car stereo review Beneath a Marble Sky ebook
I was lucky enough to see a review of this book online, and upon reading the glowing review, decided to immediately get a copy. I spent most of the weekend reading it, and just finished it a few minutes ago. I was so moved by the book that I decided to write my first review on Amazon.
Simply put, this is an amazing story. I've never been to India, but this novel took me there, and introduced me to the Taj Mahal, which I am now longing to visit. This is a powerful, beautiful story. And the fact that it's based on true events made turning its pages even more enjoyable for me.
Anyone who is a fan of historical fiction (as I am) should read this novel. The author managed to re-create a rich period in history, and did so in a very subtle way.
After finishing this book, I was reminded of how I felt after completing Memoirs of a Geshia. Both books took me somewhere new, and made me cry more than a little.
It's almost impossible for me to be critical of this book. I loved it that much. My only slight disappointment was that there wasn't a map up front.
However, the book is beautiful inside and out, and I'd highly recommend it.
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Simply stated, this is a beautifully written novel.
BalasHapusFrom the opening sentence to the last page, John Shors brings to life the world of contrasts which was the Mughal Empire at the time the Taj Mahal was built. In the process he tells us one of the world's most endearing and enduring love stories.
Elegant fiction in an historical setting. John Shors involves the reader from the beginning, and it was almost painful to reach the end. I wanted more.
Highly recommended
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
BalasHapusI will read Beneath a Marble Sky several times during my lifetime. I know that. The book is that good. The beauty of this novel made me cry on several occasions (the last time this happened was when I read The Grapes of Wrath). And amazingly, this book is not only powerful, but one that inspired my fingers to turn the pages as quickly as possible. What a perfect debut novel. I think we can expect incredible things of Mr. Shors.
BalasHapusThis book was a surprising find. I saw a small blurb in NewsWeek about how the author was willing to participate in a book club's discussion of his book (either in person or by conference call). Apparently, the book had gotten great literary reviews after publication, but did not sell well initially, so the author was "marketing" it through book clubs--essetially word of mouth. The book is a fictionalized account of the building of the Taj Mahal. The characters were developed well, and the main character was easy to like. The book is wonderfully written, and the story was creative. A great read.
BalasHapusVery good story. Started out a little slow, but then I could not put it down. I hope this author continues to write many more books. If you like historical fiction, love stories or fictional autobiographies you will love this book.
BalasHapusJohn Shors has the gift. It is as simple as that. In BENEATH A MARBLE SKY he has created a stunning love story woven through the interstices of the 16th century Hindustani building of the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the world, a place on earth where Paradise touches mortals in a magnificent mausoleum for the beloved wife of the Emperor. Not only is this a symphonic novel of surpassing craftsmanship and beauty, it is also a book that informs the reader about the differences between Muslim and Hindu religions, about the Persian Empire, about customs of caste, of worldviews, of architecture, and of the myriad flavors of a land too few of us understand.
BalasHapusTold in the words of one Princess Jahanara, the beautiful daughter of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan whose grief for the loss of his wife Arjumand - the Mumtaz ('taz' becoming 'Taj') Mahal - during childbirth results in his pledge to create the most beautiful mausoleum for his beloved's rest, the story unravels the many tangles of the royal family including the disparate brothers Dara and Aurangzeb, and eventually leads to a dangerous liaison between Jahanara (married to a loathsome beast) and Isa, the architect for the Taj Mahal.
Shors paces this complex story so well that it seems far shorter than the near 350 pages - and it impossible to put the book down once begun. Part of the glory of Shors' writing is his obvious research into the history, the customs, the idiosyncrasies of royalty, the social systems of the times, and even the flavors of the spices and foods and the colors and types of clothing that drape this novel in unforgettable tapestry. His characters are painted with vibrant tones and his narration breathes the exotic tenor of the times about which he writes. Few authors have been able to describe the mysteries of the actual Taj Mahal with the accuracy Shors is capable of producing. Yet the overwhelming effect of this novel is not that it recreates history: this novel transports the reader to a time when life was much different - and yet much the same as today!
There are many reasons to select books to read. Selecting BENEATH A MARBLE SKY celebrates our intellect, our passion, our need for knowledge of the past, and our luxuriating in brilliant prose. Highly recommended on every level. Grady Harp, September 06
I was lucky enough to see a review of this book online, and upon reading the glowing review, decided to immediately get a copy. I spent most of the weekend reading it, and just finished it a few minutes ago. I was so moved by the book that I decided to write my first review on Amazon.Simply put, this is an amazing story. I've never been to India, but this novel took me there, and introduced me to the Taj Mahal, which I am now longing to visit. This is a powerful, beautiful story. And the fact that it's based on true events made turning its pages even more enjoyable for me. Anyone who is a fan of historical fiction (as I am) should read this novel. The author managed to re-create a rich period in history, and did so in a very subtle way. After finishing this book, I was reminded of how I felt after completing Memoirs of a Geshia. Both books took me somewhere new, and made me cry more than a little. It's almost impossible for me to be critical of this book. I loved it that much. My only slight disappointment was that there wasn't a map up front. However, the book is beautiful inside and out, and I'd highly recommend it.
BalasHapus