An Intriguing And Controversial Account Of Adam's Bridge By Guest Author Dr Rita Louise. Is The Stretch

#notebooks

#journeyofalifetime

Finished my book last night so I guess I’ll just stare longingly at my bookshelf until god reveals my next book to read to me through divine revelation

"but there is something that happens when you are told you are too much. you begin to ask everyone, "how small would you like me?""

Alai Ganuza, Pink Bathroom Oil on canvas, 30 x 30cm

Lauren Bacall, 1940s

This bookish home in Gothenburg, Sweden features joyful ambiance with cleverly structured bookshelves. The colorful pool of books on the wall are neatly lined-up, forming a healthy contrast against the lighter backdrop. What a lovely arrangement! (Photo by Lina Östling)

The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson is a historical fantasy set in the sultanate in Granada just before the city is taken over by the armies of Isabella and Ferdinand, as well as by the reaching hands of the Inquisition. Fatima is a teen concubine born at the Alhambra; when she discovers that she and her best friend, a magical mapmaker named Hassan, are in danger, she chooses to flee, with Inquisitor Lulu hot on her heels.

I loved the magic in this novel. Hassan's abilities, the eerie djinn, the demonic unleashed curses, the winding journeys, the stories of the Bird King, were all wonderfully surreal and well-crafted by Wilson. The world-building is rich on the historical side as well: the gaps between cultures of the visiting Castillians and the Muslims of Granada, the insidious manipulation and influence of the Inquisition as well as its real-life horrors, and the atmosphere of Europe at the time of the conquering of Spain, all feel accurate and complexly depicted.

Some choices felt strange—such as both protagonists being Caucasian or Circassian, often considered white ethnic groups, in a story so inspired by Islamic folklore and belief. Some parts of the story dragged as well. But the horror provoked by the Inquisition, the power of mythmaking and faith, and the bonds between the characters all made this a very compelling read.

Content warnings for Islamophobia, homophobia, torture, violence, sexual assault.

I hope my hopes won’t mislead me.