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Lust in the Dust, A Memoir
From being shipwrecked in the Caribbean at the age of 21, author Barbara Stapel weaves a spell-binding tale of adventure and romance set in exotic locales. Generously seasoned with humor and a cast of fascinating characters, Lust in the Dust, A Memoir chronicles moments in the author's life in seven countries. From being padlocked into a 300-year-old house in the desert kingdom of Rajasthan, to her adventure with a treasure trove of hidden royal heirlooms in India, Barbara maintains a captive audience. A backdrop of palatial halls, the domain of royalty in the Arabian Gulf, sets the stage for the romance of a lifetime, while her time spent in some of Egypt's poorest neighborhoods, exposes a very different world.
264 pages, Paperback
First published December 18, 2013
2 people are currently reading
745 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Stapel
1 book24 followersOriginally from Toronto, I've had the amazing good fortune to live in seven countries. I have traversed the globe, explored its cultures and loved its people.
Along the way I've dabbled in television (speaking in a voice of great, if not totally misguided authority on prostates and breast implants), hosted a radio show for five years and worked in hotel management.
I've been treated to a remarkable assortment of adventures beginning with a shipwreck in the Caribbean on a tall-masted ship - yes I'm entitled to wear one earing. I've been blessed with an amazing array of friends and have known great romance. Any trials and tribulations have been easily offset by the hilarity of many experiences.
Along the way I've dabbled in television (speaking in a voice of great, if not totally misguided authority on prostates and breast implants), hosted a radio show for five years and worked in hotel management.
I've been treated to a remarkable assortment of adventures beginning with a shipwreck in the Caribbean on a tall-masted ship - yes I'm entitled to wear one earing. I've been blessed with an amazing array of friends and have known great romance. Any trials and tribulations have been easily offset by the hilarity of many experiences.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 2, 2014
Reading Lust in the Dust is like reminiscing with an old friend over a pot of tea or bottle of wine. Although the book does not go into in-depth details of Middle Eastern culture, it does provide delightful insights on unfamiliar circumstances and customs. The anecdotes are, for the most part, short, making it easy to read in quick snippets; however, I found myself reading “just one more section” all too often. All in all a very delightful and relaxing read.
(This book was received for free through Goodreads First Reads.)
(This book was received for free through Goodreads First Reads.)
October 10, 2014
I'm so thankful to have won this on Goodreads!
This book is full of such a myriad of life adventures! I found myself picturing the locations as I read, and as one who loves traveling, this book was right up my alley! A solid 4 stars!
This book is full of such a myriad of life adventures! I found myself picturing the locations as I read, and as one who loves traveling, this book was right up my alley! A solid 4 stars!
May 21, 2015
Before I say anything else, it ought to be noted I won this book through a First Reads giveaway.
This was a very delightful memoir, and well written. I also may have initially thought, seeing the title, that it's an erotic novel. But I am that person who watched the movie The Midnight Meat Train out of, ahem, suspicion as to its contents.
Movin on: As others have already noted, reading it feels as though listening to an old friend reminiscent of past events, the most defining moments in their life. What I also particularly enjoyed about this book, was how it got me caught off guard whenever I'd make too fast a judgement. For example, I might first feel off-put and think "The writer seems to find only people in influential positions worth mentioning" and suddenly, bam, there's a very much respectful chapter dedicated to a housemaid. I like that, it teaches one to not make too fast a judgement regarding another person and their values. The author's certainly had an interesting life, but what's inspiring is her adventurous spirit. The fact these experiences that make up for an interesting life would not have taken place had she not been the type to just go for it, the type to take that chance without hesitation when it's presented in front of her. Such an adventurous spirit, a spirit of trust in that one always gets through somehow. That felt particularly enjoyable, getting to see what all seizing these moments have lead to in her life.
I did, however, also at times feel a tad cheated. The memoirs description makes it sound like we are going to see a plethora of different locations that the author has experiences. In truth, the number of locations is quite limited, the vast majority of the book taking place in Egypt and United Arab Emirates. For once, the front cover in itself seems a much more dependable description of the contents than the blurb composed for the job. The chapter headers too felt, at times, somewhat yellow press-ish. They'd say things like Countdown to Jail, giving off the impression jail is indeed something that happened - but then it's actually just more about the possibility and threat of ending up jailed than being in one for realsies. It's like hearing someone claim "He sure let them have a piece of his mind!" and then finding out that all the person in question said was "Salt is bad for your health." When that happened, my enthusiasm to read deflated somewhat for a moment.
