The Last Living Slut: Born in Iran, Bred Backstage

The Last Living Slut: Born in Iran, Bred Backstage

3.24 of 5 stars 3.24  ·  rating details  ·  424 ratings  ·  93 reviews
The outrageous, yet surprisingly moving, memoir of a girl who fled the Iranian Revolution--and found her salvation in the deliriously sexy life of a rock-'n'-roll groupie.

Honest, provocative, and vividly written, "The Last Living Slut" is the memoir of Roxana Shirazi, who was raised traditionally in Tehran. After her family spirits her to the West in flight from the Irania...more
Hardcover, 336 pages
Published June 1st 2010 by Igniter
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Nikki
In some ways, The Last Living Slut reminds me of Nikki Sixx's book, The Heroin Diaries, in that it details the excesses of the rock and roll lifestyle, but Nikki's book was much more compelling, and even more introspective (despite his inflated sense of self-importance). I can buy what Shirazi said in the beginning, that women should be free to have sex with a lot of partners, too, without the terrible judgments about their worth as humans. So after reading her discussion on the word slut, and t...more
Violette
I wish I could explain to you the utter vileness that was this book. It wasn't vile because it was loaded with sex. It was vile because it came from an emotionally unstable woman who clearly has no respect for herself or her body.

I kept waiting for this book to show me an "empowered" female, one who truly could reclaim the word "slut" in a positive way. This did not happen at all. I truly felt really bad for Shirazi. It felt as if though she was trying to convince herself, more than the reader,...more
Melissa Robinson-Arezzi
I have many mixed feelings on this book. I read it because I was genuinely curious how someone growing up in such a restrictive society as Iran can become a groupie bent on having sex with as many rock stars as she can spread her legs for. The beginning of the books talks about the definition of slut and I was in agreement of much of what she said. She stated how men get high-fived for sleeping with as many women as they can but women who embrace their sexuality are put down and treated horribly...more
Emily
I feel very strongly about this book and I wrote a blog post awhile ago that sums those feelings up.

"I’ve been seeing a lot of posts about the topic of removing the bad connotation that goes with the word “slut”. There are slut-walks, books, articles, etc all with the idea that women should not be punished for having sex. They have an issue with the idea that a man can have a lot of sex and be called a stud while a woman is a slut. I fully support this. However, I recently read “The Last Living...more
Sara
Get ready to pull out your inner psychiatrist, imaginary prescription pad and the invisible Freudian-style therapy couch, this author is going to take you on a ride. By ride I mean a pathetic attempt at feminism cloaked in the nauseating cliché of the emotionally/psychologically/physically abused child/adolescent/adult female that becomes a promiscuous tween, stripper teen and ultimately, adult slut. The stories are sad and will prompt sympathy. The same sympathy that will turn a fun book about...more
Amy
Although I do not like putting a book down once I start reading it, if this would have been an option for me, it would have been put down, never to be looked at again before page 20. Because this book was required reading for a course, I had no choice but to trudge through.

The book is part penthouse letter (and a very badly written one at that), part political memoir (and I use that term loosely, having read real political memoirs that make this look juvenile at best, a little girl scream for at...more
Charles
So, first things first: Yes, I picked this book up in hopes of a randy good-time depiction of groupiedom and wretched rock'n'roll excess. But "YMMV" varies most in the realm of the randy. There's a fair amount of Playboy or Penthouse level depiction, but little that engaged this reviewer's libido.

Far stronger are the parts of the autobiography devoted to Roxana's childhood in Iran, where her writing is at its best.

Once she arrives in England, her teenage and young-adulthood adulation of certain...more
Tim Meneely
I was disappointed, I'm sorry to say.

I gave this book a shot, because the author - obviously adept with language - seemed to be after a subversive feminist kiss-and-tell-all set against the backdrop of political activism at the onset of Iran's oppressive regime. It's a sensational pitch for a memoir. At some point I just got very sad, and very parched for any real rumination or introspection.

Language, however, and a surplus of unusual experiences, do not great writing make. Especially in a mem...more
Jennifer
This book was a disappointment. I was intrigued by the premise of a Persian girl who came of age sexually in post-revolutionary Tehran and then ended up a rock & roll groupie.

