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A New Song
Embarking on a dangerous quest for the physical and metaphysical origins of the Abrahamic faith traditions, this modern love story follows a Muslim poet and a Jewish physician in their global search for a song they believe to be the key to humanity’s redemption. After travelling the world and facing off against shadowy conspirators and violent extremists, they discover a truth that is powerfully simple yet never more urgent. Combining a thrilling plot with passionate humanism, A New Song gives readers a breathless glimpse of the secret to peace among all peoples.
- GenresFiction
409 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2011
5 people are currently reading
689 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Isaias
1 book31 followersSARAH ISAIAS is a family physician who, for the past 23 years, has worked in an inner-city clinic caring for the medically-uninsured. More recently, she has been drawn to the intensive study of religion, in particular the Abrahamic faith traditions, with the intention of making a contribution to interfaith efforts to foster peace and understanding between peoples. She recently received a masters degree in Jewish Studies, and is an avid scholar of Arabic, Hebrew, Torah, and Quran.
Her first novel, “A New Song,” is the creative synthesis of all of her studies: scientific, medical, religious and philosophic. Though structured as a compelling adventure story, it is, in truth, a powerful message of both the ultimate unity and the simultaneous and necessary plurality of humankind.
The book was the basis and inspiration for a romantic adventure movie titled "The Rendezvous," (see trailer at https://youtu.be/jsrIAj-ZiyI), directed by Amin Matalqa (Captain Abu Raed), and filmed on site at visually stunning locations in Jordan's Petra and Wadi Rum. It features "Homeland's" Raza Jaffrey and "Castle's" Stana Katic as an unlikely pair, an American Muslim member of the US state department and a Jewish physician from Los Angeles, who find themselves in a desperate battle to save the world from a new form of religious terrorism. The book is being re-released under the title, "The Rendezvous," in a beautiful new printed paperback volume that physically captures the aura and excitement of the film.
Sarah Isaias had the opportunity to travel with the production crew to Jordan to share in the excitement of filming, and to see her work come to life in the paradigmatic idiom of the Hollywood adventure movie, in the tradition of such classics as Lucasfilm's "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and Columbia Picture's "Da Vinci Code."
"A New Song" is the first book in a trilogy, which will follow the lives of the interfaith family she creates through adventures, challenges, and heartbreaks of modern times.
In addition to being a physician, student of religion, and novelist, Dr. Isaias is also a wife and mother of five grown children. She and her husband are expecting their first grandchild in spring of 2017.
Her first novel, “A New Song,” is the creative synthesis of all of her studies: scientific, medical, religious and philosophic. Though structured as a compelling adventure story, it is, in truth, a powerful message of both the ultimate unity and the simultaneous and necessary plurality of humankind.
The book was the basis and inspiration for a romantic adventure movie titled "The Rendezvous," (see trailer at https://youtu.be/jsrIAj-ZiyI), directed by Amin Matalqa (Captain Abu Raed), and filmed on site at visually stunning locations in Jordan's Petra and Wadi Rum. It features "Homeland's" Raza Jaffrey and "Castle's" Stana Katic as an unlikely pair, an American Muslim member of the US state department and a Jewish physician from Los Angeles, who find themselves in a desperate battle to save the world from a new form of religious terrorism. The book is being re-released under the title, "The Rendezvous," in a beautiful new printed paperback volume that physically captures the aura and excitement of the film.
Sarah Isaias had the opportunity to travel with the production crew to Jordan to share in the excitement of filming, and to see her work come to life in the paradigmatic idiom of the Hollywood adventure movie, in the tradition of such classics as Lucasfilm's "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and Columbia Picture's "Da Vinci Code."
"A New Song" is the first book in a trilogy, which will follow the lives of the interfaith family she creates through adventures, challenges, and heartbreaks of modern times.
In addition to being a physician, student of religion, and novelist, Dr. Isaias is also a wife and mother of five grown children. She and her husband are expecting their first grandchild in spring of 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 25, 2017
I appreciate the purpose behind this book - find the key to uniting the Abrahamic faiths and help people stop hating each other - and it raises a lot of good talking points towards that end. Considering this is her first novel (and doesn't seem to have had the advantage of a strict editor), Isaias does a decent job of keeping the reader interested and turning pages. I'm just not a big fan of romance novels, especially ones of the "true love at first sight" variety, which is essentially what this book is. Also, I felt the quest storyline fizzled out at the end, but that could have been the fault of my own expectations about where things were headed. I'd give it 2.5 stars if Goodreads would let me, but with 3 stars meaning "I liked it," I had to settle for 2 -"it was okay."
