The Jewel of Medina

Summary (from the publisher): 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, fighting religious persecution, jealous sister-wives, political rivals, and her own temptations. As she grows to love her kind, generous husband, her ingenuity and devotion make her an indispensable advisor to Muhammad. Ultimately, she becomes one of the most important women in Islam, and a fierce protector of her husband's words and legacy. Extensively researched, The Jewel of Medina evokes the beauty and harsh realities of life in an age long past. At once a love story, a history lesson, and a coming-of-age tale, it introduces readers to the turmoil that surrounded the birth of the Islamic faith through the eyes of an unforgettable heroine.

Review: 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 come across one that was set somewhere other than a European country, I was disappointed with this novel. A'isha as a character was spoiled and irritating and her husband (who she claims to love, which I find doubtful) is a randy old man who is constantly lusting after yet another young woman. I did not feel attached or drawn to a single character and found most of them annoying and hardly people I wanted to read a whole novel about.

I think A'isha's story could have been compelling - being a child bride to a historical figure is a pretty intriguing bio. However, the execution by Jones was less than thrilling. I ended up suffering through this and basically skimming towards the end. I wish I could read a different version of A'isha's life, one in which she isn't portrayed as a continually petulant child. 

Stars: 2