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Rooftops of Tehran

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Rooftops of Tehran Cover

ISBN13: 9780451226815
ISBN10: 045122681x
Condition: Standard
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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

From "a striking new talent"(Sandra Dallas, author of Tallgrass) comes an unforgettable debut novel of young love and coming of age in an Iran headed toward revolution.

In this poignant, eye-opening and emotionally vivid novel, Mahbod Seraji lays bare the beauty and brutality of the centuries-old Persian culture, while reaffirming the human experiences we all share.

In a middle-class neighborhood of Iran's sprawling capital city, 17-year-old Pasha Shahed spends the summer of 1973 on his rooftop with his best friend Ahmed, joking around one minute and asking burning questions about life the next. He also hides a secret love for his beautiful neighbor Zari, who has been betrothed since birth to another man. But the bliss of Pasha and Zari's stolen time together is shattered when Pasha unwittingly acts as a beacon for the Shah's secret police. The violent consequences awaken him to the reality of living under a powerful despot, and lead Zari to make a shocking choice...

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Review:

"Set in 1970s Iran during the shah's regime, this earnest, semiautobiographical debut novel is told from the perspective of bookish 17-year-old Pasha Shahed, who, along with his best friend Ahmed, plays soccer, goofs off and thinks about girls. But Pasha pines for one girl in particular — his neighbor Zari, betrothed since birth to Pasha's mentor, the neighborhood radical, Ramin Sobhi, whom everyone calls Doctor. Over a summer Ahmed orchestrates daily meetups with his own beloved, Faheemeh, and includes Pasha and Zari. Despite knowing he shouldn't, Pasha falls in love with Zari. The idyllic summer comes to an end when Doctor is abducted and killed by SAVAK, the not-so-secret police. The effects of Doctor's death on Pasha and Zari are traumatic and lead each to acts of transgression with tragic results. The prose has the simplicity of a nonnative English speaker, which could be seen as clichd ('treasure of love,' 'dark winter of my life') or charmingly romantic. Seraji captures the thoughts and emotions of a young boy and creates a moving portrait of the history and customs of the Persians and life in Iran during this period." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Synopsis:

In this poignant, eye-opening, and emotionally vivid debut novel, Seraji lays bare the beauty and brutality of the centuries-old Persian culture, while reaffirming the human experiences all people share.

Synopsis:

From a striking new talent (Sandra Dallas, author of "Tallgrass") comes an unforgettable debut novel of young love and growing up in an Iran headed toward revolution.
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About the Author

Mahbod Seraji was born in Iran, and came to the United States in the 1970s.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 4 comments:
TeddiB, July 20, 2009 (view all comments by TeddiB)
Pasha is 17 in the summer of 1973. He and his best friend, Ahmed, spend the nights on their rooftops joking around and talking about the future. Pasha has fallen in love with his neighbor, Zari who is betrothed to Doctor, a charismatic but dangerously political young man. The teen-aged boys have some humorous moments, and they show what life was like for the middle-class in the days of the Shah. But the reality of their world is not funny. Is this mirroring what's happening in Iran today? Will there be another revolution by the people? This book is especially relevant given the current events in Iran.
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simone09, May 28, 2009 (view all comments by simone09)
Although this story is set across the globe midst people and a culture unfimiliar to most of us- when you read this story, you are immersed in the unexpected fimiliarity of its characters, -the story line keeps you wondering what will become of them next. We so often allow our differences define who we are as people, when in fact we are just that-- people-human- with the same hopes, & dreams-- wishing upon a star as children... Beautifully crafted story.
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Rose Elliot, May 10, 2009 (view all comments by Rose Elliot)
An UNFORGETTABLE story of friendship, love, pain and hope in Iran of the 1970's. The narrator, Pasha Shahed, struggles to ignore his love for Zari, his neighbor, promised since birth to Pasha's good friend and mentor. But when his friend is arrested by the SAVAK, the Shah's secret police, Pasha's life changes forever. The shocking desperate acts of dissent that follow exposes aspects of the Middle Eastern culture that is an intrigue to anyone interested in learning about that area. But above all, Seraji's masterful writing proves that despite our vast cultural differences, we're all humans in our hearts regardless of our religions, nationalities, race and politics.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780451226815
Author:
Seraji, Mahbod
Publisher:
New American Library
Subject:
Tehran (Iran)
Subject:
Coming of age
Subject:
Literature-Coming of Age
Copyright:
2009
Edition Description:
Mass Market
Publication Date:
20090531
Binding:
TRADE PAPER
Grade Level:
from 12
Language:
English
Pages:
368
Dimensions:
8.26x5.44x.78 in. .71 lbs.
Age Level:
18-17
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Related Subjects


Fiction and Poetry » Literature » A to Z
Fiction and Poetry » Literature » Coming of Age

Rooftops of Tehran Used Trade Paper
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$6.95 In Stock
Product details 368 pages New American Library - English 9780451226815 Reviews:
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "Set in 1970s Iran during the shah's regime, this earnest, semiautobiographical debut novel is told from the perspective of bookish 17-year-old Pasha Shahed, who, along with his best friend Ahmed, plays soccer, goofs off and thinks about girls. But Pasha pines for one girl in particular — his neighbor Zari, betrothed since birth to Pasha's mentor, the neighborhood radical, Ramin Sobhi, whom everyone calls Doctor. Over a summer Ahmed orchestrates daily meetups with his own beloved, Faheemeh, and includes Pasha and Zari. Despite knowing he shouldn't, Pasha falls in love with Zari. The idyllic summer comes to an end when Doctor is abducted and killed by SAVAK, the not-so-secret police. The effects of Doctor's death on Pasha and Zari are traumatic and lead each to acts of transgression with tragic results. The prose has the simplicity of a nonnative English speaker, which could be seen as clichd ('treasure of love,' 'dark winter of my life') or charmingly romantic. Seraji captures the thoughts and emotions of a young boy and creates a moving portrait of the history and customs of the Persians and life in Iran during this period." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
"Synopsis" by , In this poignant, eye-opening, and emotionally vivid debut novel, Seraji lays bare the beauty and brutality of the centuries-old Persian culture, while reaffirming the human experiences all people share.
"Synopsis" by , From a striking new talent (Sandra Dallas, author of "Tallgrass") comes an unforgettable debut novel of young love and growing up in an Iran headed toward revolution.
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