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emilyisreading2024's review against another edition
4.0
It was interesting to learn more about Yemen through the eyes of an American journalist. As some others have noted, there's quite a bit about how she edits stories written by the staff reporters. I don't mind that since I'm interested in editing, but it's not the most exciting story. The personal stories are more fun, and I enjoyed hearing about the people she encounters.
sarahbringhurstfamilia's review against another edition
4.0
I haven't read a book that made me laugh so much in a long time. Jennifer Steil left behind her New York life to spend a year in Yemen, editing a Yemeni newspaper. I've never been to Yemen (and what we hear about it in the American press is generally not good), so I was interested to hear a firsthand account. Steil had her share of trials and tribulations in Yemen, as well as a lot of fascinating and wonderful experiences, and writes about it all hilariously.
For example:
I also really enjoyed her portrayals of the women of Yemen, especially the ones who worked with her as journalists.
I would have given this book five stars, but for the final chapter, which has very little to do with Yemen and very much to do with Steil's infatuation with the (married) British ambassador. She apparently considers her conquest something to brag about, since she does, even in her one paragraph author bio at the back of the book. So, it's not a a very classy ending, but the book itself (possibly sans last chapter) is not to be missed.
For example:
Faris has promised me an Arabic tutor, who has yet to materialize. I've taught myself enough to get around on my own, but here are a few phrases I'm desperate to know:
"None of the power outlets in my office is working. Can someone fix them?"
"Can you tell me when the toilet will be functional?"
"There is no water in the entire building."
"There will be no newspaper if something isn't done about the Internet."
"Am I ever going to get the key to open my desk drawers?"
I also really enjoyed her portrayals of the women of Yemen, especially the ones who worked with her as journalists.
I would have given this book five stars, but for the final chapter, which has very little to do with Yemen and very much to do with Steil's infatuation with the (married) British ambassador. She apparently considers her conquest something to brag about, since she does, even in her one paragraph author bio at the back of the book. So, it's not a a very classy ending, but the book itself (possibly sans last chapter) is not to be missed.
lisaeirene's review against another edition
3.0
I wish I could give this book more stars--I loved it until the very end. The ending left a very sour taste in my mouth and I disliked the author as a result. But the rest of the book was really good. I found the insight into Yemen culture, specifically women's lives there, very intriguing.
melbsreads's review
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Trigger warnings: drug use, explosions, antisemitism, mentions of 9/11, misogyny, cheating
This was very obviously a book I picked up for my Read Around the World challenge and while the newspaper stuff was interesting and I liked reading about Steil's struggles to get the staff to understand the importance of journalistic standards and sentence structure, I felt like I didn't get to see as much of Yemen as I was hoping to see.
The story was told in a very engaging way and I did like the discussion of Steil's ability as a white woman to move between Yemeni male and female spaces. That being said, the last chunk of the book talks extensively about how she falls in love with a married man and how amazingly charismatic and handsome he is and a) I definitely didn't expect a segue into a romance based on cheating, and b) I looked up pictures of Steil and this man (who's now her husband) and wow that is ABSOLUTELY not how I would describe that man lol. But mostly the cheating stuff left me finishing the book with an icky vibe.
This was very obviously a book I picked up for my Read Around the World challenge and while the newspaper stuff was interesting and I liked reading about Steil's struggles to get the staff to understand the importance of journalistic standards and sentence structure, I felt like I didn't get to see as much of Yemen as I was hoping to see.
The story was told in a very engaging way and I did like the discussion of Steil's ability as a white woman to move between Yemeni male and female spaces. That being said, the last chunk of the book talks extensively about how she falls in love with a married man and how amazingly charismatic and handsome he is and a) I definitely didn't expect a segue into a romance based on cheating, and b) I looked up pictures of Steil and this man (who's now her husband) and wow that is ABSOLUTELY not how I would describe that man lol. But mostly the cheating stuff left me finishing the book with an icky vibe.
dujyt's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating memoir/ethnography of an American journalist who takes on the task of becoming managing editor for the Yemen Observer, an English language newspaper headquartered in Sana'a, the capital of Yemen.
Because the author is already a talented journalist, the writing is clear, engaging, and pulls the reader in with just the right amount of description and observation. Not only is this book a great example of *honest* travel/culture writing, but also it's a great read for anyone interested in how to write as a journalist no matter where you are. In explaining, editing and teaching the basics of reporting, fact-gathering, interviewing and ethics to her Yemeni reporters, Jennifer Steil (the author) treats the reader to a "mini-workshop" in journalism.
