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The Saffron Gate
A young American woman's journey to track down her missing lover becomes an enthralling adventure of mystery, passion, danger and self-discovery set against the spellbinding backdrop of 1930s Marrakech.
Sidonie O'Shea enjoys the quiet life she shares with fiancé Etienne Duverger in upstate New York. But when Etienne suddenly disappears without word, she finds a letter amongst his belongings that turns her world upside down. Refusing to believe that Etienne would abandon her, Sidonie travels to Morocco in search of him, determined to know the truth. But nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover, both about the man she thought she loved and an unknown world of dangerous secrets in a country steeped in mystery...
Sidonie O'Shea enjoys the quiet life she shares with fiancé Etienne Duverger in upstate New York. But when Etienne suddenly disappears without word, she finds a letter amongst his belongings that turns her world upside down. Refusing to believe that Etienne would abandon her, Sidonie travels to Morocco in search of him, determined to know the truth. But nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover, both about the man she thought she loved and an unknown world of dangerous secrets in a country steeped in mystery...
448 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2009
46 people are currently reading
855 people want to read
About the author
Linda Holeman
27 books241 followersLinda Holeman is the author of fourteen books of fiction. Her work includes two adult collections of literary short stories, Flying to Yellow and Devil’s Darning Needle, as well as the historic novels The Linnet Bird, The Moonlit Cage, In a Far Country, The Saffron Gate, The Lost Souls of Angelkov, and The Devil on Her Tongue. Her young adult body of work consists of a collection of short stories, Saying Good-Bye, which was re-released as Toxic Love, and four novels: Promise Song, Mercy’s Birds, Raspberry House Blues, and Search of the Moon King’s Daughter. She has also written a first-chapter book, Frankie on the Run, illustrated by Heather Collins. To date, Linda’s work has been translated into French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Greek, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, and Hungarian, soon to be published in Croatian, Italian, Czech and Slovakian.
As well as being published in many journals and periodicals, her work has been widely anthologized in Canada – most noticeably in The Journey Prize Anthology – and abroad. Linda has also acted as guest editor for a young adult issue of Prairie Fire Magazine, for which was she awarded the Vicky Metcalf Short Story Editor Award. She has been the recipient of many honours and awards for her young adult work.
Linda has been a member of the Manitoba Artists in the Schools Program and CANSCAIP, toured with the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, acted as a mentor in the Manitoba Writers’ Guild Mentor Program, taught creative writing through the University of Winnipeg’s Continuing Education, served on many juries, including the Governor-General’s Award for Children’s Literature, and created and facilitated numerous writing workshops on many aspects of the writing process to both students and adults nationally and internationally. She held a nine-month term as Writer-in-Residence at the Millennium Library in Winnipeg, and served on the editorial advisory board for Turnstone Press and on the board of the Manitoba Writers Guild. She is a member of The Writers Union of Canada.
Linda holds a BA in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Winnipeg, a BEd in Early Childhood Education and MEd in Educational Psychology from the University of Manitoba.
She currently lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Source: http://www.lindaholeman.com/
As well as being published in many journals and periodicals, her work has been widely anthologized in Canada – most noticeably in The Journey Prize Anthology – and abroad. Linda has also acted as guest editor for a young adult issue of Prairie Fire Magazine, for which was she awarded the Vicky Metcalf Short Story Editor Award. She has been the recipient of many honours and awards for her young adult work.
Linda has been a member of the Manitoba Artists in the Schools Program and CANSCAIP, toured with the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, acted as a mentor in the Manitoba Writers’ Guild Mentor Program, taught creative writing through the University of Winnipeg’s Continuing Education, served on many juries, including the Governor-General’s Award for Children’s Literature, and created and facilitated numerous writing workshops on many aspects of the writing process to both students and adults nationally and internationally. She held a nine-month term as Writer-in-Residence at the Millennium Library in Winnipeg, and served on the editorial advisory board for Turnstone Press and on the board of the Manitoba Writers Guild. She is a member of The Writers Union of Canada.
Linda holds a BA in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Winnipeg, a BEd in Early Childhood Education and MEd in Educational Psychology from the University of Manitoba.
She currently lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Source: http://www.lindaholeman.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
October 20, 2010
Linda Holeman writes the kind of historical fiction I love, with just the right combination of romance, history and adventure. One of the things I like about her books is the way she chooses such interesting settings (19th century Afghanistan in The Moonlit Cage, for example, or British-ruled India in In a Far Country). The Saffron Gate is set in 1930s Morocco, a time and place I know very little about, but Holeman really makes the setting come alive, from the noise and bustle of the souks in Marrakesh, the taste of hot couscous and mint tea, the vibrant colours of the trees and flowers.
