The use of modern language in this translation made it relatively easy to comprehend. There is an extremely detailed introduction in the beginning that provides important background information about the poem and an explanation about why the translator chose to use modern language. The chapter summaries were also a nice touch.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator’s cadence and tone were appropriate considering that this is an epic poem that grew out of a long standing oral tradition.

Side note: Odysseus really was lying his ass. Grade A manipulator!

The Lion Women of Tehran is a complex novel that explores the deep friendship between Ellie and Homa, two girls who become best friends in 1950s Tehran. Ellie and Homa come from starkly different social class backgrounds and households, shaping how they navigate and relate to the world around them. As the two girls come of age and mature into women, their differences in class and the political turmoil in Iran lead to betrayals that cause tension in their friendship.

From page one, I was enraptured by the lyrical writing. There were so many vivid descriptions of cultural foods and customs that added a rich local color and signified the importance of community, family, and belonging throughout the novel. Ellie and Homa were dynamic characters who were written so well that they felt like real people who I knew intimately. I appreciated that the author did not write either woman as being all good or all bad. They each had their strengths and flaws, and I saw both women as being lion women in their own right. Homa and Ellie are two characters who will stay with me long since I’ve finished this novel. I often found myself frustrated with Ellie, but there were also aspects of herself that I saw in myself, and Homa embodied the bravery that I aspire to have.

What makes this novel a solid five stars is its ability to be equal parts entertaining, educational, and profound. The author uses a gripping plot with clever reveals and plot twists to address important topics including classism, patriarchy, and government corruption disguised as benevolence. As a Western reader, I learned a lot about the Iranian Women’s Movement and the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Learning about these historical eras gave me an understanding of how things in Iran came to be the way they are today, both for better and for worse. As stated by Homa:

“Waves begin their journey thousands of miles out at sea. They accumulate shape and power from winds and undersea currents for ages. And so, when you see the women in Iran screaming for their rights, please remember that the force and fury of our screams have been gathering power for years.”