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A Small Place in the Desert
Just before 9/11, Peter Saunders, an elderly Englishman, visits Egypt with his wife fifty years after he was posted there as a young army officer. However, it is not the monuments he has really come to see, but the scenes of his past, where, while he was involved in sporadic fighting with Egyptian guerillas trying to drive the British out of Egypt, he fell in love with his admired commander's unpredictable young American wife. As the couple revisit the scenes of Peter's past, it seems their Egyptian guide is somehow connected to it. Finally, while 9/11 is happening the other side of the world, Peter has to confront the fatal events that scarred his life.
307 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2003
3 people want to read
About the author
Christopher New
149 books27 followersEducated at Oxford and Princeton, I have taught philosophy in England and Hong Kong, where I was for some years Head of the Philosophy Department in Hong Kong University. Equally at home in East and West, I now divide my time between the two. My novels are set in China, India, Egypt and Europe.
I think too many western novelists are concerned only with their own small corner of the western world, as if that was the centre of everything. It isn't.
I think too many western novelists are concerned only with their own small corner of the western world, as if that was the centre of everything. It isn't.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 6, 2015
I read this book by accident. Nobody is ever gonna tell me again there can't be good accidents.
I had met my former Spanish teacher in the mall and stumbled through the conversation in the best Spanish I could muster. When she asked me if I wanted to borrow the book we had talked about, I just said yes. Book! Can't be bad to say yes! So, a week later I held a book in my hands. English, not Spanish, and the author's last name was the same as my Spanish teacher's. Okay...? I did some research and it turned out that they were related. Nice.
"A Small Place in the Desert" did not sound like a book I would pick up by myself at all. It was a slow read. But a slow read that you stay up with till past midnight. On the one hand we follow Peter and Clare on their trip through Egypt. Clare planned it in order for Peter to confront the shadows he has lived with for 50 years. On the other hand we accompany Peter on his trips down memory lane, vivid memories of the time in the military he spent in Egypt with Margaret Jeffries.
Peter is a very passive protagonist. He never makes anything happen, things just happen to him. Margaret happened to him. War happened to him. Clare happened to him. And Egypt happened to him twice. This isn't unproblematic since it leaves the author with limited possibilities. How many different way can you say "Peter stared into nothingness and remembered a time long gone"? Not really enough for it not to become a bit repetitive.
Still, I simply NEEDED to know how it would end. There couldn't be a happy end. So, how? What? Would they be discovered? Would Margaret die? Would her husband? I won't tell, just so much: it's good kind of end, no questions unanswered, not cheesy, not abrupt, not boring.
I appreciated the realistic way everything was pictured. I bought it. Sometimes the descriptions where a bit lengthy and the military part got a bit confusing with English not being my native language and innocent little me having no clue about the military whatsoever.
All in all, really well written. If you're not an impatient reader this should definitely go onto your "to-read"-list.
I had met my former Spanish teacher in the mall and stumbled through the conversation in the best Spanish I could muster. When she asked me if I wanted to borrow the book we had talked about, I just said yes. Book! Can't be bad to say yes! So, a week later I held a book in my hands. English, not Spanish, and the author's last name was the same as my Spanish teacher's. Okay...? I did some research and it turned out that they were related. Nice.
"A Small Place in the Desert" did not sound like a book I would pick up by myself at all. It was a slow read. But a slow read that you stay up with till past midnight. On the one hand we follow Peter and Clare on their trip through Egypt. Clare planned it in order for Peter to confront the shadows he has lived with for 50 years. On the other hand we accompany Peter on his trips down memory lane, vivid memories of the time in the military he spent in Egypt with Margaret Jeffries.
Peter is a very passive protagonist. He never makes anything happen, things just happen to him. Margaret happened to him. War happened to him. Clare happened to him. And Egypt happened to him twice. This isn't unproblematic since it leaves the author with limited possibilities. How many different way can you say "Peter stared into nothingness and remembered a time long gone"? Not really enough for it not to become a bit repetitive.
Still, I simply NEEDED to know how it would end. There couldn't be a happy end. So, how? What? Would they be discovered? Would Margaret die? Would her husband? I won't tell, just so much: it's good kind of end, no questions unanswered, not cheesy, not abrupt, not boring.
I appreciated the realistic way everything was pictured. I bought it. Sometimes the descriptions where a bit lengthy and the military part got a bit confusing with English not being my native language and innocent little me having no clue about the military whatsoever.
All in all, really well written. If you're not an impatient reader this should definitely go onto your "to-read"-list.
July 27, 2017
A solid read. This book is quite interesting though the pacing is very slow. The descriptions are good and serve a purpose. However, I wished Ahmed was developed more. I really liked him and wanted to know more about his situation and family. Clare at times comes off as inconsiderate and impatient. She isn't too developed but to be honest, I never really liked her. There are bits that are boring and almost seem useless. In general, this is a book you must be patient with and will be rewarded with an insightful read if you do so.
May 21, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. Well written, great characterization. He managed to carry the past story and present story nicely.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews