Rating: 
Summary: Secrets of the Taj Mahal
Review:
Well-hidden behind her robes, an ageing but aristocratic woman rows in a boat with her granddaughters to a remote spot. There, when no one can overhear, she tells them a fantastic tale of her true identity and their heritage. The woman is Jahanara, daughter of Shah Jahan, a descendant of Emperor Jahangir, and the Emperor of Hindustan in the early 1600's, who built the Taj Mahal in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
The last years have been the only peaceful ones Jahanara has know since her youth, forced to hide from her brother for many years. The brother, the Emperor Alamgir, "Conqueror of the World", would put his sister to death if he knew where to find her, as he did with his other brothers. As the oldest child, Jahanara is beloved, favored by both her parents for her beauty and her intelligence. She accepts the marriage her father arranges, although it is terribly unhappy.
The Emperor Shah Jahan is obsessed with the Taj Mahal and asks his daughter to oversee the daily progress of the building; there she meets the love of her life, Isa. Through her father's machinations, Jahanara is able to spend private nights with her lover and bears him a daughter, convincing her husband the girl is his. With Isa and her daughter, life is bearable for Jaharana, although her husband beats her and her brother loathes her.
Since the death of his wife, Shah Jahan is bereft and barely able to attend to the business of his kingdom, allowing his warlike son, Aurangzeb too much reign for his violent tendencies, but the Emperor intends the more compassionate Dara to assume the throne after he dies. Unfortunately, Aurangzeb (later known as Alamgir) becomes ever more powerful, eventually seizing the throne and imprisoning his father, slaying any brothers who could claim the throne.
So begin the years of turmoil for Jahanara, separated from her beloved and their daughter and finally imprisoned with her father. Through a series of twists and turns, the princess is fated to endure many years of hardship, betrayal and harsh imprisonment, although she uses her extraordinary guile to escape from her brother. She draws on the love of her mother and her memories of the early years when she is most desperate and fearful of surviving her ordeals.
The prose ignites as the author contrasts the struggles of the princess to protect her ailing father, endure the distance of her lover and daughter and live with the constant acid of Alamgir's hate. Only with patience and cunning does she manage to survive every attack, both physical and emotional, learning the true nature of humanity with the unexpected aid of those who also loved her mother. Filled with the harsh beauty of the desert and the inimitable Taj Mahal, Shors guides the reader through the pages of history, the Sheherazade-like mysteries of the Middle East, the luxurious ambiance of the harem, the clashing swords of war and the ties of love that cannot be broken. Filled with a passion that transcends the ages, the daughter of Emperor Shah Jahan learns the true meaning of her heritage and the obligations of royalty. Luan Gaines/2005.
Rating: 
Summary: The best book I've read this year
Review: After having several friends highly recommend this novel to me, I picked up a copy last week. I read this book in two days. It's been years since a book has moved me this much, and years since a book has made me cry -- which Beneath a Marble Sky did on several occasions.
The amazing, beautiful book tells the story behind the Taj Mahal's creation, and the story about the civil war that befell India (Hindustan) after the Taj Mahal's completion. The novel is told through the eyes of Jahanara, a royal princess whose mother was the inspiration for the Taj Mahal. Jahanara is a wonderful narrator, and I quickly fell in love with her.
This book is primarily a marvelous love story, but by no means is it simple. There is intrigue, action, beauty. There are villians and heros.
I've read probably 30 novels this year, and Beneath a Marble Sky is my favorite of those. I can't say enough good things about it. Astounding is a word that comes to mind.
