Shadow Spinner

The story of Shahrazad has always puzzled me. This King kills his wives day after day and his people just let it happen? They didn't revolt? Monarchies have been tumbled for much less! Yet this slip of a girl manages to stand up to this King and save her people.

She has never gotten her proper due in my opinion.

Fletcher's book however is a decent step in that direction. Though about Marjan, we see what it must be like for Shahrazad. Night after night for years, constantly frightened and stressed that at any moment the wrong word, the word turn of phrase will get her family killed.

Marjan is just as brave and clever as Shahrazad, which is both a blessing and curse for women in those days. A muslim hired out to a Jewish man and his wife, show more her life isn't easy, but they care for her like a daughter and she is happy at least. Its not that Marjan does reckless things--impetuous perhaps, but not reckless. She emphasizes with Shahrazad and reveres her like a hero, willing to do anything (including putting her life at risk) to save hers.

The outside 'force' in the story, that of the Sultan's greedy, waspish, over indulgent mother Khatun, is necessary. Her actions are just this side of evil, but they are covered with 'I need to protect my sons!'.

Just as in life, in Shadow Spinner things do not end 'perfectly'. A measure of happiness for most, but no real 'justice' is given to Khatun's actions and Marjan is forced to flee the city, never seeing her Aunt and Uncle, or friends at the palace again. I could almost wish for a sequel, to make sure that Marjan's life hereafter isn't a let down after this adventure, but sometimes a story needs an ending. show less

Each night, Shahrazad begins a story and every morning, the women of the harem wait to see if she emerges alive, to know if her story was captivating enough to win her another night to continue the tale. A poor crippled servant girl and her Aunt venture to the palace to sell their wares in the harem. While there, she entertains the children with a story. It is one Shahrazad's sister suspects the Sultan has not heard. Our heroine, Marjan, is whisked into the folds of the harem to retell the tale to Scherezade who, after almost 1000 nights, is running dangerously low on tales to tell.

It falls to Marjan to help Shahrazad discover new stories. To this end, she must sneak from the harem and travel the city, pulling tales from strangers and show more bringing them back to Shahrazad. The fate of all women in the Sultan's kingdom hang on her success.

This was a good YA book, and one that I enjoyed sharing with the sixth grade girls in a literary circle at my son's school. I had the dubious pleasure of explaining what a eunich is...lots of titters and giggles on that one! I was appalled that they did not know the story of Shahrazad, but when I mentioned a few of the stories, at least they had heard of them (Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, etc).

I was a bit miffed at the ending, which was abrupt, and I also felt it took away from Shahrazad's ultimate victory, but it was a great discussion book and the girls liked it too. show less

It's a bit of a fresh take on the Shahrazad story. Through Marjan, it portrays some justifiable outrage at the sultan and his brother. She's clever and brave and afraid but still does the best she can.

Loved it. This author can use words to create the smell of the market place, the sensations of being blindfolded and carried, and help you listen to thngs you cannot see. A wonderful sensory author. Set somewhere in the middle east during the time of Sultans, a tyrant sultan beheads a wife every night to insure her fidelity. A particular queen has avoided this death by telling her husband folk stories which amuse him. When she runs out of stories, and comes across a wares seller that amuses children with stories, the queen takes particular interest, pays her and then brings her into the harem. The young story teller is Marjon, with a deformed foot who now has a future she never thought possible. Through courage and character, her life, show more and the lives of many will change forever. On tape, this book is 5 tapes long. Narrated by Suzzane Toren show less

Every evening, the brave queen of Persia, Shahrazad, goes into the Sultan's rooms and begins a weave of words, hoping to entice the Sultan to let her live another night so she can continue her story. But Shahrazad has a big problem: She is running out of stories. With a delicate stroke of luck, a cripple girl, Marjan, ventures into the harem with her Aunt to sell various wares. As her Aunt is selling things, Marjan entertains some of the children with a story. Unbeknownst to Marjan, Shahrazad's sister, Dunyazad, has heard her telling the story. Marjan is taken directly to Shahrazad and asked to recount the story. The tale keeps the queen alive another night and the queen decides to keep Marjan.
As her helper, Marjan has to go into the show more city and look for tales that the Sultan has not heard. She has several close calls with the Kathun, the voracious female who rules the harem and who is set against
Shahrazad. Finally the Sultan proclaims that he will stop killing women every night. Unfortunately, Marjan is still in danger and has to be taken out of the city along with Zaynab, an old woman who assisted Marjan.

Since my mom suggested this book to me, I thought that it would be boring. It was quite the opposite. I was intrigued from the very beginning to the end. I loved the byplay between the characters and the thrilling escapes from various places. One thing that didn't please me was the ending. The ending was abrupt; the story just kind of stopped and left you wondering what happened next in Marjan's life. But all in all, this book was amazing and I have read and re-read it many times show less

Shadow Spinner is a fun 'middle grader' book set in Ancient Persia as a new twist on the story of 1001 Arabian Nights. In the original story of 1001 Arabian Nights, Shaharazad is the Sultan's wife who is keeping herself alive by telling the Sultan a story every night and ending each night without finishing the story so that the Sultan's curiosity will be aroused and he will keep her alive another day to finish the story.

In this retelling, we visit the world of Sultans, harems, palaces and slaves as seen through the eyes of Marjan, a crippled young girl (pre/early teens?). Marjan is visiting the palace one day to sell wares and while there she starts to tell a story to some of the children. Sharazad has been running out of new stories to show more tell the Sultan so upon hearing Marjan's storytelling, she pulls Marjan into the harem to help come up with stories.

The plot takes a few twists and turns as the Sultan recognizes Marjan's story and wants to hear the rest of it but Marjan doesn't know the second part of the story. There's a lot of fun intrigue and revelation as Marjan works with Shaharazad to find the ending to the story and to unravel a few mysteries along the way.

The format and tone of this book were a lot of fun. Each chapter begins with a short blurb labeled "Lessons for Life and Storytelling." Many of these introductory segments are profoundly thought provoking. They act as a kind of philosophical meditation on life and the impact and importance that stories can have on life.

For a fairly short and simple book, I was pleasantly surprised at the fun developments of interesting characters and intriguing plot. There were some points that were predictable but others that were uniquely unexpected. I haven't read the original 1001 Arabian Nights so I can't speak directly as to how it compares. It does evoke at least a sense of Ancient Persia and I had fun getting into the layers of myth and storytelling that Shaharazad (and others) used to present their messages.

****
4 out of 5 show less

This is a wonderful book that takes you straight to the streets of Persia. Marjan is a captivating character and the stories that she tells and the story that she is entangled in are fantastic! Adults and kids will love this story.