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The Road from Raqqa: A Story of Brotherhood, Borders, and Belonging
Crossing years and continents, the harrowing story of the road to reunion for two Syrian brothers who—despite diverging ideals, a homeland at war and an ocean between them—hold fast to the bonds of family.
The Alkasem brothers, Riyad and Bashar, spend their childhood in Raqqa, the city that would later became the capital of ISIS. As a teenager in the 1980s, Riyad witnesses the devastating aftermath of the Hama massacre—an atrocity by the Assad regime upon its people. Wanting to expand his notion of government and justice, Riyad moves to the United States to study the law, but his plans are derailed and he eventually falls in love with a Southern belle. They move to a suburb of Nashville, Tennessee, where they raise two sons and where Riyad opens a restaurant—Café Rakka—cooking the food his grandmother used to make. But he finds himself confronted with the darker side of American freedoms: the hardscrabble life of a newly-arrived immigrant, enduring bigotry, poverty, and loneliness. Years pass, and at the height of Syria's civil war, fearing for his family's safety halfway across the world, he risks his own life by making a dangerous trip back to Raqqa.
Bashar, meanwhile, stayed in Syria. After his older brother moved to America, Bashar embarked on a brilliant legal career under the same corrupt Assad government that Riyad despised. Reluctant to abandon his comfortable (albeit conflicted) life, he fails to perceive the threat of ISIS until it's nearly too late.
The Road from Raqqa brings us into the lives of two brothers bound by their love for each other and for the war-ravaged city they call home. It's about a family caught in the middle of the most significant global events of the new millennium, America's fraught-but-hopeful relationship to its own immigrants, and the toll of dictatorship and war on everyday families. It's a book that captures all the desperation, tenacity, and hope that come with the revelation that we can find home in each other when the lands of our forefathers fail us.
The Alkasem brothers, Riyad and Bashar, spend their childhood in Raqqa, the city that would later became the capital of ISIS. As a teenager in the 1980s, Riyad witnesses the devastating aftermath of the Hama massacre—an atrocity by the Assad regime upon its people. Wanting to expand his notion of government and justice, Riyad moves to the United States to study the law, but his plans are derailed and he eventually falls in love with a Southern belle. They move to a suburb of Nashville, Tennessee, where they raise two sons and where Riyad opens a restaurant—Café Rakka—cooking the food his grandmother used to make. But he finds himself confronted with the darker side of American freedoms: the hardscrabble life of a newly-arrived immigrant, enduring bigotry, poverty, and loneliness. Years pass, and at the height of Syria's civil war, fearing for his family's safety halfway across the world, he risks his own life by making a dangerous trip back to Raqqa.
Bashar, meanwhile, stayed in Syria. After his older brother moved to America, Bashar embarked on a brilliant legal career under the same corrupt Assad government that Riyad despised. Reluctant to abandon his comfortable (albeit conflicted) life, he fails to perceive the threat of ISIS until it's nearly too late.
The Road from Raqqa brings us into the lives of two brothers bound by their love for each other and for the war-ravaged city they call home. It's about a family caught in the middle of the most significant global events of the new millennium, America's fraught-but-hopeful relationship to its own immigrants, and the toll of dictatorship and war on everyday families. It's a book that captures all the desperation, tenacity, and hope that come with the revelation that we can find home in each other when the lands of our forefathers fail us.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 21, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
January 16, 2021
Thank you, Random House, for the gifted ecopy. I also bought a physical copy for my shelf.
Have you ever read narrative nonfiction? It reads just as smoothly and engaging as fiction, allowing dialogue between the “characters,” but the story just happens to be true. Some of my favorite books are written in this style, and I now add The Road from Raqqa to that list of favorites.
The Road from Raqqa is about two Syrian brothers, Riyad and Bashar, who grow up in Raqqa, Syria, where later, ISIS would control. Riyad eventually travels to the US in search of the American Dream. At the same time, Bashar begins his legal career in Syria. Neither brother has an easy time. War, violence, bombings, discrimination, poverty, and the climate towards Muslims in America post 9/11; these brothers walk through it all.
At times their stories left me absolutely bereft on their behalves, but then their hope would lift me back up because they never, ever gave up on finding peace (and survival) for their respective families. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I loved this book, how it inspired and moved me emotionally. Syria is not a place we can forget, and I’m grateful the Alkasem brothers’ stories were given a voice by this talented author.
Also, Riyad opened a restaurant in Tennessee called Caffe Rakka, now an award-winning restaurant, and I definitely want to visit!
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Have you ever read narrative nonfiction? It reads just as smoothly and engaging as fiction, allowing dialogue between the “characters,” but the story just happens to be true. Some of my favorite books are written in this style, and I now add The Road from Raqqa to that list of favorites.
The Road from Raqqa is about two Syrian brothers, Riyad and Bashar, who grow up in Raqqa, Syria, where later, ISIS would control. Riyad eventually travels to the US in search of the American Dream. At the same time, Bashar begins his legal career in Syria. Neither brother has an easy time. War, violence, bombings, discrimination, poverty, and the climate towards Muslims in America post 9/11; these brothers walk through it all.
At times their stories left me absolutely bereft on their behalves, but then their hope would lift me back up because they never, ever gave up on finding peace (and survival) for their respective families. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I loved this book, how it inspired and moved me emotionally. Syria is not a place we can forget, and I’m grateful the Alkasem brothers’ stories were given a voice by this talented author.
Also, Riyad opened a restaurant in Tennessee called Caffe Rakka, now an award-winning restaurant, and I definitely want to visit!
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
August 20, 2020
The Road From Raqqa: A Story of Brotherhood, Borders, and Belonging was a riveting non-fiction narrative of two of the Alkasem brothers, Riyad and Bashar, as told by author Jordan Ritter Conn. The author first came to meet Riyad Alkasem in January 2016 in Hendersonville, Tennessee at his restaurant, Café Rakka, located in a strip mall deep in the American South. Conn was given Riyad's name as the best Arabic translator in Tennessee and located near his Nashville home. At the time Jordan Ritter Conn was working for ESPN and had already traveled once to the Syrian-Turkey border, now preparing for a second trip reporting on a soccer team aligned with the Syrian rebel forces. He and Riyad telephoned Conn's source and talked about the war tearing his homeland apart, and the men and women of the rebel forces who believed they were fighting to build a better Syria than Riyad had left quite some time ago. Jordan Ritter Conn then spent the afternoon and many subsequent afternoons in the following years listening the story of Riyad and his brother Bashar and the story of their ancestral home in Raqqa, Syria.