Rating:
Summary: The Creation Of The Taj Majal - Excellent Historical Fiction
Review: Arjumand Banu Begam, better known as Mumtaz Mahal, was married to Shah Jehan, the fifth mughal emperor of Hindustan, in 1612. Although this was the emperor's second marriage, it was a real love-match and Mumtaz was her husband's inseparable comrade, advisor, companion on his journeys and military expeditions, and the inspiration for his acts of charity and good deeds. Both the Muslim and Hindu populations thrived under the emperor's reign. Mumtaz bore him fourteen children, and died giving birth to their last child in 1630, (only three years after her husband's accession to the throne). Shah Jehan was overcome by grief and was determined to perpetuate his wife's memory for immortality. He wanted "to build a monument fit for his love. He called upon the Empire's greatest architect, a young man who could transform jade into flowers, marble into paradise." This was the genesis of the Taj Mahal. The late empress, beloved by her people, inspired all the realm's subjects to join in the emperor's dedication to build this supulcher. After twenty-two years of intense labor, and the combined effort of over twenty-thousand workmen and master craftsmen, the complex was finally completed in 1648 on the banks on the River Yamuna in Agra, the capital of mughal monarchs.
In "Beneath A Marble Sky," author John Shors tells the beautiful story of the people most involved in the building of the Taj Mahal, and the complex circumstances surrounding their lives and the history of the region at this time. Jahanara, the intelligent and beautiful daughter of the Mumtaz and Shah, perhaps the child most like her mother, narrates this tale. Although Jahanara has many siblings, the primary plot here, other than the building of the monument, deals with the destructive rivalry between her two brothers, Dara, the oldest son and heir to the throne, a scholar, and the youngest, Aurangzeban, an ambitious warrior who covets his brother's position. This strife could cause civil war and threaten the Islamic Enlightenment, which prevailed during this period. The other important storyline deals with Jahanara's relationship with the architect, Isa. The princess was married to a brutal, coarse man who mistreated her. When her father asks her to become the court liaison to Isa and the construction of the Taj Majal, Jahanara is not only swept up in the creativity and responsibility of the project, but learns to love a man for the first time.
Mr. Shor spends much time developing his characters, and does so effectively. Through them the reader is able to picture life and the political chaos of 17th century imperial Hindustan. His writing is often elegant and flows at a good pace. Although the author's historical detail is accurate, the narrative is mostly about the personal relationships between characters, their loves, betrayal, adventures and war. He does describe the building of the Taj Majal, but I, personally, would have appreciated more detail about the construction and final product - the magnificent mausoleum. Overall, this is a fascinating novel of historical fiction and I highly recommend it.
JANA
Rating:
Summary: An exquisite novel on the love story behind the Taj Mahal
Review: Before I say anything else my strong recommendation is to resist the impulse to look at any history of the building of the Taj Mahal. I made the mistake of going on line to find some pictures of the Taj Mahal once I got to the point in John Shors' "Beneath a Marble Sky" where the grand mausoleum had been completed and instead of stopping at the photographs I glanced at what was known about the historical figures at the center of the novel and it gave away a major development. So do as I say and not as I do. Afterwards you can find the true events that weave their way through this exquisite first novel.All that really matters when you pick up this novel is that you have seen a picture of the Taj Mahal (it is not like there is a bad one). It does not matter whether or not you know that it is a mausoleum or that it honors the Mughal Empress Mumtaz Mahal, because what is important is that if you have seen it you know the Taj Michael is one of the most beautiful buildings on the planet, a sublime mix of architectural magnificence and aesthetic beauty, and this historical romance is about how it came to be built. When the Taj Mahal is a tomb, then the great pyramids of Giza are reduced to just being piles of big blocks. The narrator of "Beneath a Marble Sky" is Jahanara, the daughter of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and because Jahanara his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who tells her story and that of her family to her granddaughters, who are visiting the Taj Mahal for the first time. The tale begins when she was thirteen and beginning to appreciate how difficult it is to be a woman in a man's world. It seems she will be a spectator to both the great love between her parents and the contention between two of her brothers for her father's throne. Dara is a student of philosophy and religion believes that Muslims and Hindus can life together in harmony, while Aurangzeb is a ruthless warrior and puritanical zealot who wants to extend the borders of the Empire in all directions and send unbelievers to their richly deserved deaths. When