The writing is clear but paints a vivid picture of the people and their surroundings.

The coming-of-age story of both Pasha and Ahmed includes, remarkably, a great deal of humor which makes it feel very realistic and believable as it balances out the heavier elements. The stories about how dissidents were treated were horrific but not over done and really used to make the reader understand the character' motivations. and the lifestyle and educational opportunities to be found there. At the same time, they were entranced with the idea of going to the U.S. for their interference in their country and for installing a despot. Seraji includes in the story the views that many Iranians had of the Americans at the time. It was so interesting to learn more about another part of the world, another culture, another time. This story appealed to me on many levels. But when Doctor sneaks back to the neighborhood late one night, Pasha accidentally gives him away to the Shah's secret police and sets in motion a series of events that will change the lives of everyone in the neighborhood. Despite feeling guilty about being in love with Doctor's future wife, this is a wonderful time for Pasha. When Doctor goes away for a while, Ahmed hatches a plan to allow Pasha to spend time with Zari (and Ahmed to spend time with the girl he is in love with as well). And Pasha really, really admires Doctor who, as a student many years older, has ideas about the world that Pasha finds compelling. But Zari has been betrothed to Doctor since they were young children. Pasha is secretly in love with Zari, the girl next door. In pre-revolutionary Iran, 17-year-old Pasha is spending the summer on his rooftop with his best friend Ahmed, talking about what teenage boys the world over talk about-the girls they're in love with, their crazy parents, the neighborhood bullies.

Mahbod seraji books