Rooftops of Tehran: A Novel Paperback – May 5, 2009

Incredibly written novel, including friendship, love, and political tension in 1970s Iran. Mahbod Seraji’s storytelling is vivid and poetic, making it excellent novel.

Mahbod Khan,my hat is off to you. I am halfway through your book after staying up all night reading it til the sunrise. You are an amazing writer. I am particularly impressed with the way you capture the essence of best friends, of youth, of love and of boys and girls. We all had a first love, we all slept on the roof and hung out in the bagh by the hose in summer nights with the smell of jasmine in the air and the distant song of the nightingale and spied on the neighbor girl we had a crush on... I had a best friend like Ahmed with the same wickedly intelligent sense of humor and spiritedness. Your descriptions of Zari and Faheemeh are exquisite in their empathy and accuracy of what is the very best in girls and women, especially Iranian ones, which is challenging for most male writers without resorting to stereotype. Also the way you capture a couple's growing together in love...your character building and dialogue are superb.I truely appreciate the subtle way you bring in politics through the voices of your characters. In these times many ex monarchists and others feel nostalgia for the Shah's times because of the brutality of the IRI but they forget the brutality of the Shah's regime leading up to the revolution. I have several friends who experienced arrest by SAVAK by breaking and entry with no warrant, then the period of total disappearance, imprisonment with no communication with the outside world for years and torture so your story hits home. Also, I like the way your characters talk matter of factly about the US involvement and the CIA which many American readers are oblivious to and even the "Doctor's" remarks about the purposeful dumbing down of the consumer and the superficiality of American culture along with the gym teachers remarks about the discipline and law abiding nature of American society which of course is ironic when you consider our crime rates and prison population but is relative contrasted with a society like Iran's where it is considered normal and good to express extreme emotion and grief and where everyone is in charge and no one is a follower except of course for the Nokars...your description of the servile mentality of many Iranian heirs of feudalism is right on target. All in all you do a very impressive job of comparing and contrasting US and Iranian culture in an unpedantic way through the course of the story.Your film background shows with the set and scenario building which at first I found somewhat mechanistic but then it grew on me. The interspersement of the psychiatric ward seemed a bit theatrical and contrived at first but then I realized how much talent it took to go ever other chapter from present to past like that with two tracks running at the same time about the same person both in his voice and also that device contributes greatly to the suspense. I have nothing but praise for your first novel and I will promote it in my own humble way...[...]yours,Brian H. Appleton

"People do amazing things for love. Books are full of wonderful stories about this kind of stuff, and stories aren't just fantasies, you know. They're so much a part of the people who write them that they practically teach their readers invaluable lessons about life."It is a rare book whose author, as the protagonist, can describe the reader's experience so well. That said, I am utterly conflicted.The first half of this book represented some of the most inspired writing I have ever experienced - an easy five stars. From the onset, one instinctively feels that the author is intimately familiar with the setting, characters and events he is describing. I felt privileged at the vulnerability inherent in Seraji's writing, as though he were allowing me a precious glimpse of himself, his family and his country. He takes the time to painstakingly paint a heartrending picture of life in Iran in the early 1970s. Furthermore, I was pleasantly surprised at how non-political the book remained throughout. I had just finished reading Guests of the Ayatollah: The First Battle in America's War With Militant Islam the day before, which was a great read and very informative, but definitely a bit heavy-handed in terms of an American bias. I was worried that this book would take me in the opposite direction. Instead, the political injustices, distrustful atmosphere, and historical tragedies specific to Iran's history served as the gentle backdrop to a universal tale of a boy struggling to understand what it means to grow up. Suffice it to say that I highlighted nearly the entire first half of the book because of the poignant beauty of Seraji's writing.Enter conflict. The second half of the book began and I found myself fidgeting with dissatisfaction. Not only was I able to anticipate the plot direction, but I found myself arguing with the author's choices. To be more specific, it's not about how the story ended; I was fully caught up in the ride, ready to cry or laugh or scream in anguish. However, I took issue with the end of this book because the pace changed completely, the characters stopped growing and the details began to break down. It is unfair that the mind grows accustomed to excellence. If the book had been good throughout, I would probably have been content. Unfortunately, I was deeply disturbed when I turned the last page. The writing moved from a slow, languorous court dance to a frenetic whirl and eventually to bodies colliding in confusion. It was an archer hitting the bulls-eye continuously, then dropping his elbow and shooting so wide that the audience murmurs in shock and shields itself from the fallout. I could continue with the metaphors, but it's depressing me to keep thinking of how the book fell short of its own beautiful potential.I will continue following this author with interest and I still gave four stars, because the first half is that good, but I will never recommend this book to someone without preparing them for the betrayal they will feel when the author abruptly brings events to a close.

What really stands out in this novel is its richly developed characters. Pasha’s relationships, especially with his best friend and the girl he secretly loves, are so vividly portrayed that you feel every moment of joy, heartbreak, and tension right alongside him. The cultural and political backdrop adds layers of complexity to the story, giving readers a glimpse into a time and place often unfamiliar to Western audiences.Seraji’s writing is poetic and evocative, bringing Tehran’s rooftops, the heat of the streets, and the weight of oppressive forces to life. If you’re looking for a novel that combines history, love, and the bittersweetness of youth, this is the perfect read. Highly recommended!