in review
The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali
Fiction/KAM
Available formats: book, book on CD, e-audiobook (Libby) It's 1953 in Tehran, and political upheaval is imminent. Despite the turmoil, two teenagers named Roya and Bahman fall in love at the local stationery shop. They make plans to meet at the town square to head to the courthouse to get married, eager to formalize their union. Violence erupts in the city and they miss each other. It will be 60 years before they reunite in Boston in an attempt to understand why their fate took such a drastic turn that day. By then, they each have married and raised children but are still haunted by the love of their youth. "The Stationery Shop" spans decades — an intimate portrayal of the immigrant experience and the tragedy of war. Author Marjan Kamali drew heavily from her own experience as an Iranian immigrant to craft Roya and Bahman's story. She beautifully weaves historical context and cultural vignettes to immerse the reader into the streets of Tehran. Pick up this book for an escapist read that will tug at your heartstrings! reviewed by: Katherine Hickey is a librarian at Belle Isle Library. She enjoys French culture, spending time outside and testing new recipes she sees on the “The Great British Bake Off.”
6
info magazine · Metropolitan Library System · November 2021
Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks
Fiction/BRO
Available formats: book, e-book (Libby), e-audiobook (Libby), Playaway This book answers the question of what would happen if Mount Rainier erupted and displaced a group of Sasquatches. What would you do if a tribe of Sasquatches were forced by volcanic eruption out of hiding? What if you were trapped in a very small and isolated village of people who don't want to believe they are being systematically and intelligently hunted by the Sasquatches? This tale is told through the eyes of the investigators who come upon the deserted community of Greenloop and the discovered journals of a woman named Kate. As they explore the decimated tiny town and read through the journals, a horrifying story emerges. The evidence suggests this community was wiped out in extremely bloody fashion by a previously unknown apex predator. Kate's narrative is one of savagery and death, but also of resilience in the face of unexpected and terrifying circumstances. reviewed by: Gwen Lake is a collection processor at Metro Library's service center. She’s cultivated a life surrounded by books and even has a blog called “Books and Baloney.”
