Farhad lives on the margins of society, trapped in a cycle of drinking, shame, and self-awareness that offers no redemption. Each night in a basement tavern, each morning in a flophouse, pulls him deeper into a personal hell where memory becomes punishment and consciousness itself turns hostile. As his inner monologue unfolds, the reader witnesses the gradual annihilation of everything that once anchored him to life: work, dignity, family. His parents exhaust themselves fighting for the ghost of their son - until the weight of hopelessness kills them one by one. His sister remains behind, imprisoned in an abusive marriage, her children inheriting fear, hunger, and quiet rage. Farhad understands with brutal clarity that his addiction has not only destroyed his own life, but has infected the lives of those closest to him. The novel does not follow a traditional plot of recovery or salvation. Instead, it charts the logic of collapse - how one man becomes a source of suffering, how guilt transforms into ritual, and how despair can masquerade as philosophical truth. As Farhad reaches what he believes to be the final explanation of his existence, a fragile and dangerous question remains: is absolute awareness the end - or the beginning of something else?
ThriftBooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. We personally assess every book's quality and offer rare, out-of-print treasures. We deliver the joy of reading in recyclable packaging with free standard shipping on US orders over $20. ThriftBooks.com. Read more. Spend less.