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Footprints in the Desert
This thrilling work of historical fiction set during the fall of the Ottoman Empire tells the story of a circle of friends whose lives and loves become entangled in the crusade for freedom
The second novel from Maha Akhtar weaves a story of espionage, love, courage, and loyalty, told from the perspectives of the revolutionaries who fought alongside Lawrence of Arabia—and the women who gave them strength.
Salah escapes Turkey, fearing he is about to be unmasked as a spy for the Arab Revolt. Meanwhile, Noura, his best friend’s widow, flees Beirut, and the two find themselves in Cairo. When he’s not carrying out spy missions with the legendary Lawrence of Arabia, Salah is hiding from the Ottoman secret police in the bustling labyrinth of the Khan el-Khalili market. Noura starts over, finding strength and support in new friendships forged at Rania’s Café, where everyone is somehow involved in the struggle for Arab independence.
But independence comes at a cost. And when Lawrence plans an attack on Aqaba, the price may be very high indeed.
The second novel from Maha Akhtar weaves a story of espionage, love, courage, and loyalty, told from the perspectives of the revolutionaries who fought alongside Lawrence of Arabia—and the women who gave them strength.
Salah escapes Turkey, fearing he is about to be unmasked as a spy for the Arab Revolt. Meanwhile, Noura, his best friend’s widow, flees Beirut, and the two find themselves in Cairo. When he’s not carrying out spy missions with the legendary Lawrence of Arabia, Salah is hiding from the Ottoman secret police in the bustling labyrinth of the Khan el-Khalili market. Noura starts over, finding strength and support in new friendships forged at Rania’s Café, where everyone is somehow involved in the struggle for Arab independence.
But independence comes at a cost. And when Lawrence plans an attack on Aqaba, the price may be very high indeed.
375 pages, Paperback
First published May 8, 2014
53 people are currently reading
491 people want to read
About the author
Maha Akhtar
9 books20 followersMaha Akhtar (Beirut, 1962) es una escritora y periodista estadounidense de origen libanés e indio. Ha sido bailarina de flamenco y tiene una estrecha relación con Andalucía.
Akhtar se diplomó en el Bryn Mawr College (Pensilvania) en 1985 y comenzó su carrera en la esfera musical como relacionadora pública en Fiction Records, donde trabajó con The Cure. Más tarde, estuvo 15 años en la cadena televisiva CBS.
Colaboró con Manuela Carrasco, bailó flamenco en la Tapería Madrid de Nueva York y tuvo una vivienda en Sevilla durante unos años.
Publicó su primer libro, La nieta de la maharaní, en 2009. Dos años más tarde salió el segundo, La princesa perdida, también de carácter autobiográfico en las que aborda las figuras de sus antepasados. En 2012 apareció la novela Miel y almendras, que se centra en la situación de la mujer libanesa, a caballo entre tradición y modernidad, y en 2014, Las huellas en el desierto, ambientada en El Cairo en plena Primera Guerra Mundial, cuando Egipto y otros países árabes formaban oparte todavía del Imperio otomano y en 1916 se rebelaron contra los turcos.
Reside en Nueva York con su perro MacDougall, un wheaten terrier.
Akhtar se diplomó en el Bryn Mawr College (Pensilvania) en 1985 y comenzó su carrera en la esfera musical como relacionadora pública en Fiction Records, donde trabajó con The Cure. Más tarde, estuvo 15 años en la cadena televisiva CBS.
Colaboró con Manuela Carrasco, bailó flamenco en la Tapería Madrid de Nueva York y tuvo una vivienda en Sevilla durante unos años.
Publicó su primer libro, La nieta de la maharaní, en 2009. Dos años más tarde salió el segundo, La princesa perdida, también de carácter autobiográfico en las que aborda las figuras de sus antepasados. En 2012 apareció la novela Miel y almendras, que se centra en la situación de la mujer libanesa, a caballo entre tradición y modernidad, y en 2014, Las huellas en el desierto, ambientada en El Cairo en plena Primera Guerra Mundial, cuando Egipto y otros países árabes formaban oparte todavía del Imperio otomano y en 1916 se rebelaron contra los turcos.
Reside en Nueva York con su perro MacDougall, un wheaten terrier.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
October 10, 2015
Read on the WondrousBooks blog.
I didn't hate this book. And I didn't like it either. I barely felt anything about Footprints in the Desert, aside from mild annoyance at the most ridiculous moments.
The entire book is completely underwhelming, both because of the characters and because of the story. The thing begged the following questions: Why should I care about this?, What's so special about it? and What sets it apart from other books? (The answers being: I shouldn't. Nothing. Nothing.) Footprints in the Desert tells the story of people fighting a fight that neither they themselves, nor even the author believes in. The main character, Salah, is too obvious a pawn in the hands of Akhtar. You know in certain books when the characters seem to truly be alive. And then there are the books in which you just see the author's hands moving the puppets and no one is the wiser. Salah is a weak and spineless little man who is drawn in a fight he doesn't want to fight and yet all of a sudden he so wants to be a part of that he is leaving the woman of his dreams because of it. Controversy? Absolutely.
Aside from Salah, we have a whole bunch of characters, who are hard to feel sympathy for. They are all completely "whatever" and some of them are also completely interchangeable. I was getting the three main female characters mixed up all of the time. For one, they are all very beautiful, feminine and desirable. For the other, they all manage to find happy endings and love(and not once; some even more than twice), and they are also so brave, so feisty, that they manage to oppose the best of the Ottoman army. And speaking of, while all of the characters who are considered "good guys" only stay alive because of luck and not thanks to any great abilities that they have, at least as far as the author shows us, the Ottoman soldiers are complete imbeciles, who allow themselves to be beaten by a handful of women and a couple of unspectacular men.
(I should also put a note here that although the author continues to use the term "Turkish", during the Ottoman empire "Turkish" was only used for the villagers and it became widespread only after the creation of the Turkish Republic.
Also in connection, the language used in the book as a whole is completely inappropriate. Party-crashing? Seriously? In WWI Egypt?)
The other thing which annoyed me with Footprints in the Desert is how it attempts to be a serious political novel and yet it's actually a romantic adventure lacking any depth. Everything magically resolves, each problem that exist always disappears in the right moment, all of the characters are capable in doing everything - beyond rhyme, reason and logic. This is especially true about the love-stories. Example: The characters have a huge fight, he leaves her for something I think is entirely idiotic and he thinks so too, and yet he puts it above her in his list of priorities, which means that she has no value whatsoever. Then she gets hurt, also because of him. When he comes back, instead of being angry at him, she says the following: "I cannot believe how lucky I am to have a man like you in my life." REALLY?
