WIND IN CAIRO, A

Rating:
Summary: Disapointing
Review: I was looking for this book for a long time, so when I found a nice affordable copy I was very excited. But the book was quite disapointing - maybe part of my problem is that I have been looking for it for so long, but still it does not compare well to Tarr's other "Crusade" books, Alamut particularly, which is much better. Some of the problems I had with A Wind in Cairo is choppy writing, where one is not quite certain what refers to what, a lack of resolution about an event which causes Khamsin's transformation, and somehow the reverse transformation into a man seems oddly unconvincing. And despite trying not to judge the book by some minor plot events but I found the notion of Khamsin having a daughter disturbing, what cames of her, is she totally horse, does he worry about her when he returns to human shape? Very weird.

It's an interesting book, but Judith Tarr wrote better ones.

Rating:
Summary: A Fabulous book for anyone who loves horses and magic!
Review: This book, set in Cairo during the time of Saladin and the Crusades, focuses on a wealthy and foolish young Egyptian man, who insults a magician. As punishment, he is turned into an Arabian stallion, destined to be gelded and sold. But the daughter of his family's sworn enemy buys him, and he is then forced to be trained to be her riding animal. Eventually, he must discover what true love and loyalty is when his mistress goes to war with Saladin. And will he ever again have a human mouth to tell her he loves her? This is a fast paced and wonderful read for anyone who loves horses, rides, trains, and dreams of racing across the sands of time, or believes true love can always be victorious.

Rating:
Summary: REPRINT THIS BOOK!
Review: This is a fabulously compelling story of magic, horses, and relationships. I lent my only copy to someone who didn't return it and now I want my daughter to read it. It provides a great view of the relationships between people and horses, but also between men and women.

Rating:
Summary: A Wind in Cairo
Review: This is an entertaining work of historical fantasy, set during the Crusades.

Hasan, a young wastrel, finally goes too far: he rapes the daughter of his benefactor, a magus. In retaliation, the magus changes him into a horse. In this form, he must learn lessons of obedience and courage, and finally find redemption.

Tarr is a horsewoman, and her descriptions of Hasan in his horse form are wonderful. In addition, her writing flows well, and this story has much of the action that her later work tends to lack. Characters are generally attractive, and there are some wonderfully active and humorous scenes.

Something bothered me here, though, and that was the reduction of the medieval Islamic enslavement of women to a mere plot device, to be outwitted by the characters at will. As well, the subjugation of Islam's enemies, the whole idea of holy war, and the horrendous custom of male castration get, well, romanticized. As a reader I'm certainly more sensitive to these portrayals due to current events, but even taking the book purely on its own terms, I think that these themes deserve more serious and critical treatment than Tarr gives them.

Rating:
Summary: One of my all-time favorite re-reads...
Review: This is the story of a young man who, in punishment for a crime, is transformed into a horse by a Arab magician. He becomes the warhorse of the magician's daughter, with whom he falls in love. The young woman goes to war in the army of Saladin. A great deal of creative history (a la Mary Renault and others of Tarr's books) is given, as is a lot of fascinating period detail. This is a great story for those who like horses (and horse training) and fantasy and history. If you like Judith Tarr's other books, you'd probably like this one. It's been a while since I've (re) read it, but it is one that I have gone back to time and time again...