The Lover: A Sufi Mystery

A book chosen arbitrarily which grabbed my attention from the first page. Excellent service from the seller, as always.

An easy and excellent read. Full of details which are interesting and fundamental in setting the scene and making it believable, combined with an excellent use of the narrative law of conservation of detail - it reminded me of the best pieces of medieval Latin religious figurative art, where every figure, every colour is useful for the interpretation of the works' ultimate meaning. The characters were also brilliant, offering the right mix of relatable and alien, and they all had interesting narrative arcs. And all of this while successfully avoiding the orientalist trap. Absolutely recommended to those who want a captivating story sent in the medieval Muslim world, or for any reader endowed with intellectual curiosity and an open mind.

This book is an excellent reminder that I need to read more novels. It's a fresh blend of historical knowledge of the time and a story of personal and spiritual development. It was a beautiful journey through the alleyways of medieval Baghdad, the busy markets, homes, taverns, mosques and town centres where people congregated. I grew to understand and feel attached to its characters who were nuanced and genuine, and I look forward to catching up with them in the next novel. Thanks to this novel, next time I read a non-fiction about a scholar from this time period, I'll have a better idea of the setting in which they lived and the people of their time.

What a special book. Not only did Laury Silvers write a novel that is historically sourced, beautifully written, and wonderfully crafted - she wrote a story that touches the heart. A perfect choice for readers who love great writing, as well as for students of religion/Religious Studies who are studying Islam. I am in my ninth year of teaching courses in Islam at the college/university level and am currently using this book in class. My students love it. They are mostly first-generation students who have none to limited exposure to Islam and Muslim communities. One of the wonderful things about this book is that it is a great teaching tool, full of Islamic themes and rituals and beliefs that can be explored in the class. We have had some moving discussions in class about the book and its characters. Several of my students are looking forward to the sequel! I decided to use this book, along with Liz Bucar's Pious Fashion, as a way to frame Islam historically and in modernity, and also to center the stories of women. So much of academic literature focuses on the experiences of men and The Lover is a wonderful switch from the myopic gaze. It tells the story of many people, in fact, but centers the experiences of women, Muslims of African descent, Shii, and Sufi Muslims. The book is also super readable, so if you are not reading it for a primer on Islam in the 10th century, and like mysteries, or just great writing, this is the book for you!

Recently, I read Islamicist academic Laury Silvers' debute novel called The Lover. It's a murder mystery set in 10th Century Baghdad. Unlike many historical novels set in the Middle Ages/Classical Period, it does not focus on the high and mighty, but rather on the working classes. During the course of the book, the reader meets the enslaved, washerwomen, child domestic workers, corpsewashers and the "fuqara' ", "the poor" - Muslim mystics who choose a life of ascetism and worldly poverty and spiritual wealth. One of the most striking things about this book is that it shows both sides of life - beauty and pain. Something else that is worth noting is that although the book is clearly written with great love for Islam, Sufism, Muslims and their histories, it does not for one moment romaticize the past & that it realistically paints the hardships of the poor, enslaved, working classes and soldiers. Another interesting aspect is that it shows Islam -and Muslims, for that matter- in all their diversity: Arabs from Baghdad, tribal Arabs, Nubians, Chinese, Persians, Turkmens, Shiites, Sufis, Hanbalis and others make their appearances - never as tokens or tropes, but as real, flesh-and-blood beings with all their passions and resentments, rights and wrongs. And last but not least, our heroine Zaytuna. She is a Nubian washer woman, daughter to a famous local mystical woman who is named "The Black Lover'. Scrupulous and pious, she yet struggles to find joy and beauty in life and religion. At the end of the book, she is changed - and so will the reader. A terrific read for anyone who is interested in Sufism, Islam, Iraq, the Middle Ages, murder mysteries, or just likes a good story.