Djinnology

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the way it was formated and learning about this type of subject. I love learning about it and when it is told in such a captivating and educating way it makes me really happy as a reader

I went into this book knowing nothing about Djinn and I feel like I learned a bit about it. A very fun read and was very enjoyable to look at even with the interesting page structure and decent artwork throughout.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC via Netgalley.

Yasmin’s Djinnology is designed around a conceit that it is a report about the Djinn. In actually, it is a mixture of folklore and short stories featuring Djinn. The layout and artwork contribute to the idea of a research manuscript.
The short stories, and they are short, highlight aspects of folklore. By and large, the folklore is far more interesting. Yasmin draws upon various traditions and stories. Where diverging stories occur, they are examined. There is quite a bit in the folklore section and that section alone, without the short stories.
This isn’t to say that the short stories are bad, but, in general, they are not particularly grabbing. There are two stories that rise above the others - one about a Djinn and a cell phone, the other set in London. But the important thing about the stories is that they showcase how stories and beliefs travel as well as highlighting the fact that in many eras culture and religion are not bound by man made geographic borders. Considering the importance of stories in a multicultural society this was a nice touch. The stories cover various places and times – not just the Middle East but London, Montreal, and New Jersey, making the book global and tying in nicely with the conceit.

This book is for all of us kids who grew up loving the Ology series and wanted to hear more non-European-centered stories. I knew of djinn before reading, but I am not Muslim and did not grow up in an Islamic culture. It was interesting to hear from a variety of perspectives on what a djinn could be and how they influence our world. People familiar with the ATU Index may see some similar patterns to stories involving the fae and shapeshifters. In continuing it’s likeness to the Ology series, the fictional author Dr. N, mentions mysterious happenings and government conspiracies in connection with their ongoing research. I found this plot line to move slowly and not resolve as I would’ve liked. But it doesn’t take away from the fascinating stories shared from a variety of people, places, and time periods involving djinn, even in the modern day. The illustrations I found interesting, though sometimes disturbing. Also, unlike the Ology series, images are usually separated from text on their own pages rather than interspersed within the text itself. I think this, plus some more mature subjects mentioned (not graphicly so), lends this book to older teens and adults with interest in the paranormal and esoteric. I pride myself on my knowledge of such subjects, but still discovered a lot that I did not know about the djinn and Islamic folktales in general.