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Beneath a Marble Sky
Journey to dazzling seventeenth-century Hindustan, where the reigning emperor, consumed with grief over the tragic death of his beloved wife, commissioned the building of a grand mausoleum as a testament to the marvel of their love. This monument would soon become known as the Taj Mahal - a sight famous around the world for its beauty and the emotions it symbolizes.
Princess Jahanara, the courageous daughter of the emperor and his wife, recounts their mesmerizing tale, while sharing her own parallel story of forbidden love with the celebrated architect of the Taj Mahal. Set during a time of unimaginable wealth and power, murderous sibling rivalries, and cruel despotism, this impressive novel sweeps you away to a historical Hindustan brimming with action and intrigue in an era when, alongside the brutalities of war and oppression, architecture and the art of love and passion reached a pinnacle of perfection.
Princess Jahanara, the courageous daughter of the emperor and his wife, recounts their mesmerizing tale, while sharing her own parallel story of forbidden love with the celebrated architect of the Taj Mahal. Set during a time of unimaginable wealth and power, murderous sibling rivalries, and cruel despotism, this impressive novel sweeps you away to a historical Hindustan brimming with action and intrigue in an era when, alongside the brutalities of war and oppression, architecture and the art of love and passion reached a pinnacle of perfection.
344 pages, Paperback
First published June 18, 2004
About the author
John Shors
12 books640 followersHi, everyone. I hope this message finds people well.
I'm the bestselling author of The Demon Seekers trilogy, My Midnight Sun, Unbound, Beneath a Marble Sky, Temple of a Thousand Faces, Cross Currents, Beside a Burning Sea, Dragon House, and The Wishing Trees. My novels have won multiple awards and have been translated into twenty six languages. I have also spoken (via speakerphone) with more than 3,000 book clubs around the world.
For more information on my work, please visit www.johnshors.com or friend me on Facebook or Instagram.
Thank you for your support!
- John
I'm the bestselling author of The Demon Seekers trilogy, My Midnight Sun, Unbound, Beneath a Marble Sky, Temple of a Thousand Faces, Cross Currents, Beside a Burning Sea, Dragon House, and The Wishing Trees. My novels have won multiple awards and have been translated into twenty six languages. I have also spoken (via speakerphone) with more than 3,000 book clubs around the world.
For more information on my work, please visit www.johnshors.com or friend me on Facebook or Instagram.
Thank you for your support!
- John
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,898 reviews
November 18, 2023
A monument to undying love
A romantic reconstruction of imperial life in 17th century India, BENEATH A MARBLE SKY recounts the turbulent story of princess Jahanara, the daughter of the emperor who commissioned the construction of the Taj Mahal as a fabulous testament to the overwhelming love of his wife. Well educated, literate, a wily diplomat, savvy political advisor and a bright, witty conversationalist and companion at a time when Muslim women were held in particularly low esteem, Jahanara has been well taught by her mother who bequeathed the solemn responsibility for the care of her ailing father to Jahanara on her death bed.
Now an elderly woman herself, the story is told in the form of a flashback narrated from Jahanara's point of view as she relates the fascinating, complex, violent and disturbing history of her family to her grand-daughters. Her soft spoken, pacifist eldest brother Dara, the rightful heir to the imperial throne dreams of the day he can see the Muslim community in peaceful co-existence with those professing the majority Hindu faith. In complete contrast, her younger brother, Aurangzeb, is so consumed by jealousy of his brother's position as heir and the deep hatred of Hindus whom he labels godless heretics, that he spends his entire life plotting the coup and the civil war necessary to steal the throne from his father and brother. Jahanara's story, set against the backdrop of the construction of the Taj Mahal also tells of her unrequited impossible love for Isa, architect of the Taj Mahal and a commoner that Jahanara can never marry and the exquisite pain of her arranged, political marriage to Khondamir, an ugly, evil, conniving merchant with some very sleazy, distasteful sexual proclivities.
Beneath a Marble Sky is many things for many readers - an accomplished historical fiction with lots of savory details for time and place; a compelling political page-turner loaded with intrigue, violence, passion and pathos; as well as a powerful moving romance that tells of three distinctly different but heart-warming relationships that come to fruition in ways that will draw a sigh and a smile from even the most romance-phobic male readers.
My taste in historical fiction would have enjoyed more time spent on the context of the story - more background, for example, as to the religious tensions that were so central to the story and perhaps a little more detail describing the common man's daily life in a setting which to us is so completely exotic and foreign. But, to his credit, Shors did not overstate his case or overstay his welcome by producing a needlessly padded heavyweight door-stopper which, sadly, is often the case with contemporary historical fiction authors. Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
A romantic reconstruction of imperial life in 17th century India, BENEATH A MARBLE SKY recounts the turbulent story of princess Jahanara, the daughter of the emperor who commissioned the construction of the Taj Mahal as a fabulous testament to the overwhelming love of his wife. Well educated, literate, a wily diplomat, savvy political advisor and a bright, witty conversationalist and companion at a time when Muslim women were held in particularly low esteem, Jahanara has been well taught by her mother who bequeathed the solemn responsibility for the care of her ailing father to Jahanara on her death bed.
Now an elderly woman herself, the story is told in the form of a flashback narrated from Jahanara's point of view as she relates the fascinating, complex, violent and disturbing history of her family to her grand-daughters. Her soft spoken, pacifist eldest brother Dara, the rightful heir to the imperial throne dreams of the day he can see the Muslim community in peaceful co-existence with those professing the majority Hindu faith. In complete contrast, her younger brother, Aurangzeb, is so consumed by jealousy of his brother's position as heir and the deep hatred of Hindus whom he labels godless heretics, that he spends his entire life plotting the coup and the civil war necessary to steal the throne from his father and brother. Jahanara's story, set against the backdrop of the construction of the Taj Mahal also tells of her unrequited impossible love for Isa, architect of the Taj Mahal and a commoner that Jahanara can never marry and the exquisite pain of her arranged, political marriage to Khondamir, an ugly, evil, conniving merchant with some very sleazy, distasteful sexual proclivities.
