Rooftops of Tehran

Rooftops of Tehran

Author: Mahbod Seraji

Source: My mom

Days to Read: 5

This was among several books that my mom had read and thought I might like. With almost every trip home, my mom and I exchange books and I am always excited to see what she has picked out for me. When starting a new book I am open to what it has to offer. I try not to really think about if I like it or not and just keep reading. This tactic comes in handy when I know I am beginning to get bored or am struggling to understand what is happening. I push those thoughts away and trek on. Some books, like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, require a good 100+ pages before the reader has a grasp on the characters and what is going on. I owe it to whichever book I'm reading, to give it an honest to goodness attempt to enjoy it!

Now you may be thinking given what I have just explained, that I did not enjoy the Rooftops of Tehran. But this is not the case! I absolutely LOVED this book and found myself wanting to continue reading after I had turned the final page.

The story is set in Iran and told by the main character Pasha. Pasha is a young boy with a passion for reading growing up in a small alley community. More than anything, it is a love story between Pasha and his neighbour Zari whom he falls in love with. Zari is an enchanting, intelligent, beauty who has been promised to marry Doctor. Pasha and Doctor develop a special friendship in which they discuss books and politics and their views on their country's judicial system. Pasha also spends countless evenings on his rooftop discussing everything under the stars with his best friend Ahmed. Life is sweet and beautiful for Pasha, Zari, Ahemd and Faheemah (Ahmed’s love) until their friend Doctor is taken by the SADAK, the secret police organization in Iran. From then on, the four friends are forced to grow up and deal with issues far beyond their years. But their love for one another bonds them together.

I wish Mahod Seraji had other books that I could read! I truly enjoyed Rooftops of Tehran.

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The Story of Beautiful Girl

The Story of Beautiful Girl

Author: Rachel Simon

Source: Birthday present from my friend Jenna

Days to Read: 5

My friend Jenna bought me this book for my birthday and I read it shortly thereafter.

The novel takes place in the late 60's. Two people escape from the School for the Incurable and Feebleminded and stumble upon the home of a widowed, retired schoolteacher.  At first the woman, Martha, is hesitant to let the strangers into her home, a petite white woman with a developmental disability and a deaf African American man. Martha quickly sees the distress in their eyes and takes them in, clothes and feeds them. Shortly after, the guards from the school are at her door looking for the two escapees. Before she can assess the situation the guards are removing the young woman and the young man, Homan, has disappeared.  As she struggles against the guards, Lynnie, the young woman, tells Martha to “Hide her” Martha is frozen and doesn’t know what to do but agrees. She then hears a cry and finds a newborn baby in a basket in the attic.

The journey of Martha and the baby girl, Julia, takes them all over the country. The story follows Martha, Lynnie and Homan through their separate lives and always their constant thoughts of one another.

This was a pretty good book and kept me interested. However nothing about it stood out to me nor was remarkable.

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The Hunger Games Trilogy

The Hunger Games Trilogy

Author: Suzanne Collins

Source: Everyone!

Days to Read: 2 weeks

I am typically very resistant to jumping on the band-wagon and reading books that are so extremely popular! However, I was persuaded to give the Hunger Games trilogy a try after I was ASSURED they were far better than the Twilight books (which I think are poorly written and super cheesy).

The first book, I admit, I loved. It was an easy read and the story line was straightforward. Right from the first few pages the reader is hooked and it continues to be a page-turner right until the end. I’m sure everyone knows what these books are about but on the off chance you do not, here is a very concise run-down of the first book.

Katniss, the main character, lives in Panem which is a dystopic society. There are 12 districts which each produce a different commodity for the Capitol. The Capitol is where the super rich and super modern people live. Years ago there were uprisings in the districts and as a result the Capitol hosts the annual hunger games where each district must send one male and one female to the games. The games are a fight to the death with only one person left standing.

The first book is all about the hunger games in which Katniss is the female representative of district 13 (I told you it would be concise!).

I won’t say much more because if you already know about the books you won’t care to read my summary and if you haven’t, you should read them for yourself!

Now keeping in mind these books are geared towards young adults, some of the “scenes” were a little cheesy. But you do get a good grasp of the characters and their personalities although instead of inferring most of their characteristics, the reader is straight up told. Again I attribute this to the fact that the novel is for younger people.

I do recommend these books as they are entertaining, fast paced and there are a lot of underlying themes that are good for young people to be exposed to. Some of these themes include poverty, the role of government, violence, standing up for what you believes in, and the list goes on.

If you don’t want to read the books, just go see the movie – it is a relatively accurate portrayal of the Hunger Games. 

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Half Blood Blues

Half Blood Blues

Author: Esi Edugyan
Source: TTC Subway
Days to Read: 2 weeks

Our first book club meeting was a success! Albeit only half of the members were able to make it and of that half, only another half had finished the book! It turns out my pick was not well received which was very frustrating because I enjoy practically every book that I read and I had high expectations for this book.

I thought that this book just fell flat. The characters and their relationships with one another were not developed enough to really make you feel anything about them. I also felt the language in this book was difficult and unlike in The Grapes of Wrath, the narration was also written in the vernacular which meant constant concentration on the getting into the groove. Also, some people found the jumping from different times confusing and not effective.  

Perhaps my expectations were too high but I just did not enjoy this book. I realized half way through that I had read another novel by Esi Edugyan, The Second Life of Samuel Tyne. I did not really enjoy that book either for similar reasons. There is no emotional connection to the characters and I can not relate to them, their situations or their relationships with others.

Despite all the rave reviews this was not my cup of tea. 

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The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath

Author: John SteinbeckSource: My dadDays to Read: 2 weeks

A classic novel that I had never read before! My dad had just finished reading this book and thought I might enjoy it so passed it on to me. The edition was from 1939 and had an old library card in the back. It also had a great old book smell!

The story follows a family of sharecroppers during the great depression who are thrown off of their land by the big bad bank. Like thousands of other families, the Joad family travels from Oklahoma to California where they have been led to believe there are jobs in the orchards. 

At first I found the language a bit difficult but eventually found my groove. There are plenty of themes in this book and I can see why it is read in many high school English classes. The novel vividly illustrates the struggle of a family to make ends meet during the depression and the strength of the family that allows them to pull through. 

I didn't LOVE the book but definitely enjoyed it.

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