The story of Riyad and Bashar is told in riveting and beautiful prose as we explore their childhood in Raqqa and the history of generations of the Alkasem family dating back to the legends of eighteenth-century warrior Ibrahim and his great-grandson, Taha. The history of this once lovely city located in the desert on the northeast banks of the Euphrates River was spell-binding, as was the childhood of Riyad and Bashar in Raqqa. This is also the heartbreaking story of a people being driven from their homes because of violence and war. It is the different paths taken by the two Alkasem brothers and their different paths of immigration as they made their way to their adopted countries. This is the harrowing story of refugees fleeing their homeland and trying to find their place in their new world. This was a beautiful and heartbreaking book, one that I will not soon forget.
"And Riyad and Bashar grew up learning the stories of their ancestors and of their city, and they saw themselves as carrying on the traditions passed down from Taha on the land passed down from Ibrahim."
"And Riyad and Bashar wondered what makes a city when its people have fled or died, what makes a home when a house has become rubble, and what makes a family when brothers and sisters are sent to scatter across the world."
"They say there is something different about the wind in Raqqa. That it starts on the river and lifts across the desert, pouring down the streets of the Old City, into squares and private courtyards, always carrying the season's scent. . . . . Without that wind from the Euphrates, maybe no one ever would have smelled the coffee brewed by Taha, all those centuries ago."
"Raqqa's people were scattered, but not by the Euphrates wind."
The story of Riyad and Bashar is told in riveting and beautiful prose as we explore their childhood in Raqqa and the history of generations of the Alkasem family dating back to the legends of eighteenth-century warrior Ibrahim and his great-grandson, Taha. The history of this once lovely city located in the desert on the northeast banks of the Euphrates River was spell-binding, as was the childhood of Riyad and Bashar in Raqqa. This is also the heartbreaking story of a people being driven from their homes because of violence and war. It is the different paths taken by the two Alkasem brothers and their different paths of immigration as they made their way to their adopted countries. This is the harrowing story of refugees fleeing their homeland and trying to find their place in their new world. This was a beautiful and heartbreaking book, one that I will not soon forget.
"And Riyad and Bashar grew up learning the stories of their ancestors and of their city, and they saw themselves as carrying on the traditions passed down from Taha on the land passed down from Ibrahim."
"And Riyad and Bashar wondered what makes a city when its people have fled or died, what makes a home when a house has become rubble, and what makes a family when brothers and sisters are sent to scatter across the world."
"They say there is something different about the wind in Raqqa. That it starts on the river and lifts across the desert, pouring down the streets of the Old City, into squares and private courtyards, always carrying the season's scent. . . . . Without that wind from the Euphrates, maybe no one ever would have smelled the coffee brewed by Taha, all those centuries ago."
"Raqqa's people were scattered, but not by the Euphrates wind."
July 21, 2020
A work of narrative nonfiction that is so fluidly written it feels like fiction, THE ROAD FROM RAQQA is an incredible reading experience. It’s emotionally powerful and deeply resonant. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the brothers—Riyad and Bashar—since I finished reading their story. They captured my heart. This book also serves as an essential window into the experiences of Muslim immigrants in America. Loved, loved, loved.
August 27, 2020
4 stars Thanks to Ballantine Books Marketing for sending me a copy of this ARC and NetGalley for the download. Published July 21, 2020.
Having finished this book over a week ago, it still haunts me. I enjoyed it much more than I ever expected and I learned a lot about how the war in Syria first began.
This non fiction book tells the story of the Alkasem family - especially the two first born sons - Riyad and Bashar. They grew up together in Raqqa, having a long lineage of inheritance in the land and the country's traditions. At adulthood the brothers were separated by miles. Riyad moving to the United States and Bashar remaining in Syria.
After years pass and the Syrian war heats up Riyad travels back to Syria to try to get his family out before they are hurt or killed in the bombings or the cyanide gases released by Syria itself. Bashar refused to leave Syria, refusing to believe his country would turn against him and not acknowledging that ISIS was taking over the country. But Bashar eventually is convinced to leave and he and his family end up in Germany.
This story not only spoke about the hell that has been going on in Syria, but also to the conditions and the problems that immigrants face when they move to another country. The trip itself can be deadly. The prejudices, the lack of understanding the language, the loss of education and career skills and having to take unskilled minimal jobs to support their families once they finally settle.
This is a book that needs to be read by all. It is one great understandable story of just one of the places that is in peril in the world today and how one family left their traditions and their rightful inheritance to fight to find freedom.
Having finished this book over a week ago, it still haunts me. I enjoyed it much more than I ever expected and I learned a lot about how the war in Syria first began.
This non fiction book tells the story of the Alkasem family - especially the two first born sons - Riyad and Bashar. They grew up together in Raqqa, having a long lineage of inheritance in the land and the country's traditions. At adulthood the brothers were separated by miles. Riyad moving to the United States and Bashar remaining in Syria.
After years pass and the Syrian war heats up Riyad travels back to Syria to try to get his family out before they are hurt or killed in the bombings or the cyanide gases released by Syria itself. Bashar refused to leave Syria, refusing to believe his country would turn against him and not acknowledging that ISIS was taking over the country. But Bashar eventually is convinced to leave and he and his family end up in Germany.
This story not only spoke about the hell that has been going on in Syria, but also to the conditions and the problems that immigrants face when they move to another country. The trip itself can be deadly. The prejudices, the lack of understanding the language, the loss of education and career skills and having to take unskilled minimal jobs to support their families once they finally settle.
This is a book that needs to be read by all. It is one great understandable story of just one of the places that is in peril in the world today and how one family left their traditions and their rightful inheritance to fight to find freedom.
February 22, 2021
A moving and powerful memoir about the lives on two Syrians as they reckon with the impact and legacy of the Assad regime.