I can admit, though, that the author's style of description is something which I appreciated. She managed to capture the characters' physical appearance in a way I could imagine them very well, for which I can give her some credit, even though it didn't help me in any way to form an emotional bond with them.
There was one quote which I liked and I'm going to leave it here as an end. If the entire book was written in this spirit, it might have been so much better.
I didn't hate this book. And I didn't like it either. I barely felt anything about Footprints in the Desert, aside from mild annoyance at the most ridiculous moments.
The entire book is completely underwhelming, both because of the characters and because of the story. The thing begged the following questions: Why should I care about this?, What's so special about it? and What sets it apart from other books? (The answers being: I shouldn't. Nothing. Nothing.) Footprints in the Desert tells the story of people fighting a fight that neither they themselves, nor even the author believes in. The main character, Salah, is too obvious a pawn in the hands of Akhtar. You know in certain books when the characters seem to truly be alive. And then there are the books in which you just see the author's hands moving the puppets and no one is the wiser. Salah is a weak and spineless little man who is drawn in a fight he doesn't want to fight and yet all of a sudden he so wants to be a part of that he is leaving the woman of his dreams because of it. Controversy? Absolutely.
Aside from Salah, we have a whole bunch of characters, who are hard to feel sympathy for. They are all completely "whatever" and some of them are also completely interchangeable. I was getting the three main female characters mixed up all of the time. For one, they are all very beautiful, feminine and desirable. For the other, they all manage to find happy endings and love(and not once; some even more than twice), and they are also so brave, so feisty, that they manage to oppose the best of the Ottoman army. And speaking of, while all of the characters who are considered "good guys" only stay alive because of luck and not thanks to any great abilities that they have, at least as far as the author shows us, the Ottoman soldiers are complete imbeciles, who allow themselves to be beaten by a handful of women and a couple of unspectacular men.
(I should also put a note here that although the author continues to use the term "Turkish", during the Ottoman empire "Turkish" was only used for the villagers and it became widespread only after the creation of the Turkish Republic.
Also in connection, the language used in the book as a whole is completely inappropriate. Party-crashing? Seriously? In WWI Egypt?)
The other thing which annoyed me with Footprints in the Desert is how it attempts to be a serious political novel and yet it's actually a romantic adventure lacking any depth. Everything magically resolves, each problem that exist always disappears in the right moment, all of the characters are capable in doing everything - beyond rhyme, reason and logic. This is especially true about the love-stories. Example: The characters have a huge fight, he leaves her for something I think is entirely idiotic and he thinks so too, and yet he puts it above her in his list of priorities, which means that she has no value whatsoever. Then she gets hurt, also because of him. When he comes back, instead of being angry at him, she says the following: "I cannot believe how lucky I am to have a man like you in my life." REALLY?
I can admit, though, that the author's style of description is something which I appreciated. She managed to capture the characters' physical appearance in a way I could imagine them very well, for which I can give her some credit, even though it didn't help me in any way to form an emotional bond with them.
There was one quote which I liked and I'm going to leave it here as an end. If the entire book was written in this spirit, it might have been so much better.
"...The Arabs are a political mosaic. We are tribesmen, loyal to the tribe or to our religion. We have a clan mentality and I think we always will."
March 22, 2015
Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley
I wanted to like this book more than I did, and in this case, I think it is more a matter of a personal taste than anything else.
What I enjoyed most about this novel was the variety of women and the fact that they were friends. It was far more than the traditional women solely as romantic interest. There are vast amount of characters ranging across religions, genders, and status. There is the wife rebelling against the idea of being simply defined as a mother, there is the coffee shop owner, and there is the abused wife.
And above the entire struggle for independence that is mirrored by the nation and the private lives of the women.
And for that, the book deserves much credit.
November 1, 2024
Una novela muy interesante, tiene mucho de historia, del drama de la guerra, de amor y amistad. Se nos presenta de forma sencilla el complejo juego de poder disfrazado de ayuda por parte de ingleses y franceses hacia los árabes, en busca de su libertad política ante los otomanos a inicios del s.XX. Toda una mera pantomima que se aprovecha del deseo de independencia de los implicados, para que al final, logrado el objetivo de “liberarlos”, se queden en esas tierras, sirviéndose de ellas y sus habitantes, con la excusa de protegerlos.
Una historia que se ha repetido en diferentes lugares y con diferentes potencias incluso hoy en día, pero que lleva el dolor y el deseo de revancha que vuelve todo un proceso cíclico. En medio de todo, el dolor de las familias que perdieron a sus hijos, esposos y hermanos en esa guerra de guerrillas, convencidos de que podrían conseguir su libertad. Y es que, si los motivos políticos y económicos son poco, además, se enarbola el estandarte de la religión. En el caso de esta novela, los turcos se sirven de esa excusa, para no aceptar a los cristianos y aun así, mantener a algunos pueblos árabes subyugados política y económicamente.
Me pareció Interesante la alusión a los motivos disque religiosos, que llevaron a los turcos a implantar que sus mujeres debían llevar velo porque no querían que las vieran otros hombres, y para ello nuevamente, se valen de la interpretación de las Escrituras.
En fin, que la novela nos presenta el drama de un grupo de amigos árabes que luchan en la sombra, con trabajos de inteligencia, colaborando con los diferentes grupos extranjeros que ofrecen su ayuda para la independencia, y donde tanto hombres, mujeres y niños se ven involucrados, tratando de salir adelante y llevar una vida lo más normal posible, sin que esto pueda ser realidad.
Una lectura muy recomendada.
Una historia que se ha repetido en diferentes lugares y con diferentes potencias incluso hoy en día, pero que lleva el dolor y el deseo de revancha que vuelve todo un proceso cíclico. En medio de todo, el dolor de las familias que perdieron a sus hijos, esposos y hermanos en esa guerra de guerrillas, convencidos de que podrían conseguir su libertad. Y es que, si los motivos políticos y económicos son poco, además, se enarbola el estandarte de la religión. En el caso de esta novela, los turcos se sirven de esa excusa, para no aceptar a los cristianos y aun así, mantener a algunos pueblos árabes subyugados política y económicamente.
Me pareció Interesante la alusión a los motivos disque religiosos, que llevaron a los turcos a implantar que sus mujeres debían llevar velo porque no querían que las vieran otros hombres, y para ello nuevamente, se valen de la interpretación de las Escrituras.
En fin, que la novela nos presenta el drama de un grupo de amigos árabes que luchan en la sombra, con trabajos de inteligencia, colaborando con los diferentes grupos extranjeros que ofrecen su ayuda para la independencia, y donde tanto hombres, mujeres y niños se ven involucrados, tratando de salir adelante y llevar una vida lo más normal posible, sin que esto pueda ser realidad.
Una lectura muy recomendada.
