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5 stars

My goodness. Another beautiful and enthralling read in a year full of them for me! I am going to be brief as the less said the better for potential readers of this wonderful novel.

The Stationery Shop (the perfect title for this story) is set in two timelines��1953 and 2013. I would estimate, however, that 90% of the story takes place in 1953, including, believe it or not, the epilogue. Our protagonist is Roya, a young woman who turns 17 years old in 1953. She meets her first love, Bahman, in a stationery shop run by a kind man eager to nurture young people who come in looking for knowledge. Both Roya and Bahman love poetry. The 1953 setting is Tehran, Iran, which is in political turmoil. The author’s research is obvious as we are presented with what Iranian life was like at that time, including the culture, the state of the unstable government, and the accompanying unrest. We also get a flavor of Persian food. And a most touching young romance.

Things do not go as hoped and much grief and sadness ensues. To say more would risk saying too much. What happens to these people involves social mores of the time, mental illness, lies and deceit, familial wishes, deep regret, and again, political unrest. This is NOT your usual young romance - in no way, shape or form. Ultimately, although I felt drained at the end, we get understanding, compassion, acceptance and an abundance of love in many different forms. The Stationery Shop, a most moving and unforgettable tale with exceptional characterization, gets all the stars and is highly recommended.