Children of the Jacaranda Tree

By: Sahar Delijani

Narrated by: Mozhan Marno

A country divided by revolution. A people united by love.

Neda is born in Tehran’s Evin Prison, where her mother is allowed to nurse her for a few months before the arms of a guard appear at the cell door one day and, simply, take her away. In another part of the city, three-year-old Omid witnesses the arrests of his political-activist parents from his perch at their kitchen table, yogurt dripping from his fingertips. More than 20 years after the violent, bloody purge that took place inside Tehran’s prisons, Sheida learns that her father was one of those executed, that the silent void firmly planted between her and her mother all these years was not just the sad loss that comes with death, but the anguish and the horror of murder. These are the Children of the Jacaranda Tree.

Set in post-revolutionary Iran from 1983 to 2011, this stunning debut novel follows a group of mothers, fathers, children, and lovers, some related by blood, others brought together by the tide of history that washes over their lives. Finally, years later, it is the next generation that is left with the burden of the past and their country’s tenuous future as a new wave of protest and political strife begins.

Children of the Jacaranda Tree is an evocative portrait of three generations of men and women inspired by love and poetry, burning with idealism, chasing dreams of justice and freedom. Written in Sahar Delijani’s spellbinding prose, capturing the intimate side of revolution in a country where the weight of history is all around, it is a moving tribute to anyone who has ever answered its call.

©2013 Sahar Delijani (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

life in Iran for disbelievers

First time author that I heard about on National Public Radio. This is the fictionalized story loosely based on experiences of the author's family in Iran. After the Islamic revolution around 1980 there were lots of Iranians that weren't supportive of the new Islamic government and it strict religious way of life. They were the dissidents. Many of them were arrested and possibly executed over the next several years. This story tells how this affected one extended family and extended friends; the parents, the spouses, siblings, children, all of them and affect them it did. Then twenty five years later a new generation is young and they don't remember how dissidents were treated the first time around and again many are arrested and possibly executed. They were protesting rigged elections, maybe you remember it, it wasn't that long ago. There is no rehabilitation to this, it's just punishment and destruction. If you've ever wondered what life in Iran is like for dissidents you'll enjoy this story. It's not hard to think that those living there and aren't supportive of the Islamic regime find it terrible and brutal. This is that story. This isn't a particularly happy story but it is interesting. Many Iranians yearn to be free and be able to decide themselves how they want to live. It will happen someday but I don't know that it will be in my lifetime.

This is poetry for the soul

I listened to this book and fell in love with how the author showed me a knew world through her use of poetic prose. I wish I could see the world she sees if not only for the sense of fullness she conveys, but for the well-rounded vision she provides.