June 29, 2015
With this book once again I'm reminded why I tend to stay away from female authors. The setting is Middle East during WWI. Fascinating, complicated historical time, seldom seen in fiction. Time of intrigue, suspense, espionage. And yet sadly Akhtar has managed to turn this into a chicklit. Sure, conceptually its interesting to have have the story told from women's perspective, particularly in a region where women are barely rated as second class citizens. But to have romances overshadow all other aspects of the book is just feeding into a tacky cliché. Even T.E. Lawrence's (the famed Lawrence of Arabia)presence isn't as important in author's mind as the affairs of the heart gossiped over in a small market café. The historical footnotes, particularly the epilogue, only serve to remind us of just how epic this book might have been in more able hands. The writing itself is serviceable, although notable amateurish and clunky, sort of like a write by numbers tactics instead of instinctual more naturalistic ease of narrative. Not a terrible book but any means, but all too far from greatness and a regrettable waste of thematic potential. Subject deserved more.
November 9, 2024
Maha Akhtar’s Footprints in the Desert had so much potential. T.E. Lawrence makes an appearance and blows up trains and tracks. The Ottoman Empire is fighting against Faisal ibn Hussein‘s Arab Revolt. The main characters are on the run from Ottoman agents in Cairo. What’s not to like? In all honesty, this book has only its setting to recommend itself. The characters were, if not outright caricatures, shallow and one-dimensional. The dialog is dreadful. The pacing is all over the place. Most of the protagonists have miraculous escapes (except when a minor character is sacrificed to make the story more believable). I’m sure the only reasons I finished this book were the fact that I was tired after a week of library conferencing and trapped on a plane for a couple of hours. I didn’t have many brain cells to spare for anything better...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
March 16, 2015
pub date 02/15/15
This first-class thriller is set in 1916, during WWI, when the British and the Arabs are fighting the Ottoman Turks. You'll be on the edge of your seat as Salah tries to stay one step ahead of the Germans in Cairo. There are times of comic relief, when the Ottoman Secret Police almost remind me of the Keystone Kops, and there are tender moments when young widows wonder about their futures, and there are wonderful scenes when a group of women bond in a coffee shop to support and love and protect each other. T. E. Lawrence makes a cameo appearance, but the other characters, though fictitious, are carefully and wholly developed.
A great read.
I read this e-ARC courtesy of Net Galley and the Publisher.
This first-class thriller is set in 1916, during WWI, when the British and the Arabs are fighting the Ottoman Turks. You'll be on the edge of your seat as Salah tries to stay one step ahead of the Germans in Cairo. There are times of comic relief, when the Ottoman Secret Police almost remind me of the Keystone Kops, and there are tender moments when young widows wonder about their futures, and there are wonderful scenes when a group of women bond in a coffee shop to support and love and protect each other. T. E. Lawrence makes a cameo appearance, but the other characters, though fictitious, are carefully and wholly developed.
A great read.
I read this e-ARC courtesy of Net Galley and the Publisher.
October 21, 2014
Admito que con este libro me dejé llevar por la portada para comenzar a leerlo. Cuando lo vi me trajo varios buenos recuerdos de lecturas pasadas y me di cuenta que había cambiado mucho el género que estaba leyendo dejando de lado algunos muy buenos que nada tenían que ver con la moda literaria actual, por eso sin pensarlo dos veces comencé a leerlo y me gustó. Si bien en un principio puede que confunda con la trama al tratarse quizás de sistemas políticos, en su mayoría no se trata de nada más que de una novela cargada de romance con pincelas de luchas en la guerra.
Noura y Khalid esperan a su primer hijo, pero los trabajos clandestinos de Khalid lo hacen tener que escapar de Turquía durante la noche con su esposa y embarcarse de polizones hacia la ciudad natal de ambos. Pero una vez allí, él es arrestado y ahorcado. En ese momento, Noura viaja hasta El Cairo para vivir con su tía abuela y donde se encuentra con Salah uno de los integrantes del grupo que conformaba su esposo durante su época Universitaria, además formar parte de un grupo de mujeres que se reúnen diariamente en el café de Rania, quienes la alentarán a seguir adelante e intentar ser feliz. Todo dentro del escenario de la lucha de la independencia del poder Turco.
Si bien en un principio los protagonistas podrían ser Noura y Salah, al final la novela resulta ser dividida en varias historias con espacios bien divididos entre cada una de ellas, pero que a nivel personal la que más me gustó no fue la de aquellos que nombramos, ya que estos si bien eran buenos personajes, su personalidad era demasiado neutra, resultando al final no muy ansiada su historia.
Sin duda mis personajes favoritos y los que destacaré, son Rania (La dueña del café) y Rabih, un amigo de Salah, que por extrañas circunstancias necesita de la ayuda de ella, para mantenerse oculto. Son personajes con personalidades fuertes y con decisiones que los llevan a pasar por varias situaciones.
Lo mejor del libro fue sin duda la ambientación. Me agradó mucho salir de aquellos escenarios repetitivos en los que me había visto en vuelta dejando de lado estos que te atraen de una manera tal que con tan solo leer algunas líneas te hace trasladarte al mismo desierto. De una trama despierta que carece de esos estados letárgicos en que sueles dejarlos para seguir más tarde, provocando que su lectura sea rápida y agradable.
Por otro lado, creo que lo malo y lo que podría jugar en contra, es que nos suele engañar con una trama más de ambiente político ante la mención de Lawrence de Arabia y la guerra por la Independencia, pero esto se vuelve más bien una pincelada, prevaleciendo el romance de los protagonistas en su gran mayoría. No lo veo como una desventaja, sino más bien como un engaño para quienes buscan más sobre temas históricos, cosa que tiene, pero en grado mínimo.
¿Lo Recomiendo? Sí, para las personas románticas, que disfrutan de un libro de época y un poco de sufrimiento, es un libro perfecto para disfrutar. Se va a la categoría de “Agradable” porque aún siento que algo le faltó.
http://leyendoentreletras.blogspot.co...
Noura y Khalid esperan a su primer hijo, pero los trabajos clandestinos de Khalid lo hacen tener que escapar de Turquía durante la noche con su esposa y embarcarse de polizones hacia la ciudad natal de ambos. Pero una vez allí, él es arrestado y ahorcado. En ese momento, Noura viaja hasta El Cairo para vivir con su tía abuela y donde se encuentra con Salah uno de los integrantes del grupo que conformaba su esposo durante su época Universitaria, además formar parte de un grupo de mujeres que se reúnen diariamente en el café de Rania, quienes la alentarán a seguir adelante e intentar ser feliz. Todo dentro del escenario de la lucha de la independencia del poder Turco.