But Morocco in the 1930s can be a dangerous place for a woman on her own, as our narrator soon discovers. Her name is Sidonie O'Shea and she's travelling to North Africa from her home in Albany, New York in search of her fiancé Etienne Duverger, who disappeared without word, leaving behind a mysterious letter from his sister in Marrakesh. When Sidonie arrives in Morocco she realises the enormity of her task - she has no idea where to start looking for Etienne and it seems that certain people are determined to stop her from finding him at all costs. As Sidonie continues to search, she begins to fall in love with Morocco and at the same time uncovers some important truths about both Etienne and herself.
I learned a lot from this book about the role of women in 1930s Morocco, how they lived, and how they were scorned and looked down upon if they didn't have a husband. There was also a lot of information about their fashions, customs, superstitions - and some fascinating details, such as the rituals of the hammam (public baths).
I've enjoyed all of the Linda Holeman books that I've read, but I think this one has been my favourite so far. I would highly recommend The Saffron Gate to anyone who likes to read long historical fiction novels that allow you to immerse yourself in another culture for a while.
But Morocco in the 1930s can be a dangerous place for a woman on her own, as our narrator soon discovers. Her name is Sidonie O'Shea and she's travelling to North Africa from her home in Albany, New York in search of her fiancé Etienne Duverger, who disappeared without word, leaving behind a mysterious letter from his sister in Marrakesh. When Sidonie arrives in Morocco she realises the enormity of her task - she has no idea where to start looking for Etienne and it seems that certain people are determined to stop her from finding him at all costs. As Sidonie continues to search, she begins to fall in love with Morocco and at the same time uncovers some important truths about both Etienne and herself.
I learned a lot from this book about the role of women in 1930s Morocco, how they lived, and how they were scorned and looked down upon if they didn't have a husband. There was also a lot of information about their fashions, customs, superstitions - and some fascinating details, such as the rituals of the hammam (public baths).
I've enjoyed all of the Linda Holeman books that I've read, but I think this one has been my favourite so far. I would highly recommend The Saffron Gate to anyone who likes to read long historical fiction novels that allow you to immerse yourself in another culture for a while.
August 12, 2015
Riječ je o romanu koji prati Sidonie i njen život, najprije u Americi kada kao mlada doživi nesreću, a potom i u Maroku kada odlazi pronaći voljenog. Sve u svemu dobar roman, lijepi opisi Maroka, jedna drugačija kultura o kojoj nemamo prilike često čuti. Likovi su prilično nezanimljivi i nisam se 'zbližila' sa njima, stoga ocjena 3.
September 5, 2016
Iako je ovo ljubavna priča, to je srećom i ljubavna priča koja izlazi iz svojih okvira i tako postaje i priča o ženi, koja se sa 30 godina prvi puta zaljubi, a nakon toga odvaži i na pustolovinu života i odluči sama otići na drugi kraj svijeta, u nepoznatu kulturu i nepoznatu zemlju u potrazi za muškarcem za kojeg misli da je ljubav njezina života. Tako je to zapravo priča o pomicanju granica i izlasku iz svoje sigurne zone, pozitivna i optimistična, a ne samo sladunjavo ljubavna, jer u čarobnom Maroku i njegovim ulicama prepunim boja i mirisa ona pronalazi i snagu koju je mislila da nema u sebi i otkriva svoje pravo ja i naravno, upoznaje i ljubav , nekonvencionalnu ali onu pravu.
June 26, 2010
And yet again I really enjoyed Linda Holeman's book. She has a great knack of making you feel you are there. I felt like I was in Morocco and the way she described it it was scary and beautiful. I had figured out what would happen in the end alas, but all in all another great book. 4.5 stars.
December 22, 2017
ovo je bilo fino citanje,opustajuce,otisla je na kraj svijeta da shvati da ono sto je imala s njim nije bila istina,ali istinitu emociju pruzio joj je obican covjek iz pustinje...
June 28, 2013
I am not Holeman's target audience.
There is very little I liked about this book. I liked the colourful cover. I liked that I could imagine the scenes in the souks, because I recall them firsthand from my time in Qatar. I liked that it was relatively easy to read and follow. I liked that Sidonie liked to drive.
That's about it.
If one is even the slightest bit feminist, don't read this book. If one is offended by sweeping portrayals of women in the most biblical senses (literally, madonna vs whore, with all of the trimmings to go along with the moral codes of both), don't read this book. If one wants to read something where the sole object of a female protagonist's mind is something other than a man, don't read this book. Yes, the main character travels great distances as a single woman, goes against her semi-adopted cultural norms, and "finds" herself, but does so only to recapture, reclaim, and take a husband.
In part, I wanted to finish this book just to be done with it. And now I am. And that's that.
There is very little I liked about this book. I liked the colourful cover. I liked that I could imagine the scenes in the souks, because I recall them firsthand from my time in Qatar. I liked that it was relatively easy to read and follow. I liked that Sidonie liked to drive.
