Rated FIVE stars *****

I am an American woman who has lived in Marrakesh, Morocco for the past twelve years. I picked up this book on a recent trip to London. When I sat down to read it, I literally couldn't put it down. I finished it in two days.

I absolutely loved this book. The author writes very well, and his style of prose is a true pleasure, just for how he puts the words on the page. He has included some interesting color pictures. He has described his personal experiences while traveling around on the various week-stints he has off from his job in the Western Sahara. But what is exceptional about his descriptions is that he shares all of his feelings, and even personal doubts and fears along the way, with his readers.

I also found his perspective as a writer very interesting. He is an unmarried, professional soldier. His perspective is quite different from what I would have expected--for example, meeting up with two other men on a deserted trail, he is worried (just as anyone else would be) about whether they mean him harm, and if he would be able to defend himself. He has thoughts and feelings you would expect of any man (perhaps the movies give us the impression that all soldiers would be like "Rambo"). When he gets caught on an airplane next to a beautiful woman wearing old fishy-smelling tennis shoes, he makes sure to subsequently meet her in London well-groomed and smelling of cologne.

I also really enjoyed comparing his travel and experiences with my own (being a woman, and a mother, who is married to a Moroccan man). I found I had had many similar experiences. Although as my situation is different, these experiences occurred under different circumstances. Lastly, I do agree with most of the conclusions he draws from his various experiences, and they are quite interesting, giving the reader pause to think. I found a few minor conclusions I disagreed with (nothing of real importance)--mostly things learned from having been here ten years and having been married into a Moroccan family, whereas someone living here only ten months might not have the chance to know.

This is one of the most enjoyable and worthwhile books I have read in a long time.

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