The Caliph's House: A Year in Casablanca

Memorable read!

I am a former literature prof and a life-long lover of reading. I read The Caliph's House in preparation for a month long vacation in Morocco, and I'm glad I did. I loved the gentle, humorous voice of the author, who possesses the rare capacity to bring the reader to tears and laughter almost simultaneously. I appreciated Tahir Shah's concrete descriptions of life on the go in a world that differs substantially from my own. I also admired the way in which the first person narrator is able to befriend such a wide array of individuals...children, lover, workmen, authors, artists, sorcerers, ancient prophets, work-a-day friends, buddies at the local bars. He is a gifted writer. I would recommend all of Tahir Shar's books. If Casablanca is on the list of places you have to visit, reading this book is a great way to stimulate your appetite and mind in advance.