Beneath a Marble Sky

I just finished Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors. I loved it as I do with any story that talks about ancient culture and how things were way before I was born.
It took place in the 17th century the building of the Taj Mahal from the point of view of the daughter of the emperor and his wife.
In the last two days it was hard to put the book down and I got so lost in their world. I loved the characters and I understood each one. It’s hard to put into words how much I loved this book and so much how I understood it all and how much alike I was to Princess Jahanra. She was a stong, smart, cleaver, compassionate, caring female! She wanted people to respect each other, to live in peace, to love, and to live. She wanted things to be equal and didn’t give into being a fool. Although she did have your arrogant moments, they only happened when she had put the ones she loves before her.
The only part I might not really agree that I’m like her is that she didn’t have much confidence in herself when with her lover and thought she couldn’t live without him, even though she did. She endured hardships and had suffered under her brother but still she loved him and didn’t give in to his terrible ways. She was the better person and she didn’t need to prove that to him. She supported her daughter no matter what she did or who she chose to love. The love that her parents had and that she had with her lover is the kind of love I believe in and it’s the love I want. She enjoyed life and embraced her inner child as a an adult and took joy in the simple things in life and cared not for worry. Even though she did worry about those she loved, she didn’t let in affect how she lived happily.
It is filled with lots of advice that should be taken to heart. The best line I love the most was on the second to last page
In her old age and away from her brother, she tells her granddaughters: “Because revenge is hollow.” I say. “I won and he lost. He has grown weak in his hate and I’ve grown strong in my love.”


On another note; it always shows how we have changed and as it seems culture is going back to history.
Funny how growing up I always thought learning history was dumb and wondered why we had to learn it, as I was more of a creative art mind back then and cared not for studying and more for playing. I then asked a teacher why we had to learn and I was told so that we don’t repeat the mistakes our ancestors make. But as a kid I was able to study people, and I realized but we still make the same mistakes. Then somewhere I was told that we learn about to know where we came from and how we came to be, and that I believed more.
But still history was uninteresting to my mind; I only day dreamed my own stories and made up my own ancient cultures. It wasn’t until way after high school that I gained an interest in it. Reading stories, even though they are fiction, helped get me more interested in history then studying dates and small facts.
No matter how many religions there are and how different they seem to appear, truly they aren’t that much different and deep down we are the same.
Looking back and reading about how it was back then and how it’s different now; makes me also really grateful of my life. But it’s also sad how it seems we are going back to those times.
Back then girls were married off as soon as they hit puberty and have kids so young. Now (even though I know some countries/religions still do that) it’s not common for females to marry young and have kids young. We wait until we have matured more. But now girls want to be teen moms, growing up faster than they should when they should just be enjoying their youth. This even sparked a photo shoot for America’s Next Top Model and is a subject Tyra Banks feels needs to be addressed.
It is also a subject I feel should be addressed. People need to break more stereotypes and just strive to be the best them.
So much do I want to let people know it’s ok to be different. So much do I want others to strive to be the better person, as I have had to learn to do and as Jahanara did in Beneath a Marble Sky. That everyone should embrace their inner child and enjoy life and laugh. That one needs to embrace their strengths and weakness as the same. To respect all and give empathy. To believe in love and above all else believe in yourself. To have courage if you stand alone, that no one but yourself can bring you happiness and that no one (expect God) can make you feel whole.

It was truly a great love story and I would highly recommend picking it up. Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors. This is one book I will have my children read one day.