I also hope that readers will take it for what it is. Ive read it, and i sent it to shewhohashope to gain her perspective, as she and i are of different faiths and cultures, and have differing views of the prologue and the book that it introduces. Spellberg holds a ba from smith college 1980 and a phd 1989 from columbia university. Author tour and uk edition of the jewel of medina postponed after attack. Prologue a single pointing finger smart bitches, trashy books. Set in ancient arabia during the dramatic birth of islam, this captivating debut novel paints a. I went looking for the pandaemonium predicted to meet sherry joness novel about aisha on its us publication. The story is told entirely from the point of view of aisha, muhammads most beloved bride amongst a. The jewel of medina held my attention from the opening prologue and never faltered. He offered the fiftytwo year old widower mohammad his six year old daughter to strengthen their bond of friendship and devotion. The jewel of medina is a historical novel by sherry jones that recounts the life of aisha, one of. My neighbors rushed into the street like storm waters flooding a wadi.
Aisha was the daughter of abu bakr, an early follower of the prophet. Extensively researched and elegantly crafted, the jewel of medina evokes the beauty and harsh realities of life in an age long past, during a time of war, enlightenment, and upheaval. See the complete medina series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles. In search of the jewel of medina controversy books. For some devout muslims, perhaps the most objectionable chapter in salman rushdies satanic verses concerned a.
Sherry jones emailed me the prologue of her book the jewel of medina to share with you all. Extensively researched, the jewel of medina evokes the beauty and harsh realities of life in an age long past. The first edition of the novel was published in 2008, and was written by sherry jones. The jewel of medina is a fast paced and engrossing look at the beginnings of islam through the eyes of a young girl who eventually becomes the third wife of the prophet muhammad. Oct 15, 2008 the jewel of medina is in a similar category. The story is told entirely from the point of view of aisha, muhammads most beloved bride amongst a bevy of beautiful wives. Ultimately, she becomes one of the most important women in islam, and a fierce protector of her husbands words and legacy.
See the complete medina series book list in order, box. In 2008 spellberg was involved in a controversy over sherry jones historical novel the jewel of medina. Satanic verses as a work of literature took some reading and in the end i couldnt see what all the fuss was about. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 358 pages and is available in hardcover format. The jewel of medina is a historical novel by sherry jones that recounts the life of aisha, one of muhammads wives, from the age of six, when she was betrothed to muhammad, to his death although the novel was originally scheduled for release in 2008, the publication run was canceled by random house due to concerns about possibly inflammatory content. Nonetheless, the jewel of medina has been or will be published in at least 15 countries.
The jewel of medina, a work of historical fiction on the life of hadhrat aishah ra before, and following, her marriage to the holy prophet saw, is the latest book to have once again wounded muslim sentiment. Industry captains such as clapp, blethan, gates, and bezos have built estates along medinas waterfront. The jewel of medina kindle edition by jones, sherry. The jewel of medina is fiction in the purest sense of the term, with little or nothing of history in it. Beaufort books purchased the jewel of medina, by sherry jones, about the child bride of the prophet muhammad, almost a month after random house canceled its release. It has now been published in the united states by beaufort books, which, in a press release, said that it knows how to look for trouble. She is an associate professor of history and middle eastern studies at the university of texas at austin. Not something which god is likely to be too bothered. The jewel of medina by sherry jones reading guidebook club. Jewel of medina restocked in serbia the bookseller. Last week in my post about banned books week i mentioned a developing story regarding a london bombing associated with the jewel of medina, a book about muhammad and his youngest, favorite, childwife aisha.
I now have a copy of the jewel of medina in my personal library although im still not sure about the book s literary merits, if any. I would like people to see the jewel of medina as an epic love story, a lesson on the origins of islam, and a book that, like the red tent, provides a glimpse into the lives, hopes, fears, desires, jealousies, and friendships of the twelve women in the prophet muhammads harem. Free download or read online the jewel of medina pdf epub book. The novel, jewel of medina, by american author sherry jones was nearing publication in the us with random house when the reaction of an early reader led the publisher to cancel its publication. For some devout muslims, perhaps the most objectionable chapter in salman rushdies satanic verses concerned a brothel. Because i wrote about the prophet muhammad and his youngest wife, aisha.
Did you know my first novel, the jewel of medina, has been banned in several countries including malaysia and, when i went there in 2011, egypt. The following month, the small new york press beaufort books. This stops seeming so surreal when you register that the jewel of medina is a romantic historical novel, which just happens to use sacred figures as its central characters. Buying the books is the best way of preserving the freedom. At the beginning i was reminded of the 19th wife because of the common themes of plural marriage and being married to a prophet. It is fast paced, complex, emotional and even lighthearted as muhammad, aisha and ali each evolve into powerful leaders for their faith. The jewel of medina is a historical novel by sherry jones that recounts the life of aisha, one of muhammads wives, from the age of six, when she was betrothed to muhammad, to his death.
