All Our Broken Idols

By: Paul M.M. Cooper

Narrated by: Lara Sawalha

Historical fiction Book of the Month in The Times.

Assyria, in the reign of Ashurbanipal. For Aurya and her daydreaming brother, Sharo, every day is a struggle for survival, as they dodge the beatings of their drunken father and scrabble for scraps of food. One violent evening, everything changes. Soon, they are on the barge of King Ashurbanipal, bound for the beautiful, near-mythical city of Nineveh. Their fates become inextricably bound to that of the king - and the injured lion captured by his men.

Twenty-six centuries later, British-Iraqi archaeologist Katya joins a dig in Mosul to protect the ancient ruins of Nineveh from organised looters, following in the footsteps of her dead father. When she and Salim, a fellow archaeologist, discover an astonishingly beautiful and rare carving, they know their find will bring the world's attention to Mosul. But the real world crashes in to their studious idyll to catastrophic, devastating effect when ISIL storm Mosul - and take Katya, Salim and local girl Lola hostage.

All Our Broken Idols is hauntingly evocative, a novel in which past and present lives intertwine and stories travel across the ages. It is a story about the importance of art and the threat it poses to those in power. And it is about bravery, standing up for what you believe in and who you love.

©2020 Paul M.M. Cooper (P)2020 W F Howes

Great intertwining of two stories across time

loved it. Particularly the mysterious meaning of details from time past and present, told from each angle. Particularly interesting for anyone interested in what life may have been like in Assyria 2600 yrs ago, and similarities to today. was very helpful to watch the fall of civilizations podcasts first for Assyria and First Cities (Mesopotamia)

Superb writing

This book was a surprise to me. I was unfamiliar with the author and now I want more. It was so well written, the descriptions brought everything to life.

What a great book!

Great story line and fantastic characters in a little known, but well-researched historical context.

Worth The Listen

I am an avid fan on Paul Cooper’s Fall of Civilizations podcast so I wanted to give this novel a try. I found it deeply engrossing, moving, and a wonderful glimpse into two disparate but inextricable worlds. If I had a criticism, it would be that some of the moments inch toward melodrama, some of dialogue feels cinematic (but in a way that doesn’t read genuine) and Cooper can’t stop describing characters’ pupils. All in all, however, I couldn’t put it down and look forward seeing what this author conjures next.

well-paced narrative with a lovely voice

I am a fan of the Fall of Civilizations podcast by the author. Given that he’s a great storyteller with special attention to the daily lives of ancient peoples, I was not surprised to see the attention paid to the world building, or re-creation. However, I was surprised and delighted by the characters introduced in this duo-timeline story, their emotions and their real-life, unfiltered struggles.

The voice narrator does a great job bringing a sense of intimacy with the characters. I felt the longing of Katya for her history, the caring but innocent soul of Aurya, and the unrelenting realities of both ancient and modern Iraq.

I could not “put” this book down. Thank you!

Historical fiction done well

Gonna keep this short and to the point: this an very well written story that alternates between two timelines, engaging the listener in both the distant past and the present of what was Assyria and is now Iraq. I’ve been listening to Paul MM Coopers Fall of Civilizations podcast since it started and he is nothing if not thorough and meticulous with details. While I was hoping he would narrate this book, like he does his podcast, I came to quickly appreciate Lara Sawalha’s talent. As the narrator she turns in an stellar performance. It’s not an exaggeration when I say I wish her performance was the benchmark for all others to clear. She distinguishes each character with their own voice and her elocution is flawless. She is a pro and I hope to encounter her in more books in the future. This is an easy recommendation for anyone that appreciates historical fiction performed by a top notch professional.

Excellent, Riveting

What a wonderfully, engaging story. This is historical fiction at its best. The narration was excellent. I would highly recommend this book.

Glimpse at what life was like in ancient Assyria

The author has an excellent podcast about ancient civilizations. this was the first book I've read from him and it was excellent, well written. the story flowed well there was nothing in there that wasted time everything ties together and the narration was top-notch.

Author loves the history and loves his characters

I am a big fan of Fall Of Civilizations on YouTube, by the same author. if you listen to the episode about Assyria before reading/listening to this book, you will understand and appreciate the richness of the history. I can imagine the author poring over artifacts and history, desperately wanting to know the stories of how these items came to be where they are found... to understand the people who left them, and to feel the connection with them. this is a beautiful story that brings that all together. very satisfying if you are a fan of the podcast/YouTube channel. you won't be disappointed.

The characters

Everything was very well written and cohesive. Paul Coopers work has had a profound effect on my life. The narrator was perfect.