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809 ratings | 796 reviews | avg rating:4.11

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Menaka Ramakrishnan

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Alesa Lightbourne

Goodreads Author

Born

in Carmel, California, The United States

Website

http://www.alesa-lightbourne.com

Genre

Fiction, Self Help

Member Since

February 2008

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Alesa Lightbourne has been an English professor and teacher in six countries, lived on a sailboat, dined with Bedouins, and written for Fortune 50 companies. She lives close to Monterey Bay in California, where she loves to boogie board and ride a bicycle.

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Ms. Lightbourne I read your book and appreciated what people would do to extend their hands to help the underprivileged. I was hoping to read about the Kurds living so close by in Arbil or Sulaimania, the educated, professionals, teachers and professors, men and women. The reader is exposed to one dark picture of rural society which gives a wrong impression about this proud nation.?

Alesa Lightbourne Hi May,

Great question.

Actually, the school where I taught was on the outskirts of Arbil (also spelled Erbil or Irbil). However, I did not have a cha…moreHi May,

Great question.

Actually, the school where I taught was on the outskirts of Arbil (also spelled Erbil or Irbil). However, I did not have a chance to get to know many educated or professional Kurds except for the ones at the school. I was there for only six months. So I just know about the people I taught with and lived amongst.

I was hoping that the book would not give a dark picture of the village. There were so many things that I appreciated and respected about the village culture. The way they handled grief together was something I envied, since my own family and community at home doesn't cry together. I was amazed at Ara's generosity, saying that she would feed and house me for the rest of my life after I was made penniless. The wisdom and spirituality of Old Houda was amazing. And the patriotism expressed by virtually all Kurds I met was inspirational. These and other things were of great beauty to me. And I missed Ara, Bezma, Houda and Seema incredibly after I left.

The lives of city Kurds are indeed very different. The women don't wear abayas most of the time. They drive. They are not as likely to be cut. Many of them have professional jobs. Let's hope that one of these educated city women writes a book soon, so that we all can have insights into that aspect of society.

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What’s the best thing about being a writer?

Alesa Lightbourne Writing helps a person align with their own soul. I can't explain how this happens. It just does. Perhaps it has something to do with EM Forster's quo…moreWriting helps a person align with their own soul. I can't explain how this happens. It just does. Perhaps it has something to do with EM Forster's quote, "How do I know what I think until I see what I write?" I love that quote.(less)

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Alesa Lightbourne’s books

Average rating: 3.91 · 3,660 ratings · 308 reviews · 7 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Kurdish Bike 3.90 avg rating — 3,642 ratings — published 2016 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bad Ass Grandma: Living Large, Finding Awe 4.50 avg rating — 14 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Salsa Solution: Adding Picante to Your Life: A Parable for Success by Rafael Colon And Alesa Lightbourne, Alesa Lightbourne (Goodreads Author) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2006 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	IDEAS INTO REALITY: The Berger/Abam Story it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	kurdish bicycle it was ok 2.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bad Ass Grandma Large Print: Living Large, Finding Awe / Large Print 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Journey To Success by Rafael Colon, Alesa Lightbourne (Goodreads Author), Carl Williams (Goodreads Author) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2000	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Alesa’s Recent Updates

Alesa answered Michael Schauch's question: Dear Alesa, Thank you for sharing your thoughtful reviews! Given our aligned interests (In Love with the World is also one of my all time favourites), I thought you might be interested in my upcoming new book Anatta: Heart of Wisdom (Hohm Press), to be released Sept 15. I'd be happy to post you a copy in advance if you like? More info for your reference: michaelschauch(dot)com/anatta With gratitude, Mike Hi Mike, I would be happy to review your book. It looks fascinating. I have sent you my mailing address to your website (which is a lovely one). I didn't want to put it on a public place like Goodreads. Thanks. Alesa
Aug 03, 2026 09:22AM · 1 like · like
Alesa rated a book it was amazing Little Wonder by Sophie Chen Keller (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Thank heavens I didn't stop reading this book in its early chapters, when the story was so heartbreaking that I didn't think I could endure it. What could be more horrible that a single mother losing her only child in a crowded train station, and not ...more
Apr 15, 2026 02:46PM · 3 likes · like · see review
Alesa is now following sue trottier's reviews
Mar 30, 2026 12:53PM · like
Alesa rated a book it was amazing How We Disappeared by Jing-Jing Lee (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Wow. What a powerful and unforgettable depiction of WWII in Singapore, told from the viewpoint of a Chinese Singaporean teenager who was forced into virtual slavery as a "comfort woman" in a brothel run by the Japanese army. This heart-rending story f ...more
Mar 25, 2025 09:14PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of How We Disappeared by Jing-Jing Lee. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — How We Disappeared by Jing-Jing Lee <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Alesa’s Quotes

“He tested his fragile composure and found that it would take his weight.”
― Adrian Tchaikovsky, Seal of the Worm

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“Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”
― Steve Jobs

2919 likes

“You were given your gift for the joy you may give in return.”
― Cornelius Elmore Addison, Tom Thorneval: Dream Merchant Extraordinaire

tags: talents-and-gifts

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“See, the problem is that God gives men a brain and a penis, and only enough blood to run one at a time.”
― Robin Williams

tags: humor, men

2386 likes

Alesa’s Friend Comments

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message 1: by Kia

Jun 22, 2015 03:56PM

Thanks! I have a copy of it and read through it rather quickly. Daddy took a look at it too on his last visit here. I'm glad she got the story out. This brings to four the number of books in which I appear as a character. I'm not counting the handful of poems and unpublished short stories, or the paintings. All of which is another reminder that I need to get real about getting the next book out.

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Alesa Lightbourne

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