Scan barcode
alyssajcori's review
1.0
This was terrible. Like, so awful and I usually am not this harsh. It was the same exact short story line over and over again. A wife of the prophet Muhammad is jealous or sad or angry about something. She says something selfish or stupid and it makes him mad and not trust her. She admonishes herself to hold her tongue in the future. Surprise! She doesn’t hold her tongue and says something stupid again and the cycle starts over. Can’t recommend this book to anyone for any reason.
bookishblond's review
2.0
The Jewel of Medina is a historical fiction novel about A'isha Bint Ali Bakr, the Prophet Muhammad's favorite wife. I picked this book up on a whim when I saw it at my local Half Price Books and read about the controversy that surrounds this book. Unfortunately, this novel is not worth the hype. A'isha is an uninteresting character with the values of a twenty-first century feminist and not at all believable as a woman of seventh century Saudi Arabia. The Prophet Muhammad, who is arguably one of the most influential people who has ever lived, was portrayed as a womanizer who is primarily concerned with acquiring more wives, although the author does go out of her way to highlight his compassion and "enlightened" views of women. I was hoping for a novel that highlighted the Prophet's wives and gave a new insight into the birth of Islam, and I was incredibly disappointed.
sloatsj's review
1.0
Somewhere in the Caribbean there is a stretch of beach lush with palm trees, with sand the color of milk, where I hope someday to go, and hurl this book into the ocean where I will never see it again.
jasmyn9's review
4.0
Not knowing much about the documented life of Muhammad - I can't speak to the accuracy of this story. Accuracy aside - this was a very well written historical novel. The characters came to life and I became attached to just about all of them. The story follows Aisha from the time she is 6 and through her life as one of Muhammad's many wives. There is love and tragedy - sins and forgiveness - war and peace, all very well written in a way that kept me wanting to read more and more.
bookcreek's review
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
lizjane's review
3.0
Historical fiction telling the tale of Muhammad's third and most favorite wife. This book has caused some controversy because of its depiction of the Prophet, but I found Muhammad as a character to be thoughtful, spiritual and human. His best wife, A'isha, is childish and annoying at times, but he did marry her when she was nine, so that's probably to be expected. An okay book that tells the story of early Islam.
(Also, polygamy! I can't read enough about that!)
(Also, polygamy! I can't read enough about that!)
mjspice's review
White women writing about cultures not their own and then complaining that they're being "oppressed" smh.
klajader's review
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ruerue's review
1.0
thank god there is many other readers who have just wrote what I was thinking about this aweful book!
The book is full of historical errors, it is not 100 percent fiction. Jones also reproduces many true events, and some historical figures she gives a favorable light. Jones says that the Prophet Muhammed was reprinted in the way she intended, "as a wise and kind leader ..." That is what makes this book so dangerous!!
Because it mixes fiction with historical facts. The reader will find it difficult to distinguish between the two. And even worse is that the readership of this book is primarily aimed at - the Western audience -
so most do not have sufficient knowledge about Islam and Islamic history to be able to distinguish between fiction and reality. This book is a work of fiction, and so it shall remain. What I object to is that many will think that this is part of the Prophet Muhammad and Aisha's real life.
One more thing. In the book Mmixes fiction with facts crisscrossingly. And there are also elements that have nothing whatsoever to do with Islam. One example is Hatun (House first lady). Hatun is a tradition that has no basis in Islam and it includes sisters-wives compete to be number one, the winner is the one who will decide over the others in the harem.
In the book it is Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) obsessed with the idea of becoming Hatun, and when she was until finally reaches that position, so bow down all the wives of the Prophet and the Prophet for her! -
Even the thought of bowing in front of other people is not something that can be found in Islam, on the contrary, it is forbidden to do so!!
When Sherry Jones asked about this, she replied: "This was something I used as a writer of fiction, imported from Turkey to illustrate Haremets rivalry."
Say whaaaat?! That is an misunderstanding there too, Turkish rulers didn't have "harems" (but thats an other story)
I found it to be a really horribal fictional book..I felt like I was committing blashemy! (I'm muslim my self)
The book is full of historical errors, it is not 100 percent fiction. Jones also reproduces many true events, and some historical figures she gives a favorable light. Jones says that the Prophet Muhammed was reprinted in the way she intended, "as a wise and kind leader ..." That is what makes this book so dangerous!!
Because it mixes fiction with historical facts. The reader will find it difficult to distinguish between the two. And even worse is that the readership of this book is primarily aimed at - the Western audience -
so most do not have sufficient knowledge about Islam and Islamic history to be able to distinguish between fiction and reality. This book is a work of fiction, and so it shall remain. What I object to is that many will think that this is part of the Prophet Muhammad and Aisha's real life.
One more thing. In the book Mmixes fiction with facts crisscrossingly. And there are also elements that have nothing whatsoever to do with Islam. One example is Hatun (House first lady). Hatun is a tradition that has no basis in Islam and it includes sisters-wives compete to be number one, the winner is the one who will decide over the others in the harem.
In the book it is Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) obsessed with the idea of becoming Hatun, and when she was until finally reaches that position, so bow down all the wives of the Prophet and the Prophet for her! -
Even the thought of bowing in front of other people is not something that can be found in Islam, on the contrary, it is forbidden to do so!!
When Sherry Jones asked about this, she replied: "This was something I used as a writer of fiction, imported from Turkey to illustrate Haremets rivalry."
Say whaaaat?! That is an misunderstanding there too, Turkish rulers didn't have "harems" (but thats an other story)
I found it to be a really horribal fictional book..I felt like I was committing blashemy! (I'm muslim my self)
katsant1's review
5.0
Great story. I didn't realize until 3/4 of the way through how controversial publishing this novel was. Great character development and appreciate the fierceness of the female lead. Looking forward to getting my hands on the sequel!