Preview
  • Nine Parts of Desire

  • The Hidden World of Islamic Women
  • By: Geraldine Brooks
  • Narrated by: Geraldine Brooks
  • Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (311 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Nine Parts of Desire

By: Geraldine Brooks
Narrated by: Geraldine Brooks
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.49

Buy for $19.49

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women is the story of Brooks’ intrepid journey toward an understanding of the women behind the veils, and of the often contradictory political, religious, and cultural forces that shape their lives. In fundamentalist Iran, Brooks finagles an invitation to tea with the ayatollah’s widow—and discovers that Mrs. Khomeini dyes her hair.

In Saudi Arabia, she eludes the severe segregation of the sexes and attends a bacchanal, laying bare the hypocrisy of this austere, male-dominated society. In war-torn Ethiopia, she watches as a female gynecologist repairs women who have undergone genital mutilation justified by a distorted interpretation of Islam.

In villages and capitals throughout the Middle East, she finds that a feminism of sorts has flowered under the forbidding shroud of the chador as she makes other startling discoveries that defy our stereotypes about the Muslim world. Nine Parts of Desire is much more than a captivating work of firsthand reportage; it is also an acute analysis of the world’s fastest-growing religion, deftly illustrating how Islam’s holiest texts have been misused to justify the repression of women. It was, after all, the Shiite leader Ali who proclaimed that “God created sexual desire in ten parts, then gave nine parts to women.”

©1995 Copyright © Geraldine Brooks 1995, 2008, 2011. (P)2012 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

“Frank, enraging, and captivating.” ( The New Yorker)
“Powerful and enlightening...Brooks presents stunning vignettes of Muslim women...and carefully distinguishes misogyny and oppressive cultural traditions from what she considers the true teachings of the Koran.” ( Publishers Weekly)
“There has been nothing finer on the subject from a Western observer...she looks at it from the heart...mixing historical perspective with piercingly observed journalism.” ( Newsday)

What listeners say about Nine Parts of Desire

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    178
  • 4 Stars
    83
  • 3 Stars
    27
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    16
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    138
  • 4 Stars
    73
  • 3 Stars
    33
  • 2 Stars
    16
  • 1 Stars
    16
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    164
  • 4 Stars
    73
  • 3 Stars
    20
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    11

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I would read this again.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

.

Any additional comments?

I love Geraldine Brooks. I read "Year of Wonders" and was hooked on this author. She is also the narrator in that book as well. Geraldine is a superb author and, quite frankly, her voice soothes me. It does. I learned much about Islam and the dark under belly of that religion, but also the lives of women in the Middle East. Geraldine is my favorite author to day

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A good read

A glimpse into a world where few foreigners get a chance to experience. Touching in places and horrific in others. A definite conversation starter.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Engaging and informative

The narrators voice is very engaging and I was led onward into the story because of her cadence and tone.

The stories were troublesome and enlightening throughout the entire book! I am looking forward to listening to this non-fiction publication and have recommended it to numerous women friends!
Thank you so much for such a thorough book for those of us who see this topic as an unknown territory. I think those who do know it will find it extremely informative as well!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Auto-ethnography and good research

Would you listen to Nine Parts of Desire again? Why?

I've listened to this book several times and found something new in each re-telling. It's powerful because much of the book is drawn from Ms Brooks' own experience, then it's coupled with some excellent research of the context. So the book has strong credibility. She's not judgemental in the telling - it's a finely drawn balance of experience, what others say, her opinion, and giving the other side of the story. Well done on this one!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Nine Parts of Desire?

The discussion about female genital mutilation, the clear assertion that this has nothing to do with Islam (which I knew - it's also practiced in other communities, includeing some christian communities; it's more a cultural practice). But it was Ms Brooks' lived experience in many islamic countries that makes the book memorable. Her descriptions of the 'unveiling' of women - their private lives.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I found I wanted to tap into this book at intervals. It was thought-provoking, so needed some 'soak time' to enable me to digest the messages.

Any additional comments?

Good on Ms Brooks reading her own book. Given it's her story that's appropriate. She's not the best narrator in the universe, but does a very reasonable job. Knowing it was her voice delivering her story and her message gives the book additional credibility in this audio version.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A good book badly read.

I am very curious about the lives of women in Islamic countries, that's why I bought this book but I got somehow lost among so many names and other unimportant information that permeates the narrative of very interesting facts. In my opinion, although the overall review of the book is good, Ms Brooks's reading is really discouraging! She reads in a very monotonous voice and doesn't pronounce the whole sentences in a clear and vivid way, as it should be to grasp the listener's attention. She reads her own book as if she was tired and bored of it. This book deserved a better performance.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very informative

The author seems to try to write objectively and I appreciate that. She has lots of personal experience which adds so much to this. This should be required reading for any woman moving to the Middle East.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

excellent, thought-provoking

I wasn't sure about this book when my Book Club chose it, but I am glad and more knowledgeable now after reading it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

As an Iranian woman born a few years after the revolution

I have read this book with skepticism. A book that tells the story of women in countries like my homeland, written 2 decades ago can be damaging to the image of the people of these countries. But I should say the book was fair, and true to the parts I could judge. I loved her narration and her perspective.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I fell asleep repeatedly while listening

This did provide important glimpses into how women in Middle Eastern countries were living 20 years ago. But somehow I found it hard to stay focused while listening.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Well worth your time

Geraldine spent many years living in the middle east meeting with the important men of the day and many of their wives or widows as well as the everyday women in all walks of life. She goes back to the Qumran and compares what it says with the various practices in countries. She follows successful women who take the veil as well as other women trying to throw it off.
It has been updated and she discusses the trend toward conservative thought.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful