Discussion date: April l9 and May 14, 2007

What we thought:

This was one of the most popular of our recent selections. Despite being so long that we decided to split the discussion over two months, this book was a fast and absorbing read. We were all captivated by the story of the young medieval barber-surgeon from England who traveled an incredibly long and hard road to study medicine with the Muslims, and had to assume the identity of a Jew to do so. There were several ratings of 5, and only one below 4 (a 3.5). All agreed that the story and historical background were fascinating and absorbing. The main criticism was from some who felt that the writing and language were a bit flat.

Special thanks to Rosie for providing the historical maps and the creative refreshments, including "Physick" and "Universal Specific." (See photos below.)

Author's web site