Tariq Ali tells us the story of the aftermath of the fall of Granada by narrating a family sage of those who tried to survive after the collapseof ...
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May 28, 2010
Andrea
rated it: 
Interesting and worth a read, if only because there is not much written in English about this time and this place, and particularly from the arab point of view. But the style is far from brilliant, the story lines are complex and superficial, and I just didn't buy the women's voices. Because this is, well it certainly reads, like a historical account with a human face and local colour added via descriptions of dinner. I don't even mind that, but that kind of politics combined with the fact that
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Jun 27, 2011
Rachel
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Tariq Ali's primary job in writing is in film and television. As a result, the first novel in a quintet detailing the history of Islam has a very sensual feel. It's full of lush visual descriptions of an estate set in the countryside of present-day Grenada. He lavishes attention on the details of nine-course meals, filling the book with the aromas of cardomom and onions. While Ali will likely whet your appetite and set you hunting for flight deals to the southern coast of Spain, what he won'
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Apr 11, 2010
Frederick
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This tragically beautiful tale of the aftermath of the Reconquest of Moorish Spain is told through the lives of three generations of a noble Muslim family living near Grenada. The promises of tolerance betrayed by Ferdinand and Isabella, the story revolves around the family's attempt to survive a sadistic Cardinal intent on the destruction of not just their existence, but every memory of them, their faith and their way of life. While the Catholic Church is the ostensible bad actor in this stor
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Dec 21, 2009
Psychophant
rated it: 
First of all, I have to say that, at least consciously, I did not rate the book this way because it conflicts with the history I was taught in school. If anything, life has taught me that Mr. Ali's version is more likely to represent what happened with the forced conversion of the Muslims and the subsequent revolt in Alpujarras, after the fall of Granada.
However, though he captures well the historical situation and the clash of the religions, he also has an agenda, which is not bad i More...
However, though he captures well the historical situation and the clash of the religions, he also has an agenda, which is not bad i More...
Jun 26, 2011
Aletha
rated it: 
When one read the Mills & Boon one always had those Tall, Dark & Handsome men who were of Moorish blood. I often wondered who the Moors were and always associated them with North Africa. Little did I know the connection to Spain and the reasons for the migration from Spain to the North African regions. But when one reads Shadows of the Pomegranate Tree, the curiosity that was then is nearly satisfied. I use nearly, because this is the first of The Islam Quintet! And what an introduction to the M
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Mar 25, 2010
Keith
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This book was a good companion to have along on a trip through al-Andalus. While I enjoyed the story and the historical information within, I never really got on board with the narrative perspective. Ali will jump from one character's POV to another seemingly at a whim, and I was put off by constantly being told what is happening in everyone's head all the time. Lots of "telling" instead of "showing". So, not so compelling when I, as a reader, would rather have to deduce what
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Jun 01, 2010
Sandie
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A Book Group selection that I would not have chosen for myself, but I ended up liking it, despite knowing that the ending would be sad. I.e., the 'good guys' would lose. It is about a Moorish family in southern Spain in the late 1400s, as the extremely intolerant Christians are about to take over that part of the country. This is not a part of history I know much about and it was good to read it from the Moorish point of view. Not all of the members of the family are perfect but they coales
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Oct 16, 2011
Debra
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This historical novel is set in the late 1400s in Granada, Spain. It explores the period in which the Moors (Muslims of Arabic origin) were kicked out of Spain. Ali focuses on one family who had to decide what to do: either convert to Christianity, leave the country, or get killed. Ali provides us with the perspective of the Moors; the Christians do not come off at all well in this novel. I found it illuminating and moving. For what it's worth, my seminar students mostly enjoyed this book a