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September 11, 2011This is my own book!
December 7, 2011
I picked up this book with a bit of uncertainty of what to expect. I've done quite a bit of reading on religion and I can have some very strong views, so I was really hoping to see how the author tackled the subjects in this book, and on the whole? Very well. I really enjoyed it. Once I got over my indecision about how Yakub should be pronounced anyway - I originally plumped for yah-cub over yah-koob; though i do think the latter came more to usage when I watched Match of the Day with Yakubu scoring!
Football related diversions aside, I felt that the book was very well written and the chapters were just about the right size, so that you felt that you were progressing through the adventure at a good pace. I enjoyed the concept of the story and I did love all the details and excerpts from the religious texts, and I may well be looking more closely at the bibliography in the future.
I had a couple of issues with the book, but certainly nothing that distracted from my enjoyment. I'm still uncertain about the whole 'magically healing cut' on Rachel's hand and a vision that happens to Mahmud late in the book. For me, these two points veered a bit too far into the mystical for what I felt was more of a mortal quest for enlightenment. Oh, plus Yakub is a bit of a know-it-all!! I would also have liked a bit more of an expansion into Rachel's feelings when she was captive, I felt a trick was missed a little there.
I've already recommended this book to a friend, because for me it is a lovely book and when it comes to writing about what you know Sarah Isaias has done just that. Clever and thought provoking.
I am required to say that I received this book through the Good Reads First Reads giveaway; and to thank Sarah for the book and her lovely message at the beginning.
Football related diversions aside, I felt that the book was very well written and the chapters were just about the right size, so that you felt that you were progressing through the adventure at a good pace. I enjoyed the concept of the story and I did love all the details and excerpts from the religious texts, and I may well be looking more closely at the bibliography in the future.
I had a couple of issues with the book, but certainly nothing that distracted from my enjoyment. I'm still uncertain about the whole 'magically healing cut' on Rachel's hand and a vision that happens to Mahmud late in the book. For me, these two points veered a bit too far into the mystical for what I felt was more of a mortal quest for enlightenment. Oh, plus Yakub is a bit of a know-it-all!! I would also have liked a bit more of an expansion into Rachel's feelings when she was captive, I felt a trick was missed a little there.
I've already recommended this book to a friend, because for me it is a lovely book and when it comes to writing about what you know Sarah Isaias has done just that. Clever and thought provoking.
I am required to say that I received this book through the Good Reads First Reads giveaway; and to thank Sarah for the book and her lovely message at the beginning.
October 7, 2011
In A New Song, Sarah Isaias unites a delightfully unlikely pair of protagonists, a Jewish doctor and Muslim poet, and confronts them with one of the most difficult challenges of all time: to try and find a poem that is the key to humanity's redemption. Their travels take them through romantic villages of Europe, the ancient pyramids of Egypt, and the holy cities of the Middle East. A budding romance ensues as this heroic couple works together to overcome dangerous opposition from an ancient cult's members and religious extremists. As time begins to run out, and they begin to doubt the redemptive poem's existence, they begin to wonder, "Is it harder to stamp out a lie than it is to spread the truth?"
Along the way the reader is rewarded with beautiful poetic prose:
"A single musical note spoke the divine perfection of the moment of conception. And I thought, in one crazy instant, that if there was a God, then God must have created us just to hear that single note."
and truth will be unexpectedly and gratifyingly revealed with the discovery of the poem!
Along the way the reader is rewarded with beautiful poetic prose:
"A single musical note spoke the divine perfection of the moment of conception. And I thought, in one crazy instant, that if there was a God, then God must have created us just to hear that single note."
and truth will be unexpectedly and gratifyingly revealed with the discovery of the poem!
