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 Irans 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 Zaris stolen time together is shattered when Pasha unwittingly acts as a beacon for the Shahs 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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I really enjoyed this one. I was looking to read a book set somewhere I know basically nothing about, and this was a great pick for that. It was really beautifully written and all the characters were funny and instantly likeable. While it dragged a little in the first half, the second half hit me like a ton of bricks. I was not expecting to feel so sad for these characters. I agree with the others that the ending was a little unrealistic, but it's not like it ruins the book. I've suspended my disbelief for greater things.