The cultural aspect of the book was also enlightening. Since Yemen is a Muslim country, the second-class status of women created many obstacles and trials for Jennifer as she struggled to teach and train the few female reporters on her staff. However, male attitudes of entitlement and their dependence on qat was often even more frustrating. Most distressing to me was the "learned aversion to education and absence of a culture of reading" the author found among the Yemeni people. As the author observes, this puts the Yemeni people at a huge disadvantage in understanding the world and other people's experiences.
I marked the following quote because I think it is true for any reader and a clear statement of the path to empathy and understanding towards anyone not like ourselves:
"How does one develop compassion for someone with a completely different set of values without reading something from their point of view? Books are one of the few ways in which we can truly get into the heads of people we would never meet in our ordinary lives and travel to countries we would otherwise never visit."
This book isn't a non-stop rant against Yemen or the Muslim culture or the Middle East, though. The author clearly loves the scenery, and is fascinated by the architecture and history of Yemen. She is curious and engaged in her surroundings and experiences and I finished the book with more than a passing interest in learning more about Yemen.
Because the author is already a talented journalist, the writing is clear, engaging, and pulls the reader in with just the right amount of description and observation. Not only is this book a great example of *honest* travel/culture writing, but also it's a great read for anyone interested in how to write as a journalist no matter where you are. In explaining, editing and teaching the basics of reporting, fact-gathering, interviewing and ethics to her Yemeni reporters, Jennifer Steil (the author) treats the reader to a "mini-workshop" in journalism.
The cultural aspect of the book was also enlightening. Since Yemen is a Muslim country, the second-class status of women created many obstacles and trials for Jennifer as she struggled to teach and train the few female reporters on her staff. However, male attitudes of entitlement and their dependence on qat was often even more frustrating. Most distressing to me was the "learned aversion to education and absence of a culture of reading" the author found among the Yemeni people. As the author observes, this puts the Yemeni people at a huge disadvantage in understanding the world and other people's experiences.
I marked the following quote because I think it is true for any reader and a clear statement of the path to empathy and understanding towards anyone not like ourselves:
"How does one develop compassion for someone with a completely different set of values without reading something from their point of view? Books are one of the few ways in which we can truly get into the heads of people we would never meet in our ordinary lives and travel to countries we would otherwise never visit."
This book isn't a non-stop rant against Yemen or the Muslim culture or the Middle East, though. The author clearly loves the scenery, and is fascinated by the architecture and history of Yemen. She is curious and engaged in her surroundings and experiences and I finished the book with more than a passing interest in learning more about Yemen.
lizlogan's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me and made me yearn to travel once again. The descriptions were vivid and beautiful. I also enjoyed learning about Yemeni culture. Reading about the everyday workings of running a newspaper was very interesting too.
My issues with the book:
Steil’s constant use of “little” when referring to women. It felt derisive after her constant complaints about women’s lack of rights and lack of ability to be seen.
Steil sets herself up as a bit of self-centered and shallow. Although this is a memoir this is not done to a comedic or interesting effect. It’s just part of who she is apparently.
My issues with the book:
Steil’s constant use of “little” when referring to women. It felt derisive after her constant complaints about women’s lack of rights and lack of ability to be seen.
Steil sets herself up as a bit of self-centered and shallow. Although this is a memoir this is not done to a comedic or interesting effect. It’s just part of who she is apparently.
abbythompson's review against another edition
3.0
When Jennifer Steil accepts a year long position in Yemen to assist an English-language newspaper, she finds herself in a culture and place unlike anything she has ever experienced.
What I enjoyed most were Steil's humorous, frustrating and loving descriptions of the people she worked with and befriended. I absolutely love Zuhra and wish I could have met her!
The book went a little off the rails for me once Steil met her love interest. Too much musing about the long-distance relationship and less about where she was and who she interacted with. For me, that's when Steil's writing is sharpest and best.
What I enjoyed most were Steil's humorous, frustrating and loving descriptions of the people she worked with and befriended. I absolutely love Zuhra and wish I could have met her!
