Controversy seems to be the easiest route to success. Be it movies, models, politics even lame TV serials today rely on some controversy or the other to up their TRP's. Nobody cares how you reach as long as you are up there.
The latest controvery seems to be around the book - "The Jewel of Medina" - a historical fiction which is about the child-bride of Prophet Muhammad. Author Sherry Jones saccharinely says its a well researched "love story" between the 54 year old Prophet and 6 year old A’ishah who happens to be the daughter of his brother. Aa-a-ah!
Random House who had reportedly paid an advance of $100,000 slowly distanced themselves when they received "cautionary advice not only that the publication of this book might be offensive to some in the Muslim community, but also that it could incite acts of violence by a small, radical segment" and realized they could be in the epicenter of a storm. Published by Beaufort Books the book could well be on its way to become another bestseller.
It seems like the West can't have enough of courting danger. Like forbidden love they seem to be so enamored by Islam and their prophets. As for me, I definitely want to lay my hands on this one and find if the book provides "humanizing glimpses into the origins of the Islamic faith, and the nature of love, through the eyes of a truly unforgettable heroine - Amazon" or if it is "soft porn which is inflammatory, unfair to Islam, and unfit to publish" as described by Prof Denise Spellberg.
After "The Da Vinci Code" historical fictions by relatively unknown or first time authors seem to have become the trend.
The latest controvery seems to be around the book - "The Jewel of Medina" - a historical fiction which is about the child-bride of Prophet Muhammad. Author Sherry Jones saccharinely says its a well researched "love story" between the 54 year old Prophet and 6 year old A’ishah who happens to be the daughter of his brother. Aa-a-ah!
Random House who had reportedly paid an advance of $100,000 slowly distanced themselves when they received "cautionary advice not only that the publication of this book might be offensive to some in the Muslim community, but also that it could incite acts of violence by a small, radical segment" and realized they could be in the epicenter of a storm. Published by Beaufort Books the book could well be on its way to become another bestseller.
It seems like the West can't have enough of courting danger. Like forbidden love they seem to be so enamored by Islam and their prophets. As for me, I definitely want to lay my hands on this one and find if the book provides "humanizing glimpses into the origins of the Islamic faith, and the nature of love, through the eyes of a truly unforgettable heroine - Amazon" or if it is "soft porn which is inflammatory, unfair to Islam, and unfit to publish" as described by Prof Denise Spellberg.
After "The Da Vinci Code" historical fictions by relatively unknown or first time authors seem to have become the trend.
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