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Sep 26, 2010
Octharina
rated it:
Filsafat banget, penuh pemikiran rumit. Namun, kata-katanya dirangkai dengan bagus. Mengungkap skandal keluarga bangsawan Islam yang tak terduga dan kehidupan timur tengah zaman lampau. Novel ini memperlihatkan bahwa seseorang ada yang mau mempertahankan prinsip meski harus mengorbankan nyawanya, dan ada yg tidak mampu mempertahankannya dengan alasan yg diplomatis….mungkin. Perlawanan yg sengit antara kaum Islam dan non Islam. Akhir cerita yang sangat tragis, tapi saya sangat bangga, karena mere
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Dec 06, 2011
Kathy
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I am sure that the book deserves more than the three stars that I gave it....but, it was a hard book for me to get through. Takes place in the year 1500 in Granada, Spain. The Christians are slaughtering the Muslims...pushing them out of their homeland. This story told of generations of one family living in their own town. It did not have a family living happily ever after....as it was a historical novel....and recorded the facts of the time. The more I read....the more I realize how evil
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Nov 27, 2011
Gregory
rated it:
This was an intereting story set in an historical period which I know very little about - the reconquest of southern Spain by the christians over the moslems. I had read a few critics that accused the authour Tariq Ali of pushing an agenda and a very particular point of view but I found very little evidence of this with the writing clealy pointing out great misdeads on both sides of the conflict. I do have some reservations as to how well the narrative flowed. Still if I have gained a desire to
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Dec 11, 2011
Shafeeq
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Tariq Ali’s Shadows of the Pomegranate Tree, which chronicles the everyday life of the family of Hudayl. The novel, which is conceived of as an alternative history, and is the first part of the Islam Quintet, starts with the incident of the Spanish invasion of Granada. The author starts with the incident of the Spanish army burning at stake the books from the one hundred and ninety five libraries in Granada. That is an interesting starting for an alternative history, considering how the allegati
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May 31, 2011
Taf Teh
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Semasa membaca 'Bermula dan Berakhir' oleh Naguib Mahfouz, perasaan menjadi gusar enggan menerima hidangan ceritanya yang sanggup melafaz nama suci Tuhan dan Muhammad seiring dengan dosa-dosa duniawi manusia. Hati ini keras menyatakan ini bukan satu revolusi penulisan Islam! Ianya mungkin penulisan yang membuak dengan ego mengada-ngada(excessive exaggeration) Naguib tentang masyarakat Kaherah pada masa Perang Dunia Kedua. Kemudian, satu cerita benar sampai ke telinga nipis ini, realitinya memang
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Sep 16, 2009
indri
rated it:
Dengan setting Andalusia Spanyol abad 15, di bawah pimpinan Ratu Isabella, telah dikeluarkan perintah untuk menghancurkan manuskrip2 Islam.
Prajurit memasuki 195 perpustakaan kota dan selusin rumah besar tempat menyimpan koleksi pribadi yang terkenal baik. Semua yang tertulis dalam bahasa Arab disita. Yang diselamatkan hanya sekitar 300 manuskrip tentang kesehatan dan sains sejak jaman purbakala..
Kemudian semua itu dibakar, sebagai upaya pemusnahan pengetahuan dan budaya.
"A More...
Prajurit memasuki 195 perpustakaan kota dan selusin rumah besar tempat menyimpan koleksi pribadi yang terkenal baik. Semua yang tertulis dalam bahasa Arab disita. Yang diselamatkan hanya sekitar 300 manuskrip tentang kesehatan dan sains sejak jaman purbakala..
Kemudian semua itu dibakar, sebagai upaya pemusnahan pengetahuan dan budaya.
"A More...
Oct 16, 2008
Maulana
rated it:
Buku yang saya baca adalah yang diterbitkan di Indonesia, sepertinya oleh Bentang Pustaka. Inez Dikara memeberikan kepada saya sebagai hadiah ulang tahun sekitar dua tahun silam, terima kasih Inez.
Ketertarikan saya pertama sekali adalah dari desain sampulnya yang kaya warna dan sangat menarik. Lalu unsur lain adalah nama Tariq Ali, yang ketika itu saya belum pernah tahu. Cuma nama yang berbau Arab memberikan saya imajinasi bahwa karya yang dituliskannya pasti berkisah tentang kisah s More...
Ketertarikan saya pertama sekali adalah dari desain sampulnya yang kaya warna dan sangat menarik. Lalu unsur lain adalah nama Tariq Ali, yang ketika itu saya belum pernah tahu. Cuma nama yang berbau Arab memberikan saya imajinasi bahwa karya yang dituliskannya pasti berkisah tentang kisah s More...
