Zohra's Ladder

by Pamela Windo

Pamela Windo chronicles her unexpected love affair with Morocco and its people in this wondrous collection of true stories, peeling back layers of history, paint, and finely embroidered fabrics to find the truths in the mysterious and the exotic. She describes the colors, flavors, songs, and textures of an almost dream-like nation. Her stories are of snatched affairs, unforeseen warmth, and subtle eroticism in shadowed courtyards. The result are liberating and uplifting portraits of places and people, each told with an extraordinary delicacy. Behind the veils, she discovers kindness, beauty, and passion that afford her life a whole new dimension.

200 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2005

Reviews

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a poetic and easily digestable introduction to Morocco from a westerners perspective living and loving in the country over nearly a decade. Beautiful portrayal of the mystery, history, and richness of a diverse culture.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Zohra´s Ladder” was mentioned in the acknowledgements of Rosanna Ley’s “The Saffron Trail” (a book I really enjoyed) and so I bought it to keep me company on a trip to Marrakech. It is a kind of memoir, where Pamela Windo recalls several episodes of her time in Morocco, revealing the richness of a culture that is sometimes quite misunderstood.

From the sensual experience in a hammam, to the unexpected kindness of neighbours, from the power games of village chiefs to the “strangeness” of Ramadan, Pamela Windo experienced it all and shares the ups and downs with the readers, not leaving out the less pleasant stories. A perfect holiday read!

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I loved it, but I also read it in anticipation of me studying abroad in Morocco. Without my intense personal interest, it is probably more of a 3 star book. Descriptive and provides insight into multiple facets of Moroccan life, but not overly well-organized or otherwise compelling.

[JoV · Rating 3 out of 5]

Give me a book about Morocco anytime I will read them. My extended families are Moroccan so I don’t mind sampling this book, besides the more serious literature that has ever written about Morocco as Edith Wharton’s “In Morocco”, “Lords of the Atlas” by Gavin Maxwell or “Traveller’s Tale” by Paul Bowles, which I have yet to read.

The blurb: “Pamela Windo chronicles her love of Morocco and its people in this wondrous collection of true stories, peeling back layers of history, paint, and finely embroidered fabrics to find the truths in the mysterious and the exotic. She describes the colors, flavors, songs, and textures of an almost dream-like nation. Her stories are of snatched affairs, unforeseen warmth, and subtle eroticism in shadowed courtyards. The results are liberating and uplifting portraits of places and people, each told with an extraordinary delicacy. Behind the veils, she discovers kindness, beauty, and passion that afford her life a whole new dimension.”

Pamela writes passionately about the generosity and kindness of people she met in Morocco, a land that she lived for seven years and fell in love with. Like many wide-eyed, curious foreigners, all wanted to have a piece of the exotic and dreamlike ambience of the place. As she travelled alone, so would she be drawn into fleeting affairs, unexpected warmth and subtle mysterious moments in exotic Morocco. Not one of the best that is written about life in Morocco but good for an afternoon relaxing read.

For full review see: https://bibliojunkie.wordpress.com/20...

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Killing time before heading to the airport. Anyway, good insight into life in Morocco. I can definitely understand better some of the often times very humurous cultural differences between east and west.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read for my trip to Morocco. Not the best but parts of it rang true even after only a couple of days in country.