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<book id="206227">
  <title><![CDATA[Minaret: A Novel]]></title>
  <isbn><![CDATA[0802170145]]></isbn>
  <isbn13><![CDATA[9780802170149]]></isbn13>
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  <original_publication_day type="integer">19</original_publication_day>
  <original_publication_month type="integer">8</original_publication_month>
  <original_publication_year type="integer">2005</original_publication_year>
  <original_title>Minaret: A Novel</original_title>
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  <average_rating><![CDATA[3.44]]></average_rating>
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  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206227.Minaret_A_Novel]]></url>
  <authors>
        <author id="62372">
      <name><![CDATA[Leila Aboulela]]></name>
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      <average_rating><![CDATA[3.48]]></average_rating>
      <ratings_count><![CDATA[372]]></ratings_count>
      <text_reviews_count><![CDATA[87]]></text_reviews_count>
    </author>
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    <reviews start="1" end="20" total="337">
    <review id="3820683">
    <user id="216284">
    <name><![CDATA[Mark]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Pittsburgh, PA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/216284-mark]]></url>
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  <ratings_count type="integer">200</ratings_count>
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  <title>Minaret: A Novel</title>
  <average_rating>3.44</average_rating>
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  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206227.Minaret_A_Novel</link>
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    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>2</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2006</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Jul 30 18:06:04 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Jul 30 18:12:15 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Like &quot;Brick Lane,&quot; this book allows us an intimate glimpse inside the life of an expatriate Muslim woman in London. But this heroine knew a life of extreme privilege when she was younger, until her family is shattered by a coup that overthrows her father and their security. Now she does se...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3820683">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3820683]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="14752004">
    <user id="865816">
    <name><![CDATA[Julianne]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/865816-julianne]]></url>
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  <ratings_count type="integer">200</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">35</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Minaret: A Novel</title>
  <average_rating>3.44</average_rating>
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  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206227.Minaret_A_Novel</link>
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    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
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  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Feb 06 13:31:33 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Feb 06 13:34:42 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I love how realistic and raw, yet poetic, Aboulela’s prose is. The details are so down to earth – especially mentions of Playstation &quot;football&quot; (soccer) games, Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait, the Powerpuff Girls, and the lines of the London Underground. I love how Najwa finds ou...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14752004">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14752004]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="14639711">
    <user id="872764">
    <name><![CDATA[Rysia]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[New York, NY]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/872764-rysia]]></url>
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  <isbn13>9780802170149</isbn13>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">35</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Minaret: A Novel</title>
  <average_rating>3.44</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172679166m/206227.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206227.Minaret_A_Novel</link>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Feb 05 11:56:22 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Feb 05 12:23:07 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[While I have many criticisms of this book, something about it really drew me into the story and even a few weeks after reading it I still find myself thinking about it.  The book follows the story of an upper-class and fairly Western Sudanese woman who moves to London and ends up working-class and d...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14639711">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14639711]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="65248868">
    <user id="760692">
    <name><![CDATA[Amira]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/760692-amira]]></url>
    <image><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1248972245p3/760692.jpg]]></image>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">206227</id>
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  <isbn13>9780802170149</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">200</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">35</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Minaret: A Novel</title>
  <average_rating>3.44</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172679166m/206227.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206227.Minaret_A_Novel</link>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Fri Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Jul 28 06:26:30 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Aug 07 22:15:24 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[It was sad that she had to go through so much hardship to find her faith and when she did, she still didn't get what she wanted. I don't understand what the author was trying to imply by the very last sentences of the novel. That believing in God and becoming devout still caused her to have nightmar...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/65248868">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/65248868]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="71620021">
    <user id="1407152">
    <name><![CDATA[Andrew]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[San Diego, CA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1407152-andrew]]></url>
    <image><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1220801235p3/1407152.jpg]]></image>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">206227</id>
  <isbn>0802170145</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780802170149</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">200</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">35</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Minaret: A Novel</title>
  <average_rating>3.44</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172679166m/206227.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206227.Minaret_A_Novel</link>
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    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Sep 17 19:28:37 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Oct 21 07:26:07 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I will admit a prejudice I found in myself after reading Minaret, by Leila Aboulela---I am not big on books where the characters find happiness through religious conversion...whether that is Christian or Muslim, I have a hard time with that.<br/><br/>But despite that being a theme in Minaret, ther...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/71620021">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/71620021]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="12976383">
    <user id="777369">
    <name><![CDATA[Jessica]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Sheffield, MA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/777369-jessica]]></url>
    <image><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1236255996p3/777369.jpg]]></image>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">206227</id>
  <isbn>0802170145</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780802170149</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">200</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">35</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Minaret: A Novel</title>
  <average_rating>3.44</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172679166m/206227.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206227.Minaret_A_Novel</link>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="literary-fiction" />
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Jan 20 13:13:19 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Jan 20 13:14:40 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[An earlier novel than Aboulela's The Translator and more autobiographical (I presume). Not as accomplished, but still, very good &amp; worth reading.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12976383]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="51821658">
    <user id="84042">
    <name><![CDATA[Sarah]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Minneapolis, MN]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/84042-sarah]]></url>
    <image><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto-F-111x148.jpg]]></image>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">206227</id>
  <isbn>0802170145</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780802170149</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">200</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">35</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Minaret: A Novel</title>
  <average_rating>3.44</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172679166m/206227.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206227.Minaret_A_Novel</link>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="50-book-challenge" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Apr 07 10:54:29 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Apr 07 10:58:57 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I really enjoyed her writing, but it didn't seem to be building to anything.  The narrator changed, to be sure, but it was so hidden in the switching of time periods and the lines of the story as to be almost missed.<br/><br/>I did find it thought-provoking, though, which is always good.  Her long...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/51821658">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/51821658]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="7876889">
    <user id="385906">
    <name><![CDATA[Frances]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/385906-frances]]></url>
    <image><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1190077917p3/385906.jpg]]></image>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">1751470</id>
  <isbn>0747579423</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780747579427</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">5</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">2</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Minaret</title>
  <average_rating>3.44</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1187735488m/1751470.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1751470.Minaret</link>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="2007" />
        <shelf name="middle-east" />
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Oct 18 05:01:09 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Oct 31 13:28:55 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[A privileged Sudanese woman who gradually discovers her faith in London, it's a challenging, worthy read with no easy answers.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7876889]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="1348194">
    <user id="75087">
    <name><![CDATA[mattie]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Beijing, China]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/75087-mattie]]></url>
    <image><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1259907421p3/75087.jpg]]></image>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">206227</id>
  <isbn>0802170145</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780802170149</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">200</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">35</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Minaret: A Novel</title>
  <average_rating>3.44</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172679166m/206227.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206227.Minaret_A_Novel</link>
</book>