That's about it.
If one is even the slightest bit feminist, don't read this book. If one is offended by sweeping portrayals of women in the most biblical senses (literally, madonna vs whore, with all of the trimmings to go along with the moral codes of both), don't read this book. If one wants to read something where the sole object of a female protagonist's mind is something other than a man, don't read this book. Yes, the main character travels great distances as a single woman, goes against her semi-adopted cultural norms, and "finds" herself, but does so only to recapture, reclaim, and take a husband.
In part, I wanted to finish this book just to be done with it. And now I am. And that's that.
August 26, 2016
This is the third book I've read by Linda Holeman, and yet again the author was able to transport me to another world with ease. I greatly enjoyed the descriptions of life in Morocco in the 1930s. The sights, sounds and smells of North Africa were vividly brought to life. Recommended.
January 18, 2019
A dear friend loaned this to me, and I thought that the heft of it would be a good traveling book. I found it to be a very quick read, it reminded me of Victoria Holt, and it was pretty predictable, but it made an airplane trip go by quickly and lasted about the same amount of time as the flight.
August 29, 2020
Has had me dreaming of Marrakech, Morocco ever since I put it down :)
July 21, 2023
Ništa posebno. Nije me impresionirala. Prosječno štivo.
June 12, 2019
Predobra knjiga!!!👍👍👍
December 31, 2012
I really enjoyed the descriptions of Morocco and women's lives there. Like the author's books about India, she makes me see the colors and feel like I'm actually there. The story itself is rather weak, but she made it into a mystery, and it kept me going to the end. Like her other books, I guessed how it would end less than halfway through, but I still enjoyed it. There were enough twists to keep me avidly reading. My biggest complaint is for the first 2/3 of the book, the heroine is constantly too distressed to eat, sleep, walk, etc. I got tired of her overwhelming dysfunctional emotions.
August 7, 2017
Set in the 1930s, 'The Saffron Gate' by Linda Holeman follows the adventures of a young American girl who goes in search of her boyfriend after he mysteriously disappears from New York. Her search leads her to Morocco where she is gradually drawn into the exotic landscape, its people, and their culture. While sometimes the plot seemed contrived, the villainess was just too ghastly for words, the main character was a little annoying at times, and the attitude to women saddened me, I had to keep remembering that this was 1930s Morocco. What saved the book from being a typical adventure romance novel were the vivid descriptions of Marrakesh, the Atlas mountains, the people and customs.
July 28, 2016
I liked this book very much. I feel the beginning is maybe a bit too slow and not so gripping, but once you truly get into the book you can't put it down until you're done.
Sidonie is a very interesting character with an interesting story to be told. You don't necessarily like or dislike her, you just follow the story to see what will happen to her next. And in the end you do admire her for all the things she has been through and the person she has become, and you are happy for her for finding her place in the world ...
Sidonie is a very interesting character with an interesting story to be told. You don't necessarily like or dislike her, you just follow the story to see what will happen to her next. And in the end you do admire her for all the things she has been through and the person she has become, and you are happy for her for finding her place in the world ...
August 18, 2024
There's a long trope in the genre of romantic fiction in which a naive European or American woman--always white--travels to the Sahara, meets a swarthy, magnetic, mysterious man--Arab, Bedouin--whom she resists at first but eventually, overcome by passion, to whom she succumbs, and his burning, uncompromising masculinity unlocks her feminine spirit in the throes of intercourse, and she abandons her faux-European world of false consciousness to embrace the desert world where men are men and women women. The type-book for this trope, though certainly not the first to present it, is The Sheik by E. M. Hull, originally published in 1921. There have been countless versions in the decades that followed.
The Saffron Gate stands in this tradition, though with a twist or two. The heroine, Sidonie O'Shea, is a half-Quebecoise virgin, living near Albany, New York, with her father, her mother having died. She falls into an affair with a French doctor working in a nearby hospital. After she tells him she's pregnant, he flees to Morocco, where he grew up as the child of a colonial official. (The book is set in 1930.) She pursues him, losing the baby in the process, and lands in Marrakesh, where she meets his malevolent sister Manon and her Tuareg friend Aszulay, who plays the part of the sheik--except he doesn't rape Sidonie as the original did Diana, that "shivering piece of womanhood," in The Sheik. But the outcome's the same.
Sexual violence was central to Diana's awakening in The Sheik, and it recurs more or less shockingly in many contemporary romance novels, but Holeman has wisely avoided that element of the trope. She focuses instead on Sidonie's gradual realization that her pursuit of her doctor is a fool's errand, and that Aszulay is a kind, generous. and caring man--her perfect partner. A weekend spent in his village, where she meets his family, is her turning-point.