Beneath a Marble Sky is many things for many readers - an accomplished historical fiction with lots of savory details for time and place; a compelling political page-turner loaded with intrigue, violence, passion and pathos; as well as a powerful moving romance that tells of three distinctly different but heart-warming relationships that come to fruition in ways that will draw a sigh and a smile from even the most romance-phobic male readers.
My taste in historical fiction would have enjoyed more time spent on the context of the story - more background, for example, as to the religious tensions that were so central to the story and perhaps a little more detail describing the common man's daily life in a setting which to us is so completely exotic and foreign. But, to his credit, Shors did not overstate his case or overstay his welcome by producing a needlessly padded heavyweight door-stopper which, sadly, is often the case with contemporary historical fiction authors. Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
April 8, 2010
I picked up Beneath A Marble Sky because of the cover. I'm so glad I did. BAMS is a near perfect story. Love, hate, betrayal, intrigue, duty, honor, played out against the magnificent backdrop of Agra, India, the city of the Taj Mahal, - I fell in love with this story from page one.
Told in first person from Jahanara's point of view, I must confess to being pleasantly surprised that a male author could write a female character so well.
Perhaps that's a bit strong. What I mean is that Shors does an excellent job of making Jahanara- the central focus of the story- come to life. Her thoughts and motives were totally believable, and that's just not something I often feel is expressed well when a main female character is written by a man- especially when the entire story is from her POV.
Jahanara is a wonderful heroine. She is wise, intelligent, fearless, loyal and noble- and based on the real-life Daughter of the Emperor. Her story is woven into the tale of the building of the Taj Mahal, the grand Mausoleum built out of her father's love for her mother.
Things are not perfect for her; her arranged marriage to her burtish husband is a sham, and her power hungry brother is down right nasty. Things happen to her that make you want to scream, but, through her keen intelligence, she always manages to find a measure of revenge- no matter how hollow it feels in the end. And. She finds beauty and love in the darkest of places.
I feel the author does an excellent job of weaving fiction into actual historical events- and I came away learning something in the process. Yet the epic feel of it left you with no doubt you were reading fiction. (In fact, if it was longer and more overwrought, I'd put this up there with the novels that became TV mini series back in the day- think Thornbirds and Shogun!)
If you like historical fiction, especially historical fiction set in exotic locales, then this book is for you!
4.5 out of 5
Told in first person from Jahanara's point of view, I must confess to being pleasantly surprised that a male author could write a female character so well.
Perhaps that's a bit strong. What I mean is that Shors does an excellent job of making Jahanara- the central focus of the story- come to life. Her thoughts and motives were totally believable, and that's just not something I often feel is expressed well when a main female character is written by a man- especially when the entire story is from her POV.
Jahanara is a wonderful heroine. She is wise, intelligent, fearless, loyal and noble- and based on the real-life Daughter of the Emperor. Her story is woven into the tale of the building of the Taj Mahal, the grand Mausoleum built out of her father's love for her mother.
Things are not perfect for her; her arranged marriage to her burtish husband is a sham, and her power hungry brother is down right nasty. Things happen to her that make you want to scream, but, through her keen intelligence, she always manages to find a measure of revenge- no matter how hollow it feels in the end. And. She finds beauty and love in the darkest of places.
I feel the author does an excellent job of weaving fiction into actual historical events- and I came away learning something in the process. Yet the epic feel of it left you with no doubt you were reading fiction. (In fact, if it was longer and more overwrought, I'd put this up there with the novels that became TV mini series back in the day- think Thornbirds and Shogun!)
If you like historical fiction, especially historical fiction set in exotic locales, then this book is for you!
4.5 out of 5
January 28, 2008
This is a love story based in 17th century Hindustan - but not just your average love story. Finally, a love-story author that portrays a woman in a positive light! Not just hopelessly in love but also intelligent, loyal to her family (and her father's empire), truly selfless and very realistic with all of her emotional ups and downs.
This drama has the main character battling brothers and a disastrous arranged marriage, all the while fulfilling the needs of her father and trying to maintain a relationship with the man she truly loves.
I could not put this book down. It had action, drama, romance (without being too mushy), everything!
This drama has the main character battling brothers and a disastrous arranged marriage, all the while fulfilling the needs of her father and trying to maintain a relationship with the man she truly loves.
I could not put this book down. It had action, drama, romance (without being too mushy), everything!
August 29, 2008
i do not recommend this book, as it could give the reader an inaccurate picture of what life was like back then. in addition the author has taken a number of liberties with the historical characters. the writing is very simplistic and leaves you feeling like you are reading a teenage romance novel.
February 22, 2017
'Beneath a Marble Sky' is much too much about a royal daughter's dutiful life of self-sacrifice - she practically gets ecstatic when she discovers a sacrifice situation actually - than I could accept. The combination of silly pointless self-sacrifices and the way her breathless love in the shadows unfolded struck me as impossibly bizarre. She did so very little to protect herself at important junctures, in the name of love. It also appeared to me she often relied heavily on the kindness or wisdom of men - family and strangers - even after she wised up. But her desire to suffer seemed to depend a lot on her ecstatic expectation of salvation in the next world, if nothing else. She did her best to be abnormally nice at all times. By the time I was halfway into the book, I hated this self-immolating woman. It was a GR club pick, so, well, here we are.
Many actual historical details are mixed into 'Beneath a Marble Sky', although it uses as its primary foundation a fictional depiction of an illicit romance between the married royal girl and an unmarried foreign commoner, which so satisfied many other readers. I am giving it a couple of stars only because of the history and political details myself.