I listened to the audiobook of this and it was extremely moving and engaging. Listening to the differing points of views and the way the regime changed individual lives as reading the statistics on the news made this all the more real.
There is not much else to say on this for fear of ruining the story; but this is one you must consider reading if you want a more personal exploration of the ramifications of Assad's brutal dictatorship.
I listened to the audiobook of this and it was extremely moving and engaging. Listening to the differing points of views and the way the regime changed individual lives as reading the statistics on the news made this all the more real.
There is not much else to say on this for fear of ruining the story; but this is one you must consider reading if you want a more personal exploration of the ramifications of Assad's brutal dictatorship.
July 22, 2020
Rating: 5 gut-wrenching stars
How can I call a book ‘fabulous’, and give it five shining stars when it is so gut wrenching? Perhaps that is exactly why I can give it that rating, because it reached me in such a profound way. This work of non-fiction is not a dry recounting of dates and places. It reads more like a well-researched thriller. We meet the Alkasem family and learn of their heritage in the city of Raqqa, which is located in the north central region of Syria. This Muslim family traces their roots back to the city’s founder.
This is primarily the story of the two oldest brothers, Riyad and Bashar who come of age in the 1980’s. They have grown up under the rule of Hafez al-Assad. Eventually Riyad chooses to emigrate to America. He knows his inability to curb his criticism of al-Assad puts his whole family in danger. Bashar chooses a different path. This book has many different aspects. It explains a small part of Syrian history. It shines a light on the plight of the ordinary citizens caught in the crossfire between ISIS, and the Assad regime. It paints a lovely picture of a corner of the world that I didn’t know much about. A picture from Riyad’s youth that sadly no longer exists because of the wartime destruction that has levelled Raqqa.
Ultimately, it is a portrait of the human spirit’s drive to survive. To take whatever means necessary to move forward in life. The portrait was horrifying, and uplifting at the same time. Horrifying due to the crimes perpetrated by all the various factions. Uplifting due to the courage of all the people we met along the journey of the Alkasem brothers as they try to move forward to create a place of refuge for their family. I learned more about the history of the Syrian conflict, and grew to admire the integrity of Riyad and Bashar as they attempted to make the best of a horrible situation.
‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine Books; and the author, Jordon Ritter Conn for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
How can I call a book ‘fabulous’, and give it five shining stars when it is so gut wrenching? Perhaps that is exactly why I can give it that rating, because it reached me in such a profound way. This work of non-fiction is not a dry recounting of dates and places. It reads more like a well-researched thriller. We meet the Alkasem family and learn of their heritage in the city of Raqqa, which is located in the north central region of Syria. This Muslim family traces their roots back to the city’s founder.
This is primarily the story of the two oldest brothers, Riyad and Bashar who come of age in the 1980’s. They have grown up under the rule of Hafez al-Assad. Eventually Riyad chooses to emigrate to America. He knows his inability to curb his criticism of al-Assad puts his whole family in danger. Bashar chooses a different path. This book has many different aspects. It explains a small part of Syrian history. It shines a light on the plight of the ordinary citizens caught in the crossfire between ISIS, and the Assad regime. It paints a lovely picture of a corner of the world that I didn’t know much about. A picture from Riyad’s youth that sadly no longer exists because of the wartime destruction that has levelled Raqqa.
Ultimately, it is a portrait of the human spirit’s drive to survive. To take whatever means necessary to move forward in life. The portrait was horrifying, and uplifting at the same time. Horrifying due to the crimes perpetrated by all the various factions. Uplifting due to the courage of all the people we met along the journey of the Alkasem brothers as they try to move forward to create a place of refuge for their family. I learned more about the history of the Syrian conflict, and grew to admire the integrity of Riyad and Bashar as they attempted to make the best of a horrible situation.
‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine Books; and the author, Jordon Ritter Conn for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2020
A moving and emotional tale of two brothers each trying to survive in the Syrian city of their birth as well as where life will take them. The author wove the tale between and through the brothers as they each experienced different situations but at the same time remain connected to each other and Raqqa, the city that has been their core for generations. An exploration of changes and how things remain the same. This is a tale of courage told not as a praise but as a need to keep moving forward and surviving in situations that most would find unbearable. A delightful surprise from a traditional publisher.
July 21, 2020
Ok, don't get fooled by the synopsis - this is almost entirely story about one of the brothers - Riyad. He hates Assad regime thats ruling in Syria so the moment he gets an opportunity he moves to USA. And then the story begins to feel terribly flat and even uninteresting - Riyad struggles at the begining, and then slowly makes his way into the middle class where he gets lulled by the comfortable and personally satisfying but boring to everyone else life of a family man living in a suburbs. And thats 2/3 of this book. The rest 1/3 is so much better and shows a little bit of Syria, its misunderstood culture and its richness destroyed by power-thirsty people. Bashar (Riyad's brother) and his reality of living first under the regime and then in a war zone desperately trying to fit in, to make it work is absolutely heart breaking. I would read more of that.
When talking about immigration its really hard not to make a political comment and author, sadly, succumbed to this temptation. So at the end of the book you will read a general opinion about Trump and Obama and immigration crisis in Europe but its going to be tailored to fit as broad audience as possible so it wont bring any interesting arguments to the discussion. To get the best from this book just read chapters 1 and 11-15 and skip the rest. I assure you they will make you cry.
Thank you for the ARC copy of this book.
When talking about immigration its really hard not to make a political comment and author, sadly, succumbed to this temptation. So at the end of the book you will read a general opinion about Trump and Obama and immigration crisis in Europe but its going to be tailored to fit as broad audience as possible so it wont bring any interesting arguments to the discussion. To get the best from this book just read chapters 1 and 11-15 and skip the rest. I assure you they will make you cry.
Thank you for the ARC copy of this book.
July 10, 2020
This biography begins with a cup of coffee and it ends with a food truck. This is the story of two Syrian brothers, Riyad and Bashar and their families. The author notes that “telling their story has been among the great honors of my life.”
Reading their story has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. The book peers into the hearts and souls of the two brothers, and it also gives us the big picture of wars and governments. The writing is spellbinding and free from any preconceived agendas.
