Shadows of the Pomegranate Tree Review

Shadows of the Pomegranate Tree: A Novel, of The Islam Quintet, book 1 of 5, tells an exquisite historical tale.

I have always been fascinated by the Spanish Inquisition. I wrote a research paper on the psychology of these events in high school. My teacher, a sports coach, probably didn’t read it or understand it because I got a perfect 100. This novel brought me a fresh perspective of these historical events. I knew the broad textbook and encyclopedia version of the events, but this book brought emotion and something more personal to it. The Spanish persecuted not only Jews, but those who practiced Islam. The book explored some of the politics behind the persecution and this was enlightening to me. While I am a Christian, I certainly don’t support intolerance or forcing people into the faith. Many people of that time lived in peace for generations despite religious differences and the political upheaval was a bit of a surprise as family members turned against each other. While many stories romanticize the events, it was war and ugly and heartbreaking. Many converted in outward appearance to save themselves, their families, and their businesses. This book helps to put it all into perspective. It’s accurate enough that I could use this to teach this period in history and literature when my kids are older.

There’s a lesson in this, still for us, today.

The writing is poetic, combining storytelling and poetry with history and philosophy. Of course, there are love stories and intrigues. The characters are complex and I love this one and hate that one, as I, the reader, am supposed to. I love sympathizing and getting “into” a story! It’s everything a great novel should be. Some of the plot was told in flashback as memories of the characters. I expect some of the mysteries to be explained in the rest of the series. When I realized the book was over, I was upset! I wanted more. Instant gratification.

Here are the other four novels in the series. I can’t wait! (That’s the sign of a great writer. When I can’t put the book down and can’t wait to finish a series!)

About the Author

Tariq Ali is a novelist, journalist, and filmmaker. His many books include The Clash of Fundamentalisms: Crusades, Jihads and Modernity; Bush in Babylon: The Recolonization of Iraq; Conversations with Edward Said; Street Fighting Years: An Autobiography of the Sixties; and the novels of the Islam Quintet. He is the coauthor of On History: Tariq Ali and Oliver Stone in Conversation and an editor of the New Left Review, and he writes for the London Review of Books and the Guardian. Ali lives in London.