As I read this novel, I thought narrator Princess Jahanara was somewhat unwilling to exercise much logical capacity, although in time she began to be more strategic, even if she still always chose the path of self-sacrifice if it was available to her. She seemed mostly pedestrianly kitsch in thought, and appeared to me to suffer a lot from purposeful blinkered vision because of her persistence of belief in being a good girl. She often prevented her young psychopathic warrior brother, Aurangzeb, from hurting her pathetically silly older brother and the heir-apparent to the throne, Dara. She saw Aurangzeb's joy in killing even when he was a little boy. But she is determined to make nice and worked at maintaining surface conventionality, even if it killed her. Everything she does is about maintaining internal family coherence, whatever the personal cost (and against all common sense in my opinion). The delusion that all the members of her famous royal family felt nothing but supportive affection with each other, or that they would all be nice enough given time, to eventually all meet in heaven I suppose, was important to her? Even as she covered up or minimized Aurangzeb's malevolent behavior every day since their childhood...
Now you know why I mostly disliked this novel - irrational main character. Moving on.
As the story of her life as a royal Princess in 17th-century India unfolds, readers also enjoy a well-researched, if brief, look at the politics and the enormous accumulated wealth of the ruling family that built the Taj Mahal. Yes, gentle reader, THAT Taj Mahal! For Princess Jahanara is the daughter of Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal as a giant tomb for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, after she died in childbirth (not mentioned in the novel, but in fact it was Mumtaz Mahal's fourteenth pregnancy).
Princess Jahanara is reluctant to step outside most of the lines of propriety and cultural expectations, no matter what, because of her love for her father and secondarily, her Muslim faith, except of course for the passionate love affair she begins with a young handsome architect - a Persian, Ustad Isa. He was hired to help design and build the Taj Mahal.
Jahanara hates her husband, the merchant Khondamir, an ugly fat vile old yellow-toothed infertile mouthbreather. Shah Jahan, Jahanara's beloved father, arranged the child marriage of his fifteen-year-old daughter to the middle-aged merchant in affectionate hope Jahanara would grow to love him. However, now that the Shah sees she can't love Khondamir, he kindly arranges for the unmarried Persian architect Isa to consort with his daughter in secret.
Hmmmmmmm.
Gentle reader, I know it may surprise you, but this isn't the moment I decided that this novel was asinine. There was an incident a few chapters before this that was insane. However, in case you are in the apparent majority that adores this novel or wants to adore this novel, I will exercise some discretion and place it in a spoiler box.
This book went off the rails for me. I lost all interest in being worried about the dangers where sweet but too-stupid-to-live Princess Jahanara's apparent problem of masochism would lead her. Bite me.
Anyway.
The Wikipedia link below is to the real history of Jahanara's father, the Emperor of Hindustan, Shah Jahan:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_M...
This link is to a video of the author John Shors explaining his pleasure at the success of this novel and some of his thinking in writing it:
https://youtu.be/GD09tyPUdHU
Many actual historical details are mixed into 'Beneath a Marble Sky', although it uses as its primary foundation a fictional depiction of an illicit romance between the married royal girl and an unmarried foreign commoner, which so satisfied many other readers. I am giving it a couple of stars only because of the history and political details myself.
As I read this novel, I thought narrator Princess Jahanara was somewhat unwilling to exercise much logical capacity, although in time she began to be more strategic, even if she still always chose the path of self-sacrifice if it was available to her. She seemed mostly pedestrianly kitsch in thought, and appeared to me to suffer a lot from purposeful blinkered vision because of her persistence of belief in being a good girl. She often prevented her young psychopathic warrior brother, Aurangzeb, from hurting her pathetically silly older brother and the heir-apparent to the throne, Dara. She saw Aurangzeb's joy in killing even when he was a little boy. But she is determined to make nice and worked at maintaining surface conventionality, even if it killed her. Everything she does is about maintaining internal family coherence, whatever the personal cost (and against all common sense in my opinion). The delusion that all the members of her famous royal family felt nothing but supportive affection with each other, or that they would all be nice enough given time, to eventually all meet in heaven I suppose, was important to her? Even as she covered up or minimized Aurangzeb's malevolent behavior every day since their childhood...
Now you know why I mostly disliked this novel - irrational main character. Moving on.
As the story of her life as a royal Princess in 17th-century India unfolds, readers also enjoy a well-researched, if brief, look at the politics and the enormous accumulated wealth of the ruling family that built the Taj Mahal. Yes, gentle reader, THAT Taj Mahal! For Princess Jahanara is the daughter of Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal as a giant tomb for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, after she died in childbirth (not mentioned in the novel, but in fact it was Mumtaz Mahal's fourteenth pregnancy).
Princess Jahanara is reluctant to step outside most of the lines of propriety and cultural expectations, no matter what, because of her love for her father and secondarily, her Muslim faith, except of course for the passionate love affair she begins with a young handsome architect - a Persian, Ustad Isa. He was hired to help design and build the Taj Mahal.
Jahanara hates her husband, the merchant Khondamir, an ugly fat vile old yellow-toothed infertile mouthbreather. Shah Jahan, Jahanara's beloved father, arranged the child marriage of his fifteen-year-old daughter to the middle-aged merchant in affectionate hope Jahanara would grow to love him. However, now that the Shah sees she can't love Khondamir, he kindly arranges for the unmarried Persian architect Isa to consort with his daughter in secret.
Hmmmmmmm.
Gentle reader, I know it may surprise you, but this isn't the moment I decided that this novel was asinine. There was an incident a few chapters before this that was insane. However, in case you are in the apparent majority that adores this novel or wants to adore this novel, I will exercise some discretion and place it in a spoiler box.
This book went off the rails for me. I lost all interest in being worried about the dangers where sweet but too-stupid-to-live Princess Jahanara's apparent problem of masochism would lead her. Bite me.
Anyway.
The Wikipedia link below is to the real history of Jahanara's father, the Emperor of Hindustan, Shah Jahan:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_M...
This link is to a video of the author John Shors explaining his pleasure at the success of this novel and some of his thinking in writing it:
https://youtu.be/GD09tyPUdHU
February 28, 2012
I'm still in rapture over this novel, it just was written with such perfection. The perfect read for any historical fiction fan. A concise and sweeping story, eloquently told. A tale of adventure, passion, and a journey into an intelligent and daring 17th Century daughter of the emperor. Jaha's struggle is a precarious one, caught between forbidden love, sibling rivalries and duty. A powerful thrilling edge of the seat page-turner. It taught me new things about the intricacies of architecture in 17th-century Hindustan. Eye opening moments as clever tid-bits about Hindu, Muslim and Islamic beliefs were added that were very interesting and beautiful to ponder. As well as having a passionate and emotional romance set during the backdrop of a murderous religious war. Everything I look for in great Fiction in only 345 pages. How is this possible?!?!
