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    Rooftops of Tehran
    Rooftops of Tehran
    Rooftops of Tehran
    Audiobook14 hours

    Rooftops of Tehran

    Written by Mahbod Seraji

    Narrated by Jonathan Todd Ross

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    With Rooftops of Tehran, Mahbod Seraji delivers a debut novel that has won immediate acclaim for its affecting portrait of life in Iran's capital city. A 17-year-old boy finds his rooftop the perfect escape for taking in the night sky, smoking cigarettes and catching occasional glimpses of his beautiful neighbor. But when his lofty perch allows him to witness the brutality of the regime under which he lives, everything changes for the boy and those close to him.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateJun 5, 2009
    ISBN9781440718243
    Rooftops of Tehran

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    Reviews for Rooftops of Tehran

    4/5

    134 ratings19 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Set in 1973-1974 Iran, seventeen-year-old protagonist Pasha and his friend, Ahmed, spend time on the rooftop of his home, stargazing and talking about life. He falls in love with the girl next door but cannot act on his feelings because she is engaged to one of his (older) good friends. The story takes place during the last Shah’s regime, and abuses of power are a focal point for the storyline. The two young men, though not politically active yet, are influenced by the human rights violations they witness.

      It is elegantly written, and the narrative arc is robust. The characters are well developed, and it is easy to care about what happens to them. The story is told in flashbacks and flash-forwards, converging as the book nears its climax. It is filled with references to Persian culture. Although there is definitely a good bit of disturbing content, there are also happy moments and a bit of comic relief through Ahmed’s antics. Coming of age stories are hit or miss with me, and I am happy to say, this is one is a hit. It is complex enough to maintain the reader’s interest and the love story never falls into saccharine territory.
    • 5/5
      If you're looking for an honest voice full of emotion and grounded in sensory details, this book is for you. If you're looking to understand the universal human experience that transcends country and culture, this book is for you. If you have ever experienced love, grief, or friendship, this book is for you.

      Thanks to Sydney for recommending this novel!
    • 5/5
      This was a good book, a bit too drawn out near the end, at least for my taste, but otherwise well written and well paced. It is a love story set in Iran before the current hyper-religious era, but just before the transition from the semi-modern developing state Iran was starting to become and the fundamentalist state it is now. Through the development of a teenage boy's first love, we get to see many of the facets of Iranian life before women were so severely restricted, and while atheists and other non-Islamic citizens could live somewhat unmolested in Iran. After all the news I've read about Iran over the past few years, it was a strange notion that the world in this book was actually Iran.

      I was amused at the parts of this book having to do with education and cheating in Iranian culture, too, because having spent a few years grading college papers and trying to explain to young college students from Iran and other culturally similar places why plagiarism is not permitted in Western education, and what plagiarism even means. To have otherwise smart, civilized kids like those constantly trying to cheat and cut corners and wrangle unearned grades was frustrating, but at least in reading stories like this one, it is more understandable how such 'unethical' behavior might seem ok to them, and how much of a culture shock such students experience when they arrive here for college and discover our standards and expectations differ so much from what they are used to.

