and women during society differences and transition in a country full of strife and change...." Read more

"...about this book; the character development, the history, the author’s style of writing, everything...." Read more

"...Beautifully written. I could not put it down!" Read more

"...with impactful characters, rich history, important themes and eloquent writing...." Read more

3 customers mention "Emotional storyline"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the storyline interesting and emotional from beginning to end. They also mention that the book is about women, friendship, and hardship.

"A wonderful book about courage, women, friendship and hardship...." Read more

"...Exciting and interesting as well as emotional from beginning to end. For me a book hard to put down, one I will never forget. Totally a must read...." Read more

"...The journey is fascinating, heartbreaking, cathartic and inspirational...." Read more

5 Heartfelt Stars!
5 out of 5 stars

5 Heartfelt Stars!

“No matter where you go or how far you travel, when you are in a place of substance, the floor is covered with the rugs of our country. The artwork of our land. Which means really, in all these places, you are with the labor of Iranian women.”We get to see the changing tide in Tehran through the eyes of two childhood girl friends Homa and Ellie (Elaheh), from grammar school in the 1950s through their studies at university and beyond. They have very different backgrounds and life experience within a quickly changing culture, but share a deep devotion to one another. The fabric of their friendship is put to the test in the dangerous climate of the Shah’s White Revolution and the ever growing communism influence. When the Islamic Revolution takes hold in the late 1970s, hard earned women’s rights vanish and are replaced with surveillance, violence and imprisonment in the name of extremist religion. Shir Zan, women with the courage of lions, face and fight this repression.This coming of age feminist novel explores the themes of indifference vs activism and the paralyzing guilt of long held secrets. The character studies of each player in this complex web brought me to a place where I was fully invested in the plot and profoundly moved by the insanely difficult decisions they all had to make. Knowing how this novel represents the reality of so many women in Iran today broke my heart, and is a warning how regime change can destroy lives in the blink of an eye.If you loved The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini or Ms. Kamali’s wildly popular The Stationery Store, run to get your copy of this emotional and insightful novel!
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Top reviews from the United States

Miss.Read.Alot
5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful story!
Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2024
Verified Purchase
4.75 stars
The Lion Women of Tehran, by Marjan Kamali, is a powerful, evocative, moving story with impactful characters, rich history, important themes and eloquent writing.

We start with an irrepressible friendship between two girls from different economic, social and political statuses in 1950s Tehran. Political unrest is rampant and engulfs everyone. Ellie and Homa have lives that eventually diverge, then reunite, and we follow the paths they take. The journey is fascinating, heartbreaking, cathartic and inspirational. This epic story is meaningful and memorable and will grip your heart, stir your emotions, possibly change your perspective, and leave you better for it.
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Alexandra Grabbe
5.0 out of 5 stars What an awesome read!
Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2024
Verified Purchase
I loved The Lion Women of Tehran. I loved the novel’s main characters. I loved learning the history of the oppression of Iranian women through Ellie and Homa’s story. The two girls become friends in childhood. Their friendship endures despite trials and tribulations. On International Women’s Day in 1979, readers are right there with Homa as men with clubs enter the crowd of protesters. Tens of thousands of women marching. This novel thrilled me and enlightened me and made me want to waste no time in trying Persian food because of the frequent references to dishes I had never heard of, let alone tasted. I felt the anguish of Iranian women when the current regime passed a law making the hijab mandatory. When Homa marches for women’s rights, readers are right there by her side, clenched fists in the air. We root for Homa and Ellie across 75 years. So much happens in this novel, but it’s a page-turner. No wonder Oprah recommended it. I appreciated Marjan Kamali’s Author’s Note that she is neither a scholar nor a historian. That may be true, but Kamali succeeds in making us care about Iran and its courageous women. She adds timeliness to the story with reference to Mahsa Amini, the Kurd who was murdered for having shown a bit of hair. Run, don’t walk, to your favorite local independent bookstore and get your hands on this novel. It is excellent.
14 people found this helpful
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Aris
4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful story
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2024
Verified Purchase
A wonderful book about courage, women, friendship and hardship. I’m always interested in learning of different cultures and this really gives you great insight to Iran during this time. I even cried.
2 people found this helpful
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TJT
5.0 out of 5 stars So important
Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2024
Verified Purchase
After reading this book, I have a new appreciation for all the things I simply take for granted in my "American" life and as an American woman. I don't plan to be an activist but I definitely feel like a more informed ally of women's rights.

