Moonlight Hotel

by Scott Anderson

David Richards is a mid-level diplomat assigned to the sleepy Middle Eastern kingdom of Kutar. Richards spends his days monitoring small development projects and his nights attending embassy cocktail parties and bedding various visiting American women and diplomats’ wives.

The time is the early 1980s, when the American Empire has begun to tentatively flex its muscles once again. Kutar is a diplomatic backwater, a former British colony, barely a blip on the State Department’s radar back in Washington. For centuries desultory tribal conflict has flared sporadically in the arid hills hundreds of miles from the coastal capital of Laradan, and as the book opens rumors of a new skirmish there reach the city’s inhabitants. As always, the residents of Laradan ignore the stories, but this time something is The Americans decide to do something about it.

As any casual student of geopolitics might guess, this is bad news for the people of Kutar. Urged on by a Kurtzian American military advisor named Colonel Munn, the little-used Kutaran army marches into the hills. In quick order they are decimated, and with stunning rapidity the heights above Laradan are occupied by a rebel force possessed of the government’s abandoned artillery. Soon the Americans, and all other foreigners, are ordered from the country and leave the people of Laradan to their fate.

For his own deeply personal reasons, David chooses to stay on in the besieged city, and moves into the Moonlight Hotel, a crumbling colonial dinosaur. There he is joined by an eclectic assortment of other foreigners, including a senior British diplomat, an acid-tongued Romanian countess, and Amira, an aristocratic young woman who previously spurned David’s romantic advances. Together, this small community tries to maneuver over the radically-changed landscape of the beleaguered city, while holding out hope that the outside world might yet come to its rescue. Then the shooting begins in earnest.

Genres: Fiction, War

384 pages, Paperback

First published May 16, 2006

About the author

Scott Anderson is a veteran war correspondent who has reported from Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Northern Ireland, Chechnya, Sudan, Bosnia, El Salvador, and many other strife-torn countries. He is a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine, and his work has also appeared in Vanity Fair, Esquire, Harper's and Outside.

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this book in the background while watching an Anthony Bourdain episode of No Reservations. It was the Emmy nominated one from Beirut when he was evacuated during fighting in 2006 or so. Ironic that he was reading a book in which the plot had the same circumstances he found himself in. Surprising there isn't more buzz about this 2006 book and why hasn't it been made into a movie yet? It's right up there with "The Quiet American" and "The Ugly American." It reminded me of Graham Greene's books on the great powers and their representatives being forced to make life changing decisions. It's set during the 1980's in an imaginary Middle Eastern nation that sounds like a cross between Lebanon and Yemen but situated in the vicinity of Yemen or Oman. David Richards is a womanizing Foreign Service Officer working development projects in the country when circumstances force him into a pivotal role in which his morals, ethics, and patience are tested to the limit by war, bureaucracy, and what life is throwing at him. There are the typical stereotyped military and diplomatic men who always seem to have an agenda and are in denial of reality. But there is also a love story and a plot that keeps you turning the pages. You are never quite sure where this book is headed but it's full of surprises and a very realistic read. The author gives a shattering description over several pages of what artillery does to human bodies. However, despite all its realism and accuracy he calls the uniforms of the Marine guards at the embassy dress blacks and not dress blues. My only minor criticism. It's rather funny at times, especially when dealing with the Marine colonel who causes the whole revolution and gets promoted twice for his failures to become a two star general. This book certainly doesn't do any favors for American diplomacy but it's a great read.

[Chrisl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is sticking with me. Current events in Yemen sending reminder signals. Would like to meet author and hear his recollections. Recommended. Particularly for Graham Greene readers.

[Conrad · Rating 5 out of 5]

From his years as a war correspondent Scott Anderson brings an authenticity to his tale of an obscure Middle East country (actually sounds like Yemen) that is ravaged by civil war and of the absurdities of American intervention (and lack thereof) when the winds of change blow through the region. He allows the reader to live through the humanitarian disaster and gain some understanding for the damage inflicted on the populace. Great story told well.

[Missallison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling especially in light of what has been done under Bush. A very authentic fiction novel that reads like non-fiction..with a touch more sentimentality.

[Susan Gottfried]

Wow, I loved this. Thought it was a really fun ride that reinforces how I know absolutely nothing about diplomacy and how things work... and yet it all rings impossibly true.

What gets me the most, though, are the small details that create an authenticity for this work. This may be fiction, but there's a lot here that says Anderson's been through some things.

Definitely one of my favorite reads of the year so far. I know. It's only March. But given how often I really love a book, this might be my favorite read of the entire year.