    <rating>1</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Mon May 21 14:28:28 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Dec 16 19:50:04 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Disappointing, cliched, frustrating. Read it with my Doha book club and even my Muslim friends have said so. Avoid.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1348194]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="19565673">
    <user id="382584">
    <name><![CDATA[Yati]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Singapore, Singapore]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/382584-yati-daud]]></url>
    <image><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1189927006p3/382584.jpg]]></image>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">206227</id>
  <isbn>0802170145</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780802170149</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">200</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">35</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Minaret: A Novel</title>
  <average_rating>3.44</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172679166m/206227.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206227.Minaret_A_Novel</link>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Apr 06 01:54:55 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Apr 20 18:39:48 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Easy and nice book to read. Najwa's odyssey of loss and found faith is written beautifully.<br/>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/19565673]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="71320420">
    <user id="1559537">
    <name><![CDATA[Liz]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1559537-liz]]></url>
    <image><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1223144703p3/1559537.jpg]]></image>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">206227</id>
  <isbn>0802170145</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780802170149</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">200</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">35</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Minaret: A Novel</title>
  <average_rating>3.44</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172679166m/206227.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206227.Minaret_A_Novel</link>
</book>

    <rating>0</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Sep 15 13:16:25 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Oct 28 11:49:08 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[OK, actually I would delete this book from my shelves because I wouldn't recommend it, but I don't know how to delete a book yet :). It's not that the book didn't contain valuable information. It was very interesting; I learned much about one Muslim woman's life and perspective, even though the book...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/71320420">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/71320420]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="31118967">
    <user id="145023">
    <name><![CDATA[Kay]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Hove, The United Kingdom]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/145023-kay]]></url>
    <image><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1238514075p3/145023.jpg]]></image>
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  <id type="integer">206227</id>
  <isbn>0802170145</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780802170149</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">200</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">35</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Minaret: A Novel</title>
  <average_rating>3.44</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172679166m/206227.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206227.Minaret_A_Novel</link>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Mon Sep 22 12:44:04 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Aug 25 03:33:51 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Sep 22 12:44:04 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I found this to be an excellent novel, and was a little upset that my local bookshop had filed it under something peculiar like 'black fiction'. This is a good story because it's a good story - that it illuminates an area of life many of us in the West find mysterious shouldn't lead to it being rele...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/31118967">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/31118967]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="3639856">
    <user id="224275">
    <name><![CDATA[Renee]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Arlington, VA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/224275-renee]]></url>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">206227</id>
  <isbn>0802170145</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780802170149</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">200</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">35</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Minaret: A Novel</title>
  <average_rating>3.44</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172679166m/206227.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206227.Minaret_A_Novel</link>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2006</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Jul 27 07:34:01 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Jul 27 07:34:01 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Another in the Islam-in-various-cultures genre is <em>Minaret</em>, by Leila Aboulela , which we also read for B/C. It’s about a well-off Sudanese woman who immigrates with her family to Great Britain after a change in government involves the execution of her father. This young woman is university educated...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3639856">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3639856]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="75868213">
    <user id="2878802">
    <name><![CDATA[Emma]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United Kingdom]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2878802-emma]]></url>
    <image><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto-F-111x148.jpg]]></image>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">1751471</id>
  <isbn>0747576262</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780747576266</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">5</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">1</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Minaret</title>
  <average_rating>3.44</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1187735489m/1751471.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1751471.Minaret</link>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sat Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2006</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Oct 27 03:02:35 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Oct 27 03:07:34 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count>1</read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I'm not into any religions so I usually wouldn't have read this one, except I'd enjoyed the other two by Leila Aboulela so I gave it a go.<br/><br/>The thing is, you can understand why Najwa turns to her faith, because as she gradually goes through life she seems to lose everything she cares about...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75868213">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75868213]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="49459026">
    <user id="2125154">
    <name><![CDATA[Kelly]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2125154-kelly]]></url>
    <image><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto-F-111x148.jpg]]></image>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">206227</id>
  <isbn>0802170145</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780802170149</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">200</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">35</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Minaret: A Novel</title>