Manon, meanwhile, consumed by bitterness, does her best to ruin any connection between the two; she, it turns out, is the illegitimate and abandoned child of an affair between the doctor's father and a maid. As a character she's a bit mono-dimensional, cruel to everyone around her, even her young son, the accidental product of one of her affairs.
Holeman writes pretty well, though not brilliantly, and she clearly did some serious research for the book. Yet she couldn't escape the stereotypes of the trope--despite her efforts to endow her characters with some non-standard traits (Sidonie paints and suffers from the aftermath of a childhood case of polio), they remain trapped in the cocoon that Hull and her successors wove. And, for me, anyway, Sidonie's endless self-doubt and agonizing became tiresome after a while. It took her way too long to realize the mission that brought her to Morocco was hopeless but her true love was standing before her all along.
The Saffron Gate stands in this tradition, though with a twist or two. The heroine, Sidonie O'Shea, is a half-Quebecoise virgin, living near Albany, New York, with her father, her mother having died. She falls into an affair with a French doctor working in a nearby hospital. After she tells him she's pregnant, he flees to Morocco, where he grew up as the child of a colonial official. (The book is set in 1930.) She pursues him, losing the baby in the process, and lands in Marrakesh, where she meets his malevolent sister Manon and her Tuareg friend Aszulay, who plays the part of the sheik--except he doesn't rape Sidonie as the original did Diana, that "shivering piece of womanhood," in The Sheik. But the outcome's the same.
Sexual violence was central to Diana's awakening in The Sheik, and it recurs more or less shockingly in many contemporary romance novels, but Holeman has wisely avoided that element of the trope. She focuses instead on Sidonie's gradual realization that her pursuit of her doctor is a fool's errand, and that Aszulay is a kind, generous. and caring man--her perfect partner. A weekend spent in his village, where she meets his family, is her turning-point.
Manon, meanwhile, consumed by bitterness, does her best to ruin any connection between the two; she, it turns out, is the illegitimate and abandoned child of an affair between the doctor's father and a maid. As a character she's a bit mono-dimensional, cruel to everyone around her, even her young son, the accidental product of one of her affairs.
Holeman writes pretty well, though not brilliantly, and she clearly did some serious research for the book. Yet she couldn't escape the stereotypes of the trope--despite her efforts to endow her characters with some non-standard traits (Sidonie paints and suffers from the aftermath of a childhood case of polio), they remain trapped in the cocoon that Hull and her successors wove. And, for me, anyway, Sidonie's endless self-doubt and agonizing became tiresome after a while. It took her way too long to realize the mission that brought her to Morocco was hopeless but her true love was standing before her all along.
July 22, 2020
To moje pierwsze spotkanie z twórczością Lindy Holeman. W mojej opinii to bardzo dobra, wielowątkowa powieść. Nie znalazłam żadnych dłużyzn i nie nudziłam się podczas czytania. Bardzo dobra książka do czytania podczas urlopu.
Na uwagę zasługuję realistyczne opisy muzułmańskiej części Maroka oraz arabskich zwyczajów. Napisana naturalnie bez zadęcia i patosu.
Bardzo przypadł mi do gustu sposób prowadzenia akcji i to, że każdy bohater ma do odegrania swoją rolę, nikt tam nie jest zbędny, każdy opowiada swoją indywidualną, ciekawą i złożoną historię, dokładając swoją cegiełkę do całej opowieści. Wątki wzajemnie się przeplatają, wynikają jedne z drugich, nie są ciągnięte do końca książki, tylko się rozwiązują na przestrzeni całej powieści i to sprawia, że czyta się tę historię z ogromną ciekawością. Oprócz ciekawej historii, sugestywnych opisów miasta i życia w Maroku, mamy tu również niebanalne dobrze skonstruowane psychologicznie postaci, z których każda ma indywidualny charakter. Postacie bardzo naturalnie przechodzą przez swoje wątki, jeśli znikają to w sposób uzasadniony i spójny z całą opowieścią. Fakt, że nie są ciągnięte na siłę do końca, powoduje, że nie stają się papierowym, bezosobowym, niepotrzebnym tłumem, który z czasem nie tylko nic nie wnosi, ale zwyczajnie zaśmieca akcję. Widać, że każdy wątek jest przemyślany, a każdy bohater potrzebny i dobrze nakreślony.
