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To Keep the Sun Alive
To Keep the Sun Alive: A Novel | Rabeah Ghaffari
13 posts | 4 read | 22 to read
The year is 1979. The Iranian Revolution is just around the corner. In the northeastern city of Naishapur, a retired judge and his wife, BibiKhanoom, continue to run their ancient family orchard, growing apples, plums, peaches, and sour cherries. The days here are marked by long, elaborate lunches on the terrace where the judge and his wife mediate disputes between aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews that foreshadow the looming national crisis to come. Will the monarchy survive the revolutionary tide gathering across the country? Will the judges brother, a powerful cleric, take political control of the town or remain only a religious leader? And yet, life goes on. Bibi-Khanooms grandniece secretly falls in love with the judges grandnephew and dreams of a career on the stage. His other grandnephew withers away on opium dreams. A widowed father longs for a life in Europe. A strained marriage slowly unravels. The orchard trees bloom and fruit as the streets in the capital grow violent. And a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse, set to occur on one of the holiest days of year,finally causes the familyand the countryto break. Told through a host of unforgettable characters, ranging from servants and young children to intimate friends, To Keep the Sun Alive reveals the personal behind the political, reminding us of the human lives that animate historical events.
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ReadingEnvy

"Look at the aggression around you. There is no comfort in it."

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BookNAround
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I had to go shopping for a dress for my son‘s graduation. The only kind of shopping I enjoy is book shopping so this was a bit painful. But it‘s done and now I can sit down and read my book.

squirrelbrain Cool outfit! 😎 6y
MicheleinPhilly I pout like a 5 year old when I have to go clothes shopping. 6y
LibrarianRyan I like that dress. nice pattern. 6y
Jas16 I hate clothes shopping so much. soo much. 6y
77 likes4 comments
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MidnightBookGirl
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#BeatleMaynia Day 5: Here Comes the Sun
@Eggs

I'm working at the bookstore today, so this was an easy prompt! Haven't read it, but the cover is pretty.

Eggs Yesss🤗💗 6y
45 likes1 comment
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DreesReads
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Pickpick

Family saga featuring an old family orchard, multiple generations, and the Iranian Revolution in 1978. Ghaffari does a great job illustrating how people can become cruel and power-hungry due to their own lifelong disappointments and perceived rejection. We find out what happens to just 4 characters though—what about the rest?! A pet peeve of mine 😕

Lindy Nice backdrop for this cover. 📷👍 6y
25 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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EllieDottie
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I‘ve been reading this book for a few weeks, it good but it‘s been really slow for me! I hope to finish it this weekend!

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Nitpickyabouttrains
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Pickpick

Iran right before and then during the revolution. One family and their land. I liked the parts of the book which followed single days and moments more then when it jumped time.

16 likes1 stack add
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RebeccaH
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Pickpick

I really liked this! It gets dark toward the end, but it‘s partly about the Iranian revolution of 1979, so that‘s expected. Really, it‘s about a family and their history and how that history has shaped their present. It‘s beautiful and its characters are memorable.

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RebeccaH
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I‘m excited to start this one today!

18 likes1 stack add
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Bookalong
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Pickpick

A Very Captivating Family Saga! 5/5🌟
I really loved this book. It is a beautifuly told story through a great group of characters. I loved how layered they all were. I found that the author crafted a very realistic picture of a family being torn apart. You felt almost a part of this family and all the waves of emotion they go through. It was heartbreaking but heartening at the same time.
And the writing was very poetic and lovely.
#bookreview

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RebeccaH
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Am I reading this book? No, I am not. Why not? Because I‘m still reading my stupid book group book that I hate (Nelson Algren‘s A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE). Sigh.

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WanderingBookaneer
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MicheleinPhilly Pretty sure I saw this available on Hoopla the other day. 🤔 6y
79 likes5 stack adds1 comment
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mrozzz
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What an honor to see Rabeah Ghaffari speak about her new book with artist Shirin Neshat. I picked this up blind because it‘s published by Catapult and I was delighted to hear a little bit about the author‘s inspiration and personal history.

91 likes1 stack add
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Liberty
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AND WE‘RE OFF! It‘s the first big new book Tuesday of 2019 and it‘s a DOOZY. Here are some of today‘s new books! And there‘s a whole bunch more out now. What are you excited to read? 📚❤️📚

Viji The Paragon Hotel. Love Lyndsay Faye! (edited) 6y
tracey38 I really want The Wicked King!! 6y
Freddie4473 The Light over London😍 6y
k.reads.5 Can't wait to read An Orchestra of Minorities! 6y
Meghan1 The Winter of the Witch! 6y
131 likes1 stack add5 comments