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A review by daniellewalsh
Arabia: A Journey through the Heart of the Middle East by Levison Wood
4.0
With Levison’s books I prefer to watch the documentary on TV first so I have some context, then read the book to fill in the blanks that don’t quite make it into the series. His books always include more historical context - which was interesting to read about as I’m not very knowledgeable about that part of the world.
Unfortunately, this is probably my least favourite book that Wood has written. I don’t know why, I just think something was missing. I think his mindset has changed, as quite often in the book he was clear that he wanted to get home, to have the journey over with and ‘settle down’. I completely understand this, and thankfully there were still many points where Wood was learning from his experience and showing his gratuity and passion for travel and learning. I just felt that this journey was less enjoyable to read about.
I suppose this could also be because the setting of a lot of the destinations along the journey are war-torn places with a lot of terrible current affairs - but as always there are people along the way that remind him of the kindness, compassion, love, and humanity that can be found in the most unexpected of places.
‘At the end of the day, there are no good guys or bad guys, people are just people’
Unfortunately, this is probably my least favourite book that Wood has written. I don’t know why, I just think something was missing. I think his mindset has changed, as quite often in the book he was clear that he wanted to get home, to have the journey over with and ‘settle down’. I completely understand this, and thankfully there were still many points where Wood was learning from his experience and showing his gratuity and passion for travel and learning. I just felt that this journey was less enjoyable to read about.
I suppose this could also be because the setting of a lot of the destinations along the journey are war-torn places with a lot of terrible current affairs - but as always there are people along the way that remind him of the kindness, compassion, love, and humanity that can be found in the most unexpected of places.
‘At the end of the day, there are no good guys or bad guys, people are just people’