Helpful Score: 2
I agree with the reviewer "Lenka".... but apart of the book being a subtle indoctrination tool of the glory and martyrdom of Islam, the book also is poorly written.
The reader can every now and then hit a pocket of nice storytelling, but you have to endure lots of poorly executed time line jumps, the narrator's (Aisha) cryptic, futuristic comments, which are meant to intrigue the reader, but instead all they do is frustrate, and annoy. Except for the side stories, such at the opening one, where Aisha is born, which will captivate the reader, by large the characters feel flat, and the politics (apart of the gruesomely descriptive tortures/deaths of the first martyrs) are just a big tangled mess, which makes the research behind the book feel poorly done. The book just feels so much more like a badly executed fiction then a retelling of well documented history. For example, when the "miracles" that Moses did are repeated by Muhammad, the author achieves the opposite effect with the way he presents it. Instead of being given the feeling of religious ecstasy and humbleness, the reader has no choice but laugh at the ridiculousness of the whole situation, as it is presented.
The "Authors Note" attacks Christianity, (claiming that Christianity has no substance as its history is not documented, and the rape of 9 yr olds in Islam is ok, because Marry's (a Christian) was pregnant at 12yrs. This tells me 2 things. The author is a Muslim because he implies that Mary had intercourse at age 12, (as Muslims do not believe that Marry's child was conceived without physical intercourse). Which in turn explains why the book is endorsed by Muslim Brotherhood, whose charter is quite an eye opener...
In short reading this book was just like dragging your feet in 2 feet of mud; the writing drags most of the time, the characters do NOT come alive, the politics are tangled mess, the narrator is annoying, and constant glory of Islam is rubbed in your face. If you want to read a truly remarkable book about Aisha, with all the cultural, human and dirty political interaction, get THE JEWEL OF MEDINA, THE SWORD OF MEDINA, it is a trilogy, and the third has not been published as yet. The book was blocked in every publishing house, but one, by Muslim Brotherhood, and it truly is worth reading.
The reader can every now and then hit a pocket of nice storytelling, but you have to endure lots of poorly executed time line jumps, the narrator's (Aisha) cryptic, futuristic comments, which are meant to intrigue the reader, but instead all they do is frustrate, and annoy. Except for the side stories, such at the opening one, where Aisha is born, which will captivate the reader, by large the characters feel flat, and the politics (apart of the gruesomely descriptive tortures/deaths of the first martyrs) are just a big tangled mess, which makes the research behind the book feel poorly done. The book just feels so much more like a badly executed fiction then a retelling of well documented history. For example, when the "miracles" that Moses did are repeated by Muhammad, the author achieves the opposite effect with the way he presents it. Instead of being given the feeling of religious ecstasy and humbleness, the reader has no choice but laugh at the ridiculousness of the whole situation, as it is presented.
The "Authors Note" attacks Christianity, (claiming that Christianity has no substance as its history is not documented, and the rape of 9 yr olds in Islam is ok, because Marry's (a Christian) was pregnant at 12yrs. This tells me 2 things. The author is a Muslim because he implies that Mary had intercourse at age 12, (as Muslims do not believe that Marry's child was conceived without physical intercourse). Which in turn explains why the book is endorsed by Muslim Brotherhood, whose charter is quite an eye opener...
In short reading this book was just like dragging your feet in 2 feet of mud; the writing drags most of the time, the characters do NOT come alive, the politics are tangled mess, the narrator is annoying, and constant glory of Islam is rubbed in your face. If you want to read a truly remarkable book about Aisha, with all the cultural, human and dirty political interaction, get THE JEWEL OF MEDINA, THE SWORD OF MEDINA, it is a trilogy, and the third has not been published as yet. The book was blocked in every publishing house, but one, by Muslim Brotherhood, and it truly is worth reading.
Helpful Score: 1
I have read the Jewel of Medina, and found the controversial issues so well handled I went on to read its sequel the Sword of Medina. I was amazed how well and with such clarity has the author presented the subject, without a single hint of criticism of Islam, yet presenting all the dilemmas facing the religion at that time.
This book caught my eye, and I thought, why not read another account of Aisha and Muhammad. If it is half well written as the Jewel of Medina, it will be a fascinating read. When I opened the book and read the authors notes, all kinds of red flags popped out. The most notable is the authors subtle insults to Christianity (please note that I'm not follower of any organized religion, and speak as uninterested party). Most notedly the notes implying Christianity is a less substantial religion then Islam, since there are very few documents in existence about Jesus. The other rather big issue she touches upon is comparing the "holly conception" (please read that as: without physical intercourse) of the 12 year old Marry, to the marriage of a 9 year old to a 40+ year old man, going further to imply that we cannot place today's value on a practice that was common at the time, and therefore acceptable. She is correct, except for the fact that modern Muslims interpret Mohammad's life literally and therefore find it acceptable to marry adolescent girls and 9year old child brides based on his example in this day and age, which the author notedly ignores.