Si bien en un principio los protagonistas podrían ser Noura y Salah, al final la novela resulta ser dividida en varias historias con espacios bien divididos entre cada una de ellas, pero que a nivel personal la que más me gustó no fue la de aquellos que nombramos, ya que estos si bien eran buenos personajes, su personalidad era demasiado neutra, resultando al final no muy ansiada su historia.
Sin duda mis personajes favoritos y los que destacaré, son Rania (La dueña del café) y Rabih, un amigo de Salah, que por extrañas circunstancias necesita de la ayuda de ella, para mantenerse oculto. Son personajes con personalidades fuertes y con decisiones que los llevan a pasar por varias situaciones.
Lo mejor del libro fue sin duda la ambientación. Me agradó mucho salir de aquellos escenarios repetitivos en los que me había visto en vuelta dejando de lado estos que te atraen de una manera tal que con tan solo leer algunas líneas te hace trasladarte al mismo desierto. De una trama despierta que carece de esos estados letárgicos en que sueles dejarlos para seguir más tarde, provocando que su lectura sea rápida y agradable.
Por otro lado, creo que lo malo y lo que podría jugar en contra, es que nos suele engañar con una trama más de ambiente político ante la mención de Lawrence de Arabia y la guerra por la Independencia, pero esto se vuelve más bien una pincelada, prevaleciendo el romance de los protagonistas en su gran mayoría. No lo veo como una desventaja, sino más bien como un engaño para quienes buscan más sobre temas históricos, cosa que tiene, pero en grado mínimo.
¿Lo Recomiendo? Sí, para las personas románticas, que disfrutan de un libro de época y un poco de sufrimiento, es un libro perfecto para disfrutar. Se va a la categoría de “Agradable” porque aún siento que algo le faltó.
http://leyendoentreletras.blogspot.co...
February 7, 2017
Adventure in Mesopotamia.
This is Maha Akhtar's second book, but the first to be available in English. It is an historical novel about the war in Mesopotamia towards the end of the Ottoman Empire, with a couple of guest appearances by Lawrence of Arabia.
Wikkipedia defines Mesopotamia as "The area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, corresponding to modern-day Iraq, Kuwait, the northeastern section of Syria and to a much lesser extent southeastern Turkey and smaller parts of southwestern Iran."
I have read a number of novels set in this area but this one felt quite different, being written from the Arab perspective.
I enjoyed the interaction between the women who supported and cared for each other while their men fought and died for their beliefs. I was less enthusiastic about the somewhat crazy adventures that the men pursued, These journeys seemed to involve a large element of chance and this started to become irritating. One example that comes to mind was the regular appearance of the sea captain Musa Nair, like a genie who appeared whenever he was needed.
The descriptions of Cairo were excellent and the underground tunnels were fascinating. This was where the book excelled.
The adventure itself had me wanting to pick the book up but the number of convenient coincidences started to get a bit irritating and I felt the author had a bit of an agenda.
I would imagine this book would appeal to readers who enjoy romance and adventure, and lovers of historical fiction, but for my taste I think it needed a bit more detail to make the events feel less random.
This is Maha Akhtar's second book, but the first to be available in English. It is an historical novel about the war in Mesopotamia towards the end of the Ottoman Empire, with a couple of guest appearances by Lawrence of Arabia.
Wikkipedia defines Mesopotamia as "The area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, corresponding to modern-day Iraq, Kuwait, the northeastern section of Syria and to a much lesser extent southeastern Turkey and smaller parts of southwestern Iran."
I have read a number of novels set in this area but this one felt quite different, being written from the Arab perspective.
I enjoyed the interaction between the women who supported and cared for each other while their men fought and died for their beliefs. I was less enthusiastic about the somewhat crazy adventures that the men pursued, These journeys seemed to involve a large element of chance and this started to become irritating. One example that comes to mind was the regular appearance of the sea captain Musa Nair, like a genie who appeared whenever he was needed.
The descriptions of Cairo were excellent and the underground tunnels were fascinating. This was where the book excelled.
The adventure itself had me wanting to pick the book up but the number of convenient coincidences started to get a bit irritating and I felt the author had a bit of an agenda.
I would imagine this book would appeal to readers who enjoy romance and adventure, and lovers of historical fiction, but for my taste I think it needed a bit more detail to make the events feel less random.
March 31, 2024
Un matrimonio que cruza el desierto para una mejor vida, y la esposa se da cuenta que no lo sabe todo sobre su esposo y se ve inmersa en un mundo desconocido, pero al encontrarse con mas mujeres en su nuevo pueblo entre todas se ayudaran para salir adelante.
Secretos, intriga, violencia, política y un mundo de hombres que no dan tregua a la mujer en la sociedad.
Me encantó esta historia, sobre todo la parte en que las mujeres se ayudan y apoyan unas a otras. Sororidad.
Secretos, intriga, violencia, política y un mundo de hombres que no dan tregua a la mujer en la sociedad.
Me encantó esta historia, sobre todo la parte en que las mujeres se ayudan y apoyan unas a otras. Sororidad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2020
* Las huellas en el desierto * de Maha Akhar
Sinopsis:
💕 1916. Primera Guerra Mundial. El Imperio Otomano apoyado por Alemania ocupa gran parte de la península árabe. Una historia de espionaje, amor, guerra, esperanza y traición.
Opinión:
💫 Buenos días lectores, hoy os traigo una novela diferente a lo que estoy acostumbrada a leer. Fui a por el de "Un burka por amor" pero no estaba la edición que quería y terminé llevándome este que la verdad no le había visto por aquí y me llamó mucho la atención.
Es una novela de amor y pasión desenfrenado. Desde un amor maternal que sería capaz de todo por salvar la vida de su hijo como el amor más erótico y explícito que podáis imaginar. Todo perfectamente hilado a un ambiente guerrero con un transfondo político y religioso sin precedentes.
Nos habla en mayor medida de la ocupación extranjera y su aceptación o rechazo, los movimientos de liberación nacionales, las intervenciones de las grandes potencias europeas en Oriente Medio y las repercusiones de la guerra en la vida de las mujeres y niños que debían vivir una vida propia de la que parecian no ser partícipes.
Es una historia bonita, pero muy dura con una moraleja muy triste y por desgracia cierta.
Me ha gustado mucho en cuanto a su evolución y desarrollo.
Se lee rápido y es muy necesario.
Me ha encantado y quiero seguir explorando el género por que no tiene pérdida.
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💕 ¿Soléis leer libros de este estilo?
Sinopsis:
💕 1916. Primera Guerra Mundial. El Imperio Otomano apoyado por Alemania ocupa gran parte de la península árabe. Una historia de espionaje, amor, guerra, esperanza y traición.