Both brothers loved their birthplace, Syria, and the grounding that being part of the founding tribe of their region gave them. Riyad is the more adventurous and restless brother and Bashar is quieter and more studious. In 1990, as a young adult, Riyad decides to go to America so that he can learn about democracy and come back and change Syria. What impresses him the most when he arrives in America? His visit to a Target store. That’s how honest and revealing this book is.
Riyad becomes a citizen and establishes a life in America. He sees things he likes, and doesn’t like. He gets to know Guy Fieri, the Oak Ridge Boys and Ricky Scaggs. But his heart is still in Riqqa. And so is his brother Bashar. The brothers haven’t changed, but Riqqa has.
You will be moved as their story plays out. But don’t pity the brothers. Their story will stop you in your tracks and open your heart. Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGallley and Random House Publishing
Reading their story has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. The book peers into the hearts and souls of the two brothers, and it also gives us the big picture of wars and governments. The writing is spellbinding and free from any preconceived agendas.
Both brothers loved their birthplace, Syria, and the grounding that being part of the founding tribe of their region gave them. Riyad is the more adventurous and restless brother and Bashar is quieter and more studious. In 1990, as a young adult, Riyad decides to go to America so that he can learn about democracy and come back and change Syria. What impresses him the most when he arrives in America? His visit to a Target store. That’s how honest and revealing this book is.
Riyad becomes a citizen and establishes a life in America. He sees things he likes, and doesn’t like. He gets to know Guy Fieri, the Oak Ridge Boys and Ricky Scaggs. But his heart is still in Riqqa. And so is his brother Bashar. The brothers haven’t changed, but Riqqa has.
You will be moved as their story plays out. But don’t pity the brothers. Their story will stop you in your tracks and open your heart. Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGallley and Random House Publishing
July 4, 2020
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The book opens with a necessary forward. I appreciate the author taking the time to add that as it sets the tone for what follows.
The story takes little time to develop; Conn’s pace is excellent. He spends the right amount of time on details, i.e. he doesn’t get bogged down in those that are unnecessary, while elucidating those that give proper texture to the environment, thoughts, and background of the protagonists.
We follow the lives of the two eldest brothers Alkasem, Riyad and Bashar. Each goes through their own Syrian emigration journey, one in peace and the other during war. The reader feels the anxiety each experiences as they make their decisions, the joy of rewards gained, and the pain of losses suffered. We get to see and smell and hear and taste and touch, albeit briefly, life as a Syrian at home and abroad through the lives of these two men.
Conn provides a snapshot of Syrian culture, history, and politics as he weaves his tale. Family and tribal life are explained, vignette style. Then he clashes that culture with American culture circa 1990-2018, providing the experience of immigration from an immigrant’s eyes.
This book was the easiest 5-star rating I may have ever given. It has both enlightened and inspired me to be more hospitable to foreigners. So much so that I hope to visit Cafe Rakka in person within the next year. Maybe I’ll see you there.
This was a NETGALLEY gift, from the publisher. The opinions shared in this review are my own. I have received no compensation in exchange for offering them.
The book opens with a necessary forward. I appreciate the author taking the time to add that as it sets the tone for what follows.
The story takes little time to develop; Conn’s pace is excellent. He spends the right amount of time on details, i.e. he doesn’t get bogged down in those that are unnecessary, while elucidating those that give proper texture to the environment, thoughts, and background of the protagonists.
We follow the lives of the two eldest brothers Alkasem, Riyad and Bashar. Each goes through their own Syrian emigration journey, one in peace and the other during war. The reader feels the anxiety each experiences as they make their decisions, the joy of rewards gained, and the pain of losses suffered. We get to see and smell and hear and taste and touch, albeit briefly, life as a Syrian at home and abroad through the lives of these two men.
Conn provides a snapshot of Syrian culture, history, and politics as he weaves his tale. Family and tribal life are explained, vignette style. Then he clashes that culture with American culture circa 1990-2018, providing the experience of immigration from an immigrant’s eyes.
This book was the easiest 5-star rating I may have ever given. It has both enlightened and inspired me to be more hospitable to foreigners. So much so that I hope to visit Cafe Rakka in person within the next year. Maybe I’ll see you there.
This was a NETGALLEY gift, from the publisher. The opinions shared in this review are my own. I have received no compensation in exchange for offering them.
May 15, 2020
The eldest son of a Syrian family, Riyad, travels to the U.S. on his own as a result of the disdain he feels for the government. He becomes a citizen and makes a life for himself and his American-born family as he works in the food industry, finally opening a popular restaurant that serves Middle Eastern food. The book travels back and forth from the U.S. and Syria. It follows Riyad and the family he left behind, but takes a darker turn when war hits Syria and Assad's henchmen take control.
I enjoy reading non-fiction that centers around the Middle East because of the history, culture and strong family ties of the people. Road from Raqqa is an engaging read that gives readers a taste of life in Syria, as well as, what it's like to be a refugee running away from an evil and lawless government.
Thank you Netgalley, author and publisher.
I enjoy reading non-fiction that centers around the Middle East because of the history, culture and strong family ties of the people. Road from Raqqa is an engaging read that gives readers a taste of life in Syria, as well as, what it's like to be a refugee running away from an evil and lawless government.
Thank you Netgalley, author and publisher.
February 16, 2020
A moving and thought-provoking true story of two brothers leading parallel lives in Syria and the U.S. Much to ponder here.
July 9, 2020
*Won this ARC and received it free*
This is not my usual genre and I was fearful to read it. I'm always wanting to expand my mind and evolve my tastes though. I COULD NOT put this book down! This book is so many things: coming of age, love, heartbreak, religion, family, tragedy and power. There are so many things going on in the world as of 2020, and a lot of us wake up wondering what bad news we will receive that day. Riyad and Bashar lived this feeling every single day as they grew up in Syria, but it did not keep them from seeing the countries beauty. They leaned on their loved ones and opened their minds to new ideas. A piece of home will always be where you were born, but another piece is in a world where you can thrive. The way you choose to see your past will have a great deal of power over how you view your future. These men learned, through a rollercoaster of events, to take each day as a blessing and to always look forward to the next.