January 13, 2008
I was kind of disappointed that most of it is fiction (or at least the most important parts that form the basis of the story). You are thought to believe that this is based on a true story, but it is highly embellished, and culturally inaccurate in many cases. It kind of ruined the mystery of the Mughal Empire, the Taj Mahal, etc. for me. It is an easy read though, and somewhat entertaining, so if you like these sorts of love stories (but more on the side of a melodramatic soap opera) then you'll probably enjoy it.
April 25, 2009
I love historical fiction because I feel like I'm learning something while entertaining myself, which is great since I never paid attention in Social Studies in high school. I saw this book described online as "historical romance," and if you think of it like that, it's easier to stomach a lot of the nonsense in here. For instance, this is the kind of story where the main characters literally "chase one another through fields of wheat," "frolic on the sand," and "make love beneath the stars." Regardless, it's a good story, easy to read, and the setting and culture are really fascinating. It's also just a good old-fashioned epic tale with heroes and villains and action, which is a nice change once in a while.
It inspired me to look up some things about the Taj Mahal and this royal family when I was finished reading it. Sadly, it seems like the narrator's real life was actually far more interesting than this book lets on. She's construed as a victim here--a strong one, but a victim nonetheless--whereas multiple websites called her "the most powerful woman in all of India," and "a skilled painter, poet, and designer" none of which the book mentions. I guess it didn't have time for all that since she had so much frolicking and chasing and lovemaking to do. It's criminal, really. John Shors took a woman who was truly ahead of her time, who was a goodwill ambassador, a traveler, an artist, a businesswoman, and a civil rights advocate, and turned her into a damsel in distress in a mediocre romance novel. He tries to make her all feisty and strong-willed as a character, but ultimately it's all about her affair with this architect, which probably didn't even happen.
I would classify this as a good beach read, but not a must-read.
It inspired me to look up some things about the Taj Mahal and this royal family when I was finished reading it. Sadly, it seems like the narrator's real life was actually far more interesting than this book lets on. She's construed as a victim here--a strong one, but a victim nonetheless--whereas multiple websites called her "the most powerful woman in all of India," and "a skilled painter, poet, and designer" none of which the book mentions. I guess it didn't have time for all that since she had so much frolicking and chasing and lovemaking to do. It's criminal, really. John Shors took a woman who was truly ahead of her time, who was a goodwill ambassador, a traveler, an artist, a businesswoman, and a civil rights advocate, and turned her into a damsel in distress in a mediocre romance novel. He tries to make her all feisty and strong-willed as a character, but ultimately it's all about her affair with this architect, which probably didn't even happen.
I would classify this as a good beach read, but not a must-read.
January 17, 2018
A melodramatic tale that plays fast and loose with historical accuracy and the reader's patience.
I knew going in this would probably not enjoy this book, but I hoped I might anyway. Forbidden love and angst are two things I like to avoid...but India! The Taj Mahal! Historical fiction! Political intrigue! Had to be worth trying, right?
Ehhh, not so much. I didn't learn much about the creation of the Taj Mahal and I'm skeptical of the little I did learn.
The characters are either Good or Evil. Good characters are modern and tolerant in their attitude towards life and other religions. Evil ones are Evil because...plot? There is no in-between. The heroine - the reader is constantly reminded - is beautiful and cunning and wise (but is she really? 'Cause I feel like she does a lot of Dumb Stuff.) The men around her - The Good ones - love and admire her. The Evil ones underestimate her and treat her like dirt, especially her husband.
Although Princess Jahanara's husband plays a main role as a villain in her life, I could never take him seriously. He treats her like dirt and everyone responds with a 'sucks to suck' attitude instead of doing something about it. The "modern" attitudes of most of the characters jars oddly with this nonchalant attitude towards her husband.
However, I'd say that describes most of this book. The author wants it both ways. You're to admire the modern attitudes of the characters but also unquestionably accept their inexplicable behavior as cultural or fitting the time.
On top of annoying characters and plot points that seem to exist only to add drama, this book is rife with gratuitous sex scenes. The reader is subjected to Jahanara's husband's boorish sex and her lover's boring sex. Honestly, I feel like I should be more annoyed with this part of the plot but it was too boring even to be infuriating.
If this book had been shorter, I might feel more patient with it, but instead I feel frustrated. This could have been something great; the writing is interesting enough. It sacrifices an actually interesting environment, however, for cheap romance between one-dimensional Good characters and throws equally lifeless Evil Characters at them for Drama. It is really quite a pity.
I knew going in this would probably not enjoy this book, but I hoped I might anyway. Forbidden love and angst are two things I like to avoid...but India! The Taj Mahal! Historical fiction! Political intrigue! Had to be worth trying, right?
Ehhh, not so much. I didn't learn much about the creation of the Taj Mahal and I'm skeptical of the little I did learn.
The characters are either Good or Evil. Good characters are modern and tolerant in their attitude towards life and other religions. Evil ones are Evil because...plot? There is no in-between. The heroine - the reader is constantly reminded - is beautiful and cunning and wise (but is she really? 'Cause I feel like she does a lot of Dumb Stuff.) The men around her - The Good ones - love and admire her. The Evil ones underestimate her and treat her like dirt, especially her husband.
Although Princess Jahanara's husband plays a main role as a villain in her life, I could never take him seriously. He treats her like dirt and everyone responds with a 'sucks to suck' attitude instead of doing something about it. The "modern" attitudes of most of the characters jars oddly with this nonchalant attitude towards her husband.
However, I'd say that describes most of this book. The author wants it both ways. You're to admire the modern attitudes of the characters but also unquestionably accept their inexplicable behavior as cultural or fitting the time.
On top of annoying characters and plot points that seem to exist only to add drama, this book is rife with gratuitous sex scenes. The reader is subjected to Jahanara's husband's boorish sex and her lover's boring sex. Honestly, I feel like I should be more annoyed with this part of the plot but it was too boring even to be infuriating.
If this book had been shorter, I might feel more patient with it, but instead I feel frustrated. This could have been something great; the writing is interesting enough. It sacrifices an actually interesting environment, however, for cheap romance between one-dimensional Good characters and throws equally lifeless Evil Characters at them for Drama. It is really quite a pity.
November 1, 2018
It is an average book. I thought the characters were way too one-dimensional. It felt more fantasy than historical, at least to me.
November 9, 2011
What's, NOT to LOVE about "Beneath The Marble Sky"? It has the feeling of "Pillars of the Earth" without being a thousand pages long ---and without THOSE Pillers. (which by the way, *Pillars*...is one of my favorite books, as I love Ken Follett's historical fiction books)...
The Taj Mahal is nothing to be shy about! (Have you been???). I have!!! Its BREATH TAKING with its white marble ---semi precious stones, calligraphy and cavings, and of course that amazing 'teardrop'....etc.
This little book (344 pages) is cheaper than the flight to India (if if you do go to The Taj Mahal and know some of its history....this book is STILL GREAT),
---It can FEEL like you've taken the trip---- the Royal family tour... without leaving your home (put yourself into to the seventeeth century). Become one of the characters in the book ---for FUN---while reading it ---if you want. (of course I was THE PRINCESS)....lol
Do you want to be "The Princess" ---or The Emperor? Maybe the BAD brother? Maybe you have a passion for 'building' and want to pretend you're the architect of the Taj Mahal.....(better be a passionate loving male,)....lol.....etc. maybe you want to be a Cobra? ha ha...
This book is a GEM. THE PERFECT ENJOYABLE NOVEL!!!
And....
Got to have a ***Princess***....
Got to have....
Heros....
The Taj Mahal is nothing to be shy about! (Have you been???). I have!!! Its BREATH TAKING with its white marble ---semi precious stones, calligraphy and cavings, and of course that amazing 'teardrop'....etc.
This little book (344 pages) is cheaper than the flight to India (if if you do go to The Taj Mahal and know some of its history....this book is STILL GREAT),
---It can FEEL like you've taken the trip---- the Royal family tour... without leaving your home (put yourself into to the seventeeth century). Become one of the characters in the book ---for FUN---while reading it ---if you want. (of course I was THE PRINCESS)....lol
Do you want to be "The Princess" ---or The Emperor? Maybe the BAD brother? Maybe you have a passion for 'building' and want to pretend you're the architect of the Taj Mahal.....(better be a passionate loving male,)....lol.....etc. maybe you want to be a Cobra? ha ha...
This book is a GEM. THE PERFECT ENJOYABLE NOVEL!!!
And....
Got to have a ***Princess***....
Got to have....
Heros....
May 4, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book, but I really struggled as to the rating.
Wanting to see detailed pictures of the Taj Mahal after reading about it, I did a little research. While I am totally okay with and expect fiction when I read historical fiction, I think this novel might be stretching the limits.
This is a love story between a princess and the architect of the Taj Mahal, her mother's tomb. It is a forbidden love, as she is married to another man. Apparently, the princess in question never married, as it was against tradition for the Hindustani princesses to ever wed.
Also, while she did have conflicts with her brother (the main antagonist), they reconciled and she served as his First Lady until her death.
These are just a few of the many inaccuracies. And, while these were crucial plot points, there were several that seem unnecessary as the truth wouldn't have been detrimental to the storytelling. A casual mention of her baby twin sisters (who only appear one other time to no consequence) is infuriating, as they never actually existed.
These reservations might not apply to everyone and, again, I DID enjoy the story as I was reading. I'm just feeling a little put out because of the level of invention on the author's part.
Wanting to see detailed pictures of the Taj Mahal after reading about it, I did a little research. While I am totally okay with and expect fiction when I read historical fiction, I think this novel might be stretching the limits.
This is a love story between a princess and the architect of the Taj Mahal, her mother's tomb. It is a forbidden love, as she is married to another man. Apparently, the princess in question never married, as it was against tradition for the Hindustani princesses to ever wed.
Also, while she did have conflicts with her brother (the main antagonist), they reconciled and she served as his First Lady until her death.
These are just a few of the many inaccuracies. And, while these were crucial plot points, there were several that seem unnecessary as the truth wouldn't have been detrimental to the storytelling. A casual mention of her baby twin sisters (who only appear one other time to no consequence) is infuriating, as they never actually existed.
These reservations might not apply to everyone and, again, I DID enjoy the story as I was reading. I'm just feeling a little put out because of the level of invention on the author's part.
March 24, 2008
This is one of the most amazing books I've ever read. I am fascinated by books about other cultures. This historical fiction pick is set in India at the time the Taj Mahal was being built.
It delves into history, there's a love story, family struggles, drama, intrigue. This book has it all. I originally selected it because I ran a feature story on my newscast about the author, who will either call in to your book club, or, if your book club is big enough, he will make an appearance at your book club meeting. After selecting the book, I discovered the author had ties to Iowa (I have a special place in my soul for Midwestern authors).
This book swallowed me whole. The author wove such a beautiful story about the loves of the main character. Her love for her family and the duty she felt to honor them, her love for her country, and the love of her life... who wasn't the man to whom she was married.
It was emotionally wrenching at times, but a truly wonderful read.
It delves into history, there's a love story, family struggles, drama, intrigue. This book has it all. I originally selected it because I ran a feature story on my newscast about the author, who will either call in to your book club, or, if your book club is big enough, he will make an appearance at your book club meeting. After selecting the book, I discovered the author had ties to Iowa (I have a special place in my soul for Midwestern authors).
This book swallowed me whole. The author wove such a beautiful story about the loves of the main character. Her love for her family and the duty she felt to honor them, her love for her country, and the love of her life... who wasn't the man to whom she was married.
