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The Jewel of Medina

by Sherry Jones (Goodreads Author)

3.43 of 5 stars 3.43 · rating details · 637 ratings · 144 reviews

A'isha bint Abi Bakr is the daughter of a rich merchant from Mecca in the harsh, exotic world of seventh-century Arabia at the time of the foundation of Islam. When she is married to the Prophet Muhammad at the age of nine, she must rely on her wits, her courage, and even her sword in a struggle to control her own destiny and carve out a place for herself in the community,...more

Hardcover, 358 pages

Published October 6th 2008 by Beaufort Books (first published 2008)

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Apr 20, 2009 Δx Δp ≥ ½ ħ htgkvkkviholmvobsvzighxofyyzmw rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: a-day-in-the-life, things-we-said-today

Ketika saya membaca buku ini, saya sudah bertekad untuk membacanya secara jernih, bebas dari prasangka. Tapi sejak bab-bab awal pun, saya tahu bahwa saya tidak akan sepenuhnya berhasil. Saya berusaha untuk membaca buku ini layaknya membaca novel lain, tapi ketika habis halaman prolog, simpati saya terhadap buku ini nyaris tersisa sedikit. Bagaimanapun sulit melepas prasangka dalam membaca sebuah buku jika si penulisnya sendiri memiliki prasangka dalam menulis bukunya.

Seperti halnya buku “The Sat...more

15 likes · like · see review

Jul 25, 2011 S. rated it 1 of 5 stars

Recommended to S. by: received as a "gift"

Shelves: schlock, read-in-2009, women-writers

Somewhere in the Caribbean there is a stretch of beach lush with palm trees, with sand the color of milk, where I hope someday to go, and hurl this book into the ocean where I will never see it again.

15 likes · like · see review

Nov 25, 2008 Michele rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-east, fiction

The Quick Synopsis:
The Jewel of Medina is a historical fiction novel about A'isha bint Abu Bakr, one of the Prophet Muhammad's numerous wives and, according to Muslim history, his favorite. The story is told in first person and covers A'isha's life from childhood to young adulthood (she was 18 years old when Muhammad died.)

The Tempest in a Teapot:
Much controversy has surrounded this debut novel from Sherry Jones. It was originally picked up by Random House in a two-book, $100,000 deal in 2007. P...more

17 likes · like · see review

Aug 14, 2012 Stephanie rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: abandoned

I'm abandoning this book. I find it offensive that someone who obviously has little knowledge or respect for Islam and its history could write a novel such as this. I was hoping to find a novel that would be understanding of Islam and Aisha; this is not that novel. I fear that this book will only continue to misinform Western readers about Islam and the circumstances surrounding Aisha's marriage to Muhammed (pbuh). The historical Aisha is a role model for women, speaking her mind, never afraid t...more

5 likes · like · see review

Jan 18, 2009 Carolanne rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: NO ONE

Shelves: historical-fiction, waste-of-time

Just because you earned some fancy journalist awards, does not mean you should write a book. THIS BOOK IS AWFUL. Seriously, some of the worst writing I've ever read.
NYtimes gave this a bad review and I should have known right then and there, but I thought, no I'll give this a chance. Well, I shot my self in the foot by renting this rabble at the library.
Will I finish it? I'm sure. Will I be in physical pain from reading such crap? yes. Will I be mentally damaged at the end of it? Hopefully not...more

6 likes · like · see review

Oct 04, 2008 Ron rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: debut-novel, historical-fiction, religious, islam

Anybody who says this novel is "soft-core pornography," as Islamic studies professor Denise Spellberg did, must have some sort of agenda -- there is nothing in this book that even remotely meets that standard. There are scenes where sex is implied, one scene where sexual intercouse is about to take place but does not, and one scene in which a six-year-old A'isha witnesses two adults having sex without fully understanding what she's seeing--but even that is presented in a non-pornographic way in...more Anybody who says this novel is "soft-core pornography," as Islamic studies professor Denise Spellberg did, must have some sort of agenda -- there is nothing in this book that even remotely meets that standard. There are scenes where sex is implied, one scene where sexual intercouse is about to take place but does not, and one scene in which a six-year-old A'isha witnesses two adults having sex without fully understanding what she's seeing--but even that is presented in a non-pornographic way in a single paragraph.

