Title: Seraglio Author: Janet Wallach type of book: Historical Fiction call number: Fic

Summary:
This is a fictionalized biography of Aimee Du Boc, thirteen year old cousin of Empress Josephine. Captured by Algerian pirates while en route to school in France, she is soon placed in the Ottoman ruler's harem. The book describes her rise to favored companion of one powerful sultan and adoptive mother to another.

I would NOT recommend this book!

Why not?
I enjoy learning about women in other times and cultures, but for some reason this book could not interest me in either. Characters were one-dimensional and dialogue flat. Though the author is an expert on the Middle East, I didn't really feel immersed in that culture. It even fails at its few attempts to be mildly titillating, which ought to be easy given the topic! But the major flaw is that I couldn't care for Aimee or what happened to her!

Employee Initials: SB Review Date: May 2003

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