Irytowała mnie główna bohaterka, której nie wszystkie motywacje rozumiałam i miałam często wrażenie, że nie myśli. Z jednej strony jest przedsiębiorcza, zmotywowana i zdeterminowana, a z drugiej nie umie wyciągać wniosków, trzeba jej wprost wyłożyć jak przysłowiowej krowie na miedzy, bo nie umie sama skleić wątków i zinterpretować konkretnych sytuacji. Według mnie najsłabszym wątkiem jest romans głównych bohaterów. On zachowuje się jak samiec alfa, który chce się zabawić, a Ona dużo mówi o zakochaniu i miłości, ale im więcej tym bardziej jest to pustosłowie. Jako czytelniczka od razu to zauważyłam i mocno mnie to zirytowało, podobnie jak ciągłe "nawijanie" Sidonie, o swoim kochanku, kiedy była już w Marrakeszu: "O jej czy Etienne już przyjechał?", "Czy widziałeś Etienna"?. "Czy wiesz kiedy Etienne wróci"?. Z czasem naprawdę stawało się to męczące i robiło z głównej bohaterki naiwną, egzaltowaną idiotkę, a nie silną, zorganizowaną, odważną kobietę, która wyruszyła przez pół świata na poszukiwanie miłości. To mi najbardziej nie grało i zgrzytało. Ale ponieważ lubię nieoczywistych bohaterów, wzbudzających emocje, oraz wielowątkowe, ciekawie napisane i dobrze osadzone w realiach opisywanego świata powieści, książka trafia do moich ulubionych. Polecam wszystkim, którzy mają zbliżony do mojego gust czytelniczy. Na pewno się nie zawiedziecie. Gdyby korekta była wykonana poprawnie dałabym maksymalną ocenę. Z pewnością sięgnę po inne tytuły od tej Autorki.
Na uwagę zasługuję realistyczne opisy muzułmańskiej części Maroka oraz arabskich zwyczajów. Napisana naturalnie bez zadęcia i patosu.
Bardzo przypadł mi do gustu sposób prowadzenia akcji i to, że każdy bohater ma do odegrania swoją rolę, nikt tam nie jest zbędny, każdy opowiada swoją indywidualną, ciekawą i złożoną historię, dokładając swoją cegiełkę do całej opowieści. Wątki wzajemnie się przeplatają, wynikają jedne z drugich, nie są ciągnięte do końca książki, tylko się rozwiązują na przestrzeni całej powieści i to sprawia, że czyta się tę historię z ogromną ciekawością. Oprócz ciekawej historii, sugestywnych opisów miasta i życia w Maroku, mamy tu również niebanalne dobrze skonstruowane psychologicznie postaci, z których każda ma indywidualny charakter. Postacie bardzo naturalnie przechodzą przez swoje wątki, jeśli znikają to w sposób uzasadniony i spójny z całą opowieścią. Fakt, że nie są ciągnięte na siłę do końca, powoduje, że nie stają się papierowym, bezosobowym, niepotrzebnym tłumem, który z czasem nie tylko nic nie wnosi, ale zwyczajnie zaśmieca akcję. Widać, że każdy wątek jest przemyślany, a każdy bohater potrzebny i dobrze nakreślony.
Irytowała mnie główna bohaterka, której nie wszystkie motywacje rozumiałam i miałam często wrażenie, że nie myśli. Z jednej strony jest przedsiębiorcza, zmotywowana i zdeterminowana, a z drugiej nie umie wyciągać wniosków, trzeba jej wprost wyłożyć jak przysłowiowej krowie na miedzy, bo nie umie sama skleić wątków i zinterpretować konkretnych sytuacji. Według mnie najsłabszym wątkiem jest romans głównych bohaterów. On zachowuje się jak samiec alfa, który chce się zabawić, a Ona dużo mówi o zakochaniu i miłości, ale im więcej tym bardziej jest to pustosłowie. Jako czytelniczka od razu to zauważyłam i mocno mnie to zirytowało, podobnie jak ciągłe "nawijanie" Sidonie, o swoim kochanku, kiedy była już w Marrakeszu: "O jej czy Etienne już przyjechał?", "Czy widziałeś Etienna"?. "Czy wiesz kiedy Etienne wróci"?. Z czasem naprawdę stawało się to męczące i robiło z głównej bohaterki naiwną, egzaltowaną idiotkę, a nie silną, zorganizowaną, odważną kobietę, która wyruszyła przez pół świata na poszukiwanie miłości. To mi najbardziej nie grało i zgrzytało. Ale ponieważ lubię nieoczywistych bohaterów, wzbudzających emocje, oraz wielowątkowe, ciekawie napisane i dobrze osadzone w realiach opisywanego świata powieści, książka trafia do moich ulubionych. Polecam wszystkim, którzy mają zbliżony do mojego gust czytelniczy. Na pewno się nie zawiedziecie. Gdyby korekta była wykonana poprawnie dałabym maksymalną ocenę. Z pewnością sięgnę po inne tytuły od tej Autorki.
June 13, 2021
SPOILER FREE
I absolutely loved this book. The beginning, the middle, the end – never a dull moment and I didn’t want this book to end.
Ms. Holeman does such a terrific job at the pacing of the many events and creates a very compelling and intriguing storyline set in 1930s Morocco which is gripping in its ongoing twists and unexpected turns.
The characterizations are superb as are the various nuances of all Sidonie’s relationships from her parents to the men in her life. Her relationship with one factious Muslim woman is key to her eventual mission and is handled in such a subtle, but strong way, communicating the friction and animosity between these two very different women (who share similar emotions unbeknownst to them) but Ms. Holeman still allows such mystery and so many questions to prevail ….. and, of course, the unfolding affection of Sidonie for a little lost soul is slow and sweet and very poignant.
Sidonie’s eventual shedding of her western garb for Muslim clothes and her eventual relationships with the Muslim women and her integration into their customs, rituals and superstitions and her compassion for them is an integral portion of the dynamic shift in Sidonie. Her transformation is profound and yet handled realistically and evokes such empathy for both Sidonie and the Muslim women whom she unexpectedly befriends.
The harrowing road trip to Sidonie to Marrakesh with two drivers is handled so that that the reader feels squeezed in that old contraption on wheels right along with Sidonie, feeling every bump and grind in the path travelled and every particle of dust permeating the air.
The Blue Man introduction is nothing short of subtley at its best. Evocative but subdued with the impact felt throughout the remainder of Sidonie’s journey.
Lastly, the setting of Marrakesh is vibrant and its atmosphere alive – from the bright colors of the flowers and the fragrance of the trees and their fruits to the taste of the customary mint tea to the hustle and bustle of the souks - and all is so expertly described with sufficient historical detail and vivid descriptions that both educate, inform and inspire interest in the reader in all aspects of the location and its people; particularly, the role of women.
I highly recommend this book by Linda Holeman and it is definitely taking a place on my shelf of favorite books of all time.
I absolutely plan to read every other book written by this author.
I absolutely loved this book. The beginning, the middle, the end – never a dull moment and I didn’t want this book to end.
Ms. Holeman does such a terrific job at the pacing of the many events and creates a very compelling and intriguing storyline set in 1930s Morocco which is gripping in its ongoing twists and unexpected turns.
The characterizations are superb as are the various nuances of all Sidonie’s relationships from her parents to the men in her life. Her relationship with one factious Muslim woman is key to her eventual mission and is handled in such a subtle, but strong way, communicating the friction and animosity between these two very different women (who share similar emotions unbeknownst to them) but Ms. Holeman still allows such mystery and so many questions to prevail ….. and, of course, the unfolding affection of Sidonie for a little lost soul is slow and sweet and very poignant.
Sidonie’s eventual shedding of her western garb for Muslim clothes and her eventual relationships with the Muslim women and her integration into their customs, rituals and superstitions and her compassion for them is an integral portion of the dynamic shift in Sidonie. Her transformation is profound and yet handled realistically and evokes such empathy for both Sidonie and the Muslim women whom she unexpectedly befriends.
The harrowing road trip to Sidonie to Marrakesh with two drivers is handled so that that the reader feels squeezed in that old contraption on wheels right along with Sidonie, feeling every bump and grind in the path travelled and every particle of dust permeating the air.
The Blue Man introduction is nothing short of subtley at its best. Evocative but subdued with the impact felt throughout the remainder of Sidonie’s journey.
Lastly, the setting of Marrakesh is vibrant and its atmosphere alive – from the bright colors of the flowers and the fragrance of the trees and their fruits to the taste of the customary mint tea to the hustle and bustle of the souks - and all is so expertly described with sufficient historical detail and vivid descriptions that both educate, inform and inspire interest in the reader in all aspects of the location and its people; particularly, the role of women.
I highly recommend this book by Linda Holeman and it is definitely taking a place on my shelf of favorite books of all time.
I absolutely plan to read every other book written by this author.
July 29, 2022
Après avoir procrastiné sa lecture pour 9ans, j'ai osé enfin la lire.
Généralement, j'ai apprécié le style de narration de l'auteur et surtout les discours internes de 'Sidonie' cette dernière que j'ai aimé vu que j'ai jamais lu à propos un personnage pareil (très naïve et n'avait pas de l'expérience dans la vie et reste pour des années dans sa zone de confort sans même essayer de faire une simple action).
Certains points en commun entre moi et Sidonie m'ont touché et m'ont obligé de faire une telle réflexion sur quelques événements passés dans ma vie.
Je vois que l'auteur a bien transmis les émotions de Sidonie je les ai ressentis en tout cas.
La chose que j'ai pas du tout aimée dans l'histoire c'est la fin, je la trouve même ridicule, je ne sais pas il y a un truc qui n'a pas été bien fait. ( Je comprends que Étienne m'a choqué par son ridicule aussi ) mais je vois que la fin n'a pas été bien mise en valeur.
J'ai toujours le roman à mes côté pour le consulter de temps en temps ( surtout que j'ai pas pu le lire entièrement et donc j'ai zapé une vingtaine de page pour découvrir la fin et la raison de l'évasion Etienne).
