book info: on sale: now copy from: public library pages: 348 review written: 21.12.17 originally published: 2009 edition read: Penguin NAL 2009 title: Rooftops of Tehran author: Mahbod Seraji 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... my thoughts: This book was first published in 2009 and I remember adding it to my list around that time but never actually reading it since I preferred checking out library books to ...
Series: N/A
Source: For review
Publisher: Self published
Publication Date: October 22, 2014
Today is the perfect day to die.
Bernard is the type of man that accomplishes all that he sets out to—and easily. He's intelligent, hardworking, and completely unfamiliar with failure. His only complaint—the singular source of the inner anger bubbling within him—is that no one else in the world recognizes that.
It's time to force them to.
Bernard's had enough. Enough of the complete absence of respect in his life, of being looked down upon, of being the only person in the world—it seems—who truly sees the reality of his life and what he deserves acknowledgment for. In fact, that recognition is way overdue. And that makes Bernard's blood boil.
Today is just like any other day; Bernard has planned and prepared for every aspect. His heated rage stews just under the surface, just more fuel for the fire. He will accomplish this one goal as he has all others. Another success, his ultimate success. And he'll have made his blissful escape.
The final statement will be Bernard's. At last. The perfection of the execution of this one, final achievement will be undeniable. Bernard will be free of this ridiculous world—passing calmly from his lifetime of frustration—and the world will realize its significant loss.
They won't be able to take away—or look away from—what he's about to do.
If he succeeds. But of course, he will. Why wouldn't he? He always has.
He's dead set on killing himself, as many times as it takes.
The story follows a man named Bernard through his suicide attempts - intriguing, right? At first, I was very hesitant. The main character, Bernard was very unlikable. He even goes so far as to proclaim himself perfect! That really angered me at first, but I think the author was trying to show the many sides of depression, anger and suicide through him. Towards the end, I was even beginning to think that he was bipolar - there are several layers to the character & his predicament. I found him to be harshly identifiable, because I could understand him and his problems but it didn't make me like his character any more.
The book is written in third person, which I found to be very helpful in forging a connection with the main character in such a short time. I would like to say that it is a bit hard to get into at first, but you get used to it after a short time. It's a very unique writing style! You start out thinking that things will happen one way, and towards the end there was a twist that just made the story for me! It was so unexpected! I'm not going to tell you because of spoilers, but it was such a shock!
I found Last Shot to be an interesting read that quickly and efficiently showed many types of mental illness and how they can affect anyone. It showed alcoholism, depression, and anger. It also showed how the perception and judgment of the people around us can affect how we feel about ourselves. I would recommend Last Shot to anyone who wants a quick and interesting read.
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