Opinión:
💫 Buenos días lectores, hoy os traigo una novela diferente a lo que estoy acostumbrada a leer. Fui a por el de "Un burka por amor" pero no estaba la edición que quería y terminé llevándome este que la verdad no le había visto por aquí y me llamó mucho la atención.
Es una novela de amor y pasión desenfrenado. Desde un amor maternal que sería capaz de todo por salvar la vida de su hijo como el amor más erótico y explícito que podáis imaginar. Todo perfectamente hilado a un ambiente guerrero con un transfondo político y religioso sin precedentes.
Nos habla en mayor medida de la ocupación extranjera y su aceptación o rechazo, los movimientos de liberación nacionales, las intervenciones de las grandes potencias europeas en Oriente Medio y las repercusiones de la guerra en la vida de las mujeres y niños que debían vivir una vida propia de la que parecian no ser partícipes.
Es una historia bonita, pero muy dura con una moraleja muy triste y por desgracia cierta.
Me ha gustado mucho en cuanto a su evolución y desarrollo.
Se lee rápido y es muy necesario.
Me ha encantado y quiero seguir explorando el género por que no tiene pérdida.
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💕 ¿Soléis leer libros de este estilo?
October 12, 2019
Esta historia se desarrolla en los últimos años del imperio otomano y nos narra la historia de las personas que estuvieron detrás de esta revolución. En este libro podemos ver los pactos que se forjaron, se rompieron, los engaños, las traiciones y lo forma en que la guerra trastoco la vida de todas las personas involucradas en el plan de revolución y el efecto que tuvo en los familiares y allegados. Si es cierto, que no todo lo que el libro narra es cierto, ya que en sí parte de la trama es producto de la autora, pero en el transcurso de la lectura se pueden sacar los hechos reales para aislarlos de la ficción. Esta novela histórica desarrolla diversas historias todas interconectadas, dando un foco importante al amor, la familia y amigos de estos personajes históricos. También obtenemos un vistazo de varias culturas, aderezado con un inserción en el lenguaje árabe, donde la autora nos expone a un glosario básico de palabras común usadas en el dialecto.
Huelllas en el desierto nos da una manera muy interesante de conocer los pormenores de el derrocamiento del imperio otomano, la participación y "apoyo" de los británicos a la causa, para al final solo hacerse con el territorio árabe y compartirlo con los franceses, pasar de unas manos a otras.
En la guerra y en amor todo se vale, ¿eso no es lo que se dice?
Huelllas en el desierto nos da una manera muy interesante de conocer los pormenores de el derrocamiento del imperio otomano, la participación y "apoyo" de los británicos a la causa, para al final solo hacerse con el territorio árabe y compartirlo con los franceses, pasar de unas manos a otras.
En la guerra y en amor todo se vale, ¿eso no es lo que se dice?
March 8, 2020
Despite a super strong opening (I loved Chapter 1), the whole thing deteriorates and leaves me wondering...why do I even care? It's unclear what Saleh's doing this whole time but IT'S SUPER DANGEROUS AND TOP SECRET AND OH MY GOD IS THAT LAWRENCE OF ARABIA??? Yes, yes it is. God knows why. While I would have loved to read a thriller set in the Arab revolt that brought down the Ottoman Empire, this is not the one. It's not thrilling, for one, and sometimes the text is so ridiculous it's cringe-worthy. There are also just enormous sections of text where nothing happens. No plot movement, no character development, no speculation on the human condition...just hanging out at a cafe. While I can't give it one star because I reserve that for the worst of the worst, I can't give this any more than 2 stars. If anyone has other Arab revolt novels to recommend that do not feature a white protagonist, I'm here for it.
September 8, 2025
Por qué nadie habla de este libro?😭
Este libro ha sido una auténtica locura, una auténtica maravilla, una experiencia inolvidable, ha sido uno de los mejores libros que he leído.
Una historia amorosa, tierna, bonita, y a la vez desgarradora. Esta historia comienza en Turquía, en 1916, en plena 1ra guerra mundial con la ocupación del imperio otomano en la peninsula arábiga , en el Líbano y termina en 1918 en egipto.
Este libro toca muchos temas políticos, como las colonizaciones británicas y francesas en medio oriente, los arabes intentando liberarse de los otomanos, también al final del libro de habla de como comenzó toda la ocupación de los judíos en Palestina, cosa que al leer me quedé loca. 🤯
Me ha encantado la manera de escribir de la autora, la historia y los personajes en mi opinión son perfectos. Sin Duda aprendí muchísimo con este libro . Y para nada es un libro pesado, todo lo contrario, me leí el libro en 2 días sin darme cuenta, ha sido una maravilloso leer este libro.
Este libro ha sido una auténtica locura, una auténtica maravilla, una experiencia inolvidable, ha sido uno de los mejores libros que he leído.
Una historia amorosa, tierna, bonita, y a la vez desgarradora. Esta historia comienza en Turquía, en 1916, en plena 1ra guerra mundial con la ocupación del imperio otomano en la peninsula arábiga , en el Líbano y termina en 1918 en egipto.
Este libro toca muchos temas políticos, como las colonizaciones británicas y francesas en medio oriente, los arabes intentando liberarse de los otomanos, también al final del libro de habla de como comenzó toda la ocupación de los judíos en Palestina, cosa que al leer me quedé loca. 🤯
Me ha encantado la manera de escribir de la autora, la historia y los personajes en mi opinión son perfectos. Sin Duda aprendí muchísimo con este libro . Y para nada es un libro pesado, todo lo contrario, me leí el libro en 2 días sin darme cuenta, ha sido una maravilloso leer este libro.
November 25, 2020
Me gusta la mezcla de historia con ficción. Entre los conflictos de la Primera Guerra Mundial y la lucha de los países árabes y el Imperio Otomano y el amor en medio.
Los personajes femeninos me gustaron mucho, se saben sobreponer a los obstáculos que se les han ido presentando, en un Egipto de principios del siglo XX, ganándose la vida por si mismas; Y entre ellas han sabido hacer un grupo de mutuo apoyo, una familia.
La recomiendo mucho.
Los personajes femeninos me gustaron mucho, se saben sobreponer a los obstáculos que se les han ido presentando, en un Egipto de principios del siglo XX, ganándose la vida por si mismas; Y entre ellas han sabido hacer un grupo de mutuo apoyo, una familia.
La recomiendo mucho.
January 5, 2018
La historia de amor y amistad basada en las mujeres de la época de la Revolución Arabe de 1917 me parece inverosímil, pero no esta mal. Sin embargo, aunque son pocos, los datos históricos fueron interesantes ya que desconocía el tema. No está mal para pasar el rato.
