Nine Parts of Desire - Geraldine Brooks

I'm not introducing this as the first book. Mainly because I'm almost finished and it takes the excitement out of deciding on the first book and embarking on the journey I've envisaged. Having said that, I want to write about it because it's churned me up. Half way through the book, I realised I'd read it before but it musn't have had the same relevance previously because I've failed to remember big chunks of it.

It's more pertinent now and I'm fascinated by the judgements made by Brooks in her account of women and Islam. However, I'm concerned about Brooks' sweeping comments throughout her book. In addition, I can't help but feel that this wasn't an investigative piece. She'd made up her mind prior to beginning the book and searched for examples thoughout the Middle East to support her judgements. It's made all the more fraught by her conversion to Judaism (FOR HER HUSBAND!!!!).

Hmmmm......interesting given her comments about Islamic women's choice to adopt (or interpret) various teachings of the Koran. Ultimately, I think the central tenet of her book is that such women are not making choices. They merely adopt the decisions of the men in their religious society.

I'm not sure that I agree with this conclusion. I'm saying this based solely on my reading of her book, not as a comment generally. The stories she uses, the relationships she comments upon, the women (and even some of the men) she portrays, suggest to me an empowered position some women in Islamic countries believe they have.

I'm in no cultural or religious position to comment upon Islam, its teachings, its moral messages, its men or its women. So I'm not going to start. Something just sticks in my throat as I read this book.

But, I'm enjoying it. She writes well and I'm fascinated. I don't even like non fiction (not sure though how far from part fiction this is). She's a lively writer and I'm fascinated with the life she was living at this stage of her career. May I make comment however, that she was in the Middle East because of her husband and his work.

The book is well paced and well edited. I am enjoying it more than Year of Wonders and having avoided March (its subject matter feels turgid) I can't comment. I'm well aware that reports all round on this book are great - don't get me wrong. I just found "Wonders" a little patchy; interesting but with a few holes.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on "Nine Parts of Desire" and post this as a disclaimer - I am making no comment on Islamic practices. I'm discussing the book and Brooks' comments therein.