The Stationery Shop of Tehran by Marjan Kamali was on my "to be read" list for a long time. This novel deals with love, loss and characters that fill your thoughts long after you have finished reading the book.
The story is about Roya and Bahman Aslan who meet in a stationery shop for the first time and fall in love. The shop run by Mr. Fakhri has translated books of literature from all over the world. While their relationship blossoms, Tehran is in turmoil. Soon violence erupts in the country, and Roya rushes to meet Bahman at a place where in a letter he had asked her to meet. When Roya reaches the place, violence erupts and gun shots are heard. While she looks for Bahman in the crowd, Mr. Fakhri rushes to meet Roy in a bid to rectify his mistake in miscommunicating their meeting place. In a twist of fate Mr. Fakri dies as he comes in the way of a gun shot.
When she is unable to meet Bahman and is depressed over it, Roya's father decides to send his daughters abroad for higher studies. Did Roya get over her love for Bahman? Did they meet in the end? Did they marry somebody else and move on in life, makes up the rest of the story.
The story is beautifully written with a few twists and with a bitter sweet ending.
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