Ms. Shirazi's introductory words on the word "slut" and the publisher's introduction made me think this book would be a uniquely feminist take on a woman who chose to turn the tables on rock stars sexually.

Alas this book was more tragic than empowering. Ms. Shirazi's tale might have an interesting international angle,...more
Jeannie
"The Last Living Slut" was billed as a scandalous tell-all exploration into the seedy world of a modern rockstar groupie. Unfortunately, on this account, it just does not deliver. What Roxana Shirazi has produced herein is the biography of a sexually-abused young Iranian woman who, with her beloved grandmother at her side, escapes political persecution in her homeland, only to take up a debauched life in the UK years later. The names that are named are largely all B-grade musicians at best (Dizz...more
Julie Mason
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
~Jessica~I'm a Hoodie Ninja~
May 17, 2011 ~Jessica~I'm a Hoodie Ninja~ rated it 4 of 5 stars
Recommended to ~Jessica~I'm a Hoodie Ninja~ by: Crystal
Shelves: non-fiction
**spoilers**


This boook....WOW. It was gut wrenchingly real. Is that a word? I'm not sure.

She was born and raised in Tehran,Iran. Gunshots and bombings right outside her door were a normal everyday thing.

There were alot of parts that made me uncomfortable like grown ass men sleeping with her in Tehran. How she masturbated to a Guns n Roses video when she was a pre teen.

Gross things....how she would be on her period and still go bang the groups and groupies. *shudder*
How she got that abortion an...more
Angie Never
This book was truly a difficult read. Although the author seemed to want to portray herself as a woman fully in control of her own sexuality, a vast majority of these stories played out more like someone who has been used and used bad. Being underage, being too drunk to consent - lots of moments were truly questionable from even the basest feminist perspective.

On a more shallow tip, I couldn't believe what nobody bands this girl was bragging about playing groupie to. You got f*ck*d by everybody...more
Megan
The reader controversy surrounding this book is understandable; the content IS rather raunchy and explicit, but where some classify the work in its entirety as sad, blasphemous self-promotion, others (myself included) would call it an interesting look into a lifestyle that is both foreign and interesting. At the beginning of the book Roxana includes a preface that explains how she views the word "slut" and how she hopes to take it back from its derogatory, defaming usage. She voices her opinion...more
Erik Hines
Sex, Sex, and some Rock 'n' Roll oozing from the top. A memoir of a self proclaimed nymphomaniac that fell in love with Rock 'n Roll as a kid during the tumultuous political landscape of Iran in the late '70's/early '80's. After her first taste of the Rock 'n Roll underground and the seedy characters it produces, she was hooked like a crack baby (although she herself says drugs were not her forte'). Be warned, the sex described in here is not your typical drunken shagging, many scenes involve mu...more
Anna
This book seemed so promising! A girl who escapes from Iran and grows into her sexuality! But I was definitely disappointed. This book just seemed like a lot of name dropping, and the author seemed like she only wanted to shock. There are some great books that talk about sexual exploits in a frank way (The Sexual Life of Catherine M. comes to mind) that are interesting, but this isn't one of them. Also, I have a huge problem with someone who has a Masters in Gender Studies who calls people "not...more
Jayne Lamb
Absolutely awful, and a huge disappointment.. this was reviewed in Bust magazine so I was hoping for an interesting academic take on the juxtaposition between Roxana's childhood under the Shah's restrictive regime and her new life as an immigrant in England. The first few chapters about her childhod in Tehran are readable, but the book quickly degenerates into an unorganized, inconsistent and poorly written account of sordid sex with also-ran English rock bands (you haven't heard of any of them....more
Melissa
This book was a lot of fun to read, its the autobiography of a woman who grew up to become a rock groupie, she does not apoligize or make excuses for it, she just wants you know how much fun she had. You know, you're intrested on if she slept with any of your favorite rock stars, and not only does she name, names but she has the pictures published in the book. She does things I've never even heard of (I now know what "water sports" are). My only problem was being on the subway and always having...more
Yuska Vonita
I was nauseated while reading some chapters, disgusted with the author's way of life. It's like making porn to a reality.
Almost everyone in rock n' roll scene is an asshole. I'm sure the author is aware of that.
Throwing ourself to rock stars is not a smart move, even though I can tell the author is a smart lady.

