An Arabian Journey

December 1, 2018
A British adventure traveler's journey through the tumultuous lands of the Middle East.A former officer in the British Parachute Regiment who has spent time in the Middle East on and off since his university days in the early 2000s, Wood (Walking the Americas: 1,800 Miles, Eight Countries, and One Incredible Journey from Mexico to Colombia, 2018, etc.) has dedicated his life to travel as a writer and "occasional photojournalist." Here, the author chronicles his journey from September 2017 through spring 2018, painting a vivid yet troubling portrait of the fraught land and people of the region. Tracing the "fault-lines of the geopolitical arena," he began his journey in war-torn northern Syria, following the course of the Tigris River, where he was roughly guided into active fighting in Iraq by Amar, a brusque, war-embittered undercover operative. As the author made his dangerous journey east, he writes, the "normalization of violence...made the place so bizarre, terrifying and alluring at the same time." In the Gulf states, Wood witnessed how oil changed everything for each nation, allowing them power on the world stage yet miring them deeply in a chasm of wealth discrepancy, mainly between Arab haves and migrant have-nots. (The author barely mentions the rampant sexism and misogyny.) After an arduous camel ride through the Empty Quarter of Oman, Wood ascended the imposing Dhofar ridge, skirted the perilous civil war of Yemen, and entered the Somali pirate waters of the Gulf of Arden. Then he traveled through the secretive police state of Saudi Arabia, the serene desert of Jordan, the devastated West Bank, and, finally, the relative stability of Lebanon. Sadly, the author found that the ancient nomadic tribes have coalesced into a modern "affiliation of blood gangs," locked in bitter wars against each other, corrupted by oil, and fractured by their separate brands of identity.Studded with intriguing moments but not as entertaining as Wood's previous travelogues. Despite moments of hospitality and friendship, this seasoned traveler experienced a crushing loss of innocence on a trip that was less a joyful journey than a kind of penance.

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Starred review from March 1, 2019

London-based travel writer (Walking the Nile), photographer, and explorer Wood embarks on a journey similar to his hero Lawrence of Arabia. He travels to Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, the Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel, concluding in Lebanon, using local guides and townsfolk to accompany him despite the danger, particularly from the ever-present ISIS (Daesh). Descriptions of some of the most magnificent places on earth occur beside accounts of Daesh and those trying to defeat them. These details are horrifying to read, while hearing place names such as Mosul and Basra, familiar to most, are equally compelling. Readers will meet kind as well as terrifying individuals. Fortunately, Wood possesses the ideal temperament to deal with everyone, whether a sultan or an illiterate nomad. Throughout the expedition, he resolves to celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem with family and friends, a heartwarming event after so many dangerous encounters on the road. VERDICT Ideal for those interested in Middle Eastern history, current events, or world history, as well as lovers of superlative writing.--Susan G. Baird, formerly with Oak Lawn P.L., IL

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2019
Even as he floated the idea to his friends, it sounded outrageous, if not impossible. Wood was proposing a journey across the Arabian Peninsula, traveling through such dangerous areas as Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. It was by no means certain he would be able to complete his ambitious itinerary, but he set out in September 2017 for his monthslong trek, in the footsteps of famous historical adventurers. What followed were his own adventures, vigorously recounted, from purchasing a flak jacket in Kurdistan to diving for pearls off the coast of Bahrain to riding camels (and being threatened with abandonment) in the largest sand desert in the world. There were experiences that moved him greatly, such as spending Christmas in Bethlehem. But danger was also a constant companion, and one frightening experience on the Arabian Sea finally convinced him to stop his adventuring once and for all. Even more than the places he visited, the people he met demonstrated the rich history and troubled present facing the region, creating a kaleidoscopic view into this storied land.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)