The lion women of Tehran

Although A Thousand Splendid Suns is much grittier and more haunting than Lion Women, both of these character-driven historical novels feature women's lives in societies turning towards religious extremism in Afghanistan (Thousand) and Iran (Lion Women). -- Michael Shumate

Young girls who become friends in the 1950s see their dynamic friendship evolve over decades in these moving, character-driven novels that feature strong descriptions of place. My Brilliant Friend is the first in a quartet, while Lion Women is a standalone. -- Halle Carlson

These books have the appeal factors moving, character-driven, and own voices, and they have the themes "coming of age" and "life during wartime"; the genre "war stories"; the subjects "political violence" and "southwest asian (middle eastern) people"; include the identity "southwest asian and north african (middle eastern)"; and characters that are "authentic characters."

These books have the appeal factors evocative and own voices, and they have the genre "family sagas"; the subjects "loss," "southwest asian (middle eastern) people," and "secrets"; and include the identity "southwest asian and north african (middle eastern)."

These books have the subjects "death of fathers," "iranian people," and "southwest asian (middle eastern) people"; and include the identity "southwest asian and north african (middle eastern)."

These books have the appeal factors first person narratives and multiple perspectives, and they have the subjects "loss," "iranian people," and "southwest asian (middle eastern) people"; and include the identity "southwest asian and north african (middle eastern)."

These books have the appeal factors sweeping, and they have the subjects "courage," "women's rights," and "death of fathers"; and include the identity "southwest asian and north african (middle eastern)."

These coming-of-age novels follow the lives of young Iranian women who live in Tehran (Lion Women) or return there after many years in the United States (Last Days). Both are evocative, often using food to signify community and Iranian culture. -- Michael Shumate

These books have the appeal factors richly detailed and own voices, and they have the subjects "women's rights," "loss," and "iranian people"; and include the identity "southwest asian and north african (middle eastern)."

Both sweeping historical novels follow the friendship between two women from the time they are young girls through decades as they age into adulthood amid political turmoil. The Island of Sea Women is set in Korea; Lion Women in Iran. -- Halle Carlson

Moving historical novels, these stories place readers into the lives of Iranian women from the 1950s to the early 1980s, portraying the challenges they face as their society changes from secular to religious and their rights are circumscribed. -- Michael Shumate

Young Iranian women demonstrate resistance to an oppressive regime in these moving narratives set in Tehran. The Lion Women is historical fiction that spans several decades while Reading Lolita is a memoir taking place at the height of the Iranian Revolution. -- Mary Kinser