- Hardcover: 258 pages
- Publisher: Beaufort Books (15 Oct 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0825305209
- ISBN-13: 978-0825305207
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 16.2 x 2.5 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 385,952 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Sword of Medina: A Novel
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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7 reviews
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
A Terrific Book!
27 Sep 2009
Format:Hardcover
I just finished the Sword of Medina - it was compelling, entertaining and a fun way to increase my knowledge of Islam. The fast paced presentation of Aisha and Ali `s personalities and intentions gave me an intimate insight into two of history's most influential people. The Sword of Medina is well written and intelligent, combining playfulness with painful human decisions. I identified with Aisha and Ali's struggles to assume both competing and complementary positions of power amid the intrigue of trust, deceit and misunderstanding that caused the Battle of the Camel -Islam's historic civil war. Again historical fiction is more fascinating than purely imagination based literature.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
7th Century Political Intrigue
28 Sep 2009
Format:Hardcover
This is a wonderfully vibrant and dynamic continuation of the story of A'isha, Muhammad's favorite wife and spiritual/political confidant. It is told in multiple viewpoints - primarily those of A'isha and Ali as they wrestle for both power and control of Muhammad's legacy. This struggle culminates in the cataclysmic Battle of The Camel, where the two factions meet on the battlefield and set the stage for the split between Sunni and Shi'ite. A'isha and Ali are great, strong characters and we get a detailed picture of their mental landscape, both intellectual and emotional as they work their way toward the climax. Some of this landscape, of course, is the product of informed creativity as is all historical fiction. Historical fiction may not always pass muster as textbooks in a college graduate course in history, but for the vast bulk of readers who are not minutely informed about the events in this book, it gives us an accurate picture of Who, What, When, and a very plausible explanation of Why. And, it does so in an exciting and deeply engaging story with characters equally engaging.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
A compelling novel
10 Nov 2009
Format:Hardcover
First I'd like to say that I agree almost completely with the Publisher's Weekly review. Had I been reviewing this book for them, I also would have given it a star because it succeeds so well as a novel.
As you can tell by one of the reviews here, Jones' books have been controversial for reasons other than their success telling a compelling story. (Full disclosure. I do know Jones and I admire her as a person for a lot of reasons, not the least of which the way she has handled the controversy over "Jewel of Medina." I respect her way too much to say anything in a review of her work that I don't mean.) There's no doubt that Jones succeeds with this book as a novel.
She has a talent for the telling detail, whether it's landscape or character. There are no sterotypes here -- no straw man bad guys. The characters, even the less admirable ones, are well drawn as people.
The narrator alternates between Ali and A'isha, and I was struck at how well she distinguished between their inner voices without relying on any gimmickry.
And she pulled off the ending in a way that subtley and movingly transcends the Ali-A'isha (Shia-Sunni)schism, the shared desire of the story's two main competing characters. .
The history of Islam isn't exactly without controversy. You could argue forever about who Ali and A'isha -- and for that matter, Muhammed -- really are, I suppose.
But it you'd rather read a compelling story with well drawn and imagined characters and a page-turning plot that introduces people and events little known in the West -- but enormously important in the Muslim world -- you can't go wrong with this book.
As you can tell by one of the reviews here, Jones' books have been controversial for reasons other than their success telling a compelling story. (Full disclosure. I do know Jones and I admire her as a person for a lot of reasons, not the least of which the way she has handled the controversy over "Jewel of Medina." I respect her way too much to say anything in a review of her work that I don't mean.) There's no doubt that Jones succeeds with this book as a novel.
She has a talent for the telling detail, whether it's landscape or character. There are no sterotypes here -- no straw man bad guys. The characters, even the less admirable ones, are well drawn as people.
The narrator alternates between Ali and A'isha, and I was struck at how well she distinguished between their inner voices without relying on any gimmickry.
And she pulled off the ending in a way that subtley and movingly transcends the Ali-A'isha (Shia-Sunni)schism, the shared desire of the story's two main competing characters. .
The history of Islam isn't exactly without controversy. You could argue forever about who Ali and A'isha -- and for that matter, Muhammed -- really are, I suppose.
But it you'd rather read a compelling story with well drawn and imagined characters and a page-turning plot that introduces people and events little known in the West -- but enormously important in the Muslim world -- you can't go wrong with this book.
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