  <average_rating>3.44</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172679166m/206227.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206227.Minaret_A_Novel</link>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sat Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Mar 16 11:25:39 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Mar 16 11:29:48 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Interesting read, especially if you aren't familiar with Islamic culture or religion. Compelling story though I didn't always like the protagonist's character but its worth reading]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/49459026]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="52796214">
    <user id="690452">
    <name><![CDATA[Charles]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Iowa City, IA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/690452-charles]]></url>
    <image><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto-M-111x148.jpg]]></image>
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    <book>
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  <isbn>0802170145</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780802170149</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">200</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">35</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Minaret: A Novel</title>
  <average_rating>3.44</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172679166m/206227.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206227.Minaret_A_Novel</link>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Apr 15 12:21:58 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Apr 15 12:22:51 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Great book.  Short and well written--can be read in an afternoon--but probably needs to be re-read because of the non-linear plot development.  ]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/52796214]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="36149348">
    <user id="1654082">
    <name><![CDATA[Aisha]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Chicago, IL]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1654082-aisha]]></url>
    <image><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto-F-111x148.jpg]]></image>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">206227</id>
  <isbn>0802170145</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780802170149</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">200</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">35</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Minaret: A Novel</title>
  <average_rating>3.44</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172679166m/206227.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206227.Minaret_A_Novel</link>
</book>

    <rating>2</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Oct 24 19:56:35 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Oct 24 19:56:35 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Interesting characters provide a lot of social commentary. You have the socialist who can't help but admire the West; the stuck up rich kid whose life turns upside down when her family is exiled from their home country; the young zealot who throws himself in religion, etc. I appreciated the struggle...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/36149348">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/36149348]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="4816546">
    <user id="266008">
    <name><![CDATA[Nidhi]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Milwaukee, WI]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/266008-nidhi]]></url>
    <image><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto-F-111x148.jpg]]></image>
  </user>
    <book>
  <id type="integer">206227</id>
  <isbn>0802170145</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780802170149</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">200</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">35</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Minaret: A Novel</title>
  <average_rating>3.44</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172679166m/206227.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206227.Minaret_A_Novel</link>
</book>

    <rating>2</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Aug 20 11:25:01 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Aug 22 17:38:39 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This book was interesting because the first part takes place during a coup in Sudan.  I know very little about Sudanese history and I enjoyed learning a little bit.  However, it was hard for me to relate to the main character.  Perhaps that is because she is very religious and I am not, but I suspec...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4816546">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4816546]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="11097178">
    <user id="674087">
    <name><![CDATA[Andaye]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Venice, CA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/674087-andaye-hill]]></url>
    <image><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1197326681p3/674087.jpg]]></image>
  </user>
    <book>
  <id type="integer">206227</id>
  <isbn>0802170145</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780802170149</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">200</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">35</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Minaret: A Novel</title>
  <average_rating>3.44</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172679166m/206227.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206227.Minaret_A_Novel</link>
</book>

    <rating>2</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Dec 27 12:28:11 -0800 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Dec 27 12:36:10 -0800 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I found the minaret to be interesting in the beginning but, as the story went on I found the author to be redundant and laborious to read at times. The author took forever to  come to point. So much so, that I would skip over parts of it because it seemed as if she was trying to hard to gain a poeti...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/11097178">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/11097178]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="1323851">
    <user id="67550">
    <name><![CDATA[liz]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Philadelphia, PA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/67550-liz]]></url>
    <image><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1180913271p3/67550.jpg]]></image>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">206227</id>
  <isbn>0802170145</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780802170149</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">200</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">35</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Minaret: A Novel</title>
  <average_rating>3.44</average_rating>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172679166m/206227.jpg</image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206227.Minaret_A_Novel</link>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
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        <shelf name="literary" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2006</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun May 20 10:56:51 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun May 20 10:57:08 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[A slow-burn novel about Islam. Interesting insofar as the protagonist is a Sudanese woman who grew up in Khartoum, which gives a slightly different perspective from, say, a Saudi woman. But you know how some movies you watch for the characters? This novel is like that. Are the characters strong enou...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1323851">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1323851]]></url>
</review>
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