The book went a little off the rails for me once Steil met her love interest. Too much musing about the long-distance relationship and less about where she was and who she interacted with. For me, that's when Steil's writing is sharpest and best.
marysullivan_readsandwrites's review against another edition
3.0
I thought I'd absolutely love this book, but I was "eh." Some parts of it were awesome (see the part about the "artificial man") and others were engrossing in their lurid detail (see part about affair). However, Steil managed to cram in a lot of information about her job, and as interesting as individuals find their own jobs to be, it's still a freaking j-o-b. Which means, the middle got v-e-r-y saggy when I heard, for the millionth time, that Yemenis lack in English grammar and reporting skills. While it's clear the author worked very hard at her post, I got sick of hearing about what a brilliant editor of undereducated reporters she was. This book would have gotten only 2 stars if it wasn't for the vastly more intriguing details of her affair with the British ambassador. Though I felt badly for her lover's unaware wife, it gave the book the personal details it needed. However, if you want a good memoir about the Middle East...skip to Tony Horwitz.
teacozy's review against another edition
1.0
There's this thing called white-savior complex, and this woman has it.
I thought this book would be an interesting West meets East type story, but instead it was just three hundred and something pages of the author looking down at another culture, shamelessly describing her affair with an ambassador and singing her own praises. This woman has a very big head. She was constantly talking about how everyone at the newspaper loved her so much and how every man in the vicinity could not keep their eyes off her.( And I'm not sure how much of a novelty having blue eyes is in Yemen. Get over yourself.)
She just made me so mad! She ridiculed the English of "her reporters"/"her woman"/"her men" while not even knowing much Arabic THOUGH SHE IS IN YEMEN. GOSH.
Also, it's no coincidence that her favorite reporter also happens to be the one that fangirls over her the most? And that is willing to completely conform to make Steil happy?? She appears to see herself as some type of savior, sent to these poor barbaric people to fix their comma splices and save their lives from tyranny. Calm down, woman. They just want you to fix their paper.
I was interested in reading about the Yemeni culture, the city seemed beautiful but it all seemed to fly over Steil's head as she longed for her American luxuries.
Whether it was drinking alcohol and making love and screaming "you don't know what you're missing" while the call to prayer is going on, or repeatedly bemoaning the hijab and how it's so backward and so repressive, this woman had no respect for the culture she was in.
The most icky part of the book was how she wrote about her affair. She has absolutely no shame in recounting her affair with a married man. I cant imagine the ambassador was too happy about this, considering he mostly works in conservative Muslim countries? Now, I'm no fan of polygamy but I find it incredulous that Steil gasps at polygamy and the thought that someone would want to be the second legal wife of a man while she (illegally) fools around with a married man.
ick.
I thought this book would be an interesting West meets East type story, but instead it was just three hundred and something pages of the author looking down at another culture, shamelessly describing her affair with an ambassador and singing her own praises. This woman has a very big head. She was constantly talking about how everyone at the newspaper loved her so much and how every man in the vicinity could not keep their eyes off her.( And I'm not sure how much of a novelty having blue eyes is in Yemen. Get over yourself.)
She just made me so mad! She ridiculed the English of "her reporters"/"her woman"/"her men" while not even knowing much Arabic THOUGH SHE IS IN YEMEN. GOSH.
Also, it's no coincidence that her favorite reporter also happens to be the one that fangirls over her the most? And that is willing to completely conform to make Steil happy?? She appears to see herself as some type of savior, sent to these poor barbaric people to fix their comma splices and save their lives from tyranny. Calm down, woman. They just want you to fix their paper.
I was interested in reading about the Yemeni culture, the city seemed beautiful but it all seemed to fly over Steil's head as she longed for her American luxuries.
Whether it was drinking alcohol and making love and screaming "you don't know what you're missing" while the call to prayer is going on, or repeatedly bemoaning the hijab and how it's so backward and so repressive, this woman had no respect for the culture she was in.
The most icky part of the book was how she wrote about her affair. She has absolutely no shame in recounting her affair with a married man. I cant imagine the ambassador was too happy about this, considering he mostly works in conservative Muslim countries? Now, I'm no fan of polygamy but I find it incredulous that Steil gasps at polygamy and the thought that someone would want to be the second legal wife of a man while she (illegally) fools around with a married man.
ick.
arcookson's review against another edition
3.0
Steil is a newspaper writer---just the facts, ma'am. At times, especially when describing the treatment of women in Yemen, I wanted her to show more emotion. I wanted her to be as angry and outraged as I am.
Steil writes a great line about reading as means of learning about cultures we would otherwise not understand and places we would otherwise not travel to see. I had no great desire to visit Yemen prior to reading this, and I still don't, but through the magic of reading, I have travelled to Yemen, in a way, and learned more about Sana'a and Yemeni culture.
Steil writes a great line about reading as means of learning about cultures we would otherwise not understand and places we would otherwise not travel to see. I had no great desire to visit Yemen prior to reading this, and I still don't, but through the magic of reading, I have travelled to Yemen, in a way, and learned more about Sana'a and Yemeni culture.