Interview | Marjan Kamali on The Stationery Shop and the Legacy of the 1953 Coup

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.