The House of the Mosque by Kader Abdolah

The house is currently occupied by the families of Aqa Jaan, a merchant who is the head of the city's bazaar Alsaberi the imam of the mosque and Aqa Shoja, the mosque's muezzin. In the house of the mosque, located in Senejan, Iran, the family of Aqa Jaan has lived for eight centuries. The story of a key period of world historythe Iranian Revolutionis told through the eyes of one family.

The Shah is losing his hold on power the Ayatollah incites rebellion from his exile in France and one day the Ayatollah returnsthe consequences of which will be felt in every corner of Aqa Jaan’s family. But this family will experience upheaval unknown to previous generations, for in Iran, political unrest is brewing. These daily dramas play out under the watchful eyes of the storks that nest on the rooftop of the house.

Shahbal longs only to get hold of a television to watch the first moon landing. Sadiq is waiting for a suitor to knock at the door to ask for her hand, while her two grandmothers sweep the floors each morning dreaming of traveling to Mecca. The house teems with life as each family grows up with their own triumphs and tragedies. Now it is occupied by three cousins≺qa Jaan, a merchant and head of the city’s bazaar Alsaberi, the imam of the mosque and Aqa Shoja, the mosque’s muezzin. In the house of the mosque, the family of Aqa Jaan has lived for eight centuries.

A sweeping, compelling story bringing to life the Iranian Revolution, from an author who experienced it first hand. It is Iran in 1969.

The House of the Mosque by Kader Abdolah