Beginning: Boy goes to study French, forgets France goes for gorgeous girl, ends up in Istanbul. Okay, pretty good. With a feint toward education turns around and votes for the teenage love thing. Ill face it, I was caught. I soon learned that the boyfriend of Stephen's beloved crush is a drug dealer. My thoughts turned toward "this is interesting." I was soon to find out that Jerry's occupation was not going to be the only reference to drugs, drug dealing, or drug consumption. In fact, it was all the rage in 1966 in the Middle East and Southern Asia. Even parts of Continental Europe had a taste for hashish in the sixties. What disagreed with me the most are the illogical things that Stephen did. There were many moments that I hit my forehead in frustration wondering what would posses anyone to do such a thing. I soon gave up trying to control fictitious characters and chalked up his unwise movements to the drugs. The text is laced with flashbacks to Stephens school days. Most of the time these tidbits of background story left me wanting to know what happened next. It wasnt until the last sixty pages that this thirst was satisfied. For me it also separated the present narrative from the past. That can be both good and a hindrance. Good because it kept things clearly defined and bookmarked your place in either one. This became a bad idea when it was difficult to flow between storylines. I will give Mr. Cooper this: His characters are memorable and this story will not be one that is easily forgotten.