Look, it's pretty straightforward: This is to Islam what books like The Red Tent are to Judaism: a reimagining of the historical/scriptural figures in order to give their stories additional layers of psychological complexity aimed at making them more understandable to modern readers. Yes, it portrays A'isha, the child bride of Muhammad, as a selfish brat whose attempts to assert her independence almost always end up hurting others rather than helping her until she finally develops some maturity and empathy... this is different from average teenagers how?

I suppose particularly fervent Muslims might take offense at the notion that A'isha wasn't exactly thrilled at the number of wives Muhammad took, and that on occasion she (along with other wives) was less than entirely respectful to him as a result. Or the scenes in which Jones argues that A'isha was seriously tempted to commit adultery--though she backs down from that plan at the last minute. So what? These fictional plot elements hardly seem on a par with, say, the idea that Jesus was conceived when the Virgin Mary was raped by a Roman soldier in terms of offensiveness.

Ultimately, your interest may largely depend on how much you care about historical figures reimagined as proto-feminists, although the dynamic between A'isha and Muhammad's other wives is entertaining once it kicks into gear. Also worth nothing: the story ends on a slightly frustrating cliffhanger (a sequel is already scheduled for publication). Whatever quibbles one has with the story's execution, though, it's great to see that the book found a publisher who refused to give in to malicious, ignorant threats.(less)

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Feb 22, 2009 Alissa rated it 1 of 5 stars

I enjoy historical fiction, and I thought this book would be a good way to gain some insights on Muslim culture and Muhammed.

Some selections from the first page:
"My neighbors rushed into the street like storm waters flooding a wadi."

"My father's mouth trembled like a tear on the brink."

"My tongue lolled like a sun-baked lizard."

Did the author raid a fifth grade teacher's imagery lesson? My. God. The writing is just abysmal. Like an old man's intestines after $1 sandwich night at Arby's, it's abo...more

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Oct 17, 2008 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

The beginning of the religion of Islam as told from the point of view of one of Mohammad's wives. Mohammad was quite a lady's man with many wives and at least two concubines. Sherry Jones gives the reader an inside look at Islam's Prophet through the eyes and thoughts of Mohammad's youngest bride, A'isha , who is promised to Mohammad at age 6 and marries him at age 12.Definitely worth reading in our modern world threatened by Islamic extremists and for anyone interested in one of the human stori...more

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Jan 16, 2009 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

A'isha bint Abi Bakr has known the prophet Muhammad all her life; in fact, he was present at her birth. When her father, a close ally to Muhammad, decides to cement his loyalty and friendship to the prophet by betrothing A'isha to him when she is just 6 years old, her fate as his "child-bride" begins. Though A'isha will not be married to Muhammad for three years, her betrothal to the prophet brings many unusual changes into the life of the young girl. Beginning with an unusually early purdah (fo...more A'isha bint Abi Bakr has known the prophet Muhammad all her life; in fact, he was present at her birth. When her father, a close ally to Muhammad, decides to cement his loyalty and friendship to the prophet by betrothing A'isha to him when she is just 6 years old, her fate as his "child-bride" begins. Though A'isha will not be married to Muhammad for three years, her betrothal to the prophet brings many unusual changes into the life of the young girl. Beginning with an unusually early purdah (forced segregation from the opposite sex), A'isha discovers that life as Muhammad's favored wife will not be an easy task. Not only must she give up her freedom and taste for adventure, she must navigate a path to her husband's heart among a plethora of other women who also call Muhammad "husband," and forsake the man who is her true heart's desire. As A'isha grows from child to woman, the new religion of Islam, under Muhammad's care, grows with her. The Jewel of Medina is the little-known story of the woman behind Allah's chosen messenger; Here are A'isha bint Bakr's desires, disappointments and dreams for all to see, woven amongst the inception of one of the worlds most formidable and misunderstood religions.

