Disliked the author’s voice on audio!! It was very childlike, whimsical, and sing-songy. The pronunciation seemed almost lazy, lacking the clarity of a spoken tone. It was really off-putting!

I had to fast-forward it to 1.25 or 1.5 times the speed, otherwise, I would have gone mad. I could only listen to this boorish narration intermittently because of the above reasons. I think it took something away from Brooks’s story.

Ok…the actual story: Since it was written in the mid-1990s, last century, and prior to the 9-11 disaster in 2001, which led to a large-scale rise in terrorism, it now seems strange that I’m only just reading it!

And with new global experiences, knowledge, and perspectives, does Brooks herself have different perspectives now, after many decades?

Indeed, this book gives some significance, if not a loose backdrop, to living and working in the Middle East in the 1980s-90s as a journalist, before many 21st-century events (e.g., 9-11). At that time, it seemed that the world turned against every Muslim!

I think her book is more focused on Islamic Fundamentalism. There were informative sections that revealed the author’s research and interviews with a large number of women. However, it also appeared to lack a good representation or cross-section of women.

As such, I would have preferred the title ‘Memoirs…the women I met’. I think it would have been more appropriate.

I will not comment on any of Brooks’s experiences, but I did wonder whether she had truly delved into the ‘role’ of women in the various cities and countries she visited and worked in.

There are hundreds of thousands, even millions of women! Therefore, her snapshot is extremely limited.

If Brooks had been an expert, such as an Islamic historian or a cultural professor, I would have expected something less judgmental in her narrative!

As such, her self-importance in being a qualified authority on Middle Eastern women, their culture, behavior, and thinking, etc., was far more fictional.

She built up her own inner thoughts, indeed, it is quite a judgmental framework, around those she met, the conversations recalled, and what she deems to have seen.

It’s how rumors spread in the West.

It sounds like the media today with its gossip and propaganda, marketing a falsehood and trying to incite fear.

I’m sure some aspects are true, but Ms Brooks comes from the perspective of her Western upbringing and life in Australia, where I also live!

And I have a Catholic upbringing and married a Protestant in the 1970s, yet the naysayers of the day found it appalling and catastrophized everything about it!

This might not be the same, but I can draw a parallel to the victimization of people from a different faith.

I also worked with Muslim ladies and have heard their stories. I uphold their decision to wear their veils, etc.

Of course, in any old religious and cultural tradition, especially fundamentalism, there are going to be despicable stories, such as mutilation, violence, and murder, etc. But as my friend told me, “it is important to realize it is not rampant.”

Although I have not visited the Middle East and cannot speak from experience, we do see and hear so much in the media these days.

Brooks was a journalist, and they are reporters, but as always, you have to ask what is the truth and what is exaggerated? Is it fact or fiction?

Her personal interactions with sportspeople, entertainers, colleagues, and other important dignitaries such as Queen Noor are only a small cross-section in reality.

Interestingly, she also included an afterthought epilogue that reflected on her years living and working in the Middle East.

She included several reminders, such as the clothing in her wardrobe that she had worn uniformly during her time there.

Indeed, she is also naturally drawing a parallel to life in Australia and our freedom to go to the beach. And as a woman, she could wear bathers!

Still pondering the whole veil issue, she watched Muslim women with children nearby, happily playing on the sand in their gowns and veils.

I myself vividly recall being in Asia at a beach resort some years ago. Our grandchildren were stunned by the heavily clad black clothing in the dining room and the veiled faces, etc.

They also saw them outdoors playing, but the most dynamic scene was on the beach. Black-veiled women were paragliding in the air behind a boat!

The TV show The Flying Nun came to mind! Back in their rooms, our children played dress-up games by putting dark towels and clothes over their heads to imitate what they had seen.

In fact, it was good!

We all talked about it, discussing Muslim beliefs and traditions briefly. The next day, in the pool, they played with Muslim children and talked to their parents, even asking questions like “do you get hot?” “Can you take it off to swim?” “Do you sleep in it?”

We also sat next to the families outside and had very normal conversations together, both in the dining rooms and outside. They were the loveliest people, and it was, by far, a great experience for our family.

There was nothing to fear!! It is the “they and them” mentality that causes it.

Who are we to judge?

Many writers do, though….or are they?

Brooks also adds comments about Salman Rushdie, the author of The Satanic Verses, a controversial book about the prophet Muhammad. Khomeini responded by issuing an edict or ‘fatwa’ against Rushdie in 1989, ordering his head for mocking the prophet. It still exists, and there have been threats and attempts on him.

I have not read it, only some excerpts.

Is it mocking? Or a misinterpretation? By Rushdie himself or the Muslim world leaders and followers too?

