The Caliph's House: A Year in Casablanca Paperback – Illustrated, 26 Dec. 2006

I've read this book several times, it disappeared from my bookshelves and I wanted to read it again, so bought a used copy. I think it is the most hilarious account of renovating a house ever. The author lived in Casablanca as a child, but moved to London and was settled there with his wife. But he remembered his childhood and wanted his own children to experience the same childhood in a different culture as he had done, so he bought a once magnificent house standing on a promontory with wide sea views, but by now surrounded by a slum area in Casablanca. His experiences of rebuilding the house to its former glory when it was owned by a rich Caliph are some of the funniest I've read, with a long list of brilliantly described characters and situations that keep you reading and laughing. For me it brought back memories of buying a half completed house in the Caribbean and the crazy problems that arise when you realise that living in the UK is so totally different to living somewhere not quite so advanced in terms of service industry. The author's wife has to be the most placid and understanding woman ever, I almost cried for her at some points in the narrative. A must read, especially if you fancy yourself as being good at DIY, or think you can invade somebody else's country and renovate a house just like you would at home.

I bought The Caliph's House as a travel book to go along my first visit to Morocco. It helped illustrate and explain a lot of what I was experiencing, and definitely gave the whole trip a different, more colourful atmosphere. I was worried at first that the book is set in Casablanca, a city that was not in my itinerary, but the author actually travels through several other cities while struggling to renovate his house. Also his description of Casablanca matches what I was seeing in other big Moroccan cities (such as Marrakesh and Fes). Definitely recommended!

In the same genre as A Year in Provence and Driving Over Lemons, the culture shock of moving from UK to another country and renovating a big house can be hilarious and hysterical. This is a wonderful easy read where you really get an insight into the culture and beliefs of Morocco and a warning of what you'd be in for should you be mad enough to try it!

Tahir Shah (an Anglo-afghani) bought a property in Casablanca having felt drawn away to morocco from London. He, his wife and two small children moved into the rundown house with which he has inherited three guardians (a bit like intense caretakers) and various spirits (referred to as jinns).The power of this book is its ability to take the reader to a far away place...... And that happens here. Seeing Casablanca and the Caliph's House through the author's eyes brings his world into full technicolor.Morocco is full of superstition, rituals, bargaining and many other aspects of life unfamiliar to the western reader. It's genuinely fascinating to see how TS comes to terms with his surroundings. Of course, there is drama, violence and anger but the secret to the family's happiness seems to be compromise and mutual acceptance and the overriding feelings that come across are warmth and calm.TS changes gradually from dismissing the belief systems of the society to grudgingly beginning to accept them, if not going far enough to believe himself.The only aspect I struggled with for sometime was that I wondered how the author was making enough money to fund this project..... But then I realised that I was reading it!!I loved reading this book. I've never heard of this author previously and am looking forward to getting another of his books.

It's not a difficult book to read but I started it whilst I was in Morocco. There were many situations in the story that I could relate to. I visited the traditional medicine shop in Tiznit and I held on of the lovely green chameleons and I know about the jinns.If you're visiting Morocco it's worth reading this book.