After hearing all the hype surrounding this book, I was expecting a tome filled with controversy. I wasn't sure what it would deliver. Would it be a blasphemous portrayal of the foremost man of Islam? Would it be slanderous or rife with sexual impropriety? What could possibly be so contentious about this book? So, I read it, and what I found was a bit disappointing. The book, although interesting and timely, was a bit heavy-handed and trite. It seems that the elements that were most upsetting must have been Muhammad's taking so many wives. His appetite for women and marriage seemed at times almost comic and unbelievable. If a new woman was described in the narrative, chances are that in a few pages Muhammad would take her as a wife. This portrayal made Muhammad seem like an unscrupulous and lewd old man. I believe that was one of the reasons it was so hard for me to see this character as a great leader to many people. I just couldn't believe a man who had such tremendous sexual appetites was a holy and revered man. In a way, this depiction made Muhammad look manipulative and crafty. For example, when he heard the voice of God commanding him to take more wives, he claimed his need for more women only had to do with strategic alliances for Islam. But tied up in these protestations was the story of a lusty man amassing a harem of women. Which brings me to my next point: This unabashed parade of new wives seemed to be the center of the story.

Instead of character or story development, it seemed that the story was about many women fighting over one man. The story had no other underlying plot than the jealousies and competitions of A'isha and the rest of the women. Instead of relating the story of one woman's love and relationship with a charismatic leader, what I got instead was a novel full of infighting, insecurity and envy. When I realized that this book was not going to be the serious piece of semi-history that I had hoped for, I was able to take it for what it was and begin to enjoy the ride. As far as historical romance goes, this wasn't a bad book. The problem is that with all the attention surrounding this book, readers may be expecting a more factual or enlightening interpretation of Islam and it's first lady, when in fact this is more of a book filled with unrequited romantic intrigue.

I also felt that the book contained a weak interpretation of Muhammad. As a reader, I never saw him as a forceful personal leader. In fact, he seemed a bit wishy-washy and irresolute. Without belaboring the point, the fact was that he was so busy with all of his wives that he was never seen in any other capacity. Another thing that I noticed was that the book also had almost no atmospheric touches, so it seemed that there was a scarcity of historical or cultural flavor in the narrative. The effect of this void was that it made the story more bland and forgettable than other historical novels that I have read.

Although this review paints a somewhat bleak picture, The Jewel of Medina was not a terrible book. At times it was entertaining and exciting, if only to answer the questions of the romantic quandaries in the story. The book also had a nice flow, with little to no awkwardness in the elements of the storytelling. Though I felt that the story was a little common and corny, I also thought that it was executed fairly well. While I did end up somewhat enjoying it, that was only after a huge adjustment in my expectations. The main problem was that I just couldn't lose myself in the story because it seemed farcical and unimportant. I thought the book would be inspirational and moving, but in the end it wasn't. I think that is one of the problems with books that are just so hyped: there is bound to be disappointment unless the book is absolutely brilliant. After all this, I would still recommend this book to those who like historical romance and wouldn't mind taking a chance on a first time author.
Po(less)

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Mar 16, 2013 Aleviuss rated it 1 of 5 stars

thank god there is many other readers who have just wrote what I was thinking about this aweful book!

The book is full of historical errors, it is not 100 percent fiction. Jones also reproduces many true events, and some historical figures she gives a favorable light. Jones says that the Prophet Muhammed was reprinted in the way she intended, "as a wise and kind leader ..." That is what makes this book so dangerous!!

Because it mixes fiction with historical facts. The reader will find it difficult...more thank god there is many other readers who have just wrote what I was thinking about this aweful book!

The book is full of historical errors, it is not 100 percent fiction. Jones also reproduces many true events, and some historical figures she gives a favorable light. Jones says that the Prophet Muhammed was reprinted in the way she intended, "as a wise and kind leader ..." That is what makes this book so dangerous!!

Because it mixes fiction with historical facts. The reader will find it difficult to distinguish between the two. And even worse is that the readership of this book is primarily aimed at - the Western audience -

so most do not have sufficient knowledge about Islam and Islamic history to be able to distinguish between fiction and reality. This book is a work of fiction, and so it shall remain. What I object to is that many will think that this is part of the Prophet Muhammad and Aisha's real life.

One more thing. In the book Mmixes fiction with facts crisscrossingly. And there are also elements that have nothing whatsoever to do with Islam. One example is Hatun (House first lady). Hatun is a tradition that has no basis in Islam and it includes sisters-wives compete to be number one, the winner is the one who will decide over the others in the harem.