It can go both ways, and when it is printed, vocalized, etc., and grabbed by the media, it is dangerous.

Perhaps Western authors should refrain?

I’m not sure.

I know that we should not judge if we do not belong. We cannot fully understand if we don’t have conversations together.

Like my grandchildren did….it was timely, as over the years since, they have befriended children from various nations, cultures, etc. at school and in sports, etc.

In fact, they seek out those who are ‘different’; they see far more behind a veil than any adult!

Was Brooks attempting this in her book too?

I just wonder whether she would alter or change anything in it now?

Indeed, it’s nothing new to hear or read now in 2024.

I just came across this incredible article which perhaps sums up her attitude and her book well.

I wasn’t able to work out exactly why her book didn’t sit well with me other than it being written in the 1990s.

Check it out! https://www.griffithreview.com/articl...

Definitely worth reading, but do NOT listen to the audiobook narrated by the author. She is a good author, but not a good narrator. Dreary, let me just leave it at that......

The writing reflects that she is trained as a journalist. However, the book is rather unstructured and reads as a group of different stories. Story after story of different Muslim women's experiences in the Middle East in the early 90s. Even if it isn't totally up-to-date you have to understand the past to understand the present.

I liked how the author distinguishes between different sources for current Islamic beliefs - the Koran, the Hadith and cultural practices. It gives a more in-depth understanding of the complex nature of these beliefs.

I was upset by the double standard so often evoked in the stories. It shows the unfair treatment that some individuals face, which is truly concerning.

The author clearly attacks the misogyny central to many Islamic beliefs...... She is a converted Jew. I was a teeny bit uncomfortable sometimes worrying to what extent her statements were completely objective. She did usually balance different views against each other, but I could hear through her intonation her own personal view on a subject. (Bad narration!)

Overall, the book is very interesting, but it's not a book where you engage yourself deeply in the lives of the people mentioned. It provides valuable insights, but it lacks that emotional connection that would make it truly engaging.

I read this as part of a bookclub discussion. The book was chosen by a charming woman who fled Iran 24 years ago and had endured the revolution, war, and economic sanctions against her country. She said she began reading it a year ago but it was overly emotional, so she believed with the support of the bookclub, she could finish it. I was thankful for her selection as it was interesting, informative, and offered a unique perspective on the topic. Instead of a traditional 'book report', I've decided to share the bookclub discussion experience.

So, the group convened yesterday evening, consisting of 9 women and 5 men. Overall, the group is well-educated, well-informed, well-read, and generally progressive. After everyone had a turn to share their impression of the book, an open discussion ensued. And what followed? MANSPLAINING! The book focused on women in Islamic Middle Eastern cultures, told through personal stories. Some were positive, but many vividly illustrated how women are subjugated, abused, and repressed. Although political and economic policies are relevant to such a book, it wasn't about politics or policy. Nonetheless, a subset of the men in the room commandeered the discussion in that direction. When the woman from Iran (who lived through the revolution) explained that the Iranian revolution in 1979 wasn't entirely based on the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, she was corrected. When she described the economic disparity in Iran (lack of a middle class), she was corrected. When I raised my opinion that it's not the Islamic faith that leads to the repression of women, but rather patriarchal cultural practices, I was corrected. The irony of the whole situation wasn't lost on me or many of the other women in the room.

To be fair, these men aren't misogynists and are likely sympathetic to feminist causes. However, they've also been raised to be more assertive and are better at inserting their opinions into the discussion. They may not consciously devalue a woman's opinion, but they're probably unaware of their subconscious biases. Even in a'so-called' enlightened Western culture, in one of the most liberal cities in America, you can encounter microaggressions against women in the context of a book discussion about the oppression of Islamic women. ¯\\\\_(ツ)_/¯

Now, transform a subconscious bias against women into one that is culturally sanctioned through religious interpretation, and you have the plight of countless Islamic women in the Middle East. Even though this book is over 20 years old and has its flaws, it is informative and worth reading.

Even the word Islam has a polarizing effect and elicits an instant reaction. Everyone seems to have an opinion or comment.

A religion and ideology that encompasses beauty, separatism, and brutality, Islam展现出不同程度的极端性 across the Muslim world.

Immediately, the plight of women is highlighted as they live under a perceived oppression, hidden beneath heavy cloaks and scarves.

They become shadows in public, avoiding scrutiny and legal breaches, and they live behind high walls where life, like in any society, can either be great or miserable.

Geraldine has presented a fair, objective, and realistic account of her experiences living and coexisting with the women of Islam.

A good cross-section of countries and women from all backgrounds are represented in anecdotes about their lives and desires.

