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Book Club’s September read is ‘The Lion Women of Tehran’ by Marjan Kamali
Kamali will join Narrative owner Mila Hossain on Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. for a live streamed discussion.
For Boston.com Book Club’s September pick, we are reading a “heartfelt, epic new novel of friendship, betrayal, and redemption” by the award-nominated author Marjan Kamali.
“The Lion Women of Tehran” follows two young girls, Ellie and Homa, as they come of age in Tehran, Iran, beginning in the 1950s and spanning three decades. The two women weave in and out of each other’s lives, against the backdrop of an ever-changing country.
Kamali will join Mila Hossain, owner of the bookstore Narrative in Somerville on Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. for a live streamed discussion.
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The book | The author | The bookseller | Critics say | Watch the discussion
Buy “The Lion Women of Tehran” by author Marjan Kamali from Narrative
What is “The Lion Women of Tehran” about?
In 1950s Tehran, seven-year-old Ellie’s comfortable life is turned upside down by the untimely death of her father, forcing her and her mother to move to a tiny home downtown. The move leaves Ellie lonely, and she dreams of a friend to end her isolation.
Her dream comes true when Ellie meets Homa on the first day of school, and both become fast friends. Together, the two girls play games, learn to cook in Homa’s warm home, and share their ambitions of becoming “lion women.”
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But their happiness and friendship is disrupted when Ellie and her mother are able to return to their previous middle-class life. Years later, Ellie is a popular student at the best girls’ high school in Iran, and her memories of Homa begin to fade – until Homa makes a sudden reappearance in Ellie’s life, and both of their worlds are altered.
Together, the two young women come of age and pursue their own goals for meaningful futures amid growing political turmoil in Iran.
Who is author Marjan Kamali?
Marjan Kamali was born in Turkey to Iranian parents and spent her childhood in Kenya, Germany, Turkey, Iran, and the United States.
She holds degrees from UC Berkeley, Columbia University, and New York University. In 2022 , she received the National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Award.
Kamali’s debut novel, “Together Tea,” was published in 2013 and was a Massachusetts Book Award finalist. Her second novel, “The Stationery Shop,” was published in 2019 and became a national and international bestseller.
Kamali lives with her husband and two children in the Boston area.
About Narrative owner Mila Hossain
For Mila Hossain, owner of Narrative in Somerville’s Davis Square neighborhood, books have been a life-long love. Hossain and her family immigrated to Long Island, New York from Bangladesh when she was just 11 years old, and she turned to books as a means of comfort, escape, and exploration.
“It was a really intense experience for me as a kid, moving across the world to a community that was very, very different. Books provided all the avenues for me in terms of finding comfort, finding escape, being able to explore, and learning about different perspectives, the world, and about myself,” she said in an interview with Boston.com.
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After her father died in 2019 and she was furloughed from her job in the hospitality industry due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, she turned to reading books again to find solace – and that’s where the dream of owning a bookstore was born.
“I was really thinking very seriously about what I wanted my life to look like, and what I wanted for myself, and how I wanted to participate in the world. I was very stressed out, and I just kept having this thought over and over, that all I do is run a fun hotel. Why am I so stressed out? I would so much rather be working really hard and stressed out for something that feels right and meaningful to me,” she said.
Hossain opened Narrative, a bookstore that focuses on marginalized authors and stories, in May of 2024 to the acclaim of Somerville residents. The bookstore nearly sold out during its grand opening, Boston.com reported.
“You got to give the community credit. They showed up and they bought the books, and it was incredible,” she said of the opening.
The bookstore offers mostly new books that primarily showcase marginalized voices and experiences, as well as “a small but mighty” used book section, and art from local artists. Narrative also holds events, and Hossain said she hopes to expand her engagement with the Somerville community.
What critics are saying about the book
“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’
“An evocative read and a powerful portrait of friendship, feminism, and political activism.” – People
“An evocative read and a powerful portrait of friendship, feminism, and political activism.” – People
Watch the virtual discussion
Author Marjan Kamali and bookseller moderator Mila Hossain discussed “The Lion Women of Tehran” on Sept. 23 during a live virtual discussion.
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