Iyer, Pico. Abandon. I first heard about this novel on an NPR book review several years ago and tried the library a few times with no success. I found and mooched it recently from Bookmooch. The NPR reviewer had recommended the book, and I thought I'd like the idea of a search for new Rumi manuscripts. However...John Macmillan, a graduate student, searches for lost manuscripts that were supposedly smuggled out of Iran. In the process, he meets Camilla Jensen, who has a few problems. The two fall in love (although Camilla's fears, insecurities, and childish behavior would have put most men off).
I was truly disappointed in this one, but struggled through to the very end.
Fiction. Mystery? Romance? 2003. 354 pages.
Iyer's name seems to be all over the place lately. Don't think I'll try this one, though! Thanks for the review :)
ReplyDeleteAh, I recall being skeptical about this one. The whole Sufi premise might have intrigued me, but not enough for me to actually pick it up. So, no point picking up the book? Not missing much? Thanks. :)
ReplyDeletegentle reader - I could have done without it. :(
ReplyDeleteorpheus - I wanted read it based on that enthusiastic NPR review, but I never saw another enthusiastic review. And can't give one. Sorry, no, I don't think you are missing much.
I might have been interested in this book before, thanks to my involvement with archives etc, but after your very helpful review I think I'll give it a miss...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the warning, Jenclair. Sorry you wasted your time on it.
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame - especially after finally managing to mooch a copy. So far, I've had zero luck with Book Mooch. If I can just get one book with my one point, I'll un-mooch myself.
ReplyDeleteheidijane - What kind of archives are you involved with? No, not much in the novel on archiving in any detail.
ReplyDeleteBooklogged - Oh, well, I'd have been frustrated if I'd never had the opportunity to give it a try. :)
Bookfool - And increased postage rates may make mooching less economical!
It sounds like it has so much potential. Too bad it didn't fulfill it. When you said Rumis manuscript I got excited, but alas, I think this is one I will likely skip. Too many other things to read.
ReplyDeleteStefanie - The information about Sufism and Rumi's friendship with the dervish Shams was intriguing. I had no idea how many poems Rumi had written and was taken aback by his prolific output...as well as the difficulties in determining authentic ghazals. The storyline, which occupied too much space, was what bored me.
ReplyDeleteI have a copy of this book Jenclair and I bought it only because I love,love,love Rumi's poems and I was hoping that the book would have a lot of information about him and his contemporaries. But since you don't recommend it highly I have decided it can stay at the bottom of my TBR pile for now. Thanks for the write-up!
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