Journal Entry 1 by AceofHearts from Mississauga, Ontario Canada on Monday, May 18, 2009

Amazon Editorial Review:

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… 

Journal Entry 2 by AceofHearts from Mississauga, Ontario Canada on Monday, May 18, 2009

This book is set in Iran just before the revolution. Pasha is a seventeen year old who spends his evenings on his rooftop joking around with Ahmed, his best friend. They discuss school, their futures and Ahmed's love. But Pasha has a burdensome secret. He has fallen in love with his beautiful next door neighbor, Zari. He watches from a distance falling more and more under her spell.

Zari is betrothed to a young medical student, Doctor, who is an activist. Pasha feels the guilt and keeps his love a secret even from his best friend. Zari and Pasha's friendship grows and Pasha finds himself liking her betrothed and feeling more and more guilty about his feelings for her.

Then one evening reality comes crashing in. Pasha unwittingly shows the secret police their quarry, Zari's betrothed. Pasha feels even more guilt as it is him that led the secret police to him. The Shah is a powerful despot and his secret police are everywhere. Now Pasha and Ahmed are potential targets of the secret police.

Unlike North Americans, Persians show all of their emotions from anger and distress to laughter and love. This novel shows the emotions of young love and the brutality of living under the Shah's regime. I found this book to be full of information about the pre-revolution days in Iran and loved the story about the thwarting of two young loves. 

Journal Entry 3 by AceofHearts from Mississauga, Ontario Canada on Sunday, September 13, 2009

mailed today to Ri who won it in the NG swap 

Journal Entry 4 by Ri from Cincinnati, Ohio USA on Sunday, September 20, 2009

Thanks so much, Ace! This looks great!