Saturday January 14, 2011
Malibu, California
Sunny, Warm and Dry... thanks to the Santa Ana Winds
One of my New Year's Resolutions is to read one book a month from the 3 boxes of books I brought to Japan and back home. None of the boxes were opened in Japan. I got a head start by reading a book called "Map of Love" by Ahdaf Soueiff. I bought the book at Heathrow Airport in London years ago cuz I thought I'd be bored on my flight back to LA but instead of reading I fell asleep thru the entire flight. So it's been in my "library" for over 5 years as an unread book. I remember purchasing the book because it was a Booker Prize finalist and was also a sweeping love story that takes place during the time Egypt was a colony under Britain. I didn't know much about the history of the Middle East except that I've heard from several diplomats, scholars and business people who have lived in the Middle East about how oil and the colonization set the stage for the turmoil that exists in the Middle East now.
So over the holidays, I finally read the book. It was very easy reading and reminded me of the James Michener style of writing. I would not say it is a classic but it is entertaining as it gives one a glimpse of life in Egypt during that period and what it must have been like for a European woman to marry an Egyptian.
I recommend it.
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