“The Lion Women of Tehran” is a “powerful portrait of friendship, feminism, and political activism” (People) 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 for a friend to alleviate her isolation.
Luckily, on the first day of school, she meets Homa, a kind 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 of 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. This story of love and courage, is a sweeping exploration of how profoundly we are shaped by those we meet when we are young.
Marjan Kamali is the national and international bestselling author of The Lion Women of Tehran, The Stationery Shop, and Together Tea. She is a 2022 recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellowship. Kamali’s novels are published in translation in more than 25 languages. Her essays have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Literary Hub, and the Los Angeles Review of Books. Kamali holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from University of California, Berkeley, an MBA from Columbia University, and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from New York University. Born in Turkey to Iranian parents, Kamali spent her childhood in Turkey, Iran, Germany, Kenya, and the U.S. She now lives in the Boston area with her family.
It’s impossible to read The Lion Women of Tehran and not get hungry. So many mouthwatering food references!
Fortunately, Persian recipes abound on the internet.
We chose 10 to try out for you, dishes you can make for a book club discussion or simply if you’re curious to learn more about this oh-so-flavorful cuisine. None of them is hard, though a few are rather fussy (but worth the effort if you have the time).
You can also look for recipes on your own at sites like these: saffronandherbs.com, unicornsinthekitchen.com, beatseats.com and themediterraneandish.com.
Additionally, author Marjan Kamali has a few recipes on her website for dishes described in her book.
Some of the more unusual ingredients can be found at Middle Eastern food stores such as Shirazi Persian Market, 2864 N. Oakland Ave., Indian Groceries and Spices, 10700 W. North Ave., Penzeys, 12001 W. Capitol Drive, or online.
Note: Saffron is a key ingredient in Iranian cuisine, but it is very expensive. Turmeric can be substituted, though the flavor will be different. For the closest approximation, use ¼ teaspoon turmeric plus ½ teaspoon paprika for every large pinch (or ¼ teaspoon) of saffron. If the recipe calls for saffron bloomed in water, be sure to add the same amount of water.
Happy reading, cooking and feasting!
For a quicker, easier option, your book club could share one or more of these snacks that were mentioned in the book:
