Sultánova žena se mi opravdu moc líbila, byl to příběh plný intrik, krutosti a závisti, ale také i lásky, přátelství a pomoci, kterou jste našli tam, kde byste ji rozhodně nečekali. Je to kniha, kde zasáhl osud spojením dvou ztracených duší. Najdou díky zásahu osudu svůj smysl života? Nebo budou dále tápat a kruté prostředí je zahubí, protože lidský život tady nemá skoro žádnou cenu? I have had this book for ages now and life kept interfering with my reading. I need my reading to engage me on many levels. I have found recently I'm a very picky reader, and so my demands are high. I started reading this book late at night and didn't stop until I finished at 3AM. So I caffeinated myself and went to work this morning and my mind keeps wandering back to this story.The author manages the plot and character superbly. The lead character is entrancing, he's not an extrovert prone to telling you every detail of his existence in the first three pages. He unfolds slowly, giving you the sense that you are actually, very gradually, moving through the arc of strangers meeting to good friends by the end of the book. The plot isn't predictable because none of the characters are by rote. So the plot unfolds as the seeming natural result of their choice of actions and you genuinely feel you are witnessing a very human, very heartbreaking and enlightening story. I was startled when I read the notes at the back of the book that the lead characters were entirely of the author's invention. For their crafting, you'd almost expect them to be actual historical figures. There are many historical figures in the book but they aren't written flat, they are written with the same care that the fictional characters are and the combination is seamless. The lead character is one that isn't given to outbursts of emotion, he's extremely controlled (this is what has ensured his survival) and so he doesn't expand or emote on certain facts or situations. I like this, I like that he remains consistently true to who he is, both in his actions and as a narrator. As an eunuch and a slave, he's had to seal off parts of himself to make a new life in a horrifying situation not of his choosing. But in no way is he (or any of the other characters) typified as a victim. At one point he discusses how different men manage their sexuality after becoming an eunuch. If you are a careful reader, you discern much of the character's viewpoints on what makes him a man, and how he himself feels before he begins to actually discuss it with you (but only after you've gotten to know him quite well!)This is a time and a country I know little about. The story takes place in Morocco in 1677. There's a reciprocal pleasure in exploring and learning as you read, and I admit I was awake another hour on the internet researching other happenings of the time. Please keep in mind I wake at 6AM, have two children, am pregnant with a third and work full time. So you may want to plan your reading a little more carefully than I did. This goes not just on my high list of recommended reading, but on my gift list.
What do You think about The Sultan Wife (2012)?
Fabulous page turner. A great slice of history mixed with mystery and great characters.
—Chrissy
Loved this book. It carried the scent of the dessert. Great cover too.
—noum
This was a satisfying and indulgent vacation read.
—karatechic98
