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aorth's review against another edition
3.0
This novel takes place in the Muslim Cinematic Universe if that's your kind of thing. A bit too much mushy Sufi stuff for my liking. Nevertheless, a fine "whodunnit" story with twists and turns set in Abbasid-era Baghdad.
zeljana's review
4.0
The Lover is a fine piece of historical fiction. There is a murder mystery that guides the plot, but it isn't central to the novel. From the very beginning the old world opens up to us on these pages, and we are transported to the streets of Baghdad at the height of its glory. There are various Islamic scholars, Sufis and "ordinary people" just doing their best to survive. The novel is really a window into an epoch from a fresh perspective.
Laury Silvers is a Sufi and an Islamic scholar, and this is obvious in this well-researched book. The religious teachings are wonderfully translated into the narrative and are a joy to read. I loved how this book juxtaposes Islamic spirituality and legal practice - there are very few fiction books dealing with this topic.
Another great thing about this book is that the main character, Zaytuna, is not a stereotypical Muslim woman belonging to upper social classes commonly found in historical fiction. She has a complex relationship with her faith, the memory of her mother and her relationships with men that never feels out of context.
However, I found the main characters unrelatable because despite everything good about this book I never felt the emotional connection to them. I really wanted to love this book more than I did.
The murder mystery part moved really slowly and the whole thing failed to make sense to me. I liked the ultimate message of the story, but I felt the plot was rather weak.
Ultimately, it took me a very long time to go through the novel waiting for the moment when I'm gonna fall in love with it, which in the end never happened.
Laury Silvers is a Sufi and an Islamic scholar, and this is obvious in this well-researched book. The religious teachings are wonderfully translated into the narrative and are a joy to read. I loved how this book juxtaposes Islamic spirituality and legal practice - there are very few fiction books dealing with this topic.
Another great thing about this book is that the main character, Zaytuna, is not a stereotypical Muslim woman belonging to upper social classes commonly found in historical fiction. She has a complex relationship with her faith, the memory of her mother and her relationships with men that never feels out of context.
However, I found the main characters unrelatable because despite everything good about this book I never felt the emotional connection to them. I really wanted to love this book more than I did.
The murder mystery part moved really slowly and the whole thing failed to make sense to me. I liked the ultimate message of the story, but I felt the plot was rather weak.
Ultimately, it took me a very long time to go through the novel waiting for the moment when I'm gonna fall in love with it, which in the end never happened.
kmannis's review
4.0
4.5!
How beautiful was this tale!! I thoroughly enjoyed it.
“I only want to be on the side of God’s Love.”
“My daughter, Love has no side.”
How beautiful was this tale!! I thoroughly enjoyed it.
“I only want to be on the side of God’s Love.”
“My daughter, Love has no side.”
misssusan's review
5.0
i barely ever read mysteries but if this is what they're like now i am down for more crime solving! this is a beautiful work of historical fiction, i felt as though i'd truly been transported to baghdad. the characters are rich and engaging and i love how this book approached questions of justice and faith and healing. so glad the sequel's already out for me to devour!
5 stars
5 stars
ayaha's review
4.0
3.5 stars
Cool historical fiction set in Abbasid Baghdad! The historical setting was woven in well into the story. And I love Zaytuna haha. I just wish the other characters spoke to me more and I often found that I was bored or not very engrossed in the story. Maybe it has to do with plot pacing?
Cool historical fiction set in Abbasid Baghdad! The historical setting was woven in well into the story. And I love Zaytuna haha. I just wish the other characters spoke to me more and I often found that I was bored or not very engrossed in the story. Maybe it has to do with plot pacing?
laura_nobilis's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
nhusain14's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
"None of us escapes getting to know each of God’s names, and intimately so. It’s the truth."
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