August 24, 2021
Me gusta la forma en que la autora cuenta las historias y la manera en que las integra con la realidad. Esto me ayuda a entender parte de los conflictos actuales en esa zona tan complicada de comprender para occidente.
February 4, 2022
I love this book, it’s one of my favorite books! Yes, maybe autor could do a better job but it’s very interesting and so easy to read.
Me encanta, y sin dudas, es uno de mis libros favoritos de la vida. Desarrolla los personajes muy bien, y hace que empatices con ellos y su respectiva historia.
Me encanta, y sin dudas, es uno de mis libros favoritos de la vida. Desarrolla los personajes muy bien, y hace que empatices con ellos y su respectiva historia.
March 1, 2024
Loved this! The author does an amazing job combining war and the complexities of human life and interpersonal relationships all while telling us a story that makes the reader feel like inside the Cairo Bazaar
July 29, 2019
Ben scritto e con ottimo ritmo.
February 13, 2020
Historia lenta esta para pasar un buen rato pero no me encanto
February 4, 2021
Excellent book
I love the way the story is written by mixing fact and fiction so well. I strongly recommend reading it.
I love the way the story is written by mixing fact and fiction so well. I strongly recommend reading it.
October 19, 2019
Un libro entretenido y ameno de leer. Lo leí sin embargo después de Miel y Almendras, de la misma autora, y no conseguí meterme del todo dentro del libro. La complicidad y la amistad que se forja entre las mujeres del café de Rania no se puede comparar con la del grupo de amigas libanesas de Beirut en Miel y Almendras. La autora le quiere dar un toque más historico y político introduciendo a Lawrence de Arabia pero no logra hacer creible el personaje. Los capítulos acerca de la guerra en el desierto se hacen pesados. La ambientación es lo que más destacaria, te hace realmente viajar por las calles laberínticas del Cairo. Antes recomendaría otros libros de la misma autora como Miel y Almendras o Medianoche en Damasco.
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December 24, 2016Aunque la referencia del libro lo sitúa en la 2ª guerra mundial, se trata de un error porque realmente la trama se sitúa en la 1ª, cuando se produjo la caída del imperio otomano, que ha sido el origen de todas las guerras, incluidas las actuales con el terrorismo árabe, que desde entonces se vienen dado en el próximo oriente, gracias, fundamentalmente, a la incompetencia de franceses e ingleses, que dividieron la zona, como les pareció, sin tener en cuenta los grupos étnicos existentes en cada una.
En realidad la autora utiliza la guerra como pretexto para escribir una novela de amor, centrándose en las situaciones que esa guerra provoca en un grupo de mujeres, que cada una, de distinta forma, afronta su situación personal como mejor puede. Utiliza a personajes históricos como Laurent de Arabia y alguno de sus colaboradores, creo que para dar mas consistencia al relato.
La novela es entretenida, se lee bien y está bien escrita. Mantiene el interés y como casi siempre sucede en este tipo de relatos el final es un tanto predecible, lo cual no quita interés a la narración.
En realidad la autora utiliza la guerra como pretexto para escribir una novela de amor, centrándose en las situaciones que esa guerra provoca en un grupo de mujeres, que cada una, de distinta forma, afronta su situación personal como mejor puede. Utiliza a personajes históricos como Laurent de Arabia y alguno de sus colaboradores, creo que para dar mas consistencia al relato.
La novela es entretenida, se lee bien y está bien escrita. Mantiene el interés y como casi siempre sucede en este tipo de relatos el final es un tanto predecible, lo cual no quita interés a la narración.
June 30, 2015
There is much to admire about Maha Akhtar’s novel Footprints in the Desert. The prose is literary quality and the author paints an exceptionally vivid portrait of exotic locales embroiled in war – and it’s easy to feel the despair and loss experienced by the main characters.
I pulled three quotes from the Kindle file to illustrate not only the high quality of the writing but also a greater point with regard to the book’s overall theme:
“What has this war done to us? To make us not care about the things that really matter?”
“Endings are inevitable, Noura,” Salah began hesitantly. “An ending can be the end of a year, the end of a summer, the end of a war, or the death of someone we loved. Whatever they are, endings always make us feel sad. But we move on. And the people we have lost along the way are the small clear voices in our heads that will be with us always.”
“In the end, despite Lawrence’s efforts, the Arab point of view was completely ignored and the British and French promises made by Henry McMahon to Sharif Hussein of Mecca in 1915 disappeared like footprints in the desert sand.”
As you can see, the writing is beautiful. What I think you can also see is a theme developing – the main characters all have struggles because of the war; and as the book closes, the author really hits home with the idea that this is a universal struggle still felt by millions of people today and asks readers: “will the conflicts there ever cease?”
It’s a powerful book, for sure. Other reviewers already mentioned the two real criticisms I have so I’ll just echo their sentiments. The love stories in the middle and toward the end really killed the momentum for me. I get it, many readers will love them. But I didn’t care. Also, many of the dramatic fight scenes, spy scenes, sneaking around the souk in back alley scenes … it felt as if the writer had less command over her craft when it came to that aspect of the book. There were really beautiful passages dealing with loss and suffering and friends reaching out to help one another … followed by a dramatic chase that felt, well, silly.
Anyway, I believe most readers of literary/historical fiction will enjoy this book. I would recommend it: 4/5 stars.
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This is a honest/unbiased review of a free digital edition courtesy NetGalley and the publisher.
I pulled three quotes from the Kindle file to illustrate not only the high quality of the writing but also a greater point with regard to the book’s overall theme:
“What has this war done to us? To make us not care about the things that really matter?”
“Endings are inevitable, Noura,” Salah began hesitantly. “An ending can be the end of a year, the end of a summer, the end of a war, or the death of someone we loved. Whatever they are, endings always make us feel sad. But we move on. And the people we have lost along the way are the small clear voices in our heads that will be with us always.”
“In the end, despite Lawrence’s efforts, the Arab point of view was completely ignored and the British and French promises made by Henry McMahon to Sharif Hussein of Mecca in 1915 disappeared like footprints in the desert sand.”
As you can see, the writing is beautiful. What I think you can also see is a theme developing – the main characters all have struggles because of the war; and as the book closes, the author really hits home with the idea that this is a universal struggle still felt by millions of people today and asks readers: “will the conflicts there ever cease?”
It’s a powerful book, for sure. Other reviewers already mentioned the two real criticisms I have so I’ll just echo their sentiments. The love stories in the middle and toward the end really killed the momentum for me. I get it, many readers will love them. But I didn’t care. Also, many of the dramatic fight scenes, spy scenes, sneaking around the souk in back alley scenes … it felt as if the writer had less command over her craft when it came to that aspect of the book. There were really beautiful passages dealing with loss and suffering and friends reaching out to help one another … followed by a dramatic chase that felt, well, silly.
