To Keep the Sun Alive: A Novel

By Rabeah Ghaffari

This “tenderhearted debut” depicts a family against the harrowing backdrop of the 1979 Iranian revolution, “showing the enduring ramifications of filial and political violence” (New Yorker).

“So evocative you’ll nearly be able to smell the orange trees in the family's orchard.” —Refinery29

The year is 1979. The Iranian Revolution is just around the corner. In the northeastern city of Naishapur, a retired judge and his wife, Bibi–Khanoom, 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 judge’s brother, a powerful cleric, take political control of the town or remain only a religious leader?

And yet, life goes on. Bibi–Khanoom’s grandniece secretly falls in love with the judge’s 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 family—and the country—to 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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Jan 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781948226103

Reviews for To Keep the Sun Alive

[mistermelon · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I thought this book was lovely. Strong, too. Better (for me) taken primarily as a slew of short stories. The overall narrative wlwas a miss for me - - but I could tell it was my fault, because of my disjointed reading and partially because of my poor ability to hang on to foreign names. Big win for me, though.

[dreesie-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5 starsThe setting of this novel alternates between pre-revolution Iran (1978) and 2012 Paris.In Iran, we meet the various members of one extended family. Most live at or near the orchard inherited by one if the older wives--it has been in her family for generations. The orchard's caretaker is an Afghan refugee, the wife's best friend is the local midwife. Two of the youngest generation (second cousins?) have fallen in love and hope to marry.In this setting we see, through their eyes, the revolution beginning. Only the oldest brother, the mullah, sees it (and wants it) for what it will be. The others hope for positive change or try to ignore it. As the mullah and then his nephew get more wrapped up, the nephew's brother is going the other way, regretting the change he had hoped for. Ghaffari also makes clear why these men are so susceptible to wanting this change and to grab control. As rejected/unfavored children, they have grown up feeling inferior to younger siblings and stewing in jealousy and hatred. Which makes them susceptible to grabbing any control when they have the chance.I saw Ghaffari speak on a panel at the 2019 LA Times Festival of Books. She was born in Iran and now splits time between Iran and New York. She made it clear that while this is not her family, the orchard is modeled after an orchard that was in her family. It simply became her setting.