I recommend this book. Read it. It reminded me of "The Kite Runner". I don't mean it as an insult but a compliment: I loved the history presented in this novel. I loved the characters and the imagery. I love the rhythm of the story. It reminded me of listening to my grandma or grandpa tell a story of their past or of my parents. It kept me up all night. "One more chapter, then I'll go to sleep," is what I repeated over and over until I came to the end all too soon.

One thing I didn't like is that I didn't see the recipes of some of the dishes described in the book. The author describes them in such detail, I was left salivating and searching for things like "fesenjan near me." Okay, I am not a big fan of rosewater anything. But I would love to taste of of the dishes described in the book.

I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did. Thank you for reading my review (if you made it this far.)
19 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent story with history
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2024
Verified Purchase
Very well written, through the eyes of girls and women during society differences and transition in a country full of strife and change. A relationship surviving strife, civil turmoil and persecution over 50 plus years.

Well worth the read
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Kristel
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for 2024!
Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2024
Verified Purchase
A hauntingly beautiful story of two unlikely best friends that spans eight decades of fighting for women’s rights, classism, violence, and political upheaval in Iran. This book is ultimately a testament to how profoundly we are shaped by those we meet when we are young and a powerful reminder of the fight for women’s rights that continues to this day in Iran. A must-read for 2024!
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Deb Stern
4.0 out of 5 stars How we are so much alike even from different cultures.
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC of this book. However, typical for me, I don't seem to get any "reading" done and have become almost 99% audiobook listener. I initially requested this book because I loved “The Stationery Shop” by Marian Kamala and had great intentions of reading it. I ended up getting the audiobook once released and was not disappointed. The narration is great. It was also beautiful to hear snippets of Persian language weaved throughout the book.
This author does a beautiful job introducing a different culture while reminding the reader all that we have in common, even if we live on opposite sides of the world. I confess Iran is not a setting I read much about, I think because it is so complicated and layered. I had a beautician in San Diego in the late 90s named Sima. She escaped Iran in the 70s with her husband, pregnant and one suitcase. I thought of her so often while listening to this book. I look forward to Ms. Kamala’s next book.
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susan s kashaf
5.0 out of 5 stars Blown away
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2024
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Beautifully developed characters, imagery and story overlaid on the inspiring struggles of Iranian women. Complete page turner- it’ll leave you thinking about the characters for long after you read that last page. 10/10 highly recommend.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Sonia bhardwaj
5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing book.
Reviewed in India on July 23, 2024
Verified Purchase
The Lion Women of Tehran is a story of friendship,love, betrayal, politics and a constant longing for freedom. Freedom that the novel seeks is not just of a nation by its women. It shouts for liberty, equality and opportunities that women in every land deserves. Ellie and Homa forged a bond of friendship that has its own challenges. It undergoes the testing of time only to emerge stronger than ever. Homa is the spirit that Ellie seeks throughout her life. She is the passion, commitment and courage that every woman will welcome in her life. Her vigour is infectious. Power hates question and absolute power lothes it. It poses a challenge to those who enjoy the formidable status. Homa thus is a challenge to them. They try to crush her spirit, her purpose of life. She is imprisoned, raped and tortured. The brief fear of survival gives way to her insurmountable commitment for equality and respect for women rights. It's not just a novel but a cry for the respect and security that a woman deserves. Ellie is her safe haven, her home, her love they dream of becoming Lion women of Tehran. Their friendship makes the reader long for similar bonding. Their strength is their bonding which stands rock solid when faced with authorities. It is their protection against the evil eye. Their lifetime is a tale of commitment for each other and for all women who desire and deserve freedom.
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Sonia bhardwaj
5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing book.
Reviewed in India on July 23, 2024
The Lion Women of Tehran is a story of friendship,love, betrayal, politics and a constant longing for freedom. Freedom that the novel seeks is not just of a nation by its women. It shouts for liberty, equality and opportunities that women in every land deserves. Ellie and Homa forged a bond of friendship that has its own challenges. It undergoes the testing of time only to emerge stronger than ever. Homa is the spirit that Ellie seeks throughout her life. She is the passion, commitment and courage that every woman will welcome in her life. Her vigour is infectious. Power hates question and absolute power lothes it. It poses a challenge to those who enjoy the formidable status. Homa thus is a challenge to them. They try to crush her spirit, her purpose of life. She is imprisoned, raped and tortured. The brief fear of survival gives way to her insurmountable commitment for equality and respect for women rights. It's not just a novel but a cry for the respect and security that a woman deserves. Ellie is her safe haven, her home, her love they dream of becoming Lion women of Tehran. Their friendship makes the reader long for similar bonding. Their strength is their bonding which stands rock solid when faced with authorities. It is their protection against the evil eye. Their lifetime is a tale of commitment for each other and for all women who desire and deserve freedom.
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