All in all though, the feeling of familiarity the reader grows to have towards the author makes the book more of a satisfying read than a disappointing one. At first, one may find themselves not very interested (as I did), but page by page, reading all these very personal experiences from falling head over heels in love with someone, to schadenfreude felt towards awful higher-ups as they get kicked out a job - it does get to you. You start feeling very involved even though, in reality, you may not know the author in person.
This was a very delightful memoir, and well written. I also may have initially thought, seeing the title, that it's an erotic novel. But I am that person who watched the movie The Midnight Meat Train out of, ahem, suspicion as to its contents.
Movin on: As others have already noted, reading it feels as though listening to an old friend reminiscent of past events, the most defining moments in their life. What I also particularly enjoyed about this book, was how it got me caught off guard whenever I'd make too fast a judgement. For example, I might first feel off-put and think "The writer seems to find only people in influential positions worth mentioning" and suddenly, bam, there's a very much respectful chapter dedicated to a housemaid. I like that, it teaches one to not make too fast a judgement regarding another person and their values. The author's certainly had an interesting life, but what's inspiring is her adventurous spirit. The fact these experiences that make up for an interesting life would not have taken place had she not been the type to just go for it, the type to take that chance without hesitation when it's presented in front of her. Such an adventurous spirit, a spirit of trust in that one always gets through somehow. That felt particularly enjoyable, getting to see what all seizing these moments have lead to in her life.
I did, however, also at times feel a tad cheated. The memoirs description makes it sound like we are going to see a plethora of different locations that the author has experiences. In truth, the number of locations is quite limited, the vast majority of the book taking place in Egypt and United Arab Emirates. For once, the front cover in itself seems a much more dependable description of the contents than the blurb composed for the job. The chapter headers too felt, at times, somewhat yellow press-ish. They'd say things like Countdown to Jail, giving off the impression jail is indeed something that happened - but then it's actually just more about the possibility and threat of ending up jailed than being in one for realsies. It's like hearing someone claim "He sure let them have a piece of his mind!" and then finding out that all the person in question said was "Salt is bad for your health." When that happened, my enthusiasm to read deflated somewhat for a moment.
All in all though, the feeling of familiarity the reader grows to have towards the author makes the book more of a satisfying read than a disappointing one. At first, one may find themselves not very interested (as I did), but page by page, reading all these very personal experiences from falling head over heels in love with someone, to schadenfreude felt towards awful higher-ups as they get kicked out a job - it does get to you. You start feeling very involved even though, in reality, you may not know the author in person.
May 23, 2015
Dear Barbara, thankyou for choosing me as a winner in your giveaway. I’m very thankful of that you sent me an amazing book across the ocean. Are you choose me because of my name that sounds Arabic? You’re totally right, I’m a Muslim. This is the first time I received a book from foreign country, I’m so happy that my name is written by you in Lust in the Dust, a Memoir and the card, I feel like I got a gift from a friend. Ah, I’ve read your book and overall it was amazing, book with An adventure and I got some experiences, but there’s no a bookmark, anyway? And the size of fonts is a little too small I think. My favourite are sword of faith and poem tittled guardian, and also I love the photos, are you still love to travel? Come to my country, Indonesia and just try the foods, culture and the scenery. It’s enough I think, I wrote this thing on my blog too ( http://www.umimarfa.web.id/2015/05/pa... ) , but in Indonesian sorry :D x Book with a journey, that came in my house with a journey too.
April 29, 2014
I can only underscore my predecessors comments--the author's winsome charm comes through loud and clear in this book, all the while making the reader marvel at how she navigated the situations described with such grace and backbone. I hope Ms. Stapel has at least a few more trunkfuls of memories she can fashion into another book; I, for one, would love the chance to read more!
July 13, 2015
Such a fun book - travel to so many places without leaving your living room - loved it! Thank you to Goodreads and the author.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews