Interview | Growing Up Irooni: Marjan Kamali

Host: Leyla Shams


Guest: Marjan Kamali



Introduction:


Leyla Shams, host of Learn Persian with Chai and
Conversation, introduces her guest Marjan Kamali, the
award-winning author of the Stationary Shop.




Topics Discussed:
Marjan Kamali's The Stationary Shop

Recommended by the founder of Ketab Club, Kimia, as the
number one book by a middle eastern author.

Leyla shares her experience reading the book with a dozen
other women and the emotions it evoked.

Setting and Historical Context

Unlike the common discourse about the 1979 revolution, this
novel is set during the 1953 coup in Iran.

Discussion on how the 1953 coup altered the course of Iranian
history.

Insight into how the novel shows that the coup was a
significant event leading to a loss of hope and irreversible
change for Iran.

Discussion with Marjan Kamali

The inspiration behind the novel.

Kamali's thoughts on current events in Iran and her
predictions for the future.




Recommendations:


Leyla highly recommends her listeners to read The Stationary
Shop.

Encourages joining Ketab Club, a wonderful book club focused
on Middle Eastern authors. Link will be provided in the
shownotes.