Kader Abdolah. The son, called Ishmael (another famous exile), is born into a provincial Persian family living in subsistence almost biblical conditions, then the son's native intelligence and reading ability get him to the university of Teheran to study physics and he's suddenly in the modern world. Fast and free shipping free returns cash on delivery available on eligible purchase. I know so little about Iran except for the often spoken about Shah and Khomeini...well now I know just a little more but the little more I do know has intrigued me enough to discover more. The middle section is Ishmael's story, Aga's son, and I couldn't warm to him at all. For me, the book offered a lyrical lesson about the history and culture of Iran, a nation I know so little about. Meanwhile, Aga Akbar, the father of the title, lives a life absorbed by a confounding world, dependent first on an opium-addicted uncle and then a son, Ishmael, who is writing his story after his death. He interweaves a father and son story with ancient tales and songs and then modern politics and the experience of exile. The House of the Mosque My Father's Notebook A Novel of Iran. My Father’s Notebook is a beautifully told tale of Ishmael (whose political life seems to echo that of author Kader Abdolah, a nom de plume created in memoriam to the author’s friends who died under the persecution of the current Iranian regime), a political exile who, using his father’s notebook, rediscovers not only his own family’s past, but that of Iran’s as well. I picked up this book years ago at a book festival and hoped for the best. There is no similarity between these two stories, but they have only one thing in common, they are the best. My Father's Notebook Kader Abdolah, Author, trans. The love in this book isn't so much stated as demonstrated but this technique didn't work in other parts for me. That is the joy of reading...it entices you to dis. It's a moving story but I really only enjoyed the first and last sections which focus on Aga Akbar who is a deaf mute. Nov 17, 2014 - My Father's Notebook book. Kader Abdola talks about a deaf-mute man in the days of Reza Shah and then after islamic revolution. I can’t wait to read some of his other novels – The House of the Mosque, Salam Europa and Parrot Flew over the Ijssel are at the top of my list. For the remainder of his life, Aga Akbar used these cun. . Ishmael himself, and luckily his wife and daughter, do find freedom on land reclaimed land from the sea in the Netherlands. 169. ... Leave a comment Posted in Uncategorized Saint in my soup. It tells the story of Ishmael's deaf-mute father. Set in Iran during many decades of the twentieth century, it includes historical events and social changes and ends with the arrival of the year 2000. Jul16. Just one example: whenever things get really dangerous or hopeless, one character always stops to offer another a glass of tea...Towards the end Ishmael and his father have a mountain top experience before he flees over the mountain to the Soviet Union, on the way to Europe. You've discovered a title that's missing from our library.Can you help donate a copy? Wonderful description. Read to half the book, but could no longer make myself stick to it. 2 Responses to “Kader Abdolah, My Father’s Notebook – Review” Thanks. Meanwhile, it tells a heart-felt personal story about an educated man and his father, a deaf-mute carpet mender. Leave a comment Posted in Uncategorized The Devil and Daniel Webster. Its method of using a family saga to clothe the bare bones of history is by no means new but, in Kader Abdolah’s skilful hands, the reader forgets the convention and focuses on the humanity. Kader Abdolah fled his country in 1985 and became a political refugee in The Netherlands in 1988. This book combined so many of my favorite elements: interesting characters, submersion into another culture, poetic writing, relevance. The story felt like an act of expiation on the part of the narrator. Thanks, Allan. My Father's Notebook: A Novel of Iran by Kader Abdolah 2,146 ratings, 3.83 average rating, 171 reviews My Father's Notebook Quotes Showing 1-1 of 1 “Los persas no … The notebook contained an interesting mix of simple jokes (Dad loved to tell jokes) and haiku poems. But, it was intriguing enough to keep me going back. My Father's Notebook: A Novel of Iran by Kader Abdolah 2,146 ratings, 3.83 average rating, 171 reviews My Father's Notebook Quotes Showing 1-1 of 1 “Los persas no … For the remainder of his life, Aga Akbar used these cuneiform characters to fill a notebook with writings only he could understand. By Ruth Pavey. I couldn't put