Shahrnush Parsipur

A Novel of Modern Iran

Women Without Men

read as part of the 2026 international booker prize longlist. i usually only tune in for the shortlist but theres multiple works for this year that caught my eye, so i figured i should start reading early :^]

this was a harrowing read but also not. i guess its because of the magical realism in it that kind of pads the more jarring moments sprinkled in the book, but some moments are leaning more in the ‘realism’ rather than ‘magical realism’ which kinda took me out. i was more used to works like perfume by suskind in that genre. but i guess it struck more real to me as a woman lol.

pretty solid read but i dont think its a contender for the shortlist much less for the final prize itself for me.

Nica

read as part of the 2026 international booker prize longlist. i usually only tune in for the shortlist but theres multiple works for this year that caught my eye, so i figured i should start reading early :^]

this was a harrowing read but also not. i guess its because of the magical realism in it that kind of pads the more jarring moments sprinkled in the book, but some moments are leaning more in the ‘realism’ rather than ‘magical realism’ which kinda took me out. i was more used to works like perfume by suskind in that genre. but i guess it struck more real to me as a woman lol.

pretty solid read but i dont think its a contender for the shortlist much less for the final prize itself for me.

investing read. although i found it to be straddling between pessimism and encouraging, i think the characters were very interesting and the magical realism really tied the themes together. i had a lot to think about! 

kate 

The most I have ever enjoyed magical realism, and favorite thing I’ve read yet out of Iran

Women Without Men A Novel of Modern Iran

Reviews