In the book it is Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) obsessed with the idea of becoming Hatun, and when she was until finally reaches that position, so bow down all the wives of the Prophet and the Prophet for her! -

Even the thought of bowing in front of other people is not something that can be found in Islam, on the contrary, it is forbidden to do so!!

When Sherry Jones asked about this, she replied: "This was something I used as a writer of fiction, imported from Turkey to illustrate Haremets rivalry."

Say whaaaat?! That is an misunderstanding there too, Turkish rulers didn't have "harems" (but thats an other story)

I found it to be a really horribal fictional book..I felt like I was committing blashemy! (I'm muslim my self)(less)

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Feb 22, 2013 Cheryl A rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

In this debut novel, author Sherry Jones gives us insight into the life of A'isha, the youngest wife of the Prophet Muhammad. A'isha was engaged at the age of six to Muhammad by her father, Abu Bakr, to strenthen political ties. Although married at the age of nine, A'isha continued to live in isolation in her father's home until she reached physical womanhood.

At the age of twelve, A'isha moved from her father's home to that of Muhammad. As Muhammad and the rise of Islam continued to grow throug...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Anne Ipsen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-novel

Writing about iconic historical figures is that a mere author has no hope of portraying the intelligence and brilliance of the character(s). Sherry Jones plummeted down this trap. Her Muhammad is violent, vindictive, and obsessed with having sex with his many wives (especially when new brides) and at times seems just plain stupid. Perhaps he was all these things, but we never get to know the brilliant man that was the real 'Prophet of Allah.' The protagonist, his 'Jewel' of a wife, A'isha, and f...more

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Sep 14, 2011 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: harem-middleeast-turkey

this book was really disappointing. To begin with, Allah has never been referred to as al-Lah, and after all the sources referred to in the writing of this book (at least the number that are listed in the bibliography)really surprising. I found that the characters were extremes rather than fully rounded believable characters. I understand that writing about religious figures is a tricky subject, but I found that the author was really trying to infer that that Muhammed (pbuh) was a weak, lustful...more

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Apr 29, 2012 Doreen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Let me get my pettiest complaint out of the way first: the cover is all wrong. A'ishah, the heroine of the piece, has red hair and green eyes, so I'm not sure who the cover is supposed to depict.

Overall, I thought Sherry Jones did a very respectful rendering of how she views the life of women in the early era of Islam. I think her narrative wasn't the smoothest (e.g. with A'isha's fight training) but I understand that she had a lot of material to cover and needed to pick and choose. I thought sh...more

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Jan 01, 2010 Shomeret rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, my-reviews

In the course of reading this book, I felt that I could see similarities between Islam and Judaism in their origins as desert tribal religions. The roots of these traditions can still be seen in current practices.

Sherry Jones showed Aisha going through a process of growth. I admired the Mother of the Poor and the role she played in helping Aisha to mature. It is indeed a feminist book. This isn't only because of Aisha's independence and desire for equality, but because of the alliances between w...more

