THE SIEGE OF MECCA The Forgotten Uprising in Islam's Holiest Shrine and the Birth of Al Qaeda

The author examines the largely unreported takeover of the Grand Mosque by Muslim fundamentalists in 1979, which saw hundreds of deaths and the emergence of ill-will towards the United States. Trofimov's descriptions of the events lie somewhere between real-life tragedy and political thriller. The story is expertly realized by narrator Todd McLaren's clear elocution and well-paced reading, which captures the mounting tension of the harrowing event. Though McLaren opts not to employ a variety of tones and accents to represent the large cast, his firm understanding and pronunciation of Islamic phrases bring an air of authenticity to the story. With Trofimov's journalistic background, McLaren's narration often sounds like a documentary report, but the material is so fascinating that listeners will remained thoroughly engaged. L.B. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 08]