The Lion Women of Tehran Hardcover – July 2, 2024

4.75 starsThe 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.

Life changed dramatically for seven-year-old Elaheh after her father died. Her father’s brother now held the purse strings for Elaheh and her mother. Uncle Massoud forced them to move to a small place at “the bottom of the city.” Gone was the beautiful home her mother had lived in since her marriage at age 16. Gone were the servants. Gone was the money her father made. Gone were her mother’s paintings, jewelry, furniture, all the trappings of a wealthy life. Home now consisted of two rooms with a mattress on the floor where both mother and daughter slept. Elaheh’s self absorbed, ultra superstitious, mean spirited mother refused to work as having a job was beneath someone who was descended from royalty as she often reminded her daughter.Ellie spent those early days looking out her window at the neighborhood children playing in the streets. Forbidden to join them, she could only dream about having a friend.As their first summer in the slums drew to a close, Elaheh’s mother announced that she had registered her daughter for first grade. Ellie was so excited for school and knew that there she would finally find her perfect friend.But the kind, gentle friend of her dreams never appeared. Instead, a curly haired, loud, boisterous, girl with mischief in her eyes became her BFF. Her name was Homa and she was so different from what Ellie had imagined her best friend would be. Homa and her family welcomed Ellie. But her own mother refused to allow Homa to come home with Ellie. In spite of the prejudice and hate her mother spewed about Homa and her family, the girls built a solid friendship. And together they were going to grow up and follow their dreams.Their bond of friendship was strong with ups and downs throughout their lives. Both girls had dreams. Homa was the idealist - a fighter, an activist, wanting to make changes for the women in her beloved country while Ellie was a gentle soul, who wanted a college education, a husband and children. Both dreams were shattered as Iran’s political climate changed and the Sha was ousted.This beautifully written story is told in flashbacks from 1950 to 2022. This is a story of two little girls who grew up in an ever changing country. It is a story of courage, friendship, women’s rights (or lack of them), Iranian culture, and political unrest. Written by the author who brought us The Stationary Shop, Marjan Kamila has woven an engaging and timely story about the strength and beauty of the women living in Iran. Don’t miss this five star novel.

Thought the plot of the book was very interesting but the author’s use of Iranian food and other objects were too much like Covenant of Water. Could not relate to Iranian language.

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.

This was a wonderful novel with what I thought was a very weak ending. It could have had the same essential ending, but the way it was approached and written actually failed me. The very last two pages were fine, but the chapter leading up to it was just too weak for me. However, most of the book was wonderful and brought back memories of my own special childhood friendship which morphed into an adult friendship. So I give it five stars overall. I loved reading it, could hardly put it down and it went straight into my heart. I loved those two young girls. One suggestion/request to the author: Write a cookbook based on the Tehran foods you mention in the book; they made my mouth water but I have no idea how to cook them. PLEASE. Or suggest a cookbook with those recipes in it. (P.s. I have also ordered you other book: The Stationary shop of Tehran.)

A compelling story of friendship and the courage and leadership of one woman who fought for her identity,freedom and rights as a woman. Beautifully written. I could not put it down!

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.

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.