An exhaustive resource for believers, a fun diversion for others.
A reference guide to Jinn, the supernatural beings central to Islamic cosmology.
Invisible to humans, Jinn, sometimes called genies or djinn, loom large in Islamic theology. According to the Quran, they are creatures Allah formed from fire, unlike humans, who were constructed from clay. According to Ahmad, Jinn frequently interact with humans, but rarely in positive ways. He says that while some jinn are devout Muslims, others are evil demons, including the most evil Jinn of all: Iblis, known in the West as Satan. Evil Jinn–which appear in a variety of forms, including ghosts, vampires and demons–delight in causing problems for humans. Ahmad claims that some wicked Jinn even fall in love with humans and use deceptive tactics to have sex with them with predictably disastrous results (for the humans anyway). Not all Jinn are evil, however, and this book includes a chapter about the various ways good Jinn can aid humans. The author draws primarily from the Quran and other sacred Islamic sources to present this overview. To the average non-Muslim reader, the most interesting sections are bound to be the collected Jinn stories that Ahmad has culled from the Quran, but these readers are likely to find his more conjectural musings somewhat suspicious. Less skeptical readers interested in the supernatural will appreciate the author’s efforts to tie Jinn to more traditional Western-oriented paranormal topics, including UFOs and the Bermuda Triangle. Doubters–a group that probably includes most potential readers–will raise an incredulous eyebrow toward these “unseen beings,” but they’re still likely to appreciate this look at unorthodox religious views from another culture’s perspective. Although this book does feel repetitive at times, it’s at least well written and often entertaining.
An exhaustive resource for believers, a fun diversion for others.Pub Date: Oct. 16, 2008
ISBN: 37.00
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Stricter than, say, Bergen Evans or W3 ("disinterested" means impartial — period), Strunk is in the last analysis...
Privately published by Strunk of Cornell in 1918 and revised by his student E. B. White in 1959, that "little book" is back again with more White updatings.
Stricter than, say, Bergen Evans or W3 ("disinterested" means impartial — period), Strunk is in the last analysis (whoops — "A bankrupt expression") a unique guide (which means "without like or equal").Pub Date: May 15, 1972
ISBN: 0205632645
Page Count: 105
Publisher: Macmillan
Review Posted Online: Oct. 28, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1972
This is not the Nutcracker sweet, as passed on by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa. No, this is the original Hoffmann tale of 1816, in which the froth of Christmas revelry occasionally parts to let the dark underside of childhood fantasies and fears peek through. The boundaries between dream and reality fade, just as Godfather Drosselmeier, the Nutcracker's creator, is seen as alternately sinister and jolly. And Italian artist Roberto Innocenti gives an errily realistic air to Marie's dreams, in richly detailed illustrations touched by a mysterious light. A beautiful version of this classic tale, which will captivate adults and children alike. (Nutcracker; $35.00; Oct. 28, 1996; 136 pp.; 0-15-100227-4)
Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1996
ISBN: 0-15-100227-4
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996
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