[Frederick Bingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of David Richards, set in the early 1980's in the fictional nation of Kutar. Kutar is a peaceful, sleepy kingdom in the mideast. It is ruled by a benevolent but autocratic king. It is divided into two parts, a prosperous coastal region, and a poor interior desert and mountainous region that is inhabited by a ragtag group of rebels. The capital, Ladaran is on the coast, where Richards is stationed as a low level foreign service functionary working in the american embassy. He has little to do but attend boring meetings, write interminable reports, and go observe development projects funded by the US government.One day, there is an attack on an outlying village by a rebel group. An american military man named Colonel Munn arrives to try to fend off the attack and beat back the rebels. He gives the Kutar military some very bad advice, and in short order, the rebels take over most of the country and capture nearly all of the army's weapons. The capital is surrounded by the rebels and a siege ensues. All the diplomats and foreigners in Kutar leave the country. David is tasked with staying behind as the sole representative of american interests. David and a small group of foreigners hole up at an old place called the Moonlight Hotel. As the situation careens out of control, David finds himself dealing with a thoughtless US State Department bureaucracy, arrogant rebel fighters and a love affair carried out in a small room atop the Moonlight Hotel amidst falling shells.

[Chhaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Total page-turner, was a lot of fun to read. The depictions of the diplomacy were interesting and well-balanced by the relationships between the main characters. Romance was a bit stock, but it didn't overwhelm the book at all. I liked the way the pacing matched the war depicted in the book - as the war dragged on, the book slowed down a bit and paid more attention to the details of the surroundings and people. My only quibble is that this is set in a fictional country in a real part of the world. Why not just use a real country? Still, only a minor quibble. Perfect summer reading.

[Blaine Morrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully crafted novel that brings together politics, an intriguing cast of characters, questions of morality and courage. Anderson builds the plot well and is especially masterful with his dialog. The characters are well drawn and the details of war and destruction are clearly written by someone who's seen them and experienced the effects. Excellent!

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a solid, well-written novel of a war between rebels and the government of a fictional Middle East country, and the U.S. sticking its fingers into the messy pie. Anderson gives us a good taste of a Westerner caught in the middle. Nicely done but unspectacular Graham Greene sort of tale.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first novel from Scott Anderson, all the others having been historical. The man can spin a great story. This book is so full of twists and turns and must have been based on some historical fiction. The authors writing style is amazing. I enjoyed every page of this book, and would have never guessed at the outcome.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful read that captures the brutality of modern war and provides an excellent exploration of human nature. It is a compelling story of duty, greed, incompetence, hope, despair, and the implications of our power to choose.

[Jennifer Swapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

an interesting perspective on getting involved in problems in different countries with different cultures and with minimal commitment levels.

[Dhartridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, entertaining Graham Green style story set in the Middle East. He captures the individuality of the motley bunch of characters stuck in a war zone.

[Daniel T. Ling · Rating 3 out of 5]

fiction vs nonfiction

I read two of Anderson’s nonfiction and couldn’t put them down but didn’t get that from his fiction writing, Sorry.

[David Rubin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is allegory posturing as a novel. It is about war and peace; diplomacy and death; betrayal and hope. The novel has two threads: an honest and brave man representing his government as a diplomat in time of war and how love and friendship temper the pain and horror of war.

The allegorical portion is about aggression and treachery; terrorism and militarism; broken promises and slaughter; diplomacy and betrayal. Characters fit roles, just as if the book were Pilgrims Progress.

I think I will not read another book by Scott Anderson.

[Frederic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had I read been able to read this forty years ago,I probably would have found it to be a mildly diverting "Casablanca"-esque thriller that was marred by an annoying anti-American bias,especially in the character of General Munn,a jargon-ridden,All-American bully,who wages illegal war simply "because he can"...however,in the light of the direction and presentation of our Foreign Policy these days the book seems,sadly, more like straight reportage than fiction...

[Cameron Griffin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Written like a first-time author's passion project, with the female characters' perspectives very clumsily construed. I wouldn't recommend this book to others, although this is also outside of my main genres of interest anyways.
Book's ending is rushed, even for a big twist, and loses the impact Anderson imagines.

[Chrissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was immediately drawn in by Anderson's writing style. It's an interesting story and yet another "fictional" tale of the US's involvement in a "fictional" war in the middle East. Intersting book!

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Realistic depiction of small embassy overseas life and work. Disappointing ending; not all the threads were wrapped up.

[Jonathan Lanza]

Finished at sarah's house, laying in her bed. fantastic book. sort of a depressing ending but certainly realistic.