to spirituality has developed over centuries throughout the Islamic world, fundamentally influencing the religion and its followers, and has been a domain perceived as largely occupied by men. The Book and the Roses, however, reveals the place of women within Sufism--within its spiritual tradition and within its practice--looking particularly at the zikr prayer (the repetitive act of chanting ""the most beautiful names of god""). Concentrating on Sufi women living in Istanbul, the book effectively examines Islam as a lived practice. The result is a valuable contribution to our knowledge of the development of the modern Turkish Muslim movement, and to Islamic studies and women's studies in general.

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