Il a l'air être un roman pour adolescents mais bon ça m'a permit de visualiser quelques souvenir pour réflexion.
Généralement, j'ai apprécié le style de narration de l'auteur et surtout les discours internes de 'Sidonie' cette dernière que j'ai aimé vu que j'ai jamais lu à propos un personnage pareil (très naïve et n'avait pas de l'expérience dans la vie et reste pour des années dans sa zone de confort sans même essayer de faire une simple action).
Certains points en commun entre moi et Sidonie m'ont touché et m'ont obligé de faire une telle réflexion sur quelques événements passés dans ma vie.
Je vois que l'auteur a bien transmis les émotions de Sidonie je les ai ressentis en tout cas.
La chose que j'ai pas du tout aimée dans l'histoire c'est la fin, je la trouve même ridicule, je ne sais pas il y a un truc qui n'a pas été bien fait. ( Je comprends que Étienne m'a choqué par son ridicule aussi ) mais je vois que la fin n'a pas été bien mise en valeur.
J'ai toujours le roman à mes côté pour le consulter de temps en temps ( surtout que j'ai pas pu le lire entièrement et donc j'ai zapé une vingtaine de page pour découvrir la fin et la raison de l'évasion Etienne).
Il a l'air être un roman pour adolescents mais bon ça m'a permit de visualiser quelques souvenir pour réflexion.
May 10, 2024
This novel was an interesting one. I consider the author Linda Holeman has a great talent of describing places, she makes you feel as you are seeing thorough the eyes of the protagonist all the places she encounters. I think I liked most of all the depictions of Morrocco,of the scenery and customs.
This is the story of Sidonie O'Shea, an american young woman with a difficult past, who encounters (through tragic circumstances)the french doctor Etienne Duverger. They develop a liaison and Sidonie falls in love with him. All goes well until one day when Etienne, now her fiancé, dissapears without any explanation. Sidonie finds a misterious letter he received from Morrocco and decides to follow him over the Atlantic in this far away and very different country.
In her adventure she will encounter many difficulties, mean, scheming characters but also friendship, help and love.
I liked Manu and Aszulay but had mixed feeling about Sidonie. I found her at times annoying and wanted her to open her eyes and see the truth much sooner than she actually did. On the other hand, having lived such a sheltered and solitary existence prior her departure to Morocco, I find her behaviour explainable.
It was an entertaing read for me, so, despite Sidonie's shortcommings I recommend the novel!
This is the story of Sidonie O'Shea, an american young woman with a difficult past, who encounters (through tragic circumstances)the french doctor Etienne Duverger. They develop a liaison and Sidonie falls in love with him. All goes well until one day when Etienne, now her fiancé, dissapears without any explanation. Sidonie finds a misterious letter he received from Morrocco and decides to follow him over the Atlantic in this far away and very different country.
In her adventure she will encounter many difficulties, mean, scheming characters but also friendship, help and love.
I liked Manu and Aszulay but had mixed feeling about Sidonie. I found her at times annoying and wanted her to open her eyes and see the truth much sooner than she actually did. On the other hand, having lived such a sheltered and solitary existence prior her departure to Morocco, I find her behaviour explainable.
It was an entertaing read for me, so, despite Sidonie's shortcommings I recommend the novel!
September 19, 2025
A very unlikely story set in the 1930’s, of a lonely, crippled woman, Sidonie O’Shea, who meets Etienne, a Moroccan doctor, in her home town of Albany, US, then falls madly in love. When he predictably leaves the US to return to his homeland, abandoning her without prior notice, she decides unwisely to follow him. As she has never even left her home town previously, I found it very difficult to believe that she would travel first to France, then continue on all the way to Marrakesh, alone, to find her missing lover.
The storyline then continues as more of a travelogue of the country of Morocco, rather than a love story. There are some evocative descriptions of that country and the way of life there; the segregation of the men and women, and the customs which must have been totally strange and unfamiliar to a Western woman of her background.
However, I found the conclusion of the story very melodramatic, and her romantic relationship predictable from the moment of their initial meeting.
The storyline then continues as more of a travelogue of the country of Morocco, rather than a love story. There are some evocative descriptions of that country and the way of life there; the segregation of the men and women, and the customs which must have been totally strange and unfamiliar to a Western woman of her background.
However, I found the conclusion of the story very melodramatic, and her romantic relationship predictable from the moment of their initial meeting.
July 6, 2019
Mixed feelings on this one. The first part of this book I really didn't like but it picked up in that latter part and my enjoyment/interest increased. The author did a splendid job of creating the setting in Morocco. She also created some memorable characters, such as Manon: what a vile woman. Initially, I did not connect with the main character, Sidonie. Then, about half way through the book, as the story unfolded, backstory revealed in bits and pieces, my view of Sidonie changed.