This is not my usual genre and I was fearful to read it. I'm always wanting to expand my mind and evolve my tastes though. I COULD NOT put this book down! This book is so many things: coming of age, love, heartbreak, religion, family, tragedy and power. There are so many things going on in the world as of 2020, and a lot of us wake up wondering what bad news we will receive that day. Riyad and Bashar lived this feeling every single day as they grew up in Syria, but it did not keep them from seeing the countries beauty. They leaned on their loved ones and opened their minds to new ideas. A piece of home will always be where you were born, but another piece is in a world where you can thrive. The way you choose to see your past will have a great deal of power over how you view your future. These men learned, through a rollercoaster of events, to take each day as a blessing and to always look forward to the next.
June 13, 2020
The Road from Raqqa by Jordan Ritter Conn is part nonfiction, part biography. It is an excellent book that drew me in from the initial author’s note to the end.
This is the story of two brothers: Riyad and Bashar. One brother chooses to leave his home in Syria when its instability and safety was in question to immigrate to America to find and establish a better life. His younger brother, Bashar, chose to do the opposite and initially stay before eventually finding his own path and home in Germany.
It was fascinating to read their family’s experiences and first-hand accounts of what it feels like to live in a land you love and that you think defines you, but knowing that to be safe, you must take your family elsewhere and leave everything you know behind. I cannot imagine the decisions that they, along with thousands of others, had to make for the betterment of their future. I knew of the atrocities of the civil wars and the brutality and senseless violence, oppression, and murder under Assad’s regime, but putting a name and a face to a victim made it so much more real. It was truly hard to read.
I am in awe of their strength and my heart goes out to those that have been lost and affected (and still are) by these occurrences.
An excellent account and written in a gripping, smooth, and enjoyable way as to keep me enthralled from beginning to end.
5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine/Random House Publishing for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.
This is the story of two brothers: Riyad and Bashar. One brother chooses to leave his home in Syria when its instability and safety was in question to immigrate to America to find and establish a better life. His younger brother, Bashar, chose to do the opposite and initially stay before eventually finding his own path and home in Germany.
It was fascinating to read their family’s experiences and first-hand accounts of what it feels like to live in a land you love and that you think defines you, but knowing that to be safe, you must take your family elsewhere and leave everything you know behind. I cannot imagine the decisions that they, along with thousands of others, had to make for the betterment of their future. I knew of the atrocities of the civil wars and the brutality and senseless violence, oppression, and murder under Assad’s regime, but putting a name and a face to a victim made it so much more real. It was truly hard to read.
I am in awe of their strength and my heart goes out to those that have been lost and affected (and still are) by these occurrences.
An excellent account and written in a gripping, smooth, and enjoyable way as to keep me enthralled from beginning to end.
5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine/Random House Publishing for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.
June 25, 2020
Over the years I have noticed how non-immigrants often seem surprised when one mentions how long it has been since one has seen a father or mother or sibling. How can it be that you have not seen your mother for 1/5/10/15 years?! There are many reasons why: money, time, family obligations, immigration status, conflicts in one’s country of birth, and so on. I haven’t seen my mother in nearly a year, my husband hasn’t seen his in 15. We build our lives away from family, but they are always still there with us, in our words, our traditions, our everyday acts. We may not see our siblings for years but the bond remains forever.
The Road From Raqqa is immigration story, brotherhood, family heritage, and a story of how conflict can rip a family apart, but also bring it together again. In the first part of the story Riyad is traveling back to Raqqa in Syria, nearly 20 years after he first left, to make sure his brother Bashar, and his family, are still safe. Riyad has his own life in the US, a wife, kids, a successful restaurant, and wants to bring the rest of his family back with him.
This starts the story of two brothers who grew up together on the borders of the Euphrates in Raqqa, Syria. Riyad, the rebel, takes the chance to study in the US and makes a life for himself there. Bashar stays in Raqqa, content to build his own life there, until it comes to the point where it is no longer safe for his family to be there, between Daesh patrolling the streets, the government bombs, and then the US-led coalition bombs destroying whatever is left. Their heritage can be drawn back to the beginnings of Raqqa, and I loved reading about the tribal history of the area. I also loved how well written this book is: Jordan Ritter Conn does such a great job relaying the brothers’ stories, delving into fascinating details that provide the reader with a wonderful full picture of not only their lives but also their country, and all of the people around them.
This is a must-read in my opinion: of course the story of two brothers may not tell the story of millions, but it does provide insight into the immigration process in the US (how bad the process has been for a long time, and how it is deteriorating rapidly), as well as life in Raqqa during the ongoing Syrian civil war. In my opinion we need to read individual stories in order to understand the larger picture, but also to make sure that we see people rather than just numbers reported by the press. None of our countries are immune to what happened in Syria. Every year the US accepts fewer and fewer refugees, at a time when more and more people need help. It is up to us to reverse racist, unfair, and downright evil policies that continue to hurt people and tear families apart.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Road From Raqqa is immigration story, brotherhood, family heritage, and a story of how conflict can rip a family apart, but also bring it together again. In the first part of the story Riyad is traveling back to Raqqa in Syria, nearly 20 years after he first left, to make sure his brother Bashar, and his family, are still safe. Riyad has his own life in the US, a wife, kids, a successful restaurant, and wants to bring the rest of his family back with him.
This starts the story of two brothers who grew up together on the borders of the Euphrates in Raqqa, Syria. Riyad, the rebel, takes the chance to study in the US and makes a life for himself there. Bashar stays in Raqqa, content to build his own life there, until it comes to the point where it is no longer safe for his family to be there, between Daesh patrolling the streets, the government bombs, and then the US-led coalition bombs destroying whatever is left. Their heritage can be drawn back to the beginnings of Raqqa, and I loved reading about the tribal history of the area. I also loved how well written this book is: Jordan Ritter Conn does such a great job relaying the brothers’ stories, delving into fascinating details that provide the reader with a wonderful full picture of not only their lives but also their country, and all of the people around them.
