So let's read something already

[Cassandra]

I'll be starting Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes by Tamim Ansary in a few days. Anyone interested in reading it as part of this book club?

[Robert]

I read that book a year and a half ago, and actually, just reread some passages on the Ottomans, as I am reading Caroline Finkel's Osman's Dream. Did you finish it? If so, what did you think?

[Cassandra]

I did finish it a while back there. I really enjoyed the book. As someone who grew up with very little exposure to the history of the Middle East (with the exception that the crusades were fought there against the Muslims... thanks US public education!) I really like the condensed nature of it and the way in which Ansary pulled out the most pivotal and important events and players. I read a lot of history and not being familiar with all of the people and events of the Middle east and especially Islamic history makes it difficult to place into context but Ansary's book really works quite nicely as a framework in which I can continue to build on and fill in as I read other books. I also really enjoyed his writing style which at times I found humorous and light-hearted and which more importantly was very accessible and entertaining(unlike some of the academic works I've read, many of which can be so pedantic they turn into a real snooze fest). I have already reread portions and can see myself doing so again in the future for a quick refresher. I'm currently reading Women and the Fatimids in the World of Islam and I think I may reread some of the information from Destiny Disrupted regarding the Fatimid period once I'm done just to refresh my memory a little and try to really place the events I've just read about into the "story arc" as Ansary calls it.