The expose reveals the choices made and their own theories on what's right or wrong with Western ideology.

Bound by loyalty to the Koran, centuries of tradition, fear, and a dose of hypocrisy, they live their lives.

Drawing comparisons and analyzing historical movements and regressions, the reader is educated and left to make up their own minds in this unbiased account.

I love a book where I can learn, redefine, or consolidate my views and get a first-hand version of facts.

The world has always had fractures and always will. Bigotry and racism are rife in every corner. Events trigger domino effects and imprint future relations.

I feel enriched for reading this intellectual and interesting account.

This book is well-written,

but it's quite dated and a bit biased.

A lot has changed in Iran among feminists.

The same is true in Egypt,

though perhaps not enough has changed in Saudi Arabia.

Brooks aims to contrast Muhammad's open views of women in his Hadith

with how current Sharia law can be more oppressive.

It's an interesting contrast,

and the point is well taken.

However, she presents too much of a monolithic view of brainwashed Muslim women.

In fact, there are many feminist movements

and dissident Muslims in these countries

who recognize the double standards

and have been pushing back for years.

Nevertheless, she's right that it's unacceptable

for these regimes to oppress women.

And make no mistake, it is oppression,

with the mandated hijab,

the marriage and divorce rules, and so on.

All of this needs to change.

Hopefully, Muslim women will be the agents of that change.

This book presents an excellent objective perspective on Islam and its impact on women.

It narrates a tale of religious fundamentalism that has distorted and rewritten the doctrine to fulfill the purposes of male leaders, thereby controlling and subjugating women, relegating them not only to the role of servants but also to that of non-entities.

The aspect that intrigues me and which I simply cannot fathom is that these women (and I believe women in other cultures too) are held accountable and mandated to dress and behave in specific ways because they are considered a threat to men's ability to control themselves.

This makes no sense to me. If men are truly that out of control or incapable of controlling themselves (which I highly doubt), then it is the men who need to step up and sort themselves out.

The stories are not overly graphic, yet they are appalling nonetheless. After reading this book, it has made me extremely grateful for my freedom and the ability to live my life as I choose. It has instilled in me a desire to go out and do everything within my power, knowing that not everyone in the world is granted this privilege.

4.5 Stars
I don't typically read a great deal of non-fiction. However, after visiting a couple of Muslim countries, I was inspired to pick up this particular book. Geraldine Brooks has always been an author I admire. She is extremely well-researched, and having been a Middle East correspondent for many years, she truly walks the talk. She has had up-close experiences with Islamic women, which gives her a unique perspective.

This book offers a fascinating and thought-provoking insight into the often difficult lives of these women. In a male-dominated world, their strength is truly inspiring. After listening to the audiobook, which was narrated by Brooks herself, I was so impressed that I immediately purchased the print version to read.

I believe this book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the lives and experiences of Islamic women. It provides a rare and valuable look into a world that is often misunderstood. Brooks' writing is engaging and accessible, making this a book that can be enjoyed by a wide range of readers.

Overall, I highly recommend this book and give it 4.5 stars. It is a powerful and moving account that will stay with you long after you have finished reading.

This is a truly captivating work of nonfiction, despite its rather misleading title. Brooks dedicated several years to being a foreign correspondent in the Middle East. During this time, she interacted with hundreds of women. Some of these women were newsworthy in their own right, while others were just ordinary individuals.

The title gives a false impression of the book in two aspects. Firstly, although sex and marriage are indeed discussed, they are not the main focus. Secondly, the book does not claim to cover the lives of all Islamic women. Brooks traveled in the Middle East and a bit in North Africa, but this region actually represents a minority of the world's Muslim population. That being said, the book clearly differentiates among Middle Eastern societies, from Saudi Arabia to Iran to Egypt to Palestine, and offers an overview of a wide range of subjects. Big universal topics like education, marriage, and employment are covered, as well as practices related to Islam, such as veiling, honor killings, and female genital mutilation (a truly horrifying chapter, and as Brooks points out, while Islam may not encourage this practice, it isn't doing much to stop it either). There are also chapters on women in the military, guerrilla movements, politics, sports, and the arts, and the success or failure of feminist groups. The book is now 20 years old, but it remains highly relevant today. Brooks captured an earlier stage of trends that still persist, specifically the rise of fundamentalism.

All of this is presented in a clear and precise journalistic style, combining anecdotes from the people Brooks met with personal stories she witnessed or experienced, along with her research. The chapter on the Prophet's wives was surprisingly informative. Brooks doesn't attempt to hide her own worldview – she is a progressive, secular feminist – but she relies on facts and observation rather than stereotypes, and clearly made an effort to understand the people she met. And where the book makes judgments – well, there are moral issues where neutrality is not a virtue. Brooks is also careful to distinguish between what the Koran says and what some societies choose to do.