This is a must-read in my opinion: of course the story of two brothers may not tell the story of millions, but it does provide insight into the immigration process in the US (how bad the process has been for a long time, and how it is deteriorating rapidly), as well as life in Raqqa during the ongoing Syrian civil war. In my opinion we need to read individual stories in order to understand the larger picture, but also to make sure that we see people rather than just numbers reported by the press. None of our countries are immune to what happened in Syria. Every year the US accepts fewer and fewer refugees, at a time when more and more people need help. It is up to us to reverse racist, unfair, and downright evil policies that continue to hurt people and tear families apart.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 15, 2020
I really loved "The Road from Raqqa" by Jordan Ritter Corn, which is a non-fiction work about two brothers from Raqqa, Syria. Riyad moves to the United States to attend college but ends up opening a restaurant in Tennessee, while except for a short period of time in the US, Bashar stays in Syria until fighting takes over his town. This book really highlights the reasons why people immigrate to the United States (or eventually to Europe in Bashar's case) and how love for one's family really has no borders. Despite their distance, the unity and bond between the two brothers is never broken, and they always do what they can to make sure each other and their families are cared for and safe. Not a major part of the book, and despite the overall positive visit after some stress about it, I will reconsider watching a Guy Fieri show next time it is on television. I hope the Alkasem family is in good health, and I recommend this book to everyone.
March 16, 2021
Over the last five years or so, my ears heard about and my eyes viewed the quick news snippets about “the war in Syria” but I never fully processed the genesis of it, nor what happened to over one million refugees who scampered across Europe looking for places to live. This is the personal story of Riyad, and his brother Bashar, two fine men who take different viewpoints on politics, but not on the family ties that bind. I was enthralled by Riyad’s journey to America in 1990, the subsequent small jobs and lodgings he found for himself, and his truly self-made story. And then he goes back to Syria, where the situation becomes worse and worse. The only reason why I gave this book four stars is that some of the small details and anecdotes had to have been invented, so it’s not truly a biography. Worthy of 4+ stars, though, which is saying a lot coming from me.
December 20, 2020
If you want to understand something about the war in Syria and the subsequent refugee crisis that has ensued, this family's story really brings it into sharp focus. After reading this and other refugees' stories I have adjusted my perception and I think I'm a better person for it. Jordan Ritter Conn has done an excellent job with his research and well written true story which I found "unputdownable".
While reading I enjoy "Googling" pictures etc and I found these two of interest:https://youtu.be/Pdw8npgy5FI
and:https://www.boredpanda.com/before-aft...
While reading I enjoy "Googling" pictures etc and I found these two of interest:https://youtu.be/Pdw8npgy5FI
and:https://www.boredpanda.com/before-aft...
June 29, 2020
The author allows the reader to try to understand the issues involved with war, displacement, heritage, love for family, love for homeland/roots, etc.
Very educational and at the same time heart breaking.
Survival, the main goal, leads to unexpected journeys.
At times a difficult read but well worth reading the story of this family, war and evil.
Very educational and at the same time heart breaking.
Survival, the main goal, leads to unexpected journeys.
At times a difficult read but well worth reading the story of this family, war and evil.
May 8, 2021
I assess books based on if they taught me something new, or transported me somewhere else. This one did both. This is but one story, out of millions, of Syrians displaced by the war, but I’m glad someone was there to tell it.
July 28, 2024
Years of research and writing led to a story good enough to change the way you look at things.
You always hear about news in Syria, but this book helps you understand it and feel it as much as one can.
You always hear about news in Syria, but this book helps you understand it and feel it as much as one can.
June 24, 2020
I received an ARC for an honest review of this book.
A hauntingly humanitarian account of the Syrian civil war, this brings questions about identity and family to the forefront. Despite being born and raised in the same small town, two brothers evolve to become different people with their own unique set of experiences across decades, countries, and governments.
When talking about Syria, there always runs the risk of pushing a subconscious or conscious political agenda. I was pleased to find no such thing about this book. The brothers’ stories were so intertwined with the Syrian civil war and previous discontent across the Middle East that it cannot go without explanation, but Conn respectfully kept the brothers at the forefront of the narrative. Often, both what Syrians perceived and what Americans were told is presented side by side for an interesting contrast. Readers don’t need to know much about Middle Eastern conflicts in order to understand this book.
Difficult topics, especially controversial ones, require care when talking about them. Some else’s story requires respect when it is told, especially when it involves traumatic events. Conn accomplishes both of these things, weaving two stories together into a charming, intense tale of brotherhood across differences. Conn manages to be frank without being accusatory, also including relevant facts or background for American readers.
At the core of this novel is a search for personal identity in a place that is constantly falling into different outsider's hands. There's deeply emotional question of how to remain connected to your culture after leaving your homeland, especially when going to a place much different than your own. Throughout the novel, we see world events deeply affect personal relationships to culture. It demands emotional attention and deep sympathy.
The only thing that held me back as I read the book is it is a slow burn. It is all interesting, but parts seem to meander. This is not an objectively bad thing for a biographical non-fiction book, but for people who do not enjoy slower books will want to look for another one. Overall, I really enjoyed the book. At the end, I wanted to meet Riyad and Bashar myself.
Rating: ★★★★
A hauntingly humanitarian account of the Syrian civil war, this brings questions about identity and family to the forefront. Despite being born and raised in the same small town, two brothers evolve to become different people with their own unique set of experiences across decades, countries, and governments.
When talking about Syria, there always runs the risk of pushing a subconscious or conscious political agenda. I was pleased to find no such thing about this book. The brothers’ stories were so intertwined with the Syrian civil war and previous discontent across the Middle East that it cannot go without explanation, but Conn respectfully kept the brothers at the forefront of the narrative. Often, both what Syrians perceived and what Americans were told is presented side by side for an interesting contrast. Readers don’t need to know much about Middle Eastern conflicts in order to understand this book.
Difficult topics, especially controversial ones, require care when talking about them. Some else’s story requires respect when it is told, especially when it involves traumatic events. Conn accomplishes both of these things, weaving two stories together into a charming, intense tale of brotherhood across differences. Conn manages to be frank without being accusatory, also including relevant facts or background for American readers.
At the core of this novel is a search for personal identity in a place that is constantly falling into different outsider's hands. There's deeply emotional question of how to remain connected to your culture after leaving your homeland, especially when going to a place much different than your own. Throughout the novel, we see world events deeply affect personal relationships to culture. It demands emotional attention and deep sympathy.
