Alif the Unseen

Honestly, this isn't a bad story. I listened to it during my commute and sometimes while at work. IF (and this is a really big IF) you don't mind the narrarator making the most bizarre and uncharacteristic voices for some of Wilson's characters. It really took me out of the story sometimes. One of the djinn characters had the voice of some creepy rapist/pedophile. Even though he's one of the best written characters, I just couldn't handle it. Obviously written by a man, because every time the boy protagonist meets a new woman character, he is always "uncomfortable" at the way that they look him up and down. I appreciated some of the imagery, having grown up on the Arabian Peninsula myself. Accurately described social dynamics. If you can get past the weird performance, as well as all of the pseudo-mysticism (it's like he forgets about it sometimes), then you might enjoy this.

Story takes the reader into parts of a culture and land that is unfamiliar, yet exciting. A mixture of religion, culture, technology, and adventure appeals to a wide variety of readers.

Sanjiv managed to portray different voices for each character. I found this not only entertaining, but useful as a listener.

Altogether a great listen that compels me to desire more.

This book is a very entertaining adventure story that also gives a great picture of some serious issues, from repression in today's Arabian peninsula to the hubris of technology geeks who think that computers can solve life's basic dilemmas.

I enjoyed this book. It was creative and gripping at the same time. I would recommend it to anyone.

The story started out fun but quickly became an excuse to try to sell the Koran and many of the Muslim traditions and so became tedious. The author is a American who converted to Islam, which is cool, but a novel about genie's (Jinn), a different take on the Thousand and One Nights, and such is ruined by trying to sell what most westerner's are to "stupid" to see the wisdom of... she implies more than once. The author is obviously very smart, has a magic way with her words, and her passion for her adopted faith is clear but instead of "selling" her faith she turned off this reader who wasn't looking for her version of those Jesus freak pamphlets you find in public restrooms. The only thing I take away from this book is how intellegent, well educated, smart people can sell themselves on silliness by faith whether it be Muslim, Scientologist, Mormon, believing in one God when they believe in three, and so on and so on. It seems the more one has to use their faith to ignore science, patch together contradictions, forget facts, and accept nonsense... the holier they feel. Strange.

Anyway the reader is good but the narrative probably has colored my judgement when in another context he might be 4 stars but don't know.