The book went on in the same spirit of euphemism about the glory of Islam, while totally ignoring the issues where medieval practices common and accepted at that time period, which we are told not to take out of context or the time period, are still practiced today, to the dismay of the western world. Sadly the west misguidedly protects Islam as "cultural heritage" and 'religion'. Where in fact Islam is a political movement spanning many countries and cultures. People daring to voice criticisms about Islam's violation of the human rights and the US constitution are often labeled "islamophobic" an empty word implying irrational fear of Islam even if the voices come from the victims of Islam's cruelty to women, such as the the genital cutting, case in point: Hirsi Ali.
Critics of some of the medieval practises are sued to ruin by CAIR, the major Islamic non-profit organization in the US, (and notedly listed fifth on the 2014 Saudi Arabia's list of terrorists organizations) with the intention to silence any criticism in the name of tolerance and free speech, and if that doesn't work, then the label of islamophobia is applied. CAIR has threatened the author of the Jewel of Medina and had gotten every publisher except for one to halt the book from being printed. This book about Muhammad, received a favorable review by CAIR, which in it self raises all sorts of questions, most notedly why praise this book and denounce the Jewel of Medina. The answer lies in the subtle presentation of facts in each book. Jewel of medina is historically accurate, brutal, and is not always presenting the early Muslims in their best light, while the Mother of Believers glorifies Islam, and subtly indoctrinates the reader.
If you want a clear, sane and unbiased story about Aisha, get the Jewel of Medina. Stay away from this glorified propaganda endorsed by an organization with ties to known terrorists, an organization refusing to condemn the 9/11 attacks, beyond saying they are sorry for the "innocent" lives lost, but not explaining that their charter only considers "innocents" to be good Muslims, all others are infidels a.e. Enemies.
This book caught my eye, and I thought, why not read another account of Aisha and Muhammad. If it is half well written as the Jewel of Medina, it will be a fascinating read. When I opened the book and read the authors notes, all kinds of red flags popped out. The most notable is the authors subtle insults to Christianity (please note that I'm not follower of any organized religion, and speak as uninterested party). Most notedly the notes implying Christianity is a less substantial religion then Islam, since there are very few documents in existence about Jesus. The other rather big issue she touches upon is comparing the "holly conception" (please read that as: without physical intercourse) of the 12 year old Marry, to the marriage of a 9 year old to a 40+ year old man, going further to imply that we cannot place today's value on a practice that was common at the time, and therefore acceptable. She is correct, except for the fact that modern Muslims interpret Mohammad's life literally and therefore find it acceptable to marry adolescent girls and 9year old child brides based on his example in this day and age, which the author notedly ignores.
The book went on in the same spirit of euphemism about the glory of Islam, while totally ignoring the issues where medieval practices common and accepted at that time period, which we are told not to take out of context or the time period, are still practiced today, to the dismay of the western world. Sadly the west misguidedly protects Islam as "cultural heritage" and 'religion'. Where in fact Islam is a political movement spanning many countries and cultures. People daring to voice criticisms about Islam's violation of the human rights and the US constitution are often labeled "islamophobic" an empty word implying irrational fear of Islam even if the voices come from the victims of Islam's cruelty to women, such as the the genital cutting, case in point: Hirsi Ali.
Critics of some of the medieval practises are sued to ruin by CAIR, the major Islamic non-profit organization in the US, (and notedly listed fifth on the 2014 Saudi Arabia's list of terrorists organizations) with the intention to silence any criticism in the name of tolerance and free speech, and if that doesn't work, then the label of islamophobia is applied. CAIR has threatened the author of the Jewel of Medina and had gotten every publisher except for one to halt the book from being printed. This book about Muhammad, received a favorable review by CAIR, which in it self raises all sorts of questions, most notedly why praise this book and denounce the Jewel of Medina. The answer lies in the subtle presentation of facts in each book. Jewel of medina is historically accurate, brutal, and is not always presenting the early Muslims in their best light, while the Mother of Believers glorifies Islam, and subtly indoctrinates the reader.
If you want a clear, sane and unbiased story about Aisha, get the Jewel of Medina. Stay away from this glorified propaganda endorsed by an organization with ties to known terrorists, an organization refusing to condemn the 9/11 attacks, beyond saying they are sorry for the "innocent" lives lost, but not explaining that their charter only considers "innocents" to be good Muslims, all others are infidels a.e. Enemies.
Helpful Score: 1
Many characters, difficult to keep track of, and I found this to be a difficult read. Parts of it are captivating, but I ended up quiting about halfway through.
