Rooftops of Tehran: A Novel [Paperback]

Mahbod Seraji (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 5, 2009

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...

Watch a Video

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

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. [...] The prose has the simplicity of a nonnative English speaker, which could be seen as clichéd (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. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Pasha Shahed is a typical teenage boy who likes hanging out with his friends on the rooftop terrace of his house, dreaming about life, love, and what the future holds. What makes this 17-year-old different is that he is living under the harsh reign of the shah in Iran during the summer of 1973. With his biggest worry being his feelings for Zari, the girl next door who has been promised to another since birth, Pasha has a rude awakening[...] Told in Pasha’s unique voice and partially in flashback, Seraji’s wonderful coming-of-age story is at times funny and sweet as well as thought-provoking and heart-wrenching. --Carolyn Kubisz

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: NAL Trade (May 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 045122681X
• ISBN-13: 978-0451226815
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (78 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #223,861 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mahbod Seraji was born in Iran in 1956 and came to the US in May of 1976. He received his BS in Civil Engineering, MA in Broadcasting and Film, and Ph.D. in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of Iowa. Rooftops of Tehran was an Indie Next Notable in June, picked in the Outstanding Debut Category for Fall 2009-Winter 2010 by the American Booksellers Association, and was selected for the University of Villanova's One Book Program, and Broward College's wRites of Spring 2010. Mahbod lives in the San Francisco Bay area where he's finishing his second book.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Literary and suspenseful May 18, 2009

By Jennifer Donovan

Format:Paperback

This was a lovely lovely book. I will say right off that I think that the pinkish cover featuring a red rose (though thematically appropriate) might turn off some men, and I do think that it's the kind of novel that would appeal equally to men and women.

The story follows two teenage boys through a year of their lives in Iran in the 70's. The characterization of adolescence is perfect -- first loves, first independent stands, hellos, goodbyes.

The language is beautiful, and the suspense comes in because parts of the story are told in flashbacks as the reader is brought closer and closer to the crisis event. What happened and why?

When that crisis is revealed, the end of the novel continues in a suspenseful vein, as the reader yearns to find out what is going to happen.

The comparisons to The Kite Runner are inevitable -- although they are set in different countries, they both deal with events that precipitate a coming of age, set in the backdrop of a totalitarian regime. The Kite Runner is a wonderful book, but I think that Rooftops of Tehran has more heart, more range (since in addition to being touched, I laughed aloud a time or two), and is overall a better story.

A wonderful literary page-turner -- my favorite kind of read.

4.5 stars

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Lost innocence, courage - a story for all May 27, 2009

By CathyB

Format:Paperback

I tried to write my review for this novel as soon as I finished reading; however, I was unable to do so. Whether it was from writer's block or from fear of writing an inadequate review, I do not know. I am leaning toward the latter. I considered stringing together a set of adjectives: brilliant, funny, original, haunting. Although they could all be used to describe this novel, it would not have been enough. Instead, I started off with the following: "Rooftops of Tehran", a debut novel by Mahbod Seraji, is a wonderfully written coming of age story of young love. After that I just stared at the page for quite some time and gave up. How could I do justice to Mr. Seraji's masterful prose?

From the rooftop of his home, Pasha and his friends talk about life - sharing their dreams, hopes, and fears. They spend an innocent summer falling in love and becoming good friends. Their innocence comes to an end when Pasha unwittingly betrays a friend and leads one friend to a self-destructive decision. But where are the rooftops? New York, London, Paris. Could be but, no, they are in Iran. Not a place nor a people that most Westerners know much about. Through his vivid characterizations and descriptions, Mr. Seraji is able to transport us to Iran and give us a glimpse into this ancient world. I could clearly picture the homes, alleyways, streets and rooftops. He breathed so much life into these characters that they will not be forgotten. I laughed when Pasha's father was unwittingly the perpetrator in ding dong ditch. I felt compassion for Grandma and was awed that the entire neighborhood looked after her - not something that is commonplace here in America. I felt for the characters when tragedy struck and I rooted for them in their moments of rebellion.... In short, his characters had That - they had honor, treasured friendship, prized love, had courage and strength to stand up for what they believed in.

"Rooftops of Tehran" is much more than a love story. It is a an affirmation of shared human experiences. We all dream, love, laugh and cry. We have fears and and want good things for our children. Mr. Seraji has given us a glimpse into the unknown and it is up to us to recognize that regardless of religion or culture we are more alike than some would like us to believe.

At times, this novel is funny and at other times tragic. It is certainly unforgettable. I highly recommend to those wishing to broaden their horizons and learn more about the Persian people and culture. Mahbod Seraji is an author to watch. I know I will be looking and waiting for his next novel. Read more ›

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book of 2009 So Far May 7, 2009

By Diane Hessan

Format:Paperback

I finished Rooftops of Tehran, but I can't get this book and its incredible characters out of my mind. It's like the Kite Runner, but even better: a tale about Iran, but a coming-of-age story that is universal. Mahbod Seraji has a rare combination: major writing talent, deep knowledge of the culture of Iran, and yet an understanding of the American perspective and sense of humor. It made me laugh out loud, and at the book's climax, I cried too. When you read it (or, if you have a good book club, when they read it), you will find yourself wanting to go slowly -- not wanting it to end.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Story, But Suffered in the Execution June 18, 2009

By B. A. Chaney VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

"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.