Zaatar Days, Henna Nights: Adventures, Dreams, and Destinations Across the Middle East

by Maliha Masood

Book Overview

When twenty-eight-year-old Maliha Masood, a burned-out dot-commer from Seattle, bought a one-way ticket to adventure and rejuvenation, she found it in the most unlikely of places: the Middle East.

With an infectious love of adventure, a zany sense of humor, and serious questions about her Islamic faith, Pakistani-born Masood begins an unforgettable journey. She camps in the Sahara with a Bedouin "desert fox," is mistaken for a spy in Turkey,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1580051928
• ISBN13: 9781580051927
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Seal Press (CA)
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

Insightful comming of age / travel memoir

I was looking for a good read that might take me back to my own life changing travels in Egypt and across the world and this book was channel for that reliving. This book takes the ordinary experiences and shows them diffused through a prism of a spiritual self expiriment on her own muslim belief system. She takes a good look at the hidden sides of the clash between old muslim culture and modern liberations. I wouldn't use this book as a travel guide for the middle east; but I wouldn't use Kerouac's - On The Road as a guide for the USA either. The writing is often metaphoric, sometimes overly, but the filter of a young woman on a mythical adventure of self discovery shines in the descriptions of the people she meets and the sense of alchemy in the coincidences of her journey. It's a tale of innocence abroad as she get herslef into, and out of, one sticky situation after another. I enjoyed this book as a recount of introspection as is only possible though the magic of travel, but there's a few scenes of block buster action as well.

A Magic Carpet Ride

As a devoted independent traveler, I am always interested in the journeys of others. What I found in this delightful book was insight and experiences that parallel my own. This is exactly the way it is. The author dives into a world unknown to the tourist, letting go of structure and planning, and instead allowing life to lead the way. Tapping into inner resources of trust, faith, and courage she embarks on a modern day quest--and takes us along for an illuminating ride. Often flying by the seat of her pants and living way beyond the comfort zone, she introduces us to a fascinating world inhabited by a very colorful cast of characters. Like everyone in the book, I would love to meet Bea! "Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing."-Helen Keller I have been to Cairo, Goreme, Kas, and Istanbul (places she covers in the book) and the pictures she paints with her words are accurate and entertaining. I, too, lightly touch on the sights that are so compelling to the tourist and instead seek to connect with the people and their culture. This is where the author excels and she takes us deeply into their world (and hers). This is a book written from the heart. We are given a real feel for a part of the world that is shrouded from our view. It is a book for our time. Highly recommend!

Riveting and Unique Travel Read

I enjoyed Maliha Masood's debut travel memoire that takes you through the Middle East with her unique perspective - that of an adventurous backpacking Muslim woman traveling alone, sans male escort - on a journey of self-discovery. As she makes her way through the ancient capitols of the region, she visits local mosques, makes friends, and has a couple of harrying 'close calls'. What makes this book different from so many Middle East travel books, is the path that she takes at every turn. Hers is the back alley, the roof-top terrace, the women's prayer hall, and the midnight bus. As she goes in search of clues to her own identity, she shares a world-full of friendly and not-so characters, and doesn't hold back on criticism when warranted. Her voice is refreshing, devoid of prejudice, and true to the trusting innocent that she was on this journey. The story is especially poignant since she returned home to the U.S. from her travels just weeks before 9/11. Highly recommended.

inspiring

This book is a great attempt at questioning social norms and breaking stereo types. The adventerous spirit of the author is not only inspiring but invigorating at times.

Inspiring!!!

I found Zaatar Days, Henna Nights to be a wonderfully inspiring book of adventure. I have not read many travel books written in the first person that provides such great personal thoughts and emotion. What a brave thing for a young woman to do on her own without a real plan. This is what is so inspiring to me. It seems we are often so afraid to discover new parts of the world on our own and Maliha Masood showed me it is okay and that the adventure is more about the people then the place. I reinforced my belief that interesting people are everywhere and that people are more alike than different. The first chapter really set the tone for me and had me wanting to finish the rest of the book in one sitting. I especially identified with Maliha's rationale for taking her adventure.. "What I really wanted was to escape from routine and find new ryhtyms in a world that would reawaken my senses. I wanted to knwo the meaning of wonder and freshness, to regain the wide-eyed openess of a child." Throughout the book I felt like I was vicariously living through her adventures in the Middle East. I have to say they are very different than what I imagined and a far cry from the negative images and tones that are repeated by the media. Bravo!