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Jul 07, 2012 Robin Levin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Sherry Jones' novel The Jewel of Medina tells the story of the prophet Mohammad and his child bride A'isha. A'isha was the daughter of Abu Bakr, an early follower of the prophet. He offered the fifty-two year old widower Mohammad his six year old daughter to strengthen their bond of friendship and devotion. The wedding ceremony took place when A'isha was nine, but the marriage would not be consumated until after menarche.
Jones portrays A'isha as a high spirited and willful child who feels stifle...more Sherry Jones' novel The Jewel of Medina tells the story of the prophet Mohammad and his child bride A'isha. A'isha was the daughter of Abu Bakr, an early follower of the prophet. He offered the fifty-two year old widower Mohammad his six year old daughter to strengthen their bond of friendship and devotion. The wedding ceremony took place when A'isha was nine, but the marriage would not be consumated until after menarche.
Jones portrays A'isha as a high spirited and willful child who feels stifled by the restrictions that her community has placed on women. She longs for the priviledges of men. She longs to be free to go where she will and do what she likes. Mohammad encourages her to learn to wield a sword. A'isha would like nothing better than to wield it in battle against the enemies of Islam.
A'isha, although devoted to Mohammad and to Islam is insecure and jealous of the wives that, one by one come into the harem as Mohammad seeks to make alliances with various potential allies. Her plots and schemes create discord and havoc and, at times turn Mohammad against her. She also faces the wrath and determined opposition of Muhammad's military chief Umar, a tyrant when it comes to women, and of Mohammad's daughter Fatima and her husband Ali. It is on the advice of Umar that Mohammad decrees that women in his household be hidden behind a curtain and not allowed to be seen by men.
“You in the now, they cover with shrouds or with lies about being inferior. We, in the past, they erase from their stories of Mohammad, or alter with false tales that burn our ears and the backs of our eyes. Where you are, mothers chastise their daughters with a single name. 'you A'isha!' they cry and the girls turn away in shame. . . .The girls turn away because they don't know the truth: That Mohammad wanted to give us freedom, but that the other men took it away. That none of us is ever alive until we can shape our own destinies. Until we can choose.”
Jones' Mohammad is a sympathetic and very human character. He himself, does not pretend to be a divinity, but his devotion to Allah is total and all-consuming, and everything he says and does is with the intention of spreading the word of Allah.
In writing this book Jones hopes that her readers “will be entertained and uplifted,. . . .and empathetic to this other culture that we in the West know so little about, but that we tend to demonize because we are at war in the Middle East. Muslim, Christian, Jew, athiest, Buddhist-we are all human beings with needs, desire and fears, all 'created from the same soul.' The sooner we as a species can embrace the concept of unity the closer we will be to achieving paradise right here on Earth. Because Paradise means living continually in the presence of God, and as the Bible says, 'God is love.'”
These are noble sentiments, but it seems to me that our religions tend to divide us and stand in the way of this unity. There are no easy answers.

(less)

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Jan 22, 2013 Sarah Beth rated it 2 of 5 stars

The Jewel of Medina is told from the point of view of A'isha, the youthful daughter of a seventh-century Arabian merchant. A'isha is married to the Prophet Muhammad at the age of nine and has a very father-daughter relationship with her elderly husband. A'isha is constantly battling Muhammad's other wives to maintain her place as the head of the harem and is willful and disobedient when ordered to not speak to her childhood love interest.

Although I love historical fiction and was excited to com...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Joy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

I was hesitant to read this book because it hasn't gotten great reviews. I admit that I don't know much about the story of the Prophet Muhammad, his wives, or the history of Islam, so I didn't have much to hold this story against. That said, this book definitely reads like a novel.

I bought this book on clearance for around $5 at Barnes and Noble. I picked it up because I liked the cover, and because it centers around a Muslim female protagonist. I hadn't heard anything about the book when I bou...more I was hesitant to read this book because it hasn't gotten great reviews. I admit that I don't know much about the story of the Prophet Muhammad, his wives, or the history of Islam, so I didn't have much to hold this story against. That said, this book definitely reads like a novel.

I bought this book on clearance for around $5 at Barnes and Noble. I picked it up because I liked the cover, and because it centers around a Muslim female protagonist. I hadn't heard anything about the book when I bought it, although apparently the author had a hard time getting it printed because of its controversial subject matter.

Having read bad reviews and being unsure about whether or not I would really like the story, the book was at first a little hard to get into. Maybe I wouldn't have had the same experience if I had started the book as a blank slate, but I found her descriptions at times to be a bit too flowery and dramatic, and her analogies seemed somewhat repetitive throughout the book, as if she was too aware of keeping with the whole desert/Arabia-type theme. Also, I found her use of Arabic words annoying at first. I understand the use of words that there is no English equivalent for ("purdah"), and I understand her need to italicize them, but it made it almost impossible to read through without either placing unnecessary emphasis on the word or having to flip to the glossary in the back of the book to figure out what the characters are talking about. I appreciate her effort, and I now know words that I didn't know before, but since it was written entirely in English, by an American author, I just didn't see the point in saying "sahab" instead of "friend".

All in all, I'm glad I did finally decide to power through this book. It's a good read as a novel, and I recommend taking the "historical" part of the "historical fiction" with a grain of salt. The author definitely paints Muhammad as 100% man; suggestible, lustful, weak, and stubborn. I was a little bothered by that, and I can understand how some Muslims may not be terribly appreciative of it. If nothing else, this book forces you to look at love and marriage outside the confines of today's traditional Western monogamous relationships. It brings a different, warmer perspective to Islam than how it is usually portrayed in the United States. And it makes you consider what a quieter, more subtle feminism may have looked like in a time when women all over the world had little or no rights. (less)

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Nov 15, 2008 Joseph rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, around-the-world-in-80-books, best-of-2008, best-nonseries-fiction

A very interesting and informative novel. True, it is a work of fiction, but like other fiction books relate to biblical and/or religious history like "The Da Vinci Code" it does get you thinking. I don't understand the great fear Random House had about printing this work, I see nothing insulting to anyone, Muslim or otherwise, in it. I'm certainly looking forward to the sequel.

