Karama! Journeys through the Arab Spring
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Review
'John West, a former Reuters correspondent in Cairo, plunges into this confusion with bright-eyed curiosity and a natural storyteller's appreciation of disconcerting detail. His tendency to pick up the threads of cafe conversation takes him into strange corners scarcely noticed by news reporters' Financial Times.
'Descriptions will resonate for anyone who knows the region ... West adds spine-chilling veracity to his narrative whilst at the same time giving a voice to those who have often fearfully chosen to remain silent' Wanderlust.
'Descriptions will resonate for anyone who knows the region ... West adds spine-chilling veracity to his narrative whilst at the same time giving a voice to those who have often fearfully chosen to remain silent' Wanderlust.
Product Description
Johnny West has lived in this area for the past decade and speaks fluent Arabic, and so has the skills and ability to talk to everyone from security guards to revolutionaries, from families of protestors, some of whom have been killed, to oil workers, to cafe owners, lawyers, barbers and clerics. Travelling on public buses, visiting with families, hanging out in shops and cafes, he brings out for all of us what made ordinary people erupt, what happened to them during those days and now, what their hopes, fears and dreams are, how they see us in the West, how each country is different but how they see themselves as part of a joint Arab culture, before Islamists. Johnny West's long experience in the area enables him to set all this in context, while never losing the vividness of a travel book or the characters of a novel. This is not a political treatise but a journey of discovery - of people, of places, of life under extraordinary circumstances - which this book allows us to share and makes one feels as if one had been there.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As someone who's never been to the Middle East, my impression of the Arab Spring was drawn from a bombardment of news reports; despite realising the importance of the events, it was very difficult to properly identify with the millions of people who had triggered this incredible revolution.
This changed with Karama. The book introduces us to a wide range of individuals, some who are by now fairly well known- the family of Khaled Said, for example- and others, whose stories would not otherwise have been told. We meet courageous 20-somethings who have been transformed into national heroes, and read the astonishing story of an unspoken truce between police and civilians during daylight hours which was replaced by violent warfare at night, and pages later we encounter an old-school army superior, convinced that Mubarak had it right. There are seemingly mundane events, such as journeys in shared taxis and coffees on street corners, which give us an insight into the views of "ordinary" people, combined with run-ins with the army at checkpoint and horrific stories from torture victims; perhaps an insight into the huge diversity of events happening in the Middle East at the moment.
Reading so many different perspectives on the Arab Spring from those who were there, those who took part (or actively didn't take part) and those who are now living in the consequences of the revolution, was fascinating. Instead of providing a political analysis into the events, West offers an unashamedly subjective account, and it is for this reason that the book is so unique amongst the mountain of reading material already available about the revolution. He reveals his personal opinions and previous experiences of his life in the Middle East, combined with captivating nuggets of background information which offer more context for those of us who are less well-versed in the rich history of the region.
I would recommend this book not just for those with a previous interest in the Middle East, but for those who have, up to now, felt like much of the reading material available presumes previous knowledge of the region. Karama provides a straightforward and easily comprehensible entry point into an incredible culture, at a time when understanding and tolerance between different societies is crucial to seeing the revolution through to a successful end.
This changed with Karama. The book introduces us to a wide range of individuals, some who are by now fairly well known- the family of Khaled Said, for example- and others, whose stories would not otherwise have been told. We meet courageous 20-somethings who have been transformed into national heroes, and read the astonishing story of an unspoken truce between police and civilians during daylight hours which was replaced by violent warfare at night, and pages later we encounter an old-school army superior, convinced that Mubarak had it right. There are seemingly mundane events, such as journeys in shared taxis and coffees on street corners, which give us an insight into the views of "ordinary" people, combined with run-ins with the army at checkpoint and horrific stories from torture victims; perhaps an insight into the huge diversity of events happening in the Middle East at the moment.
Reading so many different perspectives on the Arab Spring from those who were there, those who took part (or actively didn't take part) and those who are now living in the consequences of the revolution, was fascinating. Instead of providing a political analysis into the events, West offers an unashamedly subjective account, and it is for this reason that the book is so unique amongst the mountain of reading material already available about the revolution. He reveals his personal opinions and previous experiences of his life in the Middle East, combined with captivating nuggets of background information which offer more context for those of us who are less well-versed in the rich history of the region.