      I definitely recommend this book to just about anyone.
      I won my copy of this book through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
    • 4/5
      Fascinating story set in pre-revolution Iran. It was so interesting to read about life in Tehran and the mixed feelings the Iranians had about America. Throw in an interesting story and I was hooked.
    • 4/5
      Chosen by Narmatha for our Potluck Book Club, I enjoyed this novel of adolescence which really could have taken place anywhere and at any time. The story of Pasha, Ahmed, Zari, and Faheemeh takes place in Iran right before the overthrow of the Shah. The most enlightening passages take place in the alleys and rooftops of the city, where neighbors gather and lovers meet in secret. Families are all encompassing and friends are part of the families. Events conspire to keep Pasha and Zari apart. Her fiancé, Doctor, has a strong desire to help rural people out of poverty. This goes against SAVAK, the dreaded secret spy network of the Shah. The teenagers try and muddle their way through love and school in a hostile environment. People are rounded up and thrown in secret jails where they are tortured and then released suddenly and then jailed again. The reader can taste the need for a revolution, though of course the repercussions for American readers is around the corner in the hostage crisis and the rise of militant Islam. Here are same contradictions as Afghanistan: who is worse, the Taliban or the corrupt government and military? Who is worse, SAVAK or Ayatollah Khomeni? I think the novel gives a good picture of a hard life. A sequel detailing Pasha's life as an American student in California would be most welcome.
    • 4/5
      A love story set in early 1970s Iran, this novel recounts the tale of a young man as he falls in love and observes friends becoming victims of the oppressive Iranian government. The author does a good job of depicting characters with only minimal political involvement who nevertheless fall afoul of the oppressive regime and suffer the loss of loved ones. These elements make for a compelling story about coming of age and the struggles and heartbreak that sometimes accompany it. Highly recommended.
    • 3/5
      Rooftops of Tehran is Mahbod Seraji's first novel, and he's not a very good writer. I can't imagine wanting to read another book by him. I learned a fair amount about Iranian history and the love-hate relationship the people have with the US, but I can't say I developed fond feeling for them except for the best friend Ahmed. They seem to be a people who value lies over truth, magic over reality and use romance as an opiate. I didn't for one minute buy the romance between the two characters, and since it made up for more than half of the book, I'd have to say the novel part of the novel was a failure. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone except someone wanting to learn a little bit about the Iranian culture without having to read a history book.
    • 5/5
      This book was AMAZING!
    • 3/5
      very courageous to take on the historic events of Iran with a story like this. Lots of political background but I woudl have loved to learn even more about it. But nice story about arrange mariages and what the youth thought about it and about their rebellion against it. Even lots of tragedy happends to the characters I am not sure if I like the happy ending style. I rather woudl have liked a more open end.
    • 4/5
      This is novel about close friendships and how love can survive all things. The setting is Tehran 1973 and 1974. The story is told from the viewpoint of an 18 year old young man, Pasha. Pasha has a best friend, Ahmed and these two have an extremely close, trusting friendship. They share everything and unlike Americans, they express their feelings without fear. I was so incredibly touched by the bond between them and also by the bonds between everybody in the neighborhood. The family ties, the caring between families, and the willingness of all to share suffering was amazing and touching. This novel shows a wonderful look at another culture. Back to Pasha. While his best friend is falling for a young neighborhood girl, Faheemeh, who has very overprotective brothers, Pasha secretly desires his neighbor girl, Zari. However, Zari is engaged to Doctor, another good friend of Pasha and Ahmed. Pasha struggles with guilt over his growing desire, but begins an innocent summer romance with the girl of his dreams. Meanwhile, there is a revolution and Doctor has gotten himself involved. He brings it back to the nieghborhood, the government hot on his trail. While watching from the rooftop, Pasha accidentally betrays his revolutionary friend, leading to his arrest and eventual death. All four friends, Pasha, Ahmed, Faheemeh, and Zari must deal with death in their own ways as well as their inner turmoil with their government and country. Zari does something drastic that will have a profound effect on everybody involved or close to her. The content was not all sad, however. I laughed out loud a couple times at Pasha's and Ahmed's "antics" and jokes. Even death and the revolutionary issues don't stop the young boys' mischief. Truly, a heartwarming tale and the memory of it will stay with readers for a while.
    • 5/5
      I love a story that takes you away to another time and place, and Rooftops of Tehran does this brilliantly. It is a love story, but also a story of friendship, and of family. The characters are endearing, and the story takes you through such a range of emotions. The author truly gives the reader an appreciation for Iranian culture. I look forward to reading other books from this author!
    • 4/5
      The first 3/4 of the book was extremely well written. Emotional and very engaging. The ending is terrible - very disappointing.
    • 5/5
      In Rooftops of Tehran, Mahbod Seraji masterfully weaves Pasha’s coming of age story into the instability of Iran’s political climate. Seraji’s language and vivid descriptions immediately transport his reader to Tehran as it was in the early 1970s. He allows the reader to understand how politics, culture, education, and religion interplay in the decisions young adults make, while focusing on the constants in their lives: family, friendship, and school. Seraji holds no punches in describing the prevalence of Iranian hostility toward and suspicion of the United States. At the same time, Pasha’s parents are encouraging him to study engineering in the US to bring change and advancement to Iran upon completion of his studies. Further, Pasha relates incidents in his life to those in American movies and gives much thought to western attitudes toward romance and marriage. Rooftops of Tehran is a beautiful coming of age story with a good balance of philosophy, religion, and politics. This novel is an ideal work to discuss in book groups or a liberal studies curriculum.
    • 5/5
      Mahbod Seraji's debut novel Rooftops of Tehran is a beautifully crafted journey set in Tehran, Iran, during the tumultuous 1970s. Pasha Shahed is a teenage boy who in the summer before his last year of high school faces the reality of his homeland, the despair of irrevocable change, and his first love."'And your star guides you when you're in trouble, right?''Your star and the stars of the people you love.'Ahmed closes one eye and lifts his thumb to block out one of the brighter stars. 'I'm tired of looking at your big fat face.'" (Page 4)Pasha and his friend Ahmed spend many nights on the rooftops discussing school, love, and life, but their simple lives soon become complicated. Ahmed declares his love for Faheemeh even though she is betrothed to another, and Pasha holds his secret love for his neighbor and friend's fiancee, Zari, close to his heart. "Doctor" and Pasha have a genuine intellectual relationship, but the underlying tension stemming from Pasha's secret love for Doctor's fiancee Zari, lingers behind the surface."In order to cure my introversion, she insists I drink a dusky concoction that looks and smells like used motor oil. I complain that her remedy tastes horrible, and she tells me to be quiet and stop whining." (Page 9)"We'll have chelo Kebob--a skewer of ground beef mixed with onions and domestic Persian herbs, and a skewer of filet, served over basmati rice that has been prepared with butter, the savory Persian herb somagh, and baked tomatoes." (Page 244)Seraji paints a clear picture of Iran's people and the culture that dictates its people survive even the worst situations possible. Pasha is a strong character in spite of his doubt, but like any young person feels personally responsible for the major events in his life even if he was powerless to stop them. From the Iranian dishes to the crowded neighborhoods, readers will fall into Tehran and walk the streets with Pasha and his friends. The tyrannical government's actions and dispensation of justice are infuriating and crushing, but in the midst of these heartaches, readers will laugh as Pasha and Ahmed poke fun at one another and Pasha regains hope."'Deep in each knot of a Persian rug is a statement of the hands that patiently drove the needle and the thread,' I once heard my father say." (Page 165)Seraji deftly creates memorable characters whose lives become fraught with tension and possible death. Readers are likely to become heavily invested emotionally in Pasha's life, cheering him on, crying alongside him in his grief, and hoping that he will regain his center. Rooftops of Tehran is witty and emotionally charged; a novel that will leave readers wanting more of Pasha and his family and friends. This debut novel reads like a well-polished epic.Rooftops of Tehran has made it to my growing list of top books for 2009; I was so emotionally involved that I found myself weeping on more than one occasion.
    • 5/5
      A beautiful coming of age story set in Tehran during the 1970s. Pasha spends one unforgettable summer playing football (soccer) with the kids in the alley, talking politics and philosophy with his best friend Ahmed, and falling in love with his beautiful neighbor, a girl promised in marriage to Pasha's friend and mentor.
    • 4/5