his beloved wife dies the emperor hires a talented young architect, Ustad Isa, to build her a beautiful memorial, the Rauza-I Munavvara ("Tomb of Light"). As the Taj Mahal rises, the conflict between the two brothers comes to a head, but the fate of the empire comes second to that of Jahanara and who has her own love story. When you get to the heart of this novel and why it works it is because Shors comes up with an elegant explanation for why a man would be inspired by a dead woman he has never seen to create the most beautiful building on earth. At the same time Shors remains faithful to the cultures and the poetic rhythms of the languages they speak. A key part of what makes this novel work is that it is really another tale from the Arabian Nights. Those fabled 1001 tales came from three cultures, Arabic, Persian, and Indian, while this novel set in Hindustan represents a culture clash between two of those three as a Muslim emperor rules a predominantly Hindu land. However the idea that this is another Scheherazade story matters because the characters and events are slightly larger than life. We are, after all, talking about a beautiful Muslim princess along with the course of an empire. There was a point in the narrative where I found myself questioning that Jahanara's parents would ever marry their beloved daughter to such a wretched soul as Khondair. A reason was given, but the validity of it was implicit at best and it was only when it dawned on me that this is a tale writ as large as Aladdin and Ali Baba that I realized history and realism were not the standards by which "Beneath a Marble Sky" is to be judged. This is an epic romance even if it is told in deeply intimate terms and while it is not a fantasy it is touched by the exotic, which tempers fidelity to the history around which Shors has crafted his own work. Final Notes: First, I noticed one of the best web sites devoted to the Taj Mahal mentions this book. It should, because it is going to inspire a lot of people to go to Agar. Maybe not as many as are currently heading to New Zealand to visit Middle Earth, but a sizeable number nonetheless. Second, I have to wonder what in the world John Shors will write next after this one. Where does he go from here? It will be interesting to find out and there will be a lot of people looking forward to that next book after reading "Beneath a Marble Sky."
Rating:
Summary: Awesome!
Review: I can't add much to what's already been said in all of these reviews. My wife read this book and loved it. She said that I would enjoy it, and though a bit skeptical, I picked it up, and very quickly became hooked. This book is amazing. It reminded me of The Kite Runner, which I recently read. Beneath a Marble Sky, though a love story, is a major page turner, with plenty of surprises and action. I read it nonstop during a four-hour flight, and was disappointed when I landed. It's that good!
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful additon to...
Review: I had previously read THE TWENTIETH WIFE and FEAST OF ROSES by Indu Sundaresan. Both of these books tell the stories of this main character's ancestors and family. similar The three together tell a wonderful story and make a spectacular trilogy. The authors have a similar writing style and you don't feel like you miss a thing. Try to read them in the order I've mentioned, but if you've already started this book, you'll enjoy reading the others, too.
John Shors has an easy and relaxed writing style. I was especially impressed with how wonderfully he was able (as a man) to express the feelings and insights of such a complex and emotionally-ladened female character (in first person narrative, no less). I was especially touched by the relationship between Jahanara and her father, the Emperor. I did find certain spots alittle violently graphic for me, but I suppose that's how the story actually went.
I, like a previous reviewer, also jumped ahead and did some research on the Taj Mahal as I was reading. I have to agree with her, that as hard as it may be, avoid doing so. While being very interesting, it definitely gave away a few secrets and ruined a few surprises in the plot of the book.
In all, this book was an easy, quick and enjoyable read and I recommend it. The story behind the Taj Mahal is beautiful.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite book of '04
Review: I read a lot of books this year. Most were good. Some forgettable. One that stands within the unforgettable category is Beneath a Marble Sky. I had no idea that there was such an amazing story behind the creation of the Taj Mahal -- a building that we've all seen photos of countless times, but a structure that is larger than life in many ways.
I've always been a fan of good historical fiction, but am forever disappointed because there doesn't seem to be much of it out there. Well, if you like being caught up in a story that just happens to take place in a historical setting, Beneath a Marble Sky is just for you. This powerfully compelling novel is based upon the creation of the Taj Mahal. After being swept away by this novel, I did some research in an effort to see how much of the book was fact and how much was fiction. I'm happy to say that as far as I can tell, much of the book is grounded in fact, though the author most likely invented some of the minor characters.
