Nine Parts of Desire

A very readable and in depth look at the lives of Islamic women throughout the Middle East. The author had many contacts and access to the women interviewed in the book, with an eye toward getting at the women's stories without their being afraid for their reputations and their lives.

I especially appreciated the organization of the book, starting with individual issues involving what female children within the Islamic family are faced with, progressing into their family roles and marriage, then the larger world of school, workplace, and politics. Finally, there is the international stage of sports and the arts. Each chapter is written to show the hidden reality of women's lives in these sociological niches, and also contrasted with what the Koran says (or doesn't say!) and/or a hadith (sayings of the prophet) interpretation concerning the role or status of women in that setting. Invariably, historical/cultural practices from within the various countries seem to be the reasoning for most of the restrictions and rules placed on women, rather than something revealed from the Koran or through Mohammed.

If you enjoy reading nonfiction that reads like fiction, you'll enjoy the writing style of this book, whether the topic interests you or not. But I hope readers will feel compelled to at least pay more attention to current events in the world that work against women in the Islamic world and bring more awareness to the issues and debates.