No furor at local reading of controversial “Medina”
Back in August, first-time author Sherry Jones, of Spokane, made worldwide headlines with her polemical book because more feared it would set on Muslims to violence.
“The Jewel of Medina” is about Aisha, the Prophet Muhammad’s child bride in seventh-century Arabia, and had been called “soft-core pornography.”
Jones defending her work against critique from people who hadn’t even read the historical story. Random House, the original publisher, shelved the book, saying it feared despite its employees.
That action created a furor about censorship by fear.
After the publicity, Jones got a new publisher for the U.S. and Canada, and sold strange rights to the book in 18 other countries.
So was there a reason for the fear?
On Thursday night at the University Bookstore, where Jones comprehend from her romance and signed copies, there were in no degree demonstrations, no reason to call security.
On a wretchedly rainy night, only 10 people showed up to the delineation area by the poetry section. That mild left 25 empty seats.
Such is the fate of a strange author, promoting a new book, even a part that two months ago was in the headlines.
One of those who showed up was Edith Ruby.
“I’m indeed interested in the issue of censorship,” she aforesaid.
Ruby did not buy a book, and only three were sold after the reading.