Nov 16, 2008
Chrissie
rated it:
This book is good. The writing style did not grab me, but it confirmed the little I previously knew about the Moors in Spain and their expulsion during the Inquisition. I didn't know previously that it was Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, the ones who sent Columbus to discover America, that were also behind the terrible Spanish Inquisition! The book brought to life the fall of Granada, the terrible burning of all the Arabic litterature, except for a few hundred medical science books. Furthermo
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Feb 03, 2012
Kimberly
rated it:
A mesmerizing look at Muslim Spain during the Reconquest, from the perspective of the re-conquered. The disconnect between Ferdinand and Isabella's actual orders and the way they were implemented by the local Spanish Inquisition is fascinating. The idyllic home life of the Muslim village nobility is enchanting. The brutality of the Catholic violence is appalling. And the one-page epilogue is tantalizing. A book to include in my curriculum of wars from the perspective of the attacked....
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Aug 03, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
I don't remember how I stumbled upon this book, but I am so glad I did. Reminded me that one of the greatest things about literature is how it can show you experiences, times, places and perspectives you couldn't possibly visit any other way. In this case, what it was like to be a Moor, living in subtropical, peaceful and thriving Grenada in the 15th century, and then watching it all get taken away by Christian warriors.
May 31, 2009
Richard
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The writing style was a little tough at times, and the poetry is far from excellent, but overall I would recommend the book to those interested in history, especially that of Moorish Spain around the time of Reconquista. The book is very emotional, and had me close to tearing up by the end. It also brings forth much anger at the atrocities committed in the named of "Virgin Mary." This book has given me the final push to read Islamic literature and dabble in Arabic.
Aug 19, 2009
Victor
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The petering out of Maurish (islamic) influence in late 1400's Spain (after Queen Isabella finally pushed them out ...) is the theme, within which the plot about a noble islamic family is placed. I smiled, even laughed and nearly cried, whilst reading this book, which features a rather severe, sad ending. Can't remember why I bought this book (most likely a book review from a few years ago), but am thankful I did.
Sep 12, 2010
Sheela
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Entertaining book, with history, warrior, cookery and romance. It was challenging keeping up with who's who, and progressive disclosure of certain characters' lineage. It makes me want to learn more about muslim Spain. It's a painstaking read, with a need to be alert in sudden shifts in location, narrator and points of view. But it was a nice weekend read.
Mar 07, 2011
Julia
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Has a lot of low-level problems -- Tariq Ali is a fantastic speaker and a pretty good nonfiction writer, but not so great with fiction (at least his early attempts, which is what I've read) -- but the content of this series is something I don't happen to have seen anywhere else (the end of Muslim rule in Spain), so I enjoy it a lot anyway.
Apr 19, 2010
Katy
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In an effort to learn more about the history of Islam (a desire fostered by foodways research, NOT current affairs), I stumbled across this series. Marvelous storytelling, in a style no longer common, but truly enchanting. Edifying. Heart-lifting and heart-breaking.
Jul 06, 2011
Reesa
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I picked this up because I have great respect for the author and also because I was planning a trip to the south of Spain. This tells the story of the fall of Granada and Moors and Christians in Spain... historically very interesting. Beautiful book.
Oct 04, 2009
This is an easy read, the writing flows like a light, fluffy novel. It's not so fluffy, though, since it deals with the Inquisition against the Muslims in Spain....I'm going to look for the rest of the series.
Mar 15, 2010
Debbie
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Excellent, well written and thought provoking. A fictional account written around the historical event of the fall of Islam in Spain in the 1400's. Uses a family to tell the story.
Jul 27, 2011
Alexandra
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This is a fond memory of my Tunisian friend, Yusra :) and a good reminder that religion is nothing, whereas faith is what you have in your heart - whichever that may be.
Jul 08, 2009
Andri
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Agak lambat membaca novel ini. Cara bertutur Tariq Ali yang luas, melebar ke sana kemari lumayan melelahkan. Tapi karena cerita yang menurut gw menarik, dengan latar belakang Spanyol (Andalusia ?) di masa kejatuhan kekuasaan Islam kala itu, tetep menarik. It was OK cukup layak. Belom ada point kuat yang bisa bikin bintangnya nambah. Lanjutkan ke buku berikutnya.
Apr 22, 2011
Dipa
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Novel bagus tentang imperium dan kekhalifahan serta kejayaan Islam yang masih tetap diwarnai intrik politik.
Oct 28, 2010
Karin
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A little boring at first, but it grew on me and the context of the post Reconquest in Spain was fascinating.
