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In the Face of Jinn
Christine and Elizabeth Shepherd are on a buying trip in India for their California silk business when Elizabeth mysteriously disappears. In search of her sister, Christine ventures alone into Afghanistan and Pakistan disguised in the traditional garb of Islam, and often living among the women of the region, enduring the crushing oppression of Sharia. Christine painfully gains a new understanding of her own country and family as she navigates the mysterious tribes of the Pashtuns, has a dangerous encounter with the Taliban, and learns to fear the "Jinn," the devils that dominate the superstitions of the people she must understand in order to survive.
- GenresFiction
320 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 22, 2015
The books deserves more of a 1.5 than a 1 star, but it definitely wasn't a 2 star so I rounded down. Before I continue, I should add that I was born and raised in the U.S. and have a Muslim-Indian background (I relate more to Americans and American culture, but I have been exposed to and understand many aspects of Indian and Pakistani culture). I also coincidentally read this book while on a family trip to India, during a flight from Hyderabad to Delhi and a drive from Delhi to Agra. On to the review!
I thought that the premise behind the storyline was interesting but the execution came off as a little strained. Some of the situations in which Chris ended up in seemed a little unnecessary. The book isn't that long, but it felt painfully slow. At the same time, I wanted to keep reading. The author definitely has a way with words, but the sequence of events was a bit random and mediocre at best, from a purely literary perspective.
The romance was...weird, for lack of a better adjective. It just sort of came up out of nowhere in the last third of the book or so, with only a few paragraphs here and there leading up to it. Their relationship and interactions with each other were just kind of odd, and I did not care for that part of the novel, though it did end up playing a significant part of the plot.
Furthermore, the title and the summary suggested that jinn would play a large part in the story, and that's actually why I picked up this book. However, they're only given a mention here and there. Those parts felt disjointed from the rest of the novel and very compartmentalized. Plus, I don't think the author really understood the nature of jinn from an Islamic perspective (jinn as they are known today, which I can best explain as ghost-like beings made of fire - different from Earthly fire - who can interact with our world but are not supposed to, come from Islamic beliefs, though they are mentioned in pre-Islamic Arabian mythology also).
That brings me to my main complaint. I don't mean to sound racist, but it was painfully obvious that the author was white. Sure the main character was white, but the author tried to do that whole thing where the main character starts out completely American and turns into some sort of pseudo-Pakistani/Indian and I felt that the author's knowledge of the Indian subcontinent was not good enough to execute it. Yes, she knew a lot about the language and clothing and bargaining at markets and a few other things, but they were all superficial details. When it comes to the whole, deeper picture, she missed.
For example, the author attempted to have the character explain differences between Pakistani culture and the religion of Islam, but within the narration, it became clear that the author was confused on some of those aspects herself. It was just a little disappointing, though not exactly unexpected considering even many Pakistanis and Muslim-Indians confuse culture with religion. It's only because I grew up in Southern California, among many cultures and religions and Muslims from all over the world, that I am more clearly able to separate culture and religion. I think that if she has co-authored or collaborated with somebody from both the U.S. and Pakistan (equally, unlike me who is Indian only in a superficial sense), it would have helped a lot.
Overall, the author put up a valiant effort, but it just didn't work for me.
I thought that the premise behind the storyline was interesting but the execution came off as a little strained. Some of the situations in which Chris ended up in seemed a little unnecessary. The book isn't that long, but it felt painfully slow. At the same time, I wanted to keep reading. The author definitely has a way with words, but the sequence of events was a bit random and mediocre at best, from a purely literary perspective.
The romance was...weird, for lack of a better adjective. It just sort of came up out of nowhere in the last third of the book or so, with only a few paragraphs here and there leading up to it. Their relationship and interactions with each other were just kind of odd, and I did not care for that part of the novel, though it did end up playing a significant part of the plot.
Furthermore, the title and the summary suggested that jinn would play a large part in the story, and that's actually why I picked up this book. However, they're only given a mention here and there. Those parts felt disjointed from the rest of the novel and very compartmentalized. Plus, I don't think the author really understood the nature of jinn from an Islamic perspective (jinn as they are known today, which I can best explain as ghost-like beings made of fire - different from Earthly fire - who can interact with our world but are not supposed to, come from Islamic beliefs, though they are mentioned in pre-Islamic Arabian mythology also).
