Zohra’s Ladder is a wondrous collection of tales about Morocco that immerses the reader in a world of ritual and deep sensuality. Pamela Windo chronicles her long love affair with the country and its people, peeling back layers of history and the finely embroidered fabric of daily life to find the truths in the mysterious and the exotic. Her stories describe the colors, flavors, sounds and textures of an almost dream-like place: a world of fleeting affairs, unexpected warmth, and subtle moments in shadowed courtyards. The results are liberating and uplifting portraits of the places and people she encounters on her seven year travels, told with extraordinary delicacy.
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Author Pamela Windo shares vivid and insightful memories of her seven-year travels in Morocco...makes for a great read. -- Cruise Magazine, 1st issue, July 2005
I'm in Essaouira where I've just happily devoured "Zohra's Ladder." -- Hamish M. Brown, Scottish writer, June 2005
The good thing about this is the author manages to avoid the cliches usually associated with the Arab-Muslim world. -- Morocco Times, July 16, 2005
This is definitely refreshing summer reading, a well deserved rest before the next wave of books on Islam and terror. -- Morocco Times, July 16, 2005
Your works give readers fascinating insights into life in Morocco and attest to your deep passion for my country. -- His Majesty the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, July 2005
I'm in Essaouira where I've just happily devoured "Zohra's Ladder." -- Hamish M. Brown, Scottish writer, June 2005
The good thing about this is the author manages to avoid the cliches usually associated with the Arab-Muslim world. -- Morocco Times, July 16, 2005
This is definitely refreshing summer reading, a well deserved rest before the next wave of books on Islam and terror. -- Morocco Times, July 16, 2005
Your works give readers fascinating insights into life in Morocco and attest to your deep passion for my country. -- His Majesty the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, July 2005
About the Author
A native of Brighton, England, author Pamela Windo moved to the United States in 1979 and then to Morocco in 1989, where she taught English to the children of the Governor of Tiznit and became a member of the Moroccan American Circle headed by Ambassador Marc Ginsberg. As a publicist for tourism in Morocco, she was later chosen by the Moroccan Ambassador to the United Nations to present Morocco to the United Nations community. She was also location assistant to Martin Scorsese in the Ouarzazate-based filming of Kundun. Since returning to the United States, Windo has given a lecture at the American Museum of Natural History, and has written for National Geographic Traveler, British Conde Nast Traveller, the New York Daily News, Departures and Bon Appetit.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The book's cover image is enticing, and the stories richly depict Morocco in an almost cinematic way, reminiscent of "The Sheltering Sky" and "Hideous Kinky." The author offers 26 vignettes based on seven years of living in Morocco. She kicks off with the eye-opening visit to a public bath, "An Afternoon at the Hammam," and then proceeds to one of my favorites, "Rabiah's House."
The taciturn mother of a new Moroccan friend, Rabiah generously loans the author her house in Agadir, and even accompanies her there.The location allows the author to make a genuine connection with local people, and Rabiah's motherly warmth comes across as she cooks for her and even tucks in her British charge.
My other personal favorite is "The night of the fiftieth birthday," a story about an evening at a Marrakesh restaurant on the author's birthday, where Sammi, a solitary Turkish visitor, is seated next to her table. "How brave to celebrate alone," Sammi says. The romantic story that follows will ring true for many women who have met Mediterranean men.
"Zohra's Ladder" is a strong read for armchair travelers, or those poolside in Morocco, or flying there. The vignettes move quickly (I got lost in the stories during a train ride to Washington) and its insights make a great companion to a guidebook. Kudos also to Windo for the writing itself, bright and bracing like the desert and mountains of this exotic North African land.
The taciturn mother of a new Moroccan friend, Rabiah generously loans the author her house in Agadir, and even accompanies her there.The location allows the author to make a genuine connection with local people, and Rabiah's motherly warmth comes across as she cooks for her and even tucks in her British charge.
My other personal favorite is "The night of the fiftieth birthday," a story about an evening at a Marrakesh restaurant on the author's birthday, where Sammi, a solitary Turkish visitor, is seated next to her table. "How brave to celebrate alone," Sammi says. The romantic story that follows will ring true for many women who have met Mediterranean men.
"Zohra's Ladder" is a strong read for armchair travelers, or those poolside in Morocco, or flying there. The vignettes move quickly (I got lost in the stories during a train ride to Washington) and its insights make a great companion to a guidebook. Kudos also to Windo for the writing itself, bright and bracing like the desert and mountains of this exotic North African land.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
A delightful, easy-to-read book - very personal stories, sensitively told by a writer who obviously loves Morocco and its people with a passion. Even though I'm a reluctant traveller, reading Zohra's Ladder actually made me want to get up and go!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Shane
Format:Paperback
This book is recommended by Lonely Planet so I bought it before setting off to Morocco last month. While using their recommendations to find places to stay and things to do, I kept reading the stories as I went along and found myself more in tune with the people around me. The stories gave me a sense of reality and honesty, as well as a sense of humour that is vital while travelling.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By E. Wilkins
Format:Paperback
This book tells the story of a middle aged woman who travels about and lives in Morocco. The book is fairly short and written in a very simple style. Each chapter tells of a different event although none of the events are particularly interesting - they could happen to anyone ! It came across that the author has little true understanding of Moroccan culture and in places I found her to be a little insulting about by the way in which she described the country and its inhabitants. If you are truly interested in Morocco this book is not for you. If you are curious to know about the everday happenings and sexual exploits of a middle aged woman it might be.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
A very good read - will be ordering more of pamela windos books in the very near future. I am looking forward to it.
Format:Paperback
Pamela Windo lived and breathed Morocco, but mainly Marrakesh, for some years. Her adventures are funny, exciting and daring - she absorbs the life, the people, the smells and the culture of Morocco. Inspirational.
Format:Paperback
This collection of short tales about an English womens time spent living in Morocco is worth a read but it won't set the world on fire. She does paint a good picture about life in the country and more inportantly the people she met. Loved the story about the Hammam. If your going to Morocco take this in you beach bag, only problem is that it is very short and if your not careful it will be finished before you get off the plane. The plus side to that is you can give it to whoever your traveling with so they can read it as well while you're still enjoying you time in this wonderful country.
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