It was emotionally wrenching at times, but a truly wonderful read.
September 7, 2015
A historical epic saga filled with deceit, betrayal, love and a soul searing passion that had me mesmerized. Brother set against brother, fighting for power and a place in history. A sister caught between two brothers and trapped in a loveless, brutal marriage. A Father incarcerated for 10 years by his own son. Yet in spite all the pain and suffering, a love emerges that transcends the bitterness.
Not for the faint of heart, but truly an enjoyable read.
Definitely a love story, not a romance. At 342 pages, this packed quite a punch.
Not for the faint of heart, but truly an enjoyable read.
Definitely a love story, not a romance. At 342 pages, this packed quite a punch.
November 7, 2016
Izvanredna!!! 5+
January 6, 2015
I'm rendered speechless! This book is no historical fiction. Fiction, yes, it is! But it as close to history as Frankenstein is to comedy.
John Shors has messed up the entire history of Mughal Empire. He has no idea what he is writing about. It clearly shows that a mere visit to India or the Taj Mahal does not qualify you to be a writer of historical fiction. If you ever visit the Taj Mahal, and meet those self-appointed touts who act as Guides for a measly sum, you will find that even they know more history than John Shors.
I am appalled by the complete lack of insensitivity shown by the author towards Indian history. He has basically written a titillating novel on an Indian princess during Mughal times. The book does little to capture the grandeur of Mughal empire, let alone stick to the basic premise of Mughal culture. Even a casual browsing through Wikipedia and other Internet sources would educate the author enough to tell him that he is way off the mark. In fact, he might as well have written about a queen from Spain or a Czarina from Russia, and it wouldn't have mattered. Because this book has nothing to do with Mughal world, except for the names provided in the book.
Here are some insights from the book that tell you what peeves me most:
Phew! That rant felt good! But what did not feel good was the bad faith in which the author went about writing this book. Did he think that people don't care much about fact, when you fictionalize it to numb their senses?
Historical fiction has to be written in a rigid framework of facts and timeline. No author can escape that. There is very little room to play with the details. However, I have read very well written historical fiction novels that were created within the pockets of fact, where no information existed, and rumors fueled the imagination of a fertile mind.
When a reader reads a historical book, he or she places a great amount of trust in the author that the research has been done well, and the book will meander only on the smaller details while sticking to the overall framework of facts. Here John Shors disappoints big time, because other than a few cursory details like the names of the main characters and their relationships, everything else is a farce! So much for history!
Yet, I gave a two-star rating to this book, because it reads well. If it were not a historical fiction novel, I might have enjoyed it. There are enough ups and downs to keep the reader entertained. But unfortunately, the author broke my trust, and I cannot repose it in him again. I initially considered reading his next book called Temple of a Thousand Faces. But now, I fear that I will be led down a blind alley again, and this time, I would be ignorant because I don't know much about Angkor Wat and its history. So it's goodbye to Mr. John Shors!
John Shors has messed up the entire history of Mughal Empire. He has no idea what he is writing about. It clearly shows that a mere visit to India or the Taj Mahal does not qualify you to be a writer of historical fiction. If you ever visit the Taj Mahal, and meet those self-appointed touts who act as Guides for a measly sum, you will find that even they know more history than John Shors.
I am appalled by the complete lack of insensitivity shown by the author towards Indian history. He has basically written a titillating novel on an Indian princess during Mughal times. The book does little to capture the grandeur of Mughal empire, let alone stick to the basic premise of Mughal culture. Even a casual browsing through Wikipedia and other Internet sources would educate the author enough to tell him that he is way off the mark. In fact, he might as well have written about a queen from Spain or a Czarina from Russia, and it wouldn't have mattered. Because this book has nothing to do with Mughal world, except for the names provided in the book.
Here are some insights from the book that tell you what peeves me most:
Phew! That rant felt good! But what did not feel good was the bad faith in which the author went about writing this book. Did he think that people don't care much about fact, when you fictionalize it to numb their senses?
Historical fiction has to be written in a rigid framework of facts and timeline. No author can escape that. There is very little room to play with the details. However, I have read very well written historical fiction novels that were created within the pockets of fact, where no information existed, and rumors fueled the imagination of a fertile mind.
When a reader reads a historical book, he or she places a great amount of trust in the author that the research has been done well, and the book will meander only on the smaller details while sticking to the overall framework of facts. Here John Shors disappoints big time, because other than a few cursory details like the names of the main characters and their relationships, everything else is a farce! So much for history!
Yet, I gave a two-star rating to this book, because it reads well. If it were not a historical fiction novel, I might have enjoyed it. There are enough ups and downs to keep the reader entertained. But unfortunately, the author broke my trust, and I cannot repose it in him again. I initially considered reading his next book called Temple of a Thousand Faces. But now, I fear that I will be led down a blind alley again, and this time, I would be ignorant because I don't know much about Angkor Wat and its history. So it's goodbye to Mr. John Shors!
October 5, 2018
This was a really good story even though there were some rough times through it. It definitely made me fall in love with the Taj Mahal and I like hearing about it’s history.
April 30, 2016
After really enjoying Shors' Temple of a Thousand Faces, the ficionalized, but well researched story of Cambodia's Ankhor Wat, I have wanted to read this book about the Taj Mahal. It did not disappoint. The story is told by the clever Princess Jahanara, eldest daughter of Emperor Shah Jahan and his beloved Mumtaz Mahal, describing the treacherous battle for succession in India, her loveless politically-arranged marriage, and her falling in love with the architect of the mausoleum for her deceased mother. Their faithful eunuch servant and her closest female friend are strong characters and great allies. The religious tension between the ruling Muslims and the majority Hindus was well handled, but introduced late, in my opinion.
January 8, 2016
Дори по-скоро бих я оценила с 3.5, защото авторът е отишъл твърде далеч от рамките на достоверността и фактите. От историческа фикция е останала само фикцията.
Но пък книгата ме накара да се поразровя в историята, да прочета повече за Тадж Махал, шаха и неговата любима жена Мумтаз Махал, за която построява мавзолея.