That brings me to my main complaint. I don't mean to sound racist, but it was painfully obvious that the author was white. Sure the main character was white, but the author tried to do that whole thing where the main character starts out completely American and turns into some sort of pseudo-Pakistani/Indian and I felt that the author's knowledge of the Indian subcontinent was not good enough to execute it. Yes, she knew a lot about the language and clothing and bargaining at markets and a few other things, but they were all superficial details. When it comes to the whole, deeper picture, she missed.
For example, the author attempted to have the character explain differences between Pakistani culture and the religion of Islam, but within the narration, it became clear that the author was confused on some of those aspects herself. It was just a little disappointing, though not exactly unexpected considering even many Pakistanis and Muslim-Indians confuse culture with religion. It's only because I grew up in Southern California, among many cultures and religions and Muslims from all over the world, that I am more clearly able to separate culture and religion. I think that if she has co-authored or collaborated with somebody from both the U.S. and Pakistan (equally, unlike me who is Indian only in a superficial sense), it would have helped a lot.
Overall, the author put up a valiant effort, but it just didn't work for me.
April 9, 2013
I don't read romances. Just don't. So why am I reviewing this? Because the title and the jacket blurb sounded interesting enough to give it a go. Result? I am reminded why I don't read romances.
The author, Cheryl Howard Crew, is married to Ron Howard. I'm guessing he was at lunch with some agent or editor and said, "Hey, would you take a look at something my wife wrote?" Next thing you know, published. I doubt it would have gotten off the slush pile, otherwise. Because, it's pretty much a "checklist" story: exotic locale, check; vulnerable-attractive-but-gutsy heroine, check; lusty native lover, check; overcoming impossible odds and medieval attitudes towards women, check. And check. Must be good, then.
And maybe it is. I just don't know. I don't read enough romances to judge. I did have to suspend far more belief than is usually called for to get through it, past even what I think the most rabid of romance fans would call a break point. There are too many elements that seem tacked on. Heck, even the Jinn of the title are mere periphery, thrown in, I suspect, to justify the title. But, hey, I'm not enough of an expert in the genre to say.
And based on this, I don't want to be.
The author, Cheryl Howard Crew, is married to Ron Howard. I'm guessing he was at lunch with some agent or editor and said, "Hey, would you take a look at something my wife wrote?" Next thing you know, published. I doubt it would have gotten off the slush pile, otherwise. Because, it's pretty much a "checklist" story: exotic locale, check; vulnerable-attractive-but-gutsy heroine, check; lusty native lover, check; overcoming impossible odds and medieval attitudes towards women, check. And check. Must be good, then.
And maybe it is. I just don't know. I don't read enough romances to judge. I did have to suspend far more belief than is usually called for to get through it, past even what I think the most rabid of romance fans would call a break point. There are too many elements that seem tacked on. Heck, even the Jinn of the title are mere periphery, thrown in, I suspect, to justify the title. But, hey, I'm not enough of an expert in the genre to say.
And based on this, I don't want to be.
February 19, 2012
Meh. Convoluted. Confusing. Oddly slow and rushed at the same time. The brutality is harsh; but probably accurate. Biggest failing of the book, in my mind, is that a rape victim doesn't fall into bed with anyone just a few weeks after two extremely traumatizing rapes...even if this is fiction.
July 26, 2022
I can't give it a zero or I would. Written by an incredibly paranoid and sheltered woman, this failed attempt at post 9/11 propaganda vomits its xenophoibic bile over an menagrie of disjointed scenes bundled up in something that vaguely resembles a plot. I would rather eat vomit than being exposed to this drivel again, and I welcome anyone who doubts me to message me and call my bluff. This is the only book I have ever thrown in an actual garbage bin. It was not worth recycling. I had to read this for a highschool English class, which I think should say something about the United States. I hope Cheryl has found Jesus or something.