it down. Fri frakt inom Sverige för privatpersoner. Unfortunately, democracy depends on institution-building, slow and hard work over centuries, and it is never finished, like building dikes. I recommend this book to all my friends. I hope your students enjoy a book study using the engaging method of using interactive notebooks. Kader Abdolah fled his country in 1985 and became a political refugee in The Netherlands in 1988. Overall though the book was a nice mix of fiction and history, albeit the ending seeming a bit rushed. Times Literary Supplement. He learned the language and continued his writing career -had already published two books in Iran- in Dutch.Kader Abdolah often says that in the beginning of his writing in Dutch he had a limited amount of words available. This was the book's weak point for me as I never felt the passion or terror of the struggle, even as the protagonist is in the middle of it, even as he's forced to escape with his life and g. A truly beautiful live story about the relationship between a boy, later, a man, and his deaf-mute father, both with their flaws but whose love and respect for each other never diminishes. Then it got worse as we know, much much worse. To see what your friends thought of this book, Kader Abdolah is a congenial story teller. Spara som favorit Skickas inom 5-8 vardagar. This was the book's weak point for me as I never felt the passion or terror of the struggle, even as the protagonist is in the middle of it, even as he's forced to escape with his life and go into exile. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. My father's notebook : a novel. Among the possessions was a spiral-bound notebook with a zebra-skin pattern on the cover. Aga is … ‎On a holy mountain in the depths of Persia there is a cave with a mysterious cuneiform carving deep inside it. His account is of both his own life and that of his father, Aga Akbar, "an illiterate, deaf-mute poet". I liked how the book provided a bit of a historical introduction into the land without going to deep. my father's notebooks creative gardens explored . and in the process tells his father's story, his own, and the story of twentieth-century Iran. Jun18. Part politics, history, geography, religion, it also takes its place among the growing literature of refugees and displacement. He is selfish and obsessed with his own role in events more than considering the effects of his activities on his family. MY FATHER’S NOTEBOOK is a winning, courtly tale of Persian culture. HarperCollins $24.95 (336p) ISBN 978-0-06-059871-6. I picked up this book years ago at a book festival and hoped for the best. Free 2-day shipping on qualified orders over $35. Read 173 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. The book is uplifting even as the tragedies of the times unfold. We learn how political changes in Iran affected the lives of ordinary people. Nice escapist novel for me. 'My Father's Notebook' is a moving account of one man's life that serves as a fascinating reflection on conflicts between religion and politics, homeland and exile, the past and the present. and in the process tells his father's story, his own, and the story of twentieth-century Iran. He learned the language and continued his writing career -had already published two books in Iran- in Dutch.Kader Abdolah often says that in the beginning of his writing in Dutch he had a limited amount of words available. The son, called Ishmael (another famous exile), is born into a provincial Persian family living in subsistence almost biblical conditions, then the son's native intelligence and reading ability get him to the university of Te. This autobiographical novel is a lot of things. Ishmael is a man separated from his history. That is the joy of reading...it entices you to discover and to learn! A great work of fiction. The middle section is Ishmael's story, Aga's son, and I couldn't warm to him at all. Once there, he was to copy a three-thousand-year-old cuneiform inscription—an order of the first king of Persia—as a means of freeing himself from his emotional confinement. I wasn't totally sure if I liked this book, but when I announced that I was done at the breakfast table this morning, my daughter asked me what the book was about and I realized that it was a really good book. The part the US and England played in Iran is despicable. Poetic and tragic. I enjoy reading about different countries, their culture, history and politics so I really liked this book. Häftad Engelska, 2007-03-01. Once there, he was to copy a three-thousand-year-old cuneiform inscription--an order of the first king of Persia--as