Въпреки че не трябва да се разчита в голяма степен на романа за това как са протекли животът и отношенията на шаха, жена му, принцеса Джаханара и нейните братя и каква е била наистина съдбата им, като сюжет книгата бе много интересна.
В нея има достатъчно вмъкнати линии, които да задържат интереса и да я превърнат в увлекателно четиво - императорско семейство, отношенията между наследниците, интриги, подлост, приятелство, предателство и любовна история (макар да бе сякаш в повече мелодраматична).
Аз предпочетох да гледам на романа като развлекателна литература и от чисто художествена гледна точка останах доволна - сюжетът е интересен от самото начало и остана така докрай.
Разказът се разгръщаше сладкодумно, приказно, превръщайки романа точно в това - една приказка.
Но пък книгата ме накара да се поразровя в историята, да прочета повече за Тадж Махал, шаха и неговата любима жена Мумтаз Махал, за която построява мавзолея.
Въпреки че не трябва да се разчита в голяма степен на романа за това как са протекли животът и отношенията на шаха, жена му, принцеса Джаханара и нейните братя и каква е била наистина съдбата им, като сюжет книгата бе много интересна.
В нея има достатъчно вмъкнати линии, които да задържат интереса и да я превърнат в увлекателно четиво - императорско семейство, отношенията между наследниците, интриги, подлост, приятелство, предателство и любовна история (макар да бе сякаш в повече мелодраматична).
Аз предпочетох да гледам на романа като развлекателна литература и от чисто художествена гледна точка останах доволна - сюжетът е интересен от самото начало и остана така докрай.
Разказът се разгръщаше сладкодумно, приказно, превръщайки романа точно в това - една приказка.
February 29, 2020
This has long been one of my favorite books. Since I nominated it for our library face to face group, it seemed time for a revisit. I loved it just as much this time around. The story of Jahanara and Isa is a wonderful tale, well created to inspire the building of the Taj Mahal. If you like historical fiction, you can't get any better than this.
November 11, 2008
Great book! A story of the building of the Taj Mahal through the life of the daughter of the Emperor. A love story, a historical fiction and very well done! The life at court is similar to "The Other Bolyn Girl" which was also very well done!
December 8, 2020
I put this book on my TBR list many years ago. My goal of late is to read some titles that have been on that list since I first joined GRs in 2013. My interest in this book was because it said it was a book about the Taj Mahal. I love reading historical fiction novels where I can get wrapped up in the place and time and learn something new in the process. I didn’t learn a lot about the Taj Mahal in this novel. It’s more of a love story... yes between man and women but much more family , friendship, culture and faith. A rewarding read even if some parts seemed unbelievable.
October 21, 2007
I found this book pretty fascinating as well as disturbing...and not in a good way. I have noticed that since having children, I don't do well with violence in books. This book has some pretty blatant violence in it that was hard for me to read. (I'm sure it really isn't THAT bad, I just am ultra sensitive to it, especially when it has to do with children--there is a lot of castration and war and executions etc...) I had to read another "light" book while reading this one because it affected me so much. John Shors does a great job however of painting a vivid picture of India during the time of the building of the Taj Mahal. He also does a great job of writing characters that you feel you actually get to know. You really love the good guys and you really despise the bad guys. I love books like that, where the characters come to life. If you are wanting a book with great closure and a happy ending though, don't look here.
August 19, 2007
I read this book for my Historical Favorites Book Group. This was my review on Amazon.ca:
Historical Fiction at its Finest!
This historical fiction is about the story behind the building of the Taj Mahal, which was built to honor Mughal Empress Mumtaz Maha. It’s the saga of her family and is told by the central character Jahanara, the daughter of the Mughal emperor. It is a story of love, honor, and betrayal.
This book is exquisite! Shor’s deftly colors each page with breathtaking prose and breaths live into the vivid characters! It tried to read slowly, to savor each word and image, but this book is hard to put down! John Shor’s architecture of this book is beautiful and I highly recommend it!
Here's the link to my review on Amazon.ca:
http://tinyurl.com/295hps
Historical Fiction at its Finest!
This historical fiction is about the story behind the building of the Taj Mahal, which was built to honor Mughal Empress Mumtaz Maha. It’s the saga of her family and is told by the central character Jahanara, the daughter of the Mughal emperor. It is a story of love, honor, and betrayal.
This book is exquisite! Shor’s deftly colors each page with breathtaking prose and breaths live into the vivid characters! It tried to read slowly, to savor each word and image, but this book is hard to put down! John Shor’s architecture of this book is beautiful and I highly recommend it!
Here's the link to my review on Amazon.ca:
http://tinyurl.com/295hps
January 22, 2019
Separuh daripada wataknya, memang benar-benar wujud.
Separuh lagi, fiksi.
Saya sempat membaca maklumat tentang keluarga diraja Mughal ini di internet, jadi jelas sepanjang pembacaan mana yang fakta mana yang bukan.
Jalan ceritanya mengalir baik, tapi tidak begitu meyakinkan. Yang paling mengarut, penulis cuba menggambarkan watak utama sebagai orang yang warak dan mencari keredhaan Ilahi, tapi dalam masa yang sama berselingkuh sampai melahirkan anak cucu. Ia adalah satu ironi yang memeningkan.
Kalau mengikut ulasan orang lain, buku ini kata mereka memperkasakan kuasa wanita. Entah. Saya tak pasti tentang itu.
Oh! Terjemahan buku ini patut diberi pujian. Mudah difahami.
Separuh lagi, fiksi.
Saya sempat membaca maklumat tentang keluarga diraja Mughal ini di internet, jadi jelas sepanjang pembacaan mana yang fakta mana yang bukan.
Jalan ceritanya mengalir baik, tapi tidak begitu meyakinkan. Yang paling mengarut, penulis cuba menggambarkan watak utama sebagai orang yang warak dan mencari keredhaan Ilahi, tapi dalam masa yang sama berselingkuh sampai melahirkan anak cucu. Ia adalah satu ironi yang memeningkan.