August 2, 2018
Read this book years ago after buying it at the library and it was so good that i didn't want to put it down. Once i finished reading it i donated it to a homeless shelters library and I've regretted it, because i would love to read it again.
June 26, 2013
"In the Face of Jinn" is the story of two sisters who go to India in order to buy silk for their business. This is a story about danger and the very special bond between sisters. It is an interesting premise for the book and I really liked the out of the ordinary setting of Asia.
The setting of the book was really interesting and definitely helped to keep me engaged in the book. You all know how much I love armchair traveling, right? I really liked how Crew captured the surroundings in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India. There were many scenes where I could definitely imagine myself there.
The premise was interesting to me but I did have some issues with suspending my disbelief. When one of the sisters, Elizabeth, disappears, her sister goes on a journey to try and find her. Her journey takes her through many places in India and Pakistan. This is the place where I had some issues. Pakistan and Afghanistan, in particular, are both pretty dangerous places and I didn't really understand why Christine did what she did. Why didn't she try to get the authorities involved? I realize the local authorities are a little lacking in that part of the world. Why wouldn't she call the embassy or something? It just seemed like sort of a dumb move to me. I can understand really want to find your sister. I wanted to understand why Christine thought she could do things better by herself. That would have felt more real to me.
I listened to the audiobook of this book. Cheryl Howard Crew is director Ron Howard's wife and the audiobook is narrated by Bryce Dallas Howard, their daughter and a famous actress in her own right. I really liked her narration. She has a great voice for the book and I would love to hear her read more audiobooks in the future.
The setting of the book was really interesting and definitely helped to keep me engaged in the book. You all know how much I love armchair traveling, right? I really liked how Crew captured the surroundings in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India. There were many scenes where I could definitely imagine myself there.
The premise was interesting to me but I did have some issues with suspending my disbelief. When one of the sisters, Elizabeth, disappears, her sister goes on a journey to try and find her. Her journey takes her through many places in India and Pakistan. This is the place where I had some issues. Pakistan and Afghanistan, in particular, are both pretty dangerous places and I didn't really understand why Christine did what she did. Why didn't she try to get the authorities involved? I realize the local authorities are a little lacking in that part of the world. Why wouldn't she call the embassy or something? It just seemed like sort of a dumb move to me. I can understand really want to find your sister. I wanted to understand why Christine thought she could do things better by herself. That would have felt more real to me.
I listened to the audiobook of this book. Cheryl Howard Crew is director Ron Howard's wife and the audiobook is narrated by Bryce Dallas Howard, their daughter and a famous actress in her own right. I really liked her narration. She has a great voice for the book and I would love to hear her read more audiobooks in the future.
January 6, 2015
Good read, but story was a tad difficult to follow at times during the climactic chapters. Once I was able to follow what the author was wanting me to, then I enjoyed it. Book brings to life another side of the world, plays up a heroine who will stop at nothing to find her sister. Filled with tragedy and much loss to the main character, it's an empowering story for many and provides a good understanding at the power of love.
March 16, 2009
It was an interesting book although it had some difficult things to read. As in The Kite Runner, it made me appreciate the liberties we have as women in the U.S. I finished it last night and it is still haunting me, so whether I liked it or not it tells me that it has caused me to pause and think, so I have to give it 4 stars.
May 23, 2008
This is a traumatic book---which we all need to read. If you sometimes wonder about the difference between "us and them"---read this book! Cheryl Crew has done a brilliant job of going into this scary part of the world--to us---and we should all respect that and ponder it.
January 25, 2010
Written by director Ron Howard's wife Cheryl. The story was excellently told, however, the tragedy of life in Afganistan and India especially for women was quite disturbing. There is far too much rape and beating going on.
June 7, 2010
I plucked this book off the bargain table at B&N and was surprised at how the storyline drew me in. The book is set in Western and Southern Asia, and it's filled with historical and cultural factoids. An interesting read with some violence and a touch of romance.
May 15, 2012
Interesting but I thought it was confusing. I kept having to go back and reread parts.
October 23, 2013
Very good and grabs one at once.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews