In the Shadow of the Prophet

I read ‘In the Shadow of the Prophet’ in three days. It moved me to tears three times. I’m not surprised at all that it won awards, but I’m absolutely astounded that this was a first novel. (The award was for Best Unpublished Novel and Best Unpublished Entry Overall in the San Diego Book Awards.) Wr......more

I've never once thought about pre-Islamic Middle East until this book invited me to imagine it. Now I can only wish that time travel existed, so I could go back discreetly and observe the transition to Islam - ya had to be there. The way the story is written invites readers to feel like they've befr......more

Once I picked up this book, I could not put it down. The story is so beautifully written, with character development that allows the readers to see religion and spirituality through multiple lenses. There is a thoughtfulness and a gentleness to the pacing of this story that held my interest easily.......more

This novel is like a time machine. It transports the reader back in time to meet this precious family and lets them observe their lives, their hopes and dreams, their defeats and their victories. The narration doesn't follow standard plots, rather it presents a pastiche of lived moments, reminding m......more