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It’s magical to pick up a book and become one with the story. I knew I had a goodie in my hands with “The Lion Women of Tehran,” by Marjan Kamali, a novel about a long-standing friendship between two Iranian women, from the 1950s to the 1980s, set in Iran and New York City.
The book is narrated by Ellie, whom we meet as a youngster in Tehran, a 7-year-old girl struggling with the untimely loss of her father from tuberculosis. Ellie’s mother is superstitious, believes her husband’s death has occurred because the family is smitten by “the evil eye,” which she expounds on throughout Ellie’s life.
Ellie grieves the loss of her father, yet her caustic, outspoken mother seems able to move on—too quickly for her daughter, who is shocked by her mother’s new love interest.
Though her mother says she has little use for her dead husband’s brother, Uncle Massoud, he visits regularly, and before Ellie knows it her mother marries him, securing a mate who will provide for the family. Fortunately, Uncle Massoud also believes Iranian girls should be educated just as boys are.
As Ellie prepares to attend school, her excitement about learning mounts, as does her anticipation for meeting girls her own age and finding a best friend. Ellie’s imagination swirls with possibilities, but Homa, the rude child in first grade is far from the friend she desires. The girl has a look of mischief in her eye, and would be considered lower class by Ellie’s mother, but a connection is made, and passionate, rebellious Homa becomes Ellie’s soul mate.
Ellie and Homa couldn’t be more different. Ellie’s mother always reminded Ellie she had royal roots, but Homa doesn’t care a flip about that, goading Ellie with the title “Princess.” Homa is tough and as the girls mature Homa has strong feelings about Iran’s political situation, determined she will become a lawyer, telling Ellie “…We will grow to be lionesses. Strong women who make things happen.”
Though Ellie and Homa’s bond strengthens as the years go by, Homa remains the most headstrong of the two, demonstrating in the streets and taking chances as Iran slips into political unrest. Ellie, on the other hand, falls in love with a boy she meets, a love affair Homa supports but also struggles to accept because Ellie is adopting a traditional role for a woman. Homa, on the other hand, becomes increasingly involved with saving women’s rights in a country falling victim to a patriarchal society.
“The Lion Women of Tehran” is an accessible page turner with strong, admirable characters, women snared in a web of political unrest they can’t control that complicates their friendship. The strain eventually culminates in a misstep that causes a deep chasm to develop between Ellie and Homa, in a book that’s highly informative, entertaining and heartfelt.
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