Review of Shadows Of Tehran
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Bethel Saint Bright
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Review of Shadows Of Tehran
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Shadows Of Tehran" by Nick Berg.]
“Shadows Of Tehran” by Nick Berg is a historical fiction novel based on a true story. This book tells the story of Ricardo Rosen, who deals with many life issues and makes hard decisions for survival. His story begins when his father, David, abandons them in Tehran and returns to the United States, leaving Ricardo’s mother, Samira, to care for him and his younger sister, Hannah. Growing up in Iran at the peak of the revolution that seeks to install an Islamic government is both challenging and devastating, as Ricardo deals with abuse and bullying. He eventually leads a rebellion against the Islamic state, making him a wanted man. He flees Iran to the United States through Turkey. However, someone is lurking in the shadows, monitoring every move he makes. What is waiting for Ricardo in the United States? Does he escape his past? Find out in this book.
Reading this book put me in a dilemma (not in a bad way). I could not separate real-life events from fictional details. The way the story was told, I could vouch that everything the author narrated happened. For instance, on the 4th of November 1979, the U.S. Embassy in Tehran was attacked by some college students. They took some diplomats and US Marine and CIA agents hostage. Coincidentally, Samira’s appointment with the American Embassy was on the same day. There was also an accurate narrative about Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Iran in 1980. Because the author built the story around these actual events with an accurate representation of their timelines, I had difficulty determining which part of the story was fictional. I said all these to compliment the author’s impressive narrative skill; I loved it.
I liked how the author developed the characters and provided enough backstories to help me understand their motivations. For instance, Ricardo tried to make his marriage work because he did not want his daughter to experience growing up without one parent. I could also understand why Laleh was the ideal person to help Ricardo in his Iranian mission, considering that she lost her family to executions by the Iranian government during the revolution. Another character was Martha, who exemplified the plight of many women whose husbands joined the army. Although her way of handling it was unique, women in similar situations would relate to her plight.
There was no fault I could find in this book. The writing was excellently executed, and the editing was exceptionally done. Reading the author’s bio confirmed that he was the perfect person to tell Ricardo’s story. Since I could not find any issues, I’d rate the book a perfect five out of five. Ideal readers would be folks interested in Iranian history and the connection of the United States to global diplomatic matters.
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Shadows Of Tehran
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
“Shadows Of Tehran” by Nick Berg is a historical fiction novel based on a true story. This book tells the story of Ricardo Rosen, who deals with many life issues and makes hard decisions for survival. His story begins when his father, David, abandons them in Tehran and returns to the United States, leaving Ricardo’s mother, Samira, to care for him and his younger sister, Hannah. Growing up in Iran at the peak of the revolution that seeks to install an Islamic government is both challenging and devastating, as Ricardo deals with abuse and bullying. He eventually leads a rebellion against the Islamic state, making him a wanted man. He flees Iran to the United States through Turkey. However, someone is lurking in the shadows, monitoring every move he makes. What is waiting for Ricardo in the United States? Does he escape his past? Find out in this book.
Reading this book put me in a dilemma (not in a bad way). I could not separate real-life events from fictional details. The way the story was told, I could vouch that everything the author narrated happened. For instance, on the 4th of November 1979, the U.S. Embassy in Tehran was attacked by some college students. They took some diplomats and US Marine and CIA agents hostage. Coincidentally, Samira’s appointment with the American Embassy was on the same day. There was also an accurate narrative about Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Iran in 1980. Because the author built the story around these actual events with an accurate representation of their timelines, I had difficulty determining which part of the story was fictional. I said all these to compliment the author’s impressive narrative skill; I loved it.
I liked how the author developed the characters and provided enough backstories to help me understand their motivations. For instance, Ricardo tried to make his marriage work because he did not want his daughter to experience growing up without one parent. I could also understand why Laleh was the ideal person to help Ricardo in his Iranian mission, considering that she lost her family to executions by the Iranian government during the revolution. Another character was Martha, who exemplified the plight of many women whose husbands joined the army. Although her way of handling it was unique, women in similar situations would relate to her plight.
There was no fault I could find in this book. The writing was excellently executed, and the editing was exceptionally done. Reading the author’s bio confirmed that he was the perfect person to tell Ricardo’s story. Since I could not find any issues, I’d rate the book a perfect five out of five. Ideal readers would be folks interested in Iranian history and the connection of the United States to global diplomatic matters.
******
Shadows Of Tehran
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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Mark Lazarus
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Sounds like a powerful and immersive read, especially with how seamlessly real history blends with fiction. The depth of character development and the emotional weight of Ricardo’s journey make it feel like a story that lingers long after the last page.
