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The Lion Women of Tehran

The life-affirming BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick

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The Lion Women of Tehran

By: Marjan Kamali
Narrated by: Mozhan Navabi, Nikki Massoud
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A BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK

'As heart-wrenching as it is achingly beautiful' Sadeqa Johnson, author of The House of Eve

'Heartbreaking and life affirming' Adrienne Brodeur, author of Little Monsters

'Courage, friendship, loyalty, hardship, love – this novel has everything' Mary Beth Keane, Ask Again, Yes

From the author of The Stationery Shop of Tehran, 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.

Praise for Marjan Kamali

‘Evocative, devastating, and hauntingly beautiful’ Whitney Scharer, author of The Age of Light

‘A beautifully immersive tale’ Jasmin Darznik, author of The Good Daughter and Song of a Captive Bird

‘At once masterfully plotted, beautifully written, and populated by characters who are arresting, lovable and so real’ Elinor Lipman, author of Turpentine Lane

‘A sweeping romantic tale of thwarted love’ Kirkus Reviews

‘Enchanting’ My Weekly 20th Century Coming of Age Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Political Women's Fiction Women's Voices Iran Middle East Heartfelt Emotionally Gripping Inspiring Tear-jerking Thought-Provoking
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Every woman should listen to this book. I couldn’t stop listening. A view into another culture and hardships women suffer because of the opinions of men. I recommend everyone read this. It’s still going on in Iran and other parts of the world..

An Incredible Book

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I loved the enduring friendship between Ellie and Homa despite difficult times in their lives, and the vivid descriptions of the Persian food. A very moving story that will stay with me.

Beautiful story

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I loved how beautifully the author portrayed Iranian women — honest, authentic, and full of strength, complexity, and grace.

An honest, amazing book

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Such sadness that the oppression continues today. The hope that people had for the end of one regime only to be replaced with something worse.
As the war current currently rages we can only hope and pray for a peaceful outcome 😔

An insight into Iran’s recent history

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Loved the story, but the main positive is the interwoven characters and how they flow into a beautiful story

Everything with such depth of clarity of Iran

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