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Dec 07, 2008 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Jewel of Medina
Sherry Jones

The Jewel of Medina by Sherry Jones is set in the founder of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad’s harim and the plot consists of the battle to win his favor. The story is told entirely from the point of view of A’isha, Muhammad’s most beloved bride amongst a bevy of beautiful wives. Married at nine she is affectionately called “child bride”, and as such her position in the harim is constantly undermined. As she navigates the politics of Muhammad’s harim, she is embroiled...more

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Nov 08, 2012 Denise rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, women-famous, religion

This is a story about a young girl named A'isha. It's been said that she was the most favored of all the wives of the prophet Mohammed.

Much negativity has been attached to this story because A'isha was betrothed as a child and married at nine years of age to a man old enough to be her father or even grandfather. But think of the time period (8th century A.D.). Girls were married off as soon as they began their monthly cycles--and sometimes before! Marriages were not done for love but for dynast...more

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Apr 14, 2011 Pavarti Tyler rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, middle-east, religiousfiction

Disclaimer: I know Sherry Jones via twitter and email. However; I bought this book on my own with no urging from her (other than "yeah! I hope you like it!") and promising nothing to her (not even a review). To be fair, I do have a giant internet crush on her, which grows by leaps and bounds since reading this book.

The Jewel of Medina is a rare find. In a world of Twilight andIncarceron its a delight to find something which is both a fun, engaging, energizing story which also has depth. Jones' p...more

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May 04, 2009 Kayeb rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is from one girl/woman's persoective, and discusses a bit about her relationship with Muhammad. I enjoyed it over all. Curious how much of her stsory would truly be accurate. THe author indicates she had been influenced by books by Geraldine Brooks and Jan Goodwin, but it seems that the story starts with the scant info and is mostly her guesses. She does list of number of references she turned to, so it is not just a figment of her imagination, but no surprise there is very little info abou...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Brittany rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historicalfiction

I read this novel on the basis of the gorgeous cover and the amount of controversy it stirred up. It certainly takes a lot of chutzpah to write a historical novel from the viewpoint of one of Prophet Muhammad's wives. It also takes extraordinary skill, insight, perception, and delicacy to pull off. Jones has the chutzpah in spades, but lacks the rest of the requisite qualities.

This novel got all the attention it did purely because of its subject matter and the resulting threat of censorship. Unf...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Maureen rated it 2 of 5 stars

I have to agree with the other Posters, I really enjoy historical books and looked forward to reading this one, not only to gain a better understanding of Islam but also for the historical context surrounding the religions founding and the life of women at that time. I found neither here. While the book was entertaining and a light read it was mostly fluff, the protagonist, A’isha comes off as not very likable and also a bit false as so many of her motivations seem: A) to be inconsistent with so...more

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Feb 19, 2009 Sara rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: no one

Shelves: adult-fiction, did-not-finish, historical-fiction, 2009

This is a difficult book to rate. The writing itself was really smooth and beautiful, but the story... kinda uncomfortable to read. This is historical fiction focusing on the prophet Muhammed and his child-bride A'isha, so it's even difficult to criticize. But, for all this is billed as a love story and such, it is icky to read about a prepubescent girl being married off to a man forty-plus years older, already with other wives and children. I get the feeling that if these figures hadn't been re...more

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Aug 23, 2009 Biljana Janjic rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: islam

this book was censored/banned in my country (Serbia) when it was published and this was the only reason to read it. there was a great fuss and public outburst because of the censorship, so, luckily (and I mean luckily for my country's attempts to be democratic, not because of the book's quality), the book was very soon in the bookstores and libraries again. so, the Islam mashihat lost this game in my country. I've already read several books about Aisha and Muhammad - most of them written by West...more

