Jane Johnson’s The Sultan’s Wife was our pick for November and I must confess, I had only just started reading the book by the time we met up, so didn’t have much to contribute to the discussion, but I enjoyed listening to others’ opinions. We were a mixed bag of read, not-read, and only partially read members that night. Some liked the book, but would probably not read anything else by this author. Many liked the historical detail as the book is set in Morocco in the late 1600s, as well, getting introduced to another culture. I for one, had not enjoyed the first 100 pages of the book, not at least until the main female character, the “Sultan’s Wife” of the title, appeared. I continued to read the book after the meeting, though it wasn’t a page-turner for me. Overall, I found it to be an alright read, but not one I’d readily recommend.
What the book is about: The story begins with Nus-Nus, a slave and eunuch in the Sultan’s court. Nus-Nus is the Sultan’s chief scribe, in charge of the “couching” book (the book that chronicles every bed partner of the Sultan and tracks the births of his progeny). This exalted position in the Sultan’s household leaves Nus-Nus vulnerable to attack by the Sultan’s enemies and those in the court who conspire and intrigue behind the Sultan’s. As the first book ends, Nus-Nus is arrested for the murder of a souk merchant.
I wasn’t enamored with Nus-Nus, or his story, or the details of the Sultan, who, based on a real life figure, is insane and incredibly violent. Details of Morocco in the 1600s, while historically accurate, didn’t appeal much to me either. I’m not that much of a history buff, much preferring to read about British history than anything else. Usually though, if the story’s good and the writing worthy, I can get excited about any book. This one just wasn’t up to snuff.
Anyway, Book Two started with Alys Swann, a young English woman returning to England from the Netherlands to marry her fiancé when her ship is stopped and boarded by Turks. She along with the other women on the ship are taken into captivity, and owing to her blond hair, blue eyes, and porcelain skin, is sent to the Sultan’s harem. The Sultan quickly becomes captivated by her, setting up a dangerous rivalry between Alys and his first wife, Zidana. Nus-Nus, released from prison with the sole purpose of converting Alys to Islam, also falls under her spell and conspires to protect her at all costs.
What transpires is a rather interesting tale of court intrigue that travels from the shores of Morocco to the court of the English king as Nus-Nus risks everything for the woman he loves.
Alys was a very interesting character, and I quite enjoyed her story as it started to unfold, but it soon became apparent that she was being used as a stock character, and she quickly fell by the wayside as the story progressed. The real thrust of the book was Nus-Nus, and his yearnings for a life beyond the Sultan’s palace, which was unfortunate for this reader, because I found it took most of the book before I started to identify with him, let alone want to read more of his story.
Till next time, happy reading!
L 
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