Rooftops of tehran is a collection of poetry told from the perspective of a woman who has lived in the world of persianislamic culture and immigrated to the united states. The book was also voted as one of the top 25 bookclub favorites of 2009, 6 and one of san francisco chronicle s top 50 notable books of the bay area. Rooftops of tehran by mahbod seraji rooftops of tehran is a richly rendered first novel about courage, sacrifice, and the bonds of friendship and love. In this poignant, eyeopening and emotionally vivid novel, mahbod seraji lays bare the beauty and brutality of the centuriesold persian culture, while reaffirming the human experiences we all share. Rooftops of tehran, out in paperback this spring, is a story of young love set in a dangerous tehran during the waning days of the shahs rule. Rooftops of tehran is a richly rendered first novel about courage, sacrifice, and the bonds of friendship and love. Click to read more about rooftops of tehran by mahbod seraji. Sleeping on the roof in the summer is customary in tehran. Rooftops of tehran is a crucial read for people who are looking to understand the aftereffects of this type of movement in a country that was once the largest empire in the world. Jessica and briana vocab 1 pestle page 77 2 ludicrous page 182 3 burqua page 77 rate plot 5 stars in the summer of 1973, pasha falls in love with his next door neighbor, zari. Unfortunately for them, zari has been engaged to another man since she was born. Rooftops of tehran fall 2015 mahbod seraji, author of rooftops of tehran, speaks at andersons bookshop mahbod seraji author of rooftops of tehran rooftops of tehran is a rare novel that tells the story of growing up and discovering. Jun 14, 2009 mahbod seraji shouts persia from rooftops.
May 17, 2009 rooftops of tehranby mahbod serajinew american library. I was mesmerized by the power of londons words, and stunned by his gift to tell his tale in such a compelling, visual way. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of rooftops of tehran by mahbod seraji. Mahbod seraji s haunting rooftops of tehran is set in 1973 tehran, in an exotic world where families gather on carpeted rooftops to escape the heat and humidity of the day, weaving stories and poems late into the starry nights. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. The story shows how american involvement affects everyone and not always in a good way. In this haunting, eyeopening and emotionally vivid novel, mahbod seraji lays bare the beauty and brutality of the centuriesold persian culture, while reaffirming the human experiences we all share. Rooftops of tehran mahbod seraji read online free books. In clear, vivid detail, mahbod seraji opens the door to the fascinating world of iran and provides a revealing glimpse into the life and customs of a country on the verge of a revolution. Rooftops of tehran by mahbod seraji in a middleclass neighborhood of irans sprawling capital city, 17year 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. This novel follows the family of a muslim bookmaker in granada as. On the rooftops of tehran in 1973, 17yearold pasha and his best friend, ahmed, sleep off the heat of a carefree summer, joking, laughing, and talking about. Feb 16, 2016 what first drew me to the book rooftops of tehran was its cover and the beautiful title font.
Originally, rooftops of tehran was intended to be a series of short vignettes telling the stories of the people who had a profound impact on mahbod s life. The rooftops of tehran, mahbod seraji 9780451226815 youtube. May 29, 2009 the kite runner is a wonderful book, but i think that rooftops of tehran has more heart, more range since i laughed aloud a time or two in addition to being touched throughout, and is overall a better story. To be eligible to win, let us know the title of the book that your book group is currently reading, not the title we are giving away.
Rooftops of tehran by mahbod seraji united for libraries. In this poignant, eyeopening, and emotionally vivid debut novel, seraji lays bare the beauty and. The emotions are so strongly rendered youll feel as if you are these characters. But when his lofty perch allows him to witness the brutality of the regime under. The dry heat of the day cools after midnight, and those of us who sleep on the rooftops wake with the early sun on our faces and fresh air in our lungs. I also found rooftops of tehran by mahbod seraji to be an emotional read as well. Rooftops in tehran mojdeh rezaeipour jump directly to the extras what may seem like a scene to a sick interrogation, was just a qualifying interview for a school i was applying to in iran.
A wonderful literary pageturner my favorite kind of read. Rooftops of tehran was the one book program selection at villanova university, broward colleges writes of spring 2010 final pick, and earlham colleges first year experience selection. Mahbod seraji i discovered the gift of reading when i was ten years old, sitting on my own rooftop in tehran and losing myself in a farsi translation of jack londons white fang. Seventeenyearold pasha shahed is a bookworm who harbors a secret crush on his beautiful neighbor zari. Mojdeh rezaeipour was born and raised in tehran, iran, and moved to the us with her family at the age of twelve. Download rooftops of tehran audiobook by mahbod seraji. Win 12 copies of the alice network by kate quinn for your. Wolpe writes with a keen insight into humanity the rich characters this world gives rise to. Rooftops of tehran rooftops of tehran is a richly rendered first novel about courage, sacrifice, and the bonds of friendship and love. Oct 03, 2014 a young woman visits her home country, iran, during a time of political turmoil. He makes you laugh and cry at the same time remembering the joys of first love and the pain of loss. This gripping debut novel takes place in 1973 during the oppressive rule of the shah of iran and especially savak, his arbitrary and extreme security and intelligence service.
John shors, author of beneath a marble sky rooftops of tehran is a richly rendered first novel about courage, sacrifice, and the bonds of friendship and love. With rooftops of tehran, mahbod seraji delivers a debut novel that has won immediate acclaim for its affecting portrait of life in irans capital city. Rooftops of tehran by mahbod seraji i read, no devoured, this book in one sitting. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Author mahbod seraji seamlessly drops the reader right in the middle of the story. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. The synopsis of the book immediately caught my attention. The novel is loosely based on serajis own time spent in iran before he left at the age of 19. Rooftops of tehran 2009 by mahbod seraji cg fewston. Mahbod seraji has written a haunting story about a small circle of friends living in tehran in the mid1970s.
Serajis insightful look into the climate of 1970s iran, and the 1979 revolution, is real and penetrating, which now makes this. In clear, vivid details, mahbod seraji opens the door to the fascinating world of iran and provides a revealing glimpse into the life and customs of a country on the verge of a revolution. I think im going to stop there otherwise i could be here all day. The idea came to me when i was a student, mahbod says. Author mahbod seraji takes readers onto the rooftops of tehran and into the hearts of its characters. From a striking new talentsandra dallas, author of tallgrass comes an unforgettable debut novel of young love and coming of age in an iran headed toward revolution.
Rooftops of tehran 2009 by mahbod seraji his first book is a fictitious account of pasha shahed, a 17yearold boy spending his summer in tehran, iran with his best friends in 1973. 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. But once i started reading, i quickly realized the cover isnt the only beautiful thing about the book. Born in iran, author mahbod seraji came to the united states at the age of 19 and settled in iowa, where he earned his bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees from the university of iowa.
Literature 2014 online ralph waldo emerson herman melville. The novel attracts every reader, making it difficult to stop reading after each chapter. I was standing outside my workplace in freezing cold weather, smoking a cigarette and wondering why my life was so damn miserable. A 17yearold boy finds his rooftop the perfect escape for taking in the night sky, smoking cigarettes and catching occasional glimpses of his beautiful neighbor. Oct 29, 2009 mahbod seraji discusses rooftops of tehran fall 2015 duration.
Home muslim fiction research guides at johnson county. From the rooftops of tehran in 1973, life looks pretty good to 17yearold pasha shahed and his friend ahmed. From the beginning i was excited to read this novel. Rooftops of tehran by mahbod seraji book club discussion.