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Dec 30, 2009 Michael rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Jewel of Medina and it is an inspiring, well written adventure that brings the early days of the Muslim religion to life. This is my first exposure to the Muslim culture and it is a very positive experience. Muhammad, A'isha and Ali become real people expressing honest human emotions and a genuine desire for creating a religion of peace, understanding and equality. This is such a relief from their minimalist image portrayed by today's Muslim extremists. The Jewel of Medina held my attention...more

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Nov 18, 2010 Don added it

Shelves: z-bpl-completed-2009

At the age of nine, A’isha bint Abi Bakr is married to the Prophet Muhammad. Through her determination, she overcomes political struggles and the jealousy of her sister-wives to become one of Muhammad’s closest and most trusted advisors. The author’s first novel could benefit from re-writes of some sections, particularly the romance scenes, but it is still an engaging story full of captivating characters and vivid descriptions of medieval Arabian life. Like its predecessor, The Satanic Verses by...more

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Apr 30, 2013 Teri Stich rated it 3 of 5 stars

“The Jewel Of Medina” by Sherry Jones: Seemed to have so much potential but fell short, in my opinion. Perhaps I was expecting too much, I was looking for the depth and richness of “The Red Tent” or “The Dovekeepers” but instead this one stayed on the surface. The characters were a bit flat, one dimensional that really didn’t develop until maybe towards the end. Aisha, the main character, was self-centered, self-absorb; and yes she was young but to have grown up in the surroundings she did and t...more

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About Sherry Jones

Sherry Jones is an American journalist and internationally best selling author of the controversial "The Jewel of Medina" and other historical fiction novels about women's power. She is also a speaker on issues including women's rights, free speech, and Islamophobia.

Her forthcoming novels from Simon and Schuster Gallery Books continue her tradition of exploring the obstacles women have long faced...more Sherry Jones is an American journalist and internationally best selling author of the controversial "The Jewel of Medina" and other historical fiction novels about women's power. She is also a speaker on issues including women's rights, free speech, and Islamophobia.

Her forthcoming novels from Simon and Schuster Gallery Books continue her tradition of exploring the obstacles women have long faced in our efforts to reach our highest potential in a patriarchal world.

"White Heart," debuting as an e-novella April 3, tells the tale of Blanche de Castille, the legendary White Queen of France, who braved sieges, scandal and heartache to protect the Crown from usurpers for her young son, King Louis IX (Saint Louis). The novella is a prequel to:

"Four Sisters, All Queens," about four sisters in 13th century Provence -- Margeurite, Eléonore, Sanchia, and Beatrice of Provence, who became queens of France, England, Germany, and Italy.

Jones became the center of a national controversy in the summer of 2008 after Random House cancelled publication of her historical novel, The Jewel of Medina about Aisha, a wife of the Prophet Muhammad.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Random House had paid Jones a $100,000 advance for the novel when University of Texas Professor Denise Spellberg say a copy of the galleys and decided to "warn Muslims" of the pending publication of a novel that, in Spellberg's opinion, "made fun of Muslims and their history." Random House immediately cancelled publication.

Beaufort Books published the book in the U.S. in October 2008. Publishers in Germany, Italy, Denmark, Spain, Poland, Serbia, Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, Macedonia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Greece, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Albania have followed. It has been a best-seller in Serbia, Croatia, Albania, Kosovo, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain.

A sequel, "The Sword of Medina," continues the story of A'isha's life after Muhammad's death and the rivalry with his cousin, Ali, which led to the first Islamic civil war and the Sunni-Shia split. It has been published in a number of countries, as well, and was also a best-seller in Serbia. "The Sword of Medina" was awarded a silver medal in the IPPYs, the Independent Publisher Association's book of the year awards.

The controversy over her books has sent Jones on the lecture circuit, speaking in the U.S. and Europe on topics including free speech and censorship, women's rights in Islam, and racism. She has written on these topics for Index on Censorship, New Humanist, AOL News, the Washington Post, and the Huffington Post.

Jones has also published a satirical short story, "Rapture," on Kindle at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051UT1XG.
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Quotes from The Jewel of Medina

“...but I realized now that love was more than a feeling. Love was something you did for another person...” — 4 people liked it

“Trying to forge my own destiny had nearly destroyed me, but his love held the power to heal.” — 1 person liked it

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The Jewel of Medina

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