This was a decent read, but perhaps it is not for everyone. I may try another one sometime in the future but am not in any rush.
This was a decent read, but perhaps it is not for everyone. I may try another one sometime in the future but am not in any rush.
March 5, 2023
This book has been with me for years and finally for a flavor change I picked it up. While the sights, smells and descriptions come alive with the author’s writing, the storyline and pacing left much to be desired.
I found it was overly long, the pacing quite tedious, the protagonists bland, and the villainess forced to be nasty and the romance bound to happen so it happened. The heroine didn’t seem to have a real conviction for her actions halfway through the book except to be carried along hoping for the best. The outcome and ending were very expected as is the nature of such books.
I liked the Moroccan setting and descriptions of the life but the story let me down.
I found it was overly long, the pacing quite tedious, the protagonists bland, and the villainess forced to be nasty and the romance bound to happen so it happened. The heroine didn’t seem to have a real conviction for her actions halfway through the book except to be carried along hoping for the best. The outcome and ending were very expected as is the nature of such books.
I liked the Moroccan setting and descriptions of the life but the story let me down.
October 3, 2024
Das Buch kam mir zufällig in die Hände. Wegen des Klappentextes hatte ich einen etwas kitschigen Liebesroman erwartet, und wurde positiv überrascht.
Die Geschichte bietet nicht nur unerwartete Wendungen, sondern auch Formulierungen, die einen alles selbst fühlen lassen, als wäre man mitten in der marrokanischen Welt gelandet.
Sehr flüssig geschrieben und mit wunderbar erzählten Passagen (Besuch im Hamam/Badeanstalt oder die Stadtteile Marrakeschs).
Alles in allen sind Romatik, Spannung und ein bisschen Landeskunde vereint. Lesenswert.
Die Geschichte bietet nicht nur unerwartete Wendungen, sondern auch Formulierungen, die einen alles selbst fühlen lassen, als wäre man mitten in der marrokanischen Welt gelandet.
Sehr flüssig geschrieben und mit wunderbar erzählten Passagen (Besuch im Hamam/Badeanstalt oder die Stadtteile Marrakeschs).
Alles in allen sind Romatik, Spannung und ein bisschen Landeskunde vereint. Lesenswert.
November 6, 2017
After slowly recovering from polio as a child, Sidonie lives a solitary life until, years later, she meets Etienne. But when she reveals she is pregnant, he disappears. Sidonie finds a letter from Manon in his empty rooms and believes she'll find him in Morocco
Arriving there, she searches for Manon, and amongst the truth and lies Manon spins, Sidonie realizes the truth about Etienne, and about herself.
Arriving there, she searches for Manon, and amongst the truth and lies Manon spins, Sidonie realizes the truth about Etienne, and about herself.
April 12, 2024
Holeman writes with such vivid descriptions that you are immersed in the Moroccan environment. I learnt a lot about the Moroccan culture too, I could easily place myself in Sidonie’s, the main character’s, shoes.
The narrative is well built and you can see Sidonie’s character evolving as she travels from the US to Morocco and opens her heart to new experiences.
All in all, I couldn’t put the book down! 10/10 recommended if you love travel & romance.
The narrative is well built and you can see Sidonie’s character evolving as she travels from the US to Morocco and opens her heart to new experiences.
All in all, I couldn’t put the book down! 10/10 recommended if you love travel & romance.
July 26, 2025
The first time I read Linda Holeman's books I loved them all, just like I loved Kate Morton's. Then I made the big mistake of rereading them back to back. I made it thru The Linnet Bird and the Lost Souls Of Angelkov. I could not make it thru The Saffron Gate, and will probably not put myself thru rereading the rest of her books. Adjectives that come to mind: overly romanticized exotic cultures and adolescent lust.
August 18, 2018
I had such high hopes for this one, as it started out great. Truly kept my attention until I got about 2/3 of the way through and then it lost me. Dang it! I absolutely LOVED another book by this author (The Linnet Bird) and really hoped this story of an American woman in Morocco in the 1930's would be just as good.
February 10, 2023
I chose this book to get me in the mood for my upcoming trip to Marrakesh, and it certainly didn't dissapoint on that front. The descriptions of the places, people, culture and food are beautifully done. Didn't always love the main character, and the plot was a bit of a soap opera, but overall a fun, light read.
September 11, 2017
Good book about a woman's self discovery across the country. Falls in love with another man when she's looking for someone else who she thought was the love of her life. A beautiful book describing the culture of morocco.
May 9, 2018
It wasn’t as captivating as The Linnet Bird, but it was a historical novel that did its job. I learned a lot about the culture and people of Tangiers, Morocco and Marrakech. The characters were well developed but I really couldn’t relate to any of them. It is a good, not great read.
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