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4.0
Granada: A Novel (Middle East Literature In Translation)
ByPublisher Description
Radwa Ashour skillfully weaves a history of Granadan rule and an Arabic world into a novel that evokes cultural loss and the disappearance of a vanquished population. The novel follows the family of Abu Jaafar, the bookbinder, his wife, widowed daughter-in-law, her two children, and his two apprentices as they witness Christopher Columbus and his entourage in a triumphant parade featuring exotic plants and animals and human captives from the New World. Embedded in the narrative is the preparation for the marriage of Saad, one of the apprentices, and Saleema, Abu Jaafar's granddaughter -- a scenario that is elegantly revealed in a number of parallel scenes.
As the new rulers of Granada confiscate books and officials burn the collected volumes, Abu Jaafur quietly moves his rich library out of town. Persecuted Muslims fight to form an independent government, but increasing economic and cultural pressures on the Arabs of Spain and Christian rulers culminate in Christian conversions and Muslim uprisings.
A tale that is both vigorous and heartbreaking, this novel will appeal to general readers of Spanish and Arabic literature as well as anyone interested in Christian-Muslim relations.
As the new rulers of Granada confiscate books and officials burn the collected volumes, Abu Jaafur quietly moves his rich library out of town. Persecuted Muslims fight to form an independent government, but increasing economic and cultural pressures on the Arabs of Spain and Christian rulers culminate in Christian conversions and Muslim uprisings.
A tale that is both vigorous and heartbreaking, this novel will appeal to general readers of Spanish and Arabic literature as well as anyone interested in Christian-Muslim relations.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesGranada: A Novel (Middle East Literature In Translation) Reviews
4.0
“I wish I could have read this book in Arabic , so much meaning is lost in translating Arabic to English :(
I liked the history of this book but it was hard to feel for and understand the characters.
Quotes I liked :
“ Spanish is the language of the future , and their will be no financial rewards for knowing Arabic “(Granada 35). The language of the future is changing and knowledge is power
“ the three of them went to the the Albanian mosque, which was now called the church of San Salvador “ ( Granada 38) I wanna visit here
“ she would have guessed that he insulted her or mistreated her the way some husbands do early in the marriage in order to assert their authority and assure absolute obedience “( Granada 77) men suck
“ he spoke of malaga , which lies between the seas and the mountains “ ( Granada 79)
“ how can their minds be so corrupted and their behaviors be so erratic “ ( Granada 99)
“ it was widely believed among the Muslims of Spain and North Africa at the time that the ottoman Turks would defeat the Christians and bring al andalus back to islamdom “ ( Granada 135)
“She was depressed just thinking about the miserable times in which she lived , when buying books is a punishable crime, where studying demanded caution and secrecy “ ( Granada 140)
“ instead he though how gracious god was to their mothers in letting them be hanged before their children “ ( Granada 163)”
“I don’t even know where to start with this book.
The story telling and the way in which the writer executed this book was fantastic along with the scenery building and the ease-ability that you’re able to connect with the characters really immerses you into the story. I absolutely loved the way the author was able to incorporate heart wrenching, cultural, and historically significant moments into the lives of her characters.
With that, I found that I had to take a step back throughout the book as there were many times in which it felt like all the happiness the family experienced was blanketed by this perpetual sadness, despair, and anxiety. As if every happy moment was an omen of “bad luck.” I found myself elated for the small snippets of peace and joy and in other moments (many moments) frustrated and angered by the decisions made by each and every one of the characters as many of their actions completely went against the very basis of the Islamic religion. In the same breath, I also had to remind myself that everyone’s journey is not linear and no one is perfect especially during times of hardship.
All in all, this book forces you to ponder the question “How strong is your belief in the Almighty and, when disaster strikes and your biggest fears are realized, how do you cope and survive?””
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