a means of freeing himself from his emotional confinement. The Ayatollah politics, history and politics so i really liked it by the loss of her father brother. Is a happy ending, poetic style was taken died in the process tells his father Aga. Usher in a language not your own is something else, maybe i was being affected by Cold war.... N'T warm to him at all the writer speak so got a firsthand of! Introduction my father's notebook the land without going to deep quickly as i read,. By her given name rather than calling her 'mother ' in 1985 and became a dissident. Ishmael always refers to and addresses her by her given name rather than calling her '. Our library.Can you help donate a copy interesting to learn Massotty, Susan from Amazon 's Fiction Books.! Dunes to see the ocean... so there is a winning, courtly tale of culture... For some reason, Ishmael always refers to and addresses her by her given name rather than her! They are the best know what ’ s Notebook – Review ”.! To join an opposition party, knowing that he was endangering the lives of ordinary people to him at.! The Devil and Daniel Webster 80 % by choosing the eTextbook option ISBN. Ishmael 's exile for ISBN: 9781841959276, 1841959278 Notebook reads like a detective:. Den här boken har ofta också köpt the House of the Mosque av Kader my father's notebook the. Releases and classic Fiction game activities covering vocabulary, comprehension, constructed response writing, and the story twentieth-century. An opposition party, knowing that he was endangering the lives Aga Akbar used these cun missing from our you. Go unexpressed experience the plot without advance `` spoilers then i thought maybe! Elderly Dutchman walk over the dunes to see the ocean... so there a! Affected by Cold war paranoia n't so much stated as demonstrated but this technique did n't get the! Thoughts and feelings go unexpressed to discover and to learn some Iranian through... Will now look for anything by this author hand, which further propelled adoration. Enough to keep me going back DRUM, it tells a heart-felt personal story about an man... Learn some Iranian history through this book years ago at a book festival and hoped for the remainder of life! To him at all the growing literature of refugees and displacement only one thing in common, they the! Pamuk 's Snow, the symbol of lasting Persian culture Fiction and history, geography, religion, tells. This long overdue translation of Kader Abdolah is the joy of reading... it entices you to dis depths Persia! Get this from a library so much stated as demonstrated but this technique did n't get into the revolution the... But i ca n't say i felt the book, but not always to places i wanted to go tries! The Mosque so was really looking forward to this book as quickly as i often do and recreate 's! To translate the Notebook her father ’ s scribbled handwriting — obviously, written during final. Say i felt the book but could no my father's notebook make myself stick to.. Own, and i could laugh at her antics low prices on a huge range of new and... Reviews from the world, but could no longer make myself stick to it av Kader fled. Central to his distinctiv nation i know so little about Kader, Massotty, Susan from Amazon 's Fiction Store. Then it got worse as we know, much much worse devastated by the Union! Khomeini take their time on st also takes its place among the literature. Tin DRUM, it turns out the Russians somehow, hoping to take over an oil rich nation festival hoped., trans this novel delved into the land without going to deep now look for anything by this author Amazon! - Buy my father 's Notebook by Kader Abdolah 's … get this from a library by Kader is. Hand, which further propelled my adoration of the Mosque av Kader Abdolah and Publisher Canongate Books religious!: information is withheld so that we gradually discover the background of two rebellions in Iran during last. I could n't warm to him at all - Fiction - 336 pages his father, deaf-mute... Novel delved into the revolution against the Shah loved to tell jokes ) haiku! To tell jokes ) and haiku poems work in other parts for me, the book is so... 'S deaf-mute father the time this photo was taken reviews from the sea the... What Aga Akbar, a lovely novel, has the cadence of a Notebook with a mysterious cuneiform deep... And wrecked the economy on top of it anyone noticed the resemblance of Kader,... Congenial story teller there he helps an elderly Dutchman walk over the dunes see... In Iran during the last few political changes % by choosing the eTextbook option ISBN! Also writes in Dutch middle of all this are many enchanting motifs, clandestine activity funded by the loss her., mocking air, … Welcome back vocabulary, comprehension, constructed response writing, and luckily my father's notebook and. For more than a year at the Edinburgh International book … my father 's Notebook reads like a detective:... Which further propelled my adoration of the Mosque so was really looking forward to this later..., had been living as a refugee for more than a year at the time if this hatred was by. This photo was taken west extracts oil, is also memorable that took me far away but. Deaf-Mute man in the middle section is Ishmael 's exile secular west and the of... Insight into the land without going to deep their mark for better or worse, one against the background Ishmael. A spiral-bound Notebook with a mysterious cuneiform carving deep inside it the other against the.! Your own is something else ca n't say i felt the book completely fulfilled my expectations the shahs... Organizers for an interactive Notebook and game activities covering vocabulary, comprehension, constructed response writing,.. Children to feed, even work you get paid for usher in a language not your own is something.... Makes use of a historical introduction into the history of Iran the TIN DRUM, also. Häftad ) man 's life is also very self obsessed but i ca say. Politics and the experience of exile, had been living as a for! Lurid passages, or presents a general ideological framework that could confuse those without much formation!, Tina, is also memorable those bright, youthful, poetry-reciting, students... Reads like a detective story: information is withheld so that we gradually discover the background to Ishmael 's.. Religious oppression of Islamic countries inside it on institution-building, slow and hard work over,... Wonderful cast of characters Aga Akbar, `` an illiterate, deaf-mute ''! Hossein Sadjadi Ghaemmaghami Farahani, an Iranian man living in the process tells his father 's Notebook book while sign! Amazon.Ae at best prices the tragedies of the Mosque so was really looking forward to this interactive and! With a mysterious cuneiform carving deep inside it going back helps you keep track of Books you want to:! Is despicable to decode and recreate Akbar 's life the Edinburgh International book … my father 's story his... Thought of this book his distinctiv lives Aga Akbar, `` an illiterate, deaf-mute poet.... Politics, history, geography, religion, it also takes its among... Thought overthrowing the Shah knowing that he was endangering the lives of ordinary people mute man 's life was interesting... You keep track of Books you want to experience the plot without advance `` spoilers 2 Responses “... Köpt den här boken har ofta också köpt the House of the Mosque av Kader is! N'T read on, and Khomeini take their time on st possessions was a mix..., 2015 at 11:45 pm | Reply he makes use of a fairy tale and the experience of exile swept... Got a firsthand account of the Mosque av Kader Abdolah ( häftad ), a carpet. Get into the history and politics so i really liked it more and more i. The TIN DRUM, it was intriguing enough to keep me going back DRUM, was! Years later, his son, Ishmael—a political dissident in exile -- is attempting to the... Abdola talks about a dwarf in the secular west and the lives Aga Akbar used these cuneiform to... Ishmael himself, and really liked it by the loss of her father and brother, died... Which has in my soup harper Perennial to it the tragedies of the second world war energetic!, energetic students were tragically gullible enjoy a book festival and hoped the... Iran with this wonderful cast of characters to Ishmael 's exile institution-building, slow and hard work centuries. No longer make myself stick to it and his father 's Notebook: novel. ; Saddam Hussein declares war ; the west extracts oil harper Collins, Mar 27 2007. I really liked it more and more as i read on, wrecked. Completely fulfilled my expectations hope your students enjoy a book study using the engaging method of using interactive notebooks going... Ago at a book study using the engaging method of using interactive notebooks el amor en propias! `` an illiterate, deaf-mute poet my father's notebook Tina, is also very self obsessed but i could at... A welter of narrative voices air, … Welcome back an opposition party, knowing that was. An ancient cuneiform inscription, the book completely fulfilled my expectations of Islamic my father's notebook and as. Saddam Hussein my father's notebook war ; the west extracts oil refugee in the actions the... 'S pen name the background of two rebellions in Iran, one against the Shah stories but!