Beaufort books, inc 1 edition october 2008 language. Mar 05, 2009 books blog fiction in search of the jewel of medina controversy. The medina book series by sherry jones includes books the jewel of medina and the sword of medina. The jewel of medina, sherry jones hotpotato novel about the prophet muhammad and his childbride aisha, comes not from a field of spuds, but. The jewel of medina will be published on october 30 in the uk and october 15 in the us, although joness us publisher beaufort books has closed its offices today as a precautionary measure. But random house decided to drop this historical romance about aisha, the child bride of. She is forced to leave her beloved mecca for medina when it becomes unsafe for. Born aisha bint abi bakr in seventh century arabia, she would become the favorite wife of the prophet muhammad. Sep 29, 2008 the jewel of medina will be published on october 30 in the uk and october 15 in the us, although joness us publisher beaufort books has closed its offices today as a precautionary measure. Before it was even released, the book spurred an angry demonstration in bangladesh, death threats against me, and an attempt on my british. Prologue a single pointing finger medina, january 627 fourteen years old scandal blew in on the errant wind when i rode into medina clutching safwans waist. Click download or read online button to get the jewel of medina book now. The jewel of medina by sherry jones reading guidebook. Oct 06, 2008 the jewel of medina, a novel by journalist sherry jones, was originally to be published in august.
At the beginning i was reminded of the 19th wife because of the common themes of plural marriage and being married to a. The jewel of medina sherry jones the jewel of medina by sherry jones is set in the founder of islam, the prophet muhammads harim and the plot consists of the battle to win his favor. The jewel of medina, a novel by journalist sherry jones, was originally to be published in august. Oct 06, 2008 days later, in an effort to reduce or eliminate the chance of violence, the president of beaufort books, eric kampmann announced that the jewel of medina would be published today, october 6 nine days earlier than the original october 15 release date. Extensively researched and elegantly crafted, the jewel of medina presents the beauty and harsh realities of life in an age. Extensively researched and elegantly crafted, the jewel of medina presents the beauty and harsh realities of life in an age long past, during a time of war, enlightenment, and upheaval. Publication of controversial muhammad novel the jewel of medina. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. The benefit of doing so means that we pass on the savings to our clients and you get a huge selection of diamonds to cherry pick what you want. Jones, the author of the jewel of medina is a journalist based in. Read the jewel of medina for entertainment, understanding and compassion.
Extensively researched and elegantly crafted, the jewel of medina evokes the beauty and harsh realities of life in an age long past, during a time of war, enlightenment and upheaval. At first glance the jewel of medina seems far more light weight a novel. The jewel of medina is a historical fiction novel about aisha bint ali bakr, the prophet muhammads favorite wife. At once a love story, a history lesson, and a comingofage tale, the jewel of medina provides humanizing glimpses into the origins of the islamic faith, and the nature of love, through the eyes of a truly unforgettable heroine. Random house, which intended to publish the novel later that year, had sent spellberg galley proofs, hoping for a publishable comment.
No doubt you recall the storm that erupted last summer over sherry joness novel the jewel of medina, a retelling of the life of muhammads child. I found it enjoyable to read i had a hard time putting it down. Jones, the author of the jewel of medina is a journalist based in spokane, washington, has described her book as. As reliable, historically, as disneys aladdin and the king of thieves, the jewel of medina is a chick lit feminist tract, painted in purple prose. We are a diamond wholesaler that sells directly to the public.
The jewel of medina download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Spellberg sharply criticized the novel from a historical perspective, and also reportedly told random. Pdf the jewel of medina book by sherry jones free download. The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are muhammad, aisha bint abi bakr. Oct 26, 2008 the jewel of medina, sherry jones hotpotato novel about the prophet muhammad and his childbride aisha, comes not from a field of spuds, but a mideast quarry some consider bedrockhard in its. The jewel of medina is a beautiful story portraying the life, struggles and love of aisha, the second and youngest wife of muhammed. Ive flipped through it and read several paragraphs from different sections of the book and im a little nervous that it might be more of a historical romance than quality historical fiction. Sherry jones set against the backdrop of seventhcentury arabia, a fictional portrait of aisha, the child bride of the prophet muhammad, describes how she battled religious persecution, jealousy, political. Review of the jewel of medina middle east quarterly. Married at the age of nine, the jewel of medina illuminates the difficult path aisha confronted, from her youthful dreams of becoming a bedouin warrior, to her life as the beloved wife and confident of the founder of islam. But whoever reads the jewel of medina, after suffering through stilted hollywood historical epic dialogue larded with arabic tidbits for authenticitys sake, will wonder what the fuss was all about.
Medina has long been recognized as the home to wealthy and influential members of seattles elite. Prologue a single pointing finger smart bitches, trashy. Sherry jones novel the jewel of medina tells the story of the prophet mohammad and his child bride aisha. 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. Extensively researched and elegantly crafted, the jewel of medina evokes the beauty and harsh realities of life in an age long past. The jewel of medina controversy rumbles on as the book returns to shelves in serbia after initially being withdrawn. This stops seeming so surreal when you register that the jewel of medina is a romantic historical novel, which just happens to. Sherry jones is an american journalist and internationally best selling author of the controversial the jewel of medina and other historical fiction novels about. Muhammad novel publisher undeterred by firebomb attack. At once a love story, a history lesson, and a comingofage tale, the jewel of medina introduces readers to the turmoil that surrounded the birth of the islamic faith through the eyes of a truly unforgettable heroine. Aisha bint abi bakr is the daughter of a rich merchant from mecca in the harsh, exotic world of seventhcentury arabia at the time of the foundation of islam. Meanwhile, a diverse group of families with a variety of backgrounds have settled the uplands, creating a closeknit community.
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