June 8, 2019
I liked the book, however it felt like reading a first draft of a novel. The story is good and important, however I missed the depth in the writing to really do it justice. I liked the movie adaptation more. I also missed Christianity in the book - it mostly deals with Islam and Judaism. However, I recommend this read for everyone too lazy to read the, bible, quran and torah.
December 4, 2011
A great read that combines history and religion, with romance and adventure. Once I started reading I could not put the book down. Am interested in reading more from this new author.
May 23, 2017
Was a little skeptical about this book not my usual read but was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
April 23, 2018
After seeing the movie starring Stana Katic and Raza Jaffrey, I couldn’t wait to read the book that had inspired it. I knew the book focuses more on the religion aspect than the movie does, and while I don’t usually read books revolving around religion, I really enjoyed it. Once I’d started reading, I couldn’t put it down.
The Rendezvous, originally published in 2011 as “A New Song”, tells the story of Rachel Roseman, a Jewish doctor, and Yakub Al-Shadi, a Muslim man, who search for an ancient poem that is the key to humanity’s redemption. The book combines religion with romance and adventure.
One of the things that stood out to me, is the unconventional characters. It’s refreshing to see a Muslim man portrayed as a romantic hero, and the author does a nice job of bringing people from different religions together. Right from the start the book brings up some interesting points about religion and how sacred texts can be interpreted in different ways.
My favourite character in the book is Rachel. She’s incredibly kind, she’s been through a lot and she’s easy to relate to. I also loved the romantic relationship between Rachel and Yakub, although I did miss some of the banter that I’d seen in the movie.
The Rendezvous is a beautifully written and thought provoking book. It is a story of hope and a must read for everyone.
The Rendezvous, originally published in 2011 as “A New Song”, tells the story of Rachel Roseman, a Jewish doctor, and Yakub Al-Shadi, a Muslim man, who search for an ancient poem that is the key to humanity’s redemption. The book combines religion with romance and adventure.
One of the things that stood out to me, is the unconventional characters. It’s refreshing to see a Muslim man portrayed as a romantic hero, and the author does a nice job of bringing people from different religions together. Right from the start the book brings up some interesting points about religion and how sacred texts can be interpreted in different ways.
My favourite character in the book is Rachel. She’s incredibly kind, she’s been through a lot and she’s easy to relate to. I also loved the romantic relationship between Rachel and Yakub, although I did miss some of the banter that I’d seen in the movie.
The Rendezvous is a beautifully written and thought provoking book. It is a story of hope and a must read for everyone.
April 28, 2012
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway, and admit that I set it aside for another day. Too bad I did because I really enjoyed the story that unfolded, at times a bit slow, but told beautifully through the eyes of Dr. Rachel Roseman al-Shadi. She inadvertantly meets Yakub in the bed next to one of her patients, and an instant conection between them forms. In meeting with Yakub's family they embark on a journey to find a poem that is the key to the redemtion of humanity. Along their journey to find the poem they are thwarted by evil and villans, and helped by those with goodness in their hearts. It seems that too often we allow a few radicals, whether Muslin, Jewish or Christian to define our view of that faith, rather than seeking to see the similarities and love of God we share. With our words we can illicit feelings of love or our words can bring forth hatred and violence. Quoting from the book: "How could I have believed that human beings, savage genocidal beasts that we are, could ever actually be capable of loving one another?" Yet, even one who has sought evil writes: "the compassion of a stranger has taught me this, seek love, not hatred, for it alone is our redemption." The poem they seek is one that would invite love, forgiveness and peace. I felt as if I was taking the quest with Rachel and Yakub, and enjoyed the way the author wove in tidbits of history and information about the Jewish and Muslin faith. I am a Christian, and I too pray that a day will come that the world will be at peace and we can find unity, and an understanding that we are all God's children.
June 14, 2012
This is beautifully written to cross the boundaries of Islam and Judaism and Christianity and show a unity in all things. I love the list of beliefs on p. 97. The style is similar to The DaVinci code and makes it very difficult to put down, even for just a moment! There were a few minor editing errors but overall it is pretty solid. I loved the character development and the depth of the plot. I highly recommend this book!
June 21, 2012
A thoughtful and engaging book about a Jewish woman and a Muslim man's search for an ancient poem thought to bring reconciliation between all people. An action book filled with wonderful details about the religions.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews