The Lion Women of Tehran

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• What were you overall impressions of The Lion Women of Tehran, particularly the characters of Ellie and Homa and their relationship?
• Given the complex dynamics within Ellie and Homa’s relationship, when was their closeness best highlighted, and when was the strain between them most apparent?
• Have you read The Stationary Shop of Tehran, also by Marjan Kamali? How do both novels explore national identity, womanhood, and loss?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Ellie and Homa want different, even opposite things out of life. Did you feel more connected to one character than the other? What did this teach you about yourself?
• In what ways could you relate to and understand the struggles of women in Tehran? What did you find difficult to identify with?
• Loyalty is a key theme in the text. Consider a close friendship; is loyalty a significant part of this friendship? How does your core friendship compare with Ellie and Homa’s relationship?
• How did the novel’s depiction of motherhood and guardianship affect you? 

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• Did the novel alter or inform your view of modern Tehran from the perspective of women’s lives and rights?
• Ellie and Homa are children in Tehran during the 1979 Islamic Revolution. How does a detailed depiction of characters in this setting make this backdrop more accessible?
• How does the novel’s depiction of Tehran compare with the representations that you see of Tehran in the media or news?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• Consider the symbolism of the recipe book that Homa gifts Ellie in relation to Ellie’s eventual restaurant. What do both the recipe book and the restaurant say about the enduring bond of these friends? What does food itself represent within the text?
• Ellie accidentally shares information that lands Homa in prison. Discuss Ellie’s sense of guilt, particularly when she learns that Homa was attacked in prison. How does Ellie’s guilt manifest in the text beyond dialogue?
• To what extent is the book’s later nostalgic, mournful tone enhanced by its earlier tone of youthful hope and love?
• Compare and contrast the settings of Tehran and New York City. How is Ellie and Homa’s meeting in Ellie’s New York home different from their past interactions during college in Tehran or as young girls visiting each other’s homes?
• What is the symbolism of the bracelet that Ellie wears when she reunites with Homa in New York?
• Discuss Ellie seeing Homa on the television screen at the end of the novel. What does this scene convey about their friendship, differences, and Homa as a Lion Woman?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Write a letter from Ellie to Homa after seeing her on the television screen protesting, like a Lion Woman. What might Ellie need to tell Homa, and how might Homa respond?
• If this book were adapted into an animated film, what colors would you choose to represent the buildings, landscapes, and clothing of Tehran and New York City? What colors would you use for the clothing to depict the differences between Ellie and Homa, both as children and adults?

Need more inspiration for your next meeting? Browse all of our Book Club Resources.