The only thing that held me back as I read the book is it is a slow burn. It is all interesting, but parts seem to meander. This is not an objectively bad thing for a biographical non-fiction book, but for people who do not enjoy slower books will want to look for another one. Overall, I really enjoyed the book. At the end, I wanted to meet Riyad and Bashar myself.
Rating: ★★★★
January 6, 2022
The Road from Raqqa is an amazing story of two brothers and how their personalities and points of view shape their futures in very different ways. Even though the story takes place during the Syrian revolution, it really could take place any where and at any time.
The brothers were brought up together in a middle eastern environment which does factor in some of the decisions. However, depending on your points of view, my guess is that you can see yourself in one of the two men.
Personally, I heavily identified with the older brother who saw an issue with the dictatorship and who wanted to travel and experience life with freedom. The other brother was fine with the status quo and fought to keep that lifestyle even when it was literally falling apart around him.
Ever read "Who Moved My Cheese?" by Spencer Johnson? This is the real life version of that story.
The disservice, however, comes from the title and the book cover. It appears to be another book about displaced people during an internal struggle. But the story is so much bigger than that! It's about opposing views and social norms. It's about fighting change or fighting "this is how it's always been done."
The choices made by the brothers will have you cheering at some points and yelling at them at others. For example, the younger brother refuses to move his wife and girls after the bombing started. He could not see past himself (which screamed complete selfishness to my brain) regarding what was safest for his family until a friend finally made some points he had not considered. The younger brother's wife begged to leave their area but he kept refusing to listen. I know that anyone who has ever been married can relate to this. Husband not listening to what his wife says but once a friend brings it up, suddenly it makes sense! This is completely relatable!
This book is about relationships and opposing viewpoints and how each turns out. It's a rare opportunity to see the opposing side's results.
The brothers were brought up together in a middle eastern environment which does factor in some of the decisions. However, depending on your points of view, my guess is that you can see yourself in one of the two men.
Personally, I heavily identified with the older brother who saw an issue with the dictatorship and who wanted to travel and experience life with freedom. The other brother was fine with the status quo and fought to keep that lifestyle even when it was literally falling apart around him.
Ever read "Who Moved My Cheese?" by Spencer Johnson? This is the real life version of that story.
The disservice, however, comes from the title and the book cover. It appears to be another book about displaced people during an internal struggle. But the story is so much bigger than that! It's about opposing views and social norms. It's about fighting change or fighting "this is how it's always been done."
The choices made by the brothers will have you cheering at some points and yelling at them at others. For example, the younger brother refuses to move his wife and girls after the bombing started. He could not see past himself (which screamed complete selfishness to my brain) regarding what was safest for his family until a friend finally made some points he had not considered. The younger brother's wife begged to leave their area but he kept refusing to listen. I know that anyone who has ever been married can relate to this. Husband not listening to what his wife says but once a friend brings it up, suddenly it makes sense! This is completely relatable!
This book is about relationships and opposing viewpoints and how each turns out. It's a rare opportunity to see the opposing side's results.
August 7, 2020
A harrowing and on the edge of your seat and engrossing story of two brothers taking different paths who find their way back through love and the ties that bind families.
The Alkasem brothers, Riyad and Bashar, spend their childhood in Raqqa, the Syrian city that would later become the capital of ISIS. As a teenager in the 1980s, Riyad witnesses the devastating aftermath of the Hama massacre—an atrocity that the Hafez al-Assad regime commits upon its people. Wanting to expand his notion of government and justice, Riyad moves to the United States to study law, but his plans are derailed and he eventually falls in love with a Southern belle. They move to a suburb of Nashville, Tennessee, where they raise two sons and where Riyad opens a restaurant—Café Rakka—cooking the food his grandmother used to make. But he finds himself confronted with the darker side of American freedoms: the hardscrabble life of a newly arrived immigrant, enduring bigotry, poverty, and loneliness. Years pass, and at the height of Syria’s civil war, fearing for his family’s safety halfway across the world, he risks his own life by making a dangerous trip back to Raqqa.
Bashar, meanwhile, in Syria. After his older brother moves to America, Bashar embarks on a brilliant legal career under the same corrupt Assad government that Riyad despises. Reluctant to abandon his comfortable (albeit conflicted) life, he fails to perceive the threat of ISIS until it’s nearly too late.
The Road from Raqqa brings us into the lives of two brothers bound by their love for each other and for the war-ravaged city they call home. It’s about a family caught in the middle of the most significant global events of the new millennium, America’s fraught but hopeful relationship to its own immigrants, and the toll of dictatorship and war on everyday families. It’s a book that captures all the desperation, tenacity, and hope that come with the revelation that we can find home in one another when the lands of our forefathers fail us.
The Alkasem brothers, Riyad and Bashar, spend their childhood in Raqqa, the Syrian city that would later become the capital of ISIS. As a teenager in the 1980s, Riyad witnesses the devastating aftermath of the Hama massacre—an atrocity that the Hafez al-Assad regime commits upon its people. Wanting to expand his notion of government and justice, Riyad moves to the United States to study law, but his plans are derailed and he eventually falls in love with a Southern belle. They move to a suburb of Nashville, Tennessee, where they raise two sons and where Riyad opens a restaurant—Café Rakka—cooking the food his grandmother used to make. But he finds himself confronted with the darker side of American freedoms: the hardscrabble life of a newly arrived immigrant, enduring bigotry, poverty, and loneliness. Years pass, and at the height of Syria’s civil war, fearing for his family’s safety halfway across the world, he risks his own life by making a dangerous trip back to Raqqa.
Bashar, meanwhile, in Syria. After his older brother moves to America, Bashar embarks on a brilliant legal career under the same corrupt Assad government that Riyad despises. Reluctant to abandon his comfortable (albeit conflicted) life, he fails to perceive the threat of ISIS until it’s nearly too late.
The Road from Raqqa brings us into the lives of two brothers bound by their love for each other and for the war-ravaged city they call home. It’s about a family caught in the middle of the most significant global events of the new millennium, America’s fraught but hopeful relationship to its own immigrants, and the toll of dictatorship and war on everyday families. It’s a book that captures all the desperation, tenacity, and hope that come with the revelation that we can find home in one another when the lands of our forefathers fail us.
