Reviews for Mosul and Its Minorities

The average rating for Mosul and Its Minorities based on 2 reviews is 2 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2016-07-07 00:00:00 Jaime Hipolito Marcello Di Cintio is an accomplished writer and I liked the way he painted word pictures of the places he went by observant use of details of his surroundings. On the other hand, as a tour of Iran and its love of poetry, I prefer Saved by Beauty by Roger Housden. Poets and Pahlevans combines the author's interest in poetry and wrestling. I found that wrestling is a bit arcane as a focal point for looking at Persia/Iran. Additionally, the focus on wrestling meant that some of the must stunning features of the country got short shrift--particularly the ruins of Persepolis. Reading Dicintio and Housden's versions about the most famous epic poem in Iran--the Shahnameh, you get the feeling you are reading about entirely different works of literature. DiCintio's version is all about battle and heros and, of course, wrestling. Housden gives a more balanced view of the historical significance. This is just one example of why, despite its excellent writing, I was not wowed by Poets and Pahlevans, while Saved by Beauty made me yearn to go to Iran.

Review # 2 was written on 2019-08-10 00:00:00 Lisa Carver I think this has become my favourite book of all time. Combines a few of my favourite subjects (Iranian culture, food, and wrestling) beautifully and the author's journey is incredibly inspiring. Equally inspiring is the Pahlevan's dedication to their sport & the religious aspect of it. I've read many books/accounts about North Americans travelling to Iran for various reasons and while excellent Iranian hospitality seems to be a common theme, I loved how this book really had a purpose and I found the subject thrilling. If I get the chance to go to Iran, I would definitely like to follow a similar course as Marcello Di Cintio and check out the various regional wrestling styles.