I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of this title in exchange for an honest review. This is a spoiler free review.
This book is exactly as advertised. This work of fiction is very much based in reality. The author called upon her own experiences to weave together this story of family, friends, and culture. I wish I had more knowledge of Iraq and it's people, locations, culture, and history before reading this book as I personally feel that I could have felt more in tune with the story. That being said, I do feel like the insights the author injected into the plot are very genuine. One of the main characters, Ally, does seem to be modeled very closely after the author's own life and career. There is a strong under current of intense politics and sexism you would expect of the area and time. I feel that this is a great book for anyone looking to broaden their horizons in terms of their own way of thinking about the middle east, it's people, and it's culture.
This book is exactly as advertised. This work of fiction is very much based in reality. The author called upon her own experiences to weave together this story of family, friends, and culture. I wish I had more knowledge of Iraq and it's people, locations, culture, and history before reading this book as I personally feel that I could have felt more in tune with the story. That being said, I do feel like the insights the author injected into the plot are very genuine. One of the main characters, Ally, does seem to be modeled very closely after the author's own life and career. There is a strong under current of intense politics and sexism you would expect of the area and time. I feel that this is a great book for anyone looking to broaden their horizons in terms of their own way of thinking about the middle east, it's people, and it's culture.