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Q&A | May 20, 2013

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5 Hawthorne Feminist Studies- World Feminism

Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women

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Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women Cover

 

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women is the story of Brooks's intrepid journey toward an understanding of the women behind the veils, and of the often contradictory political, religious, and cultural forces that shape their lives. In fundamentalist Iran, Brooks finagles an invitation to tea with the ayatollah's widow – and discovers that Mrs. Khomeini dyes her hair. In Saudi Arabia, she eludes the severe segregation of the sexes and attends a bacchanal, laying bare the hypocrisy of this austere, male-dominated society. In war-torn Ethiopia, she watches as a female gynecologist repairs women who have undergone genital mutilation justified by a distorted interpretation of Islam. In villages and capitals throughout the Middle East, she finds that a feminism of sorts has flowered under the forbidding shroud of the chador as she makes other startling discoveries that defy our stereotypes about the Muslim world. Nine Parts of Desire is much more than a captivating work of firsthand reportage; it is also an acute analysis of the world's fastest-growing religion, deftly illustrating how Islam's holiest texts have been misused to justify the repression of women. It was, after all, the Shiite leader Ali who proclaimed that "God created sexual desire in ten parts, then gave nine parts to women."

Review:

"Powerful and enlightening....Brooks presents stunning vignettes of Muslim women...and carefully distinguishes misogyny and oppressive cultural traditions from what she considers the true teaching of the Koran." Publishers Weekly

Review:

"There has been nothing finer on the subject from a Western observer...she looks at it from the heart...mixing historical perspective with piercingly observed journalism." Newsday

Review:

"Avoids both the sensational and the stereotypical...insightful...a valid, entertaining account of women in the Muslim world." The New York Times Book Review

Review:

"A rare look at a significant segment of the world's population that literally has been cloaked in mystery for generations." The Seattle Times

Synopsis:

With a New Afterword

As a prizewinning foreign correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, Geraldine Brooks spent six years covering the Middle East through wars, insurrections, and the volcanic upheaval of resurgent fundamentalism. Yet for her, headline events were only the backdrop to a less obvious but more enduring drama: the daily life of Muslim women. Nine Parts of Desire is the story of Brooks' intrepid journey toward an understanding of the women behind the veils, and of the often contradictory political, religious, and cultural forces that shape their lives. Defying our stereotypes about the Muslim world, Brooks' acute analysis of the world's fastest growing religion deftly illustrates how Islam's holiest texts have been misused to justify repression of women, and how male pride and power have warped the original message of a once liberating faith.

Description:

Includes bibliographical references (p. 245-247) and index.
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About the Author

Geraldine Brooks is a native of Australia and a graduate of Sydney University and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She lives in Virginia with her husband, Tony Horwitz. This is her first book.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 2 comments:
minda, January 1, 2012 (view all comments by minda)
our youngerdaughter useditforapaper.
browsed & could not put it down.

also got a Lovely note from Ms. Brooks before the paper went in!!!
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Jena, February 6, 2007 (view all comments by Jena)
As someone who knows shamingly little about religion and politics in the Middle East, I thought this book would be a good way to begin my self-education, even though it's more than a decade old. as a memoir of a journalist, it's easy reading, often fascinating and filled with vignettes and interesting people, including the King Hussein of Jordan and his queen Noor. I particularly enjoyed how the book covered most of the Middle East, and contrasted the differences of Islamic influence over international, national, and family politics. it was a very good foundation, and while I'm sure Brooks thoroughly researched everything she wrote, I'm ready to learn more.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780385475778
Author:
Brooks, Geraldine
Publisher:
Anchor Books
Author:
Geraldine, Brooks
Location:
New York :
Subject:
Women's Studies
Subject:
Middle East
Subject:
Government and political science
Subject:
Islam
Subject:
Anthropology - Cultural
Subject:
Social conditions
Subject:
Muslim women
Subject:
Muslim women -- Social conditions.
Subject:
Islam - General
Subject:
Women's Studies - General
Subject:
Social Science-Women's Studies - General
Subject:
RELIGION / Islam/General
Subject:
SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / Cultural
Subject:
Feminist Studies-World Feminism
Subject:
Gender Studies-Womens Studies
Subject:
Middle East-Women and Gender
Subject:
World History-Middle East
Subject:
main_subject
Subject:
all_subjects
Copyright:
1995
Edition Number:
1st ed.
Edition Description:
Trade paper
Series Volume:
bk. 2
Publication Date:
19951231
Binding:
TRADE PAPER
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Yes
Pages:
272
Dimensions:
8.02x5.19x.72 in. .48 lbs.
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Related Subjects


History and Social Science » Anthropology » Cultural Anthropology
History and Social Science » Feminist Studies » World Feminism
History and Social Science » Gender Studies » Womens Studies
History and Social Science » Middle East » Women and Gender
History and Social Science » Sociology » Islamic Studies
History and Social Science » World History » Middle East
Religion » Islam » General

Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women Used Trade Paper
0 stars - 0 reviews
$5.95 In Stock
Product details 272 pages Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group - English 9780385475778 Reviews:
"Review" by , "Powerful and enlightening....Brooks presents stunning vignettes of Muslim women...and carefully distinguishes misogyny and oppressive cultural traditions from what she considers the true teaching of the Koran."
"Review" by , "There has been nothing finer on the subject from a Western observer...she looks at it from the heart...mixing historical perspective with piercingly observed journalism."
"Review" by , "Avoids both the sensational and the stereotypical...insightful...a valid, entertaining account of women in the Muslim world."
"Review" by , "A rare look at a significant segment of the world's population that literally has been cloaked in mystery for generations."
"Synopsis" by , With a New Afterword

As a prizewinning foreign correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, Geraldine Brooks spent six years covering the Middle East through wars, insurrections, and the volcanic upheaval of resurgent fundamentalism. Yet for her, headline events were only the backdrop to a less obvious but more enduring drama: the daily life of Muslim women. Nine Parts of Desire is the story of Brooks' intrepid journey toward an understanding of the women behind the veils, and of the often contradictory political, religious, and cultural forces that shape their lives. Defying our stereotypes about the Muslim world, Brooks' acute analysis of the world's fastest growing religion deftly illustrates how Islam's holiest texts have been misused to justify repression of women, and how male pride and power have warped the original message of a once liberating faith.
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