Kalau mengikut ulasan orang lain, buku ini kata mereka memperkasakan kuasa wanita. Entah. Saya tak pasti tentang itu.
Oh! Terjemahan buku ini patut diberi pujian. Mudah difahami.
November 25, 2014
Обичам да чета книги, които ме карат да се заровя в историческите източници, да прочета за всички места, хора и събития, описани в книгата. Усетих го като едно виртуално пътешествие на гърба на слон, с красиви гледки, драматични събития и дъх на подправки.
Хепи ендът ми хареса, макар че в живота не винаги така се случва.
Хепи ендът ми хареса, макар че в живота не винаги така се случва.
November 20, 2015
Gdje je ljubav nestala? Postovanje, iskrenost i kultura? Hvala sto postoji ova prica koja govori bas o tome!
4,5 jer je definitivno preduga! Komotno je moglo barem 100 stranica manje!
4,5 jer je definitivno preduga! Komotno je moglo barem 100 stranica manje!
August 30, 2020
One good love history featuring the building of the Taj Mahal - a sight I'm definitely adding to my bucket list after reading this story.
September 4, 2019
O izgradnji Taj Mahala manje-više svi znamo a ova je priča ispričana iz kuta Jahanare, kćeri hindustanskog cara Shaha Jahana i carice Mumtaz Mahal. To je priča o muškarcu koji je zbog smrti svoje voljene odlučio izgraditi veličanstveni mauzolej, kao simbol njihove velike ljubavi. Priča je to i o nesretnoj ženi udatoj po carevoj naredbi, koja se nije bojala zaljubiti unatoč zakonima koji za preljub imaju samo jednu kaznu – smrt.
„Mnogi se boje smrti. Ali ja ne. Jer sam osjetila jedinstvo koje zovemo ljubavlju. Smrt ju ne može ukrasti. Niti ublažiti. Ne, ja ću svoju ljubav ponijeti sa sobom kamo god pošla. I trajat će vječno.“
Osim ljubavi, autor nam pokazuje kako može nastati prijateljstvo između carevne i roba, kojeg u javnosti ne možeš zvati svojim prijateljem ili imati prijateljicu druge vjere koja je spremna doslovno umrijeti za tebe. U današnje doba, teško mogu zamisliti takvu priču. Kao i u mnogim carskim obiteljima, i ova ima svoju crnu ovcu u liku Aurangzeba, pretendenta na prijestolje, razmetnog sina koji ne preza ni pred čime kako bi to i ostvario.
Autor je sve ove odnose tako vješto isprepleo jednim vrlo jednostavnim stilom a sadržajno toliko bogatim. Kako i sam kaže, roman je napisao na temelju povijesnih činjenica iako je sama priča izmišljena. A meni se jako svidjela upravo ovakva kakva je, tako da čitatelja može uvjeriti da se sve tako i dogodilo. Ljubav Jahanare i njenog dragog Ise, graditelja Taj Mahala je ono što se sigurno dugo pamti i kad se sklopi knjiga.
„Mi zajedno rastemo, Lastavice. Ne starimo, već rastemo. – Ali moja ljepota neće potrajati. – Tvoja ljepota? Ljepota je osjećaj, a osjećaji su vječni.“
„Mnogi se boje smrti. Ali ja ne. Jer sam osjetila jedinstvo koje zovemo ljubavlju. Smrt ju ne može ukrasti. Niti ublažiti. Ne, ja ću svoju ljubav ponijeti sa sobom kamo god pošla. I trajat će vječno.“
Osim ljubavi, autor nam pokazuje kako može nastati prijateljstvo između carevne i roba, kojeg u javnosti ne možeš zvati svojim prijateljem ili imati prijateljicu druge vjere koja je spremna doslovno umrijeti za tebe. U današnje doba, teško mogu zamisliti takvu priču. Kao i u mnogim carskim obiteljima, i ova ima svoju crnu ovcu u liku Aurangzeba, pretendenta na prijestolje, razmetnog sina koji ne preza ni pred čime kako bi to i ostvario.
Autor je sve ove odnose tako vješto isprepleo jednim vrlo jednostavnim stilom a sadržajno toliko bogatim. Kako i sam kaže, roman je napisao na temelju povijesnih činjenica iako je sama priča izmišljena. A meni se jako svidjela upravo ovakva kakva je, tako da čitatelja može uvjeriti da se sve tako i dogodilo. Ljubav Jahanare i njenog dragog Ise, graditelja Taj Mahala je ono što se sigurno dugo pamti i kad se sklopi knjiga.
„Mi zajedno rastemo, Lastavice. Ne starimo, već rastemo. – Ali moja ljepota neće potrajati. – Tvoja ljepota? Ljepota je osjećaj, a osjećaji su vječni.“
October 14, 2010
Princess Jahanara falls in love with the builder of the Taj Mahal. Her father commissioned the building after the death of Jahanara's mother. She is wed to a brutal man. Later her father realizes his mistake and helps her and Isa in their love.
Her brothers are at odds, one being gentle and bookish, the other a great warrior albeit with little mercy in his soul.
I think the author's ability to get into the mind and heart of a woman outstanding.
I found the descriptions of the wars in this period and the people living in the surrounding regions confusing. I wish there had been a map at the beginning of the book showing the precise geography of the area and the names of the peoples living there. Also no year was mentioned and I would have appreciated knowing precisely which year all this was taking place in.
Otherwise I found this an absorbing read with believable characterization, artful writing and a great summary of Jahanara's life experiences at the end.
Her brothers are at odds, one being gentle and bookish, the other a great warrior albeit with little mercy in his soul.
I think the author's ability to get into the mind and heart of a woman outstanding.
I found the descriptions of the wars in this period and the people living in the surrounding regions confusing. I wish there had been a map at the beginning of the book showing the precise geography of the area and the names of the peoples living there. Also no year was mentioned and I would have appreciated knowing precisely which year all this was taking place in.
Otherwise I found this an absorbing read with believable characterization, artful writing and a great summary of Jahanara's life experiences at the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,898 reviews