(October book review)
[Edited to correct title of other book mentioned]
As mentioned in my last set of book reviews, I decided that I needed to read something which allowed me to write a positive review, so this month (when I wasn't reading urban fantasy stuff) I went for a non-fiction author I've liked before:
Islam: A short history - Karen Armstrong
Having found Armstrong's 'The Bible: a Biography' fascinating, I was pretty optimistic about this book, and it didn't disappoint. It provides a history from the first revelations of Mohammed to the present day (well, just about - it was originally published in 2000, so this edition has a couple of pages of afterword about the September 11th 2001 bombings, and the aftermath). Having left 'The Bible' full of sticky notes for interesting bits, I figured this time I'd make notes of the interesting bits instead, and I ended up with 18 pages'-worth ;)
The book has a good balance balance of the personal politics/history and the developments of various different strands of belief/practice - which are, of course, closely linked. Some interesting parallels were drawn with other religions (largely, but not exclusively, Christianity and Judaism) and the ways in which certain people reinterpret texts to suit their purposes or to suggest that cultural practices are sanctioned or required by the core texts of their religions.
Of course, now I find myself wanting to read 'The Battle for God', or her current book, 'The Case for God', but my book pile is now up to 25, as I bought more books than I intended from sinbadsilk in his flying-orf-to-for'n-parts booksale. If anyone can get me a time-turner for Christmas, so I can work, socialise, exercise, sleep and have time to read more, that would be much appreciated...
As mentioned in my last set of book reviews, I decided that I needed to read something which allowed me to write a positive review, so this month (when I wasn't reading urban fantasy stuff) I went for a non-fiction author I've liked before:
Islam: A short history - Karen Armstrong
Having found Armstrong's 'The Bible: a Biography' fascinating, I was pretty optimistic about this book, and it didn't disappoint. It provides a history from the first revelations of Mohammed to the present day (well, just about - it was originally published in 2000, so this edition has a couple of pages of afterword about the September 11th 2001 bombings, and the aftermath). Having left 'The Bible' full of sticky notes for interesting bits, I figured this time I'd make notes of the interesting bits instead, and I ended up with 18 pages'-worth ;)
The book has a good balance balance of the personal politics/history and the developments of various different strands of belief/practice - which are, of course, closely linked. Some interesting parallels were drawn with other religions (largely, but not exclusively, Christianity and Judaism) and the ways in which certain people reinterpret texts to suit their purposes or to suggest that cultural practices are sanctioned or required by the core texts of their religions.
Of course, now I find myself wanting to read 'The Battle for God', or her current book, 'The Case for God', but my book pile is now up to 25, as I bought more books than I intended from sinbadsilk in his flying-orf-to-for'n-parts booksale. If anyone can get me a time-turner for Christmas, so I can work, socialise, exercise, sleep and have time to read more, that would be much appreciated...