Anyway, it's extremely rare to find a novel that is wonderfully written, poignant, and is a major page-turner. I simply couldn't put this novel down. Not in bed. Not over lunch. And certainly not over the weekend (during which I read the last 200 pages)!
This is a beautiful story, one that seems destined for greatness.
I can only hope to find another such book in '05.
Rating:
Summary: WOW
Review: I read about this book in the LA Times and rushed off to buy a copy. Here is my take on it: This is the best, most moving piece of fiction I've read since Memoirs of a Geshia. Great. Great. Great. This book will make you cry, feel alive, stay up far too late reading, and you'll be sad when it's over!
Rating:
Summary: A compelling novel full of romance, intrique, cruelty & love
Review: If BENEATH A MARBLE SKY seems like an epic fantasy novel from a mythical, faraway realm, maybe there's a reason for that. We all know what an abysmal job our educational system does in teaching American history. So it's no surprise that our collective knowledge of Indian history is nonexistent. Outside of how India is portrayed in the movies --- Gandhi, let's say, or The Lives of a Bengal Lancer or the Merchant-Ivory productions --- what most of us know about India could fit in a thimble. Just speaking for myself, personally, I know more about the history of imaginary places like Gondor, or Tatooine, than I do about India, and that's a fact.
But everybody knows about the Taj Mahal.
More to the point, everybody knows two things about the Taj Mahal: that it is the most beautiful building in the world and that it was built by an ancient ruler to honor the memory of his beloved wife. And that's generally it. What first-time novelist John Shors does in BENEATH A MARBLE SKY is build on these two facts, add in some impressive details, and use his imagination to create a beautiful, dangerous, fantastic world.
BENEATH A MARBLE SKY is a first-person narration, and what a person! Our heroine is Jahanara, the daughter of the Emperor Shah Jahan and his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Jahanara is smart, willing to flout Islamic tradition, kind to the poor, and devoted to her parents. Even better, she's an engaging, engrossing narrator with a dangerous streak.
The story begins with Jahanara growing up as a young girl, in the perfumed harems of the Red Fort of Agra and at the foot of the Peacock Throne, learning about intrigue and deception and imperial politics, and applying this knowledge to the ongoing struggle between her older brothers. The oldest, Dara, is humanistic and gentle, and seeks reconciliation between the Muslim and Hindu religions. His rival, Aurangzeb, is drawn to more conservative interpretations of the Koran and the amassing of his own personal and military power.
Jahanara, though, is separated from the world of the harem when her parents inexplicably arrange a marriage to a smelly boor. (This seems to happen offhandedly, accidentally, without the intrigue that characterizes just about every other plot point in the novel.) She escapes her husband only after the death of her mother, which inspires her father to build the Taj Mahal. Broken down with grief, the Shah entrusts the details of construction over to Jahanara, who throws herself into the creation of the massive tomb. In the process, she finds love with the young architect, but finds that love complicates her life even more than the ongoing power struggles for the Peacock Throne.
To say much more would be to spoil things, and nothing really should spoil the ornate prose of John Shors, or the complex, shifting plot of BENEATH A MARBLE SKY. Shors does a signal service in introducing us to a different world --- a world filled with romance and intrigue, cruelty and love --- that's all the more compelling because it's based in historic fact, even if it's history that you and I are not familiar with. BENEATH A MARBLE SKY shows us that we should be.
--- Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds (curtis@txreviews.com), who writes movie reviews at http://www.txreviews.com.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating History
Review: John Shors has written a fascintating story of the people involved in the creation of the Taj Mahal. With a sure and enjoyable sense of time and place, he lays out the exploits and adventures of generations of rulers and the people they ruled. running throughout the narrative are various timely themes about the integration of people of different ethnicities within a single state, intolerance and the roles and responsibility of the ruler. This is a very good novel and particularly impressive from a first time author. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or who might have an interest in the past of the Indian sub-continent. It deserves to be better known.
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