September 3, 2020
Road From Raqqa went from an inspiring biography/immigration story—that seemed to climax with a visit from Guy Fieri—to a fast paced war story about the Syrian refugee crisis.
The book began with a beautiful preface describing the oral history of Raqqa, the childhood of Riyad and Bashar, and life under Assad. Riyad described the devastating events that shaped his view of the regime and his motivations to reform the system.
We follow his journey to the US and the alternative paths he takes. It details the random acts of kindness Americans and other immigrants take to provide Riyad with work, clothes, bedding, a bank account.
The book follows Riyad’s journey to American citizenship and to the middle class, which brings the book to September 2001. Riyad and his brother describe the effects of 9/11 on the country, and themselves—the threats they received, and the kindness in response.
The success of Riyad’s business and life seemed to be capped off with a visit from Flavortown...but immediately changed pace.
In some ways this book reminded me of last year’s read Brothers of the Gun, in its outlining if the Assad regime and the ISIS occupation of Raqqa. The Alkasem family’s story is amazing. The strong ties to home, the historic and cultural significance of the family’s forced departure were only the tip of the iceberg (I will not spoil what’s under the surface).
The book ends with a short commentary from Riyad about the 2016 election. He voices his brief opinions about Trump, and Obama, and his concern for Syrians and immigrants alike.
The story of making home where you are is beautiful.
The book began with a beautiful preface describing the oral history of Raqqa, the childhood of Riyad and Bashar, and life under Assad. Riyad described the devastating events that shaped his view of the regime and his motivations to reform the system.
We follow his journey to the US and the alternative paths he takes. It details the random acts of kindness Americans and other immigrants take to provide Riyad with work, clothes, bedding, a bank account.
The book follows Riyad’s journey to American citizenship and to the middle class, which brings the book to September 2001. Riyad and his brother describe the effects of 9/11 on the country, and themselves—the threats they received, and the kindness in response.
The success of Riyad’s business and life seemed to be capped off with a visit from Flavortown...but immediately changed pace.
In some ways this book reminded me of last year’s read Brothers of the Gun, in its outlining if the Assad regime and the ISIS occupation of Raqqa. The Alkasem family’s story is amazing. The strong ties to home, the historic and cultural significance of the family’s forced departure were only the tip of the iceberg (I will not spoil what’s under the surface).
The book ends with a short commentary from Riyad about the 2016 election. He voices his brief opinions about Trump, and Obama, and his concern for Syrians and immigrants alike.
The story of making home where you are is beautiful.
December 18, 2021
My favorite nonfiction I read this year. It's a story of two brothers' attempts to reconcile with the unraveling of their city, Raqqa, Syria, and how larger forces throw their lives into chaos. It's a great primer on Syria, a country I'd heard about so much in the news but never really understood, and its history. Riyad and Bashar aren't stereotypical refugees; they come from a fairly-wealthy family, for starters. Riyad's love for, and constant defense of, America is also unexpected, as is the fact that he spends years working for a liquor store, yet won't sell it when he opens a restaurant due to his belief in Islam. The editing is fantastic, weaving together the brothers' stories, along with that of Bashar's wife, Aisha, who is forced to cover her entire body when Al Qaeda comes to town. This is a fantastic work of journalism, and seamless; it's hard to tell what moments Conn was there to experience, and what he recreated through interviews and research. I love this book and have been recommending it widely.
September 26, 2020
Excellent! This book pulled me in from the first page of the author's note and never let go. It is non-fiction but reads like a novel. More importantly it brings to life the horror of the revolution in Syria as experienced through the lives of two brothers - one who left before it began and one who stayed - and the life of one of them living in America pre and post 9/11. What would it take for you to leave your home? Would you know the right time? Could you start over in another country? Are you risking your family's lives by staying or leaving? We read in the papers about the horrors in other countries but reading this book makes it very real and lead me to think about those types of questions.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.
March 6, 2025
Something bugs me about writers taking an immigrant's story because they're so inspired by it. It feels like it's written for the american reader to make them aware of obvious developments in their country (wow immigrants are being discriminated against, that's crazy). Without the subjective depth of the person who actually lived through it. Perhaps it is that there is never really any flaw in the main character's personalities because the writer feels like that would be disrespectful to their muse? Sometimes the perspective would suddenly shift, for example to the very underdeveloped character of a woman, in order to make a point about how women were treated. That way I felt like the book was trying to convince me to take a political stance that I already believed in, which is a bit tiresome.
June 26, 2021
This is a non-fiction book but is written so engagingly that you might think it is fiction. It's a story of two brothers from Syria who become immigrants. They have different personalities and attitudes, and, even though they each love their family and country, their stories are different. The oldest brother comes to America to study. I liked this part of the book the best, seeing the vicissitudes of the immigrant experience in the United States. He has to change his dream and experiences many twists and turns as he tries to make it in America. His story, including living in the South and being a Muslim after 9/11, is improbable, but, again, this is not fiction!
The other brother tries to make it in Syria in spite of dictatorship and war. His deep attachment to family and place blinds him to the reality of life in Syria at that time. His story is not told with as much detail but with plenty of drama.
We most often think of immigrants in stereotypical blocks. This book gives you a personalization of that experience, and it is eye-opening.
The other brother tries to make it in Syria in spite of dictatorship and war. His deep attachment to family and place blinds him to the reality of life in Syria at that time. His story is not told with as much detail but with plenty of drama.
We most often think of immigrants in stereotypical blocks. This book gives you a personalization of that experience, and it is eye-opening.
July 17, 2020
This is a wonderfully written book that follows two brothers- Riyad and Bashar- and their families. Born into relatively good economic circumstances in Raqqa, Syria, and well educated, they see their lives on separate paths. Riyad flees Syria after seeing the results of Hama massacre for the US. Unable to use his law degree, he eventually opens a restaurant and raises a family with his American born wife, It's not easy and some of the scenes that linger are those when he is newly in the US. Bashar stays in Syria, working as a lawyer, but then ISIS arrives and he, along with his family, must leave. Their journey to Germany is traumatic to say the least. Conn has brought a thoughtful approach to the question of why people like Bashar stayed in Syria and what happens to them when they leave. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. An important read.
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