I would recommend this book not just for those with a previous interest in the Middle East, but for those who have, up to now, felt like much of the reading material available presumes previous knowledge of the region. Karama provides a straightforward and easily comprehensible entry point into an incredible culture, at a time when understanding and tolerance between different societies is crucial to seeing the revolution through to a successful end.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Never more so than in the wake of the most recent reports from the frontline in Libya, many of us find it difficult to make sense of the chaotic mixture of exhilarating hope and guilty trepidation about the future inspired by the Arab Spring.
In his account, West deals not in the discourse of overly politicized commentary, glib remarks around the table at dinner parties, nor drily objective reporting, but in the everyday observations of a man with an evident and sincere affection for this complex region. The author by no means shies from exposing the rough with the smooth & the inherent naivety of the heady expectations of the revolutionaries is often left clear to see. The account is all the richer for presenting the keen perceptions of someone who has built a slow and steady acquaintance with this region, rather than the fleeting crisis-chaser looking for a quick headline. The author in fact himself admits an awkward progression in his relationship with the Middle East, from the early stage of infatuation and inevitable `attraction-to-the-Other', through mild disappointment and resulting in a deep sense of familiarity - a journey surely familiar to all those who have stumbled upon absorbing passions for mesmerizing yet bewildering parts of the world.
Through the lens of everyday issues, garnered through conversations snatched not in government ministires or press pens but in coffee shops and grocery stores, (such as the wounded pride of the legions of 45-year old Tunisian men living at home and still extracting pocket money from their parents) we begin to look on the genesis of the eventual explosive events in Tahrir Square from a new angle. Given West's history in traditional and digital media in the developing world, he also has insightful comments to make about the role of the internet in the infamous `Facebook revolution'.
This is a courageous attempt at demystifying the evocative Arabic term `karama' - an untranslatable concept of honour and dignity which fuelled much of the protest movement - across cultural boundaries which so frequently seem depressingly impermeable. It is a work which will prove equally refreshing to both seasoned Middle East enthusiasts and those like me with scant knowledge of the region looking for a deeper understanding of the seismic shifts rippling across the Arab world & flashing daily onto our television screens.
In his account, West deals not in the discourse of overly politicized commentary, glib remarks around the table at dinner parties, nor drily objective reporting, but in the everyday observations of a man with an evident and sincere affection for this complex region. The author by no means shies from exposing the rough with the smooth & the inherent naivety of the heady expectations of the revolutionaries is often left clear to see. The account is all the richer for presenting the keen perceptions of someone who has built a slow and steady acquaintance with this region, rather than the fleeting crisis-chaser looking for a quick headline. The author in fact himself admits an awkward progression in his relationship with the Middle East, from the early stage of infatuation and inevitable `attraction-to-the-Other', through mild disappointment and resulting in a deep sense of familiarity - a journey surely familiar to all those who have stumbled upon absorbing passions for mesmerizing yet bewildering parts of the world.
Through the lens of everyday issues, garnered through conversations snatched not in government ministires or press pens but in coffee shops and grocery stores, (such as the wounded pride of the legions of 45-year old Tunisian men living at home and still extracting pocket money from their parents) we begin to look on the genesis of the eventual explosive events in Tahrir Square from a new angle. Given West's history in traditional and digital media in the developing world, he also has insightful comments to make about the role of the internet in the infamous `Facebook revolution'.
This is a courageous attempt at demystifying the evocative Arabic term `karama' - an untranslatable concept of honour and dignity which fuelled much of the protest movement - across cultural boundaries which so frequently seem depressingly impermeable. It is a work which will prove equally refreshing to both seasoned Middle East enthusiasts and those like me with scant knowledge of the region looking for a deeper understanding of the seismic shifts rippling across the Arab world & flashing daily onto our television screens.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The best read I've had in a long time. Very fresh - this was written and published very quickly. Lots of first-hand accounts, voices of people who were there and involved. Also a lot of insight from the author - this is someone who really knows what he is writing about. A snapshot in time, because things have already moved on, but this will stand as an inspirational read, however things turn out, becuase of the optimism and strength of the voices that come through.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
encounters with the revolution
This an interesting and enjoyable account of the author's travels in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, after the first days of the revolutions in each of those countries, and his... Read more
Published 26 days ago by markr
Karama
Service excellent, arrived quickly and in perfect condition. The book is a must read! It cuts through the bias often influencing the media.
Published 8 months ago by Mrs. J. A. Radford
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