• Nine Parts of Desire

  • The Hidden World of Islamic Women
  • By: Geraldine Brooks
  • Narrated by: Geraldine Brooks
  • Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (307 ratings)

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Nine Parts of Desire  By  cover art

Nine Parts of Desire

By: Geraldine Brooks
Narrated by: Geraldine Brooks
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Publisher's summary

Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women is the story of Brooks’ intrepid journey toward an understanding of the women behind the veils, and of the often contradictory political, religious, and cultural forces that shape their lives. In fundamentalist Iran, Brooks finagles an invitation to tea with the ayatollah’s widow—and discovers that Mrs. Khomeini dyes her hair.

In Saudi Arabia, she eludes the severe segregation of the sexes and attends a bacchanal, laying bare the hypocrisy of this austere, male-dominated society. In war-torn Ethiopia, she watches as a female gynecologist repairs women who have undergone genital mutilation justified by a distorted interpretation of Islam.

In villages and capitals throughout the Middle East, she finds that a feminism of sorts has flowered under the forbidding shroud of the chador as she makes other startling discoveries that defy our stereotypes about the Muslim world. Nine Parts of Desire is much more than a captivating work of firsthand reportage; it is also an acute analysis of the world’s fastest-growing religion, deftly illustrating how Islam’s holiest texts have been misused to justify the repression of women. It was, after all, the Shiite leader Ali who proclaimed that “God created sexual desire in ten parts, then gave nine parts to women.”

©1995 Copyright © Geraldine Brooks 1995, 2008, 2011. (P)2012 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

“Frank, enraging, and captivating.” ( The New Yorker)
“Powerful and enlightening...Brooks presents stunning vignettes of Muslim women...and carefully distinguishes misogyny and oppressive cultural traditions from what she considers the true teachings of the Koran.” ( Publishers Weekly)
“There has been nothing finer on the subject from a Western observer...she looks at it from the heart...mixing historical perspective with piercingly observed journalism.” ( Newsday)

What listeners say about Nine Parts of Desire

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    5 out of 5 stars

Auto-ethnography and good research

Would you listen to Nine Parts of Desire again? Why?

I've listened to this book several times and found something new in each re-telling. It's powerful because much of the book is drawn from Ms Brooks' own experience, then it's coupled with some excellent research of the context. So the book has strong credibility. She's not judgemental in the telling - it's a finely drawn balance of experience, what others say, her opinion, and giving the other side of the story. Well done on this one!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Nine Parts of Desire?

The discussion about female genital mutilation, the clear assertion that this has nothing to do with Islam (which I knew - it's also practiced in other communities, includeing some christian communities; it's more a cultural practice). But it was Ms Brooks' lived experience in many islamic countries that makes the book memorable. Her descriptions of the 'unveiling' of women - their private lives.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I found I wanted to tap into this book at intervals. It was thought-provoking, so needed some 'soak time' to enable me to digest the messages.

Any additional comments?

Good on Ms Brooks reading her own book. Given it's her story that's appropriate. She's not the best narrator in the universe, but does a very reasonable job. Knowing it was her voice delivering her story and her message gives the book additional credibility in this audio version.

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5 people found this helpful

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I would read this again.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

.

Any additional comments?

I love Geraldine Brooks. I read "Year of Wonders" and was hooked on this author. She is also the narrator in that book as well. Geraldine is a superb author and, quite frankly, her voice soothes me. It does. I learned much about Islam and the dark under belly of that religion, but also the lives of women in the Middle East. Geraldine is my favorite author to day

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4 people found this helpful

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  • 06-24-21

As an Iranian woman born a few years after the revolution

I have read this book with skepticism. A book that tells the story of women in countries like my homeland, written 2 decades ago can be damaging to the image of the people of these countries. But I should say the book was fair, and true to the parts I could judge. I loved her narration and her perspective.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Turns out Muslim women are real people!

I bought this a year ago and loved the first listen. I'm listening again, more actively this time, and learning so much.

I've had a lot of fear and ignorance about the Muslim world --it's history, it's women, etc. This book does a good job of explaining how things got to be the way they are. I particularly like the comment one character made about how the limitations imposed on women today stem from Mohammad's trying to keep the peace in his polygamous household.

I didn't know the story of Aisha and how her life's story is interpreted differently by different religious groups. Definitely one of many "Ohhhh, I get it...." moments.

I love the dovetailing of ancient history and recent modern history.

Reads like a novel; informs like a textbook.

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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A good book badly read.

I am very curious about the lives of women in Islamic countries, that's why I bought this book but I got somehow lost among so many names and other unimportant information that permeates the narrative of very interesting facts. In my opinion, although the overall review of the book is good, Ms Brooks's reading is really discouraging! She reads in a very monotonous voice and doesn't pronounce the whole sentences in a clear and vivid way, as it should be to grasp the listener's attention. She reads her own book as if she was tired and bored of it. This book deserved a better performance.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Well worth your time

Geraldine spent many years living in the middle east meeting with the important men of the day and many of their wives or widows as well as the everyday women in all walks of life. She goes back to the Qumran and compares what it says with the various practices in countries. She follows successful women who take the veil as well as other women trying to throw it off.
It has been updated and she discusses the trend toward conservative thought.

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2 people found this helpful

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Required reading for knee-jerk liberals.

I’m glad I listened to the book. I am actually quite liberal, but I think Islam is, in its current incarnation, very messed up. If you believe in human rights give this a listen the audio quality is poor, but I could hear it just fine with earbuds.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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excellent, thought-provoking

I wasn't sure about this book when my Book Club chose it, but I am glad and more knowledgeable now after reading it!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Raw and unforgiving.

The writer is well researched. She has a point to prove and gathered the necessary evidence. I enjoyed the book very much. only a couple of complaints. It should have been narrated by someone else, and for a writer that claims to hold women to the highest standards, I don't think she tried hard enough to find the ones that are intelligent enough to oppose religious views and practices.

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Certainly not worth my 16 dollar credit. Total waste of time.

Could not stand the inaccuracies and biased outlook of the writer. Not good!! Wish I could get my brain cells I lost back. :-( or my money.

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