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lseroka's review against another edition
2.25
This book was all over the place and really plummeted the last 50 pages
shirleytupperfreeman's review against another edition
Another great story - this time about the 1921 Cairo Convention which created the current Middle East. I loved the main character's 'advice' - 'Read to children. Vote. And never buy anything from a man who's selling fear.'
meme_too2's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book! About a spinster "nobody" who decides to take her small inheritance (after her entire family dies of influenza) and travel to Egypt. She rubs shoulders with famous people of the day and they actually like her company, something she can hardly believe.
lisawreading's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating subject, plus the usual stellar writing that fans of Mary Doria Russell can practically take for granted. I enjoyed the plot and characters, plus I learned quite a lot about a piece of history that was completely new to me. I'm so glad to have finally read it!
mastben11's review against another edition
4.0
Sad, beautiful, and many times irritating, but overall effective communication of history paralleled with interesting personal life reflections by Agnes, the main character. Admittedly the nostalgia her descriptions of Egypt and the Holy Land stirred affected my reading of the novel. A worthy read for history and psychology buffs.
meghan111's review against another edition
3.0
After losing her family to the influenza epidemic of World War I, a spinster schoolteacher in her forties journeys to the Middle East, where she becomes enmeshed in the social lives of the most prominent colonial politicians and military leaders of the time, despite her lack of connections. The character of the schoolteacher, Agnes Shanklin, is the main attraction of this book, as the plot is reminiscent of a travelogue rather than a tale of political intrigue.
hulahoopes's review against another edition
5.0
Knew nothing about this one when I started except that my Favorite books are Sparrow and Children of God. I admit I've not been tempted to read more of Russell's because I read so many kids books for work I get behind on adult books. This was an audio so one handed to me and I ended up loving it. I grew to adore Agnes, Rosie, and the emotional journey her life was. I knew nothing about the Cairo Conference but want to learn more and found all of it so relevant to today. Wonderful!!!
cradman's review against another edition
4.0
I ate this book up in two days. It's not just a trifling dessert, however... more like a substantial main course in history. From the fly on the wall perspective of a traveling lady, we learn which colonial influences created current day Israel, Gaza and Iraq. This time period is rarely discussed and does indeed illuminate the conflicts that still rage today in the middle east. The main character's personal narrative suffers by comparison to the grand figures she meets, but whose love affairs measure up to Winston Churchill or Laurence of Arabia? Overall, this is a fun read and a good way to gain perspective about the middle east.
margyly's review against another edition
3.0
The third of the books our women’s reading group has read about women in the history of the Middle East. This is the fluffiest.