The drum tower by Farnoosh Moshiri

"The drum tower" by Farnoosh Moshiri. This book is published by Sandstone Press Ltd in 2014 and has 320 pages.

This is a first person narration of tale by a young girl Talkhoon who's mother has disappeared and father is absconding. She is not quite right in head. She lives with her grand parents, sister, other relatives and servants in a family mansion called The Drum Tower. It's an aristocratic family of ministers. Talkhoon tells the story of transition. 

What's changing? What is the tale? What has it got to do with Simorgh?

The characterization is rich. Baba-ji, Talkhoon's grandfather, who is obsessed with Simorgh. Simorgh is an Iranian mystical benevolent creature equated with Griffin, Phoenix or Garuda. It's the bird of knowledge. Khanum jaan, Talkhoon's grandmother, who runs the house and hates Talkhoon and her deceased mother. Taara, Talkhoon's beautiful setarist sister, who elopes. Vafa, Talkhoon's paternal uncle, who turns revolutionary. Sina, Talkhoon's absentee father, who is a leftist. Soraya, Talkhoon's dead mother, who is surrounded in numerous rumors. Talkhoon, a neglected and unloved girl, in who's head, wind blows. Asad, Talkhoon's step uncle, who's status is only slightly above a servant. Drum tower, the ancestral ancient palatial mansion of generations of ministers including war minister of Shah. 

Although it's the story of Talkhoon and Drum Tower, it shows the transformations (political, social and religious) in Iran before and after the Islamic Revolution. Pre revolution Iran wasn't very different than Europe. Freedom to all, no restrictions, liquor culture etc. Post revolution everything changes. The novel is, thus, largely allegorical. We read the story of Talkhoon but it's pretty much the story of Iran. The crumbling Drum Tower, it's state of disrepair and neglect is also allegorical. 

The story is slow. Talkhoon's attempts of escape from Drum Tower always bring her back to Drum tower. She is always in a circular flight, like Simorgh, that brings her back. Last flight is the biggest. Will it be circular? She meets a number of people. Good, bad, greedy, innocent, caring, careless and through them she and reader understand Iran and transition. 

Character of Assad is a special one. He obsessively loves Talkhoon's mother. His obsession turns to Talkhoon who has a lot of similarities to her mother. This obsession turns to possessiveness blended with care. He is unreasonable and considerate at the same time.  Tyrant and loving at the same time. Vicious and forgiving at the same time. 

Reading this book is similar to viewing old Sepia photographs. Graphic but very different from today's times. End of the book is a bit strange, hurried and forcefully brought together. Author has also made it mystic and symbolic. 

Farnoosh Moshiri, the author, fled Iran in 1983. She lived in Afghanistan and Iran for 4 years before emigrating to USA. This book won Black Heron press award for Social Fiction in 2014. 

Why did I read this book? Raj recommended it. 

What I didn't like? Length. 

What did I like? Characterization, allegory.

Recommend reading if you like social fiction.