If I have one criticism, it's that the book is rather short considering the amount of material it covers. As another reviewer noted, it whetted my appetite rather than satisfied it. Also, there is so much great potential for novels in the subjects covered in this book that even the most productive author couldn't exhaust it in a lifetime. Instead of writing those novels, Brooks went on to write about the Plague, the American Civil War, and a past/present historian story. Damn it, why couldn't she write the novels I want to read?

This is an absolutely fascinating book.

Brooks doesn't really bog the reader down with an excessive amount of "research". Instead, she provides you with a solid historical and literary background.

However, she enriches that framework by incorporating anecdotes from her encounters with Muslim women.

It is evident that Brooks detests the treatment of women under most manifestations of Islam.

Nevertheless, she is extremely cautious in demonstrating that this is predominantly a political issue and is not actually advocated in the Koran.

By presenting a balanced view, Brooks allows the reader to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the complex relationship between Islam and the status of women.

Her use of personal anecdotes adds a human touch to the subject matter, making it more engaging and relatable.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the intersection of religion, culture, and gender.

This is truly one of the outstanding books that I have had the pleasure of reading. It serves as an invaluable resource for Western women, enabling them to gain a genuine understanding of the experiences and situations of women within Islam. In our Western context, we often lack this understanding, and as a result, our actions can sometimes cause more harm than good.

When working towards helping Western Christians and Jews understand the women of Islam, I have frequently turned to this book as a reference. It is an excellent recommendation for church groups and for those individuals who are involved in assisting women refugees and immigrants from Islamic countries to integrate in the West.

In addition to this remarkable book, the work of comparative religions writer Karen Armstrong, specifically her book "Mohammad," is also highly beneficial. It provides us with a profound understanding of the Prophet of Islam. I firmly believe that both of these books are essential for anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding.

I would also like to recommend "Holy War, Unholy Victory: Eyewitness to the CIA's Secret War in Afghanistan." This book offers a real insight into the roots of the current Afghan war. Although it only covers events up to the early nineties, it helps us to understand the Soviet invasion of 1979, the creation of the Taliban, and the complex situation that exists today. It dispels many of the false premises that have been presented regarding the current war.

A beautiful book. The author succeeded in historical observation and transfer, but her in-depth exploration of religious issues weakened the book. We Muslims are still searching and exploring our religion, so how can a person outside the religion gather religious opinions and ideas to enhance the book?

The flaw in my opinion begins with its basis on a saying attributed to our master Ali, may Allah honor his face (Allah the Almighty created sexual desire in 10 parts, then gave 9 of them to women and one to men). Based on that, the book was named in English "9 Parts of Sexual Desire", and of course this saying may convince some Muslims but not all. And based on that, there are religious differences in the book.

Transitions in the Middle East and an exciting era in the history of Arab and Muslim women. I got to know some Iranian ideas and practices. Also, it is nice for us to read about our expanding reality through the eyes of people from outside who try to look closely.

Yet when the Koran sanctions wife beatings and executions of apostates, [Islam] can't be entirely exonerated for an epidemic of wife slayings and death sentences on authors. At some point every religion, especially one that purports a complete way of life and system of government, has to be called to account for the kind of life it offers the people in the lands where it predominates. These are some of the concluding words of Brooks' experiences of working in the Middle East and interacting with Muslim women of the region. This assessment is fair, yet somewhat restrained considering the details of women's lives outlined throughout the book.

"Nine Parts of Desire" was first published in the early-1990s, yet the content remains up-to-date as the plight of women in Islamic countries does not seem to have improved in the proceeded three decades. Honour killings, female genital mutilation, and effective subservience to husbands or male family members continues. This is due to the influence of a fundamentalist interpretation of Islam that pervades large swathes of the Middle East. Turkey was considered a bastion of secularism, and women there had significantly more rights than elsewhere in the region. However, even there, Islam is wielding undue influence on their politics.

Part of this book chronicles Brooks' time in Gaza. Israel has systematically destroyed Hamas over the last year. Hamas aims to destroy Israel and implement an Islamic State from "the river to the sea". Palestinians would ostensibly be liberated. Perhaps they would be from an imperialist perspective, but not from an ideological perspective. Women, LGBT people, atheists, etc would be second-class citizens in this state, forever living in fear of their lives due to fundamentalist interpretations of utterances by a man 1,400 years ago. Palestinians must have a state, but Westerners who support Hamas are plain ignorant. They fail to see the real consequences that such a fundamentalist ideology would bring to the people, especially the most vulnerable groups like women and minorities.