I felt sorry for the hurt she experienced during and after the abortion. I shed a tear because I'm a mother.
Life is a choice, and the author chose to get hurt instead.

It's a good reading....more
Georgia Smith
Shocking. Utterly shocking. I was quite literally just staring at the page in a couple of places, because the prose is so blunt and so graphic. There are no holds barred, no subtlety at all - it's a plain, straightforward view into the loveless lives of groupies, Roxana in particular. The book does lead you to make up your own mind about her: is she worthy of pity for her past experiences and her loveless life, or is she simply a slut?
It's so hard to tell, everything's wound up so tightly. I did...more
Candice
i can't believe that this woman speaks at women's conferences & dares to speak out about breaking barriers imposed upon women. NO ONE should be taking advice from a person like this.
as is the typical prototype of this type of behavior, she is a chubby girl with daddy issues who was molested as a young girl & is so out of touch with herself it's hilarious. she repeatedly speaks of doing things so that so-and-so will "like her" or "accept her" or "think she is cool" - then speaks in the ne...more
Paula Marshall
This was a very interesting read...couldn't put it down actually! I haven't read anything this interesting since reading Pamela Des Barres books! This is actually better than Pamela's book because Roxana gets with current bandmembers and she's a lot more graphic! But, this chick is a total slut! Hence the title I guess haha! I can totally understand her attractiveness to rock dudes but does she have to fuck the whole band?? Her explanation for this is because she wanted to be nice...she would fe...more
Dorrie
Shirazi would like us to believe that this is a tale of female sexual liberation by rock 'n' roll groupie royalty. However, I viewed it as a somewhat disturbing account of a troubled young woman who allowed herself to be used and abused by a bunch of B-list morons. In particular, Shirazi's description of sex with Josh Todd and Matt Sorum made me feel physically sick.

Overall, I did find the book very enjoyable and I admire her honesty. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys rock biogra...more
Marielle
I only read enough of this book to come to the conclusion that this woman is the worst stereotype of the completely vapid slut.

I come to this book as a former sex worker and from the perspective of sex positivity, but this story isn't sex-positive. It reads like a how-to manual of how not to be promiscuous.

She does hard drugs, she throws herself at male celebrities and offers to do threesomes and anything else in order to entice them. Then she falls in love with them, and acts all hurt when the...more
Sarah
completely bonkers. it's an interesting story. i believe it was published by neil strauss also.
the thing that i found amazing about this book was how she completely subjugated herself to the sexual whims of these really third string metal dudes. i just didn't understand what she got out of it all, clearly she went through some difficult times. it's one of those 'race to the bottom of the trashcan' books. i can't say i loved it but i do love me some groupie memoirs and this was that!
Maha Balouch
This book is a backstage pass to the author's adult life with multiple rock stars. It starts off in Tehran, Iran, which is the author's birthplace and home. Political turmoil causes her family to relocate to London. Shirazi starts a life of backstage debauchery with underground/B-grade bands.
The writer style was easy enough to understand, but it didn't have a lot of flair considered to what I'm used to reading. Can't say that I won't read the next novel she'll publish, however.
Celeste Thayer
I enjoyed this book - it was a fast-paced, light read. However, some of her writing conventions annoyed me - first describing a room as crimson, then as white - what color was it? Was it both? She also made up new, interesting sounding words like "radioactivated," which was too much liberty with the English language.

I think with a good copyeditor, this book could have been four stars. Good story, though - it fully wallows in the the trash and glitter of the rock-n-roll world.
Liz
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Oscar
this is one of the books I am ashamed to admit that I read till the very end, very good introduction to the complexity of Roxana's character since childhood only to have no closure and a lot of anecdotal descriptions of tons of orgies in the rock scene, guys that are not a rockstars but still OK with their sex life might developed frustrations after learning what average rock-band members can get away with. other than that no more value for reading this shit.
Eilish
She gets pissed because people are being hypocritical when she manages to contradict herself repeatedly.
I would have probably liked it better if she just straight out admitted she was a groupie instead of trying to hide behind the bullshit about reclaiming the word slut and sexual freedom.
I see sexual freedom as having sex with whoever you want not feeling obligated to have sex with every guy in a band that asks you to. This was more depressing than liberating.
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