Anyway, I believe most readers of literary/historical fiction will enjoy this book. I would recommend it: 4/5 stars.
---
This is a honest/unbiased review of a free digital edition courtesy NetGalley and the publisher.
September 18, 2015
Read the full review on http://www.talesbetweenthepages.comFo... in the Desert by Maha Akhtar has all the potential to be a great book. The setting is fantastic, the story and characters are compelling, but the book falls flat in one important way: I laughed when I wasn't supposed to.
Let me explain. The villains in this book are SO inept and that it felt like I was watching an old comedy movie where the villain shakes his fist at the sky and screams the main character's name every time a plan is foiled. You see, the villains in this book are chasing one man, Salah. Salah hides in the Khan el-Kalili bazaar in Cairo, one of the biggest souks in the world. Rather than keep trying to find him, the villains decide to just blow up the entire bazaar ... that stretches miles and miles in every direction. So, they dig small trenches around all the buildings and run wire through the entire bazaar (no one sees this). It's all connected to one detonation point. What happens? I'll tell you what happens, Salah's lady love, Noura figures it out and starts cutting the wire behind the man who is laying it. It's SO. RIDICULOUS. When the Turks go to detonate, nothing happens and they shake their fists at the sky.
These villains are caricatures. Every lame plan they hatch is as ridiculous. I was laughing when I shouldn't have been, and that's a big problem. It kept me from enjoying the novel as I should have.
The only reason why I give this 2 stars is because the women in the novel are fantastic. They share a deep bond and form a community that is a pleasure to read. They alone save the book.
Perhaps this isn't the most detailed review I can give, but the ridiculous parts outweigh everything else. It's hard to focus on the good when the villains seem like guys running around in trench coats and fake mustaches.This review was originally posted on Tales Between the Pages
Let me explain. The villains in this book are SO inept and that it felt like I was watching an old comedy movie where the villain shakes his fist at the sky and screams the main character's name every time a plan is foiled. You see, the villains in this book are chasing one man, Salah. Salah hides in the Khan el-Kalili bazaar in Cairo, one of the biggest souks in the world. Rather than keep trying to find him, the villains decide to just blow up the entire bazaar ... that stretches miles and miles in every direction. So, they dig small trenches around all the buildings and run wire through the entire bazaar (no one sees this). It's all connected to one detonation point. What happens? I'll tell you what happens, Salah's lady love, Noura figures it out and starts cutting the wire behind the man who is laying it. It's SO. RIDICULOUS. When the Turks go to detonate, nothing happens and they shake their fists at the sky.
These villains are caricatures. Every lame plan they hatch is as ridiculous. I was laughing when I shouldn't have been, and that's a big problem. It kept me from enjoying the novel as I should have.
The only reason why I give this 2 stars is because the women in the novel are fantastic. They share a deep bond and form a community that is a pleasure to read. They alone save the book.
Perhaps this isn't the most detailed review I can give, but the ridiculous parts outweigh everything else. It's hard to focus on the good when the villains seem like guys running around in trench coats and fake mustaches.This review was originally posted on Tales Between the Pages
August 5, 2015
I was able to preview Orhan’s Inheritance earlier this year and have noticed more about the Armenian genocide in Turkey during WWI this year – in part because the novel heightened my awareness of the subject and also because this year marks the hundredth anniversary of most of those killings. When I read the description for Maha Akhtar’s upcoming Footprints in the Desert, I was under the impression it would also address the Armenian genocide. While it does involve the role of Turkey in WWI, I was wrong about the Armenian genocide being brought up. Instead, Footprints in the Desert focuses on the guerrilla and espionage tactics taken by orchestrators and participants in the Arab revolt – and the important role played by the women supporting them at home in the Khan el-Khalili bazaar in Cairo.
Salah Masri is one of several college friends involved in spying on Turkish and German movements in Izmir, but he is the only one of his friends to escape capture and execution, fleeing to his mother’s home in Cairo. He soon learns that Noura, the widow of one of those friends, is moving to Cairo to stay with relatives and her infant daughter while she rebuilds her life. His mother proves to be a valuable friend for Noura, introducing her to a small, tight-knit community of women in the bazaar, many of whom are widows that have been forced to similarly rebuild their lives. As Noura grieves, Salah continues with the work to generate and support an Arab revolt, pushing for an independent Arab state when the end of the war inevitably comes. Working alongside T.E. Lawrence, who would come to be called Lawrence of Arabia, Salah recruits more friends to the cause while evading and outwitting Turkish officers who want to catch the spy and make an example of him.
For the complete review, please visit my blog:
http://wp.me/pUEx4-GR
Salah Masri is one of several college friends involved in spying on Turkish and German movements in Izmir, but he is the only one of his friends to escape capture and execution, fleeing to his mother’s home in Cairo. He soon learns that Noura, the widow of one of those friends, is moving to Cairo to stay with relatives and her infant daughter while she rebuilds her life. His mother proves to be a valuable friend for Noura, introducing her to a small, tight-knit community of women in the bazaar, many of whom are widows that have been forced to similarly rebuild their lives. As Noura grieves, Salah continues with the work to generate and support an Arab revolt, pushing for an independent Arab state when the end of the war inevitably comes. Working alongside T.E. Lawrence, who would come to be called Lawrence of Arabia, Salah recruits more friends to the cause while evading and outwitting Turkish officers who want to catch the spy and make an example of him.
For the complete review, please visit my blog:
http://wp.me/pUEx4-GR
July 10, 2015
(Thank you Netgalley for an early release copy)
Maha Akhtar's new novel Footprints in the Desert has something for everybody: romance, espionage, war, history. set in the middle east during WWI, the story begins when Salah find out that his clandestine activities, which was drawn into unwillingly, have been exposed and that he faces imminent arrest. He must leave Ottoman Turkey for somewhere safe. His initial escape is not without it's challenges, but he ultimately makes it to Cairo, where he has family. While he is escaping, unknown to him, his closest friends have been captured with tragic results.
At the same time Salah is balancing fulfilling his commitments to his country and staying alive, the widow of one of his best friends, Noura, also flees to Cairo. Soon the Turks are looking to both of them. The Ottoman Turks follow Salah and Noura to Cairo, and soon their circle of friends is also caught up in fighting the Turks and defending the Arabs, who are being used by the British and French to advance their own interests in the Mid-East, and the war. There are a whole host of real historical figures involved with Salah, Noura and the others as they support those who are being persecuted by the Turks. Who do you trust? Where do you turn? How do you protect your friends? Commitments and faith are as elusive as...Footprints in the Desert.
