Roxana ShiraziThe Last Living Slut: Born in Iran, Bred Backstage

I enjoyed the book. Unlike similar books, There was a lot of insight into this ladies character. She made no excuses, and did not harm or belittle anyone else along the way.I hope she writes something else.

I would have appreciated this book much more if it hadn't been written so poorly. I was actually surprised that the author is an academic as the writing was low level. That being said, I personally liked Roxana and felt very saddened at the abuses she suffered growing up. I think she probably is an interesting person and has much more dimension than the almost one-sided sex maniac persona presented in the book. While I won't judge someone for their sexual choices, the fact that this beautiful intelligent woman sought out musicians who used her like a toilet and tossed her aside was depressing. Her book is not a fun romp like Pamela Des Barres and exposes the darker side of the groupie phenomenon. The descriptions of the group sex and 'water works' (gag) were nauseating and I began to skip those parts. I am not a prude but turning a wonderful fulfilling thing like sex into a dirty low down spectator sport was not to my reading cup of tea. I wish Roxana well and hope she is successful in life, as like I said before, I liked her as a person.ETA: I read it once again and skipped some of the *ahem* nastier graphic parts, my review has changed to add a couple of stars. I think I was still shellshocked when I wrote my first review, and now reading it later I can appreciate what Roxana was trying to express. I also appreciate her writing much more and don't feel the way I did about it after a second read.

I found this book serendipitously because of a newfound interest in Iran and Iranian culture.This story struck me as very sad indeed.In my opinion, the best written and most poignant parts were Roxana's growing up in Iran up until the beginnings of her life in England. She deftly contrasts the rich culture and warm human environment--unfortunately marred by a repressive political environment--of Iran with the cold and stolid--but bureaucratically effective--culture of the England she discovered. I can appreciate how difficult it was for her to bridge the distance from one universe to the other.However, I soon tired of Roxana's lengthy recounting (most of the book) of her time as a groupie to numerous rock musicians. That whole dimension of the "rock lifestyle" seemed to me far too dreary and tedious to even be called decadent. I found nothing exciting, nor did I find anything shocking about the rock musicians portrayed in this book. Just a lot of dullness. Coincidentally, I found this part of the book less well written as well.Roxana is a survivor to be sure. After being violated as a little girl by hypocritically religiously-correct men, she is subsequently treated like a little dog by numerous deceptive rock musicians. As I read Roxana's depiction of the latter, to whom most of the book is devoted, I see unimaginative, pathetic, lost and egotistical individuals; and yet she willingly submits to them. In the end though, she settles the score through this book. Unfortunately, this very fact, in my view, limits the scope and possibilities of the narrative. That plus the last picture with her wearing a full length chador: great for dramatic effect, but, although women have to be covered in Iran, such gloomy attire is not de rigueur for women there.I don't regret reading the book; however, I wouldn't recommend it to friends.

This book is more than just a story of a groupie and her exploits, it a story of woman taking ownership of herself. Roxana Shirazi is easily one of the more unique persons you would encouter on the page this year. In her memoir the reader is introduced to one of the most provacative coming of age stories I have ever read. Her colorful writing style conveys a powerful animalism that underscores much of her story.In the beginning we find a young girl born to Persian family toward the end of the Shah's reign. We find out what it is like to grow up in a family that were politically active, in a region not known for its permissivness. This would form a recurriing theme, a person breaking outside the contraints of modern society to make their own way, on thier own terms. We see life in Iran both before and after the Shah, told not in a warm and personal way, though warm family bonds.We then follow Roxanna to her emigration to England, to start a new life as an adolecent, an exotic young lady thrust into lilly white English society. We feel her pain as she recounts the mocking of her fellow students and how she used her studies to insulate her.The stories of her time spent with various musicians and bands are quite vivid and lurid. Passages that would make the average Harlequin romance tame by comparison. And many might buy the book for just that reason. There is more to her story than that. Roxanna's story has much more depth and charachter than any other book. She captures not only the exploits of the rock world that exchos the memoirs of Cynthia Plastercaster but the tenderness recounted by Cameron Crowe in his movie Almost Famous.If you are looking for a book that will both provide a vicarious escape as well as a touching story of great depth, you should pick up a copy. You will be glad you did.

This is a truly fascinating tale with none of the gory or explicit details left out, written by a smart woman who is doing what she wants and reconciling two sides of her personality. The word “slut” has power and needs to be taken back and Shirazi has made a good start. If you find yourself being shocked by Shirazi’s behaviour while reading, ask yourself would you still be shocked if she was a male musician? I love the way Shirazi writes, her flowery prose is like bulbous tulip heads scattered across the pages.If music and sex are important to you and you have an open mind you’ll enjoy this book. It’s not for those who are easily offended or don’t like reading descriptions of sex acts. It’s very bleak in parts and reminded me of a quote from The Rocky Horror Picture Show; “It’s not easy having a good time”. There are some great photos (some of which are topless). It’s rock ‘n’ roll and also rock ‘n’ rude throughout. I loved the realism of this book. There are a lot of famous musicians mentioned, hard rock rather than metal. I had totally forgotten about Towers Of London until this book reminded me of them.Interestingly, this book cover isn’t the original cover that Shirazi wanted. I would love to see what she wanted.

I started reading Roxana's book with image of her already in my mind, as I have known about her for quite a while now. And I admit I judged her harshly before I really knew her story. I went through many emotions whilst reading this, horror, amazement, distaste and tears.But, she is a true survivor, she is breathtakingly honest and immensely vulnerable. All she wanted was to find love in a place where it is almost impossible to find.The music scene back then was described exactly as it was (I should know I married a drummer in a successful rock band and we are still together after many years)back then, it was full of excess and you have to be hard to live through it, and she did.So I say Congratulations to Roxana, you are one hell of a ballsy woman, and I take my hat off to you!

The beginning was interesting the rest I skipped in places as I think the way she thought the men viewed her was with some modicum of respect sadly I believe she was deluded but it makes you think what she has suffered in order to allow herself to be degraded and used , I hope she’s happy now

Roxana’s early life was interesting and maybe just a little sad too. Her rock star adventures just seemed to be more of the same in each chapter…

Not sure I really believe most of the stories. But we’ll tomd anyway