      "Rooftops in Tehran" follows Pasha, a 17 year old boy living in Tehran through one summer that will forever change his life. Pasha lives in a middle class alleyway in Tehran, and is surrounded by friends. When he falls for Zari, the fiance of his idol, Doctor, Pasha begins to question some of the traditions of the Persian people. After Doctor is arrested and killed for subversive activities, Pasha and Zari become closer, until one fateful day when Zari makes a decision that will change their lives forever. Will Pasha recover enought to pursue his longtime dreams in America? Or will the Iranian state drag him down too? "Rooftops in Tehran" is a hearwrenching story, different from some other novels about Iranian oppression because it is set during the rein of the Shah, rather than after the Iranian revolution. The novel is vehemently anit-American at points, which is historically accurate, but still interesting and brave in a novel marketed in the US. Although overall I enjoyed the book, I did have a couple of major problems, including the ending (which I found extremely unrealistic) and the narrative voice, which was simply too choppy for me to get really comfortable with. There is a lot of time jumping in the first part of the novel which really threw me off, as well as the very stacatto voice of our first person narrator Pasha. I would recommend this book to others who are interested in Iran during the period before the revolution. The book does not shy away from some of the more brutal parts of the regime, so it really does provide an interesting look.
    • 5/5
      “Rooftops of Tehran” tells the story of Pasha, his best friend Ahmed and the girls they love, Zari and Faheemeh navigating the tricky process of growing up in the Shah’s Iran. For the first half or 2/3rds of the book the narration is split between a time period starting in the summer of 1973 and Pasha’s stay in a mental hospital in 1974. He knows that something traumatic and terrible has happened, but he has no recollection of what it is. This split in action could have turned out very cheesy and sensationalistic. Instead, Seraji got me involved in his characters so that I was genuinely interested in what had happened to put Pasha in a mental hospital and had me reading every page with interest and apprehension. Although the culture in which these characters were operating is very different from my own, I found them to be very relatable and real. I also loved the peak into pre-revolutionary Iran and found the hints of the coming revolution absolutely fascinating, particularly when people speculated about who should or would lead the revolution and worried about the possible influence of mullahs. I really enjoyed “Rooftops of Tehran,” it really pulled me into Iran in the mid-1970s in an interesting way with well-developed characters and an interesting plot.
    • 4/5
      Rooftops of Tehran was touching without being sappy. It tells of young love and friendship in a 1973-4's Iran, but is never overdramatic about it. I've rarely been so interested in reading about two teenage boys as much as I was with Pasha and Ahmed - one is well read and a little sensitive and the other is witty yet caring. I've read a few books taking place in Iran, but haven't come across such a feeling of a community as I did here. I'm hoping for a sequel.
    • 4/5
      "Rooftops of Tehran" is a coming-of-age novel that begins as the story of four young people caught up in the excitement of first love. In their exhilaration, the four of them see the adult world through youth’s fresh eyes and they can hardly wait to carve out places for themselves in that world. However, "Rooftops of Tehran," set in the Shah’s Iran of 1973-1974, is much more than a love story; it is also a tragic tale of defiance and courage in a society in which the price of defiance is often imprisonment and execution.Best friends Pasha and Ahmed have fallen in love with Zari and Faheemeh, two young women already engaged to be married to others. Faheemeh’s engagement is a recent one but Zari was betrothed to Doctor at birth, the result of an arrangement between two families wishing to ensure closeness for generations to come. Ahmed, bold and brash as always, refuses to be bound by tradition and challenges his rival for Faheemeh’s affections, willing to suffer a beating at the hands of Faheemeh’s brothers in the process. Pasha, on the other hand, has come to love and admire Doctor and he feels great guilt over his love for Doctor’s fiancé. Try as he might, however, Pasha finds it impossible to stop thinking about Zari.Pasha, Ahmed, Zari and Faheemeh become inseparable friends during one gloriously innocent summer during which they spend long days at Zari’s home talking about life, books, and the future. It is a time during which Ahmed wins Faheema’s hand and Zari begins to question her feelings about Doctor and Pasha. Everything, though, comes crashing down around their heads one night when the Shah’s not-so-secret police pay a visit to the neighborhood. Pasha, alone in his rooftop hideaway, inadvertently exposes the person the police are seeking – a mistake that will have grave consequences for those closest to him.Mahbod Seraji tells his tragic love story in a way that emphasizes the universal truths shared by people everywhere. All of us possess the same basic hopes, experiences and dreams for ourselves and our families, and we have more in common than not. This is so true that, while reading "Rooftops of Tehran," it is sometimes easy to forget that the story takes place in Iran rather than in a location more familiar to the reader. When things begin to go bad, however, the reader is jolted back to a keen awareness of the dangers of everyday life under the Shah of Iran’s brutal dictatorship.Seraji, who arrived in the U.S. when he was 19, has vividly recreated a world that no longer exists, an Iranian culture that, frankly, was probably no less tolerant than the one of today, considering the regime that replaced the Shah. It was a world in which family, morality, education, and tradition were keys to happiness – much as they are today in Iran and everywhere else in the world. Mr. Seraji tells a good story, one that will gratify fans of several different genres.Rated at: 4.0