The author has included an Epilogue with an interesting description of the actual activities and results of those involved in the middle east in WWI, including how the European powers split up territory and created many of the Arab countries we know today, and sowing the seeds of the discord and distrust that exists today.
The writing is very clean and it's an easy read. What a great way to learn about history at the same time as enjoying a good read!
Maha Akhtar's new novel Footprints in the Desert has something for everybody: romance, espionage, war, history. set in the middle east during WWI, the story begins when Salah find out that his clandestine activities, which was drawn into unwillingly, have been exposed and that he faces imminent arrest. He must leave Ottoman Turkey for somewhere safe. His initial escape is not without it's challenges, but he ultimately makes it to Cairo, where he has family. While he is escaping, unknown to him, his closest friends have been captured with tragic results.
At the same time Salah is balancing fulfilling his commitments to his country and staying alive, the widow of one of his best friends, Noura, also flees to Cairo. Soon the Turks are looking to both of them. The Ottoman Turks follow Salah and Noura to Cairo, and soon their circle of friends is also caught up in fighting the Turks and defending the Arabs, who are being used by the British and French to advance their own interests in the Mid-East, and the war. There are a whole host of real historical figures involved with Salah, Noura and the others as they support those who are being persecuted by the Turks. Who do you trust? Where do you turn? How do you protect your friends? Commitments and faith are as elusive as...Footprints in the Desert.
The author has included an Epilogue with an interesting description of the actual activities and results of those involved in the middle east in WWI, including how the European powers split up territory and created many of the Arab countries we know today, and sowing the seeds of the discord and distrust that exists today.
The writing is very clean and it's an easy read. What a great way to learn about history at the same time as enjoying a good read!
January 20, 2016
Dynamic Events But the Telling is Dull,
it is two years since the outbreak of WWI. Salah Masri works as an engineer on the railway that connects Damascus to Medina. He has managed to keep himself away from the war that is raging around him in the Ottoman Empire, has helped maintain the railways and has no plans to disrupt the situation the Middle East has found itself in, that of the Ottoman Empire siding with the German Alliance.
All this changes after he meets Prince Faisel bin Hussein. He agrees to help, using the secret knowledge he can gather in his job to bring about the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Unfortunately, one of the German officers, Colonel Erdogan suspects that Salah Masri may be about to defect and implements several roadblocks in the hope of catching him before he escapes, but thanks to his friend, a captain of a ship, he manages to escape and using his knowledge of the railway, the group, including T E Lawrence, manage to cause enough mayhem to help in the downfall of the Ottoman Empire.
I wish I could give this book more than two stars. Maha Akhtor has researched the facts about this particular aspect of WWI thoroughly and for that alone this book deserves 5 stars. Unfortunately, I found the story itself, tedious and boring, which is a terrible shame, because the advice of Prince Faisel, T E Lawrence and all the other Arab leaders was completely ignored at the Treaty of Sevres, leading to much, if not all of the turmoil this region now faces.—Treebeard
it is two years since the outbreak of WWI. Salah Masri works as an engineer on the railway that connects Damascus to Medina. He has managed to keep himself away from the war that is raging around him in the Ottoman Empire, has helped maintain the railways and has no plans to disrupt the situation the Middle East has found itself in, that of the Ottoman Empire siding with the German Alliance.
All this changes after he meets Prince Faisel bin Hussein. He agrees to help, using the secret knowledge he can gather in his job to bring about the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Unfortunately, one of the German officers, Colonel Erdogan suspects that Salah Masri may be about to defect and implements several roadblocks in the hope of catching him before he escapes, but thanks to his friend, a captain of a ship, he manages to escape and using his knowledge of the railway, the group, including T E Lawrence, manage to cause enough mayhem to help in the downfall of the Ottoman Empire.
I wish I could give this book more than two stars. Maha Akhtor has researched the facts about this particular aspect of WWI thoroughly and for that alone this book deserves 5 stars. Unfortunately, I found the story itself, tedious and boring, which is a terrible shame, because the advice of Prince Faisel, T E Lawrence and all the other Arab leaders was completely ignored at the Treaty of Sevres, leading to much, if not all of the turmoil this region now faces.—Treebeard
August 8, 2015
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in the exchange for an honest review.
That is a 3.8 stars out of 4.
What I enjoyed: The book takes place during the fall of the Ottoman Empire. This subject alone is very fascinatig to me. I love learning about the rise and fall of different empires. I was immediately hooked with the idea of this novel through the synopsis. It is a work of historical fiction. The characters are well developed, and I found myself thinking about this book when I was not reading it. There were some scences that were so gut wrenching and I felt transported into the story. The author did a great job with pulling the reader into this historical world. The novel is about love, community, and getting caught in the chaos of war.
Why this was not rated higher: The novel focused too much on characters love life. I wanted more about the politics and war (historical events) of the fall of the Ottoman Empire. There were some scenes that the author described in too much detail. It took away from the flow of the story. That is about all that I struggled with. They are very personal opinions, but I just could not overlook them.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. I would read more novels by this author because I felt like I was right there in the midst of the story unraveling.
That is a 3.8 stars out of 4.
What I enjoyed: The book takes place during the fall of the Ottoman Empire. This subject alone is very fascinatig to me. I love learning about the rise and fall of different empires. I was immediately hooked with the idea of this novel through the synopsis. It is a work of historical fiction. The characters are well developed, and I found myself thinking about this book when I was not reading it. There were some scences that were so gut wrenching and I felt transported into the story. The author did a great job with pulling the reader into this historical world. The novel is about love, community, and getting caught in the chaos of war.
Why this was not rated higher: The novel focused too much on characters love life. I wanted more about the politics and war (historical events) of the fall of the Ottoman Empire. There were some scenes that the author described in too much detail. It took away from the flow of the story. That is about all that I struggled with. They are very personal opinions, but I just could not overlook them.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. I would read more novels by this author because I felt like I was right there in the midst of the story unraveling.
August 9, 2015
Fans of the movie “Lawrence of Arabia” will no doubt enjoy his insertion into this story. I have never seen the movie but certainly know of Thomas Edward Lawrence. He stood 5 feet and 5 inches tall but was a giant for his feats during the Arab revolt of 1916. This story is much more about life in the Middle East during the revolution and is centered more on the women of that time, specifically a group of friends living in Cairo Egypt at the time. Insert also the male figures who were prominent in the lives of this group and the roles they played during their involvement in the revolution. It may be a story more suited to women (which I am not) but I found it to be a fascinating story and certainly one I would recommend to any friend. As with any books I read I am never impressed by the use of foreign language I have no knowledge of, but I have learned to glaze over those phrases and though it does not offer me anything it does not detract from a story being great and likely lends authenticity. As a bonus there are historical bits of knowledge offered in a great story. I will look for more works from this five star author.
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