Lost in Mecca by Bothayna Al-Essa translated by Nada Faris

´Was there a hidden meaning behind this hell?´

Literary journeys are even most open minding as the simple discovery travel. They open up the eyes towards worlds we accepted to ignore, deeply diving into our own self-sufficient bubble. I am a passionate reader of elaborated crime novels but unfortunately, for many reasons - translation being one of them, my limited literary proficiency, another - I am mostly stuck into the European-North American realm. But I know there are so many brilliant ´noir´ authors outside this realm and Lost in Mecca by bestseller Kuwaiti author Bothayna El-Assa translated into English by Nada Faris encouraged me to be more determined in discovering different literary voices.

Last year I´ve read several reviews of the book and was on my TBR for a long time, but nothing prepared me for the deeply trauma valiantly told. 

Lost in Mecca is a story of a kidnapping. A little 7-year old boy of Kuwaiti origin is getting lost and subsequently kidnapped while being separated from his parents during the circumambulating the Kaaba in Mecca. The happy normality of a rich normal family trying to fulfill their duties is shaken by the realities of a world where survival is beyond any other human consideration. 

Told from different perspectives, including the shivering testimony of the kidnapped child´s, during less than three weeks chronologically, but within the framework of a fluid time, this is also a story of how life cannot go as usual after the encounter of tragedy. Belief is shaken, relationships are shaken, trust is eroded. 

The realities surrounding the circumstances are far from what we usually associate with when talking about rich countries like Saudi Arabia. A region where illegal immigration and human trafficking reaches peaks we aren´t aware of (as a side note though, some ´facts´ regarding organ trafficking/harvesting in the region may miss some double checking and rather follow some ideological patterns). As we are also rarely aware of the randomness of life in some parts of the world. In the book, one (bad) character asks the other (very bad) character: ´Is it really possible to live a life - normal life - away from the world we currently inhabit?´. It is a rhetorical question, but the answer may be that we rarely can. The - terrible - fate of the little boy - is an example. Moral compass may lead to hunger. 

I have another book by Bothayna Al-Essa on my TBR and definitely will read it in the next weeks, but as for now, I am deep in the thoughts ignited by Lost in Mecca. That´s how good books are shaking our mental comfort.

Rating: 4 stars

Rachel´s Random Resources: Wild Italian Nights by Christy McKellen

 

Good girl Juno meets Playboy Alessandro and both of them they have one full Italian (wild) week to enjoy life at its fullest. From Florence to the hills of Tuscany there are not enough places where they can literally feel the world. But could it be more? Should it be? Is there any place for more than passion?

Wild Italian Nights by Christy McKellen is spicy, passionate, even funny...a little bit of everything that one may need to for the hot season. As the title already suggests, it is definitely not for the prude of heart. 

I really enjoy the reading and the uneven meeting of the characters, in addition to the irresistible Italian environment which resonates very well with the hot feelings and adventures of the characters. I really appreciated that the characters, especially Juno, are more than protagonists in a hot setting, but they do also evolve according to their feelings and interests too.

For me it was the first encounter with this author, but from now on, I know where to look when I am in need of a spicy reading adventure.

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Random Things Tours: The Drowning Place by Sarah Hilary

DS Joseph Ashe is the sole survivor of a tragedy that happened 17 years ago. A bus carrying young people drove in Edenscar and all drowned but him. This miraculous survival is haunting him until now. As a detective he is requested later on investigating a crime that may bring him closer to elucidating an old mystery haunting him to this day. 

I´ve found the book from the very beginning emotionally challenging, but in the good literary sense. Both the atmosphere of the book and the characters - the bad and the good ones equally - are very well developed, with many hidden secrets that are dramatically challenging the plot in unexpected twists. 

Particularly Ashe is a world in itself, articulated and memorable. The choice of place and location in general may be surprising, as such a crime may work very well in a highly urbanized area. The eerie, spooky even, Peak District - situated in central-northern England - adds however additional elements of surprise to the challenges of the characters and of the story itself. 

The quality of the writing goes well beyond the usual police procedural investigation and this adds an additional quality to this very unique book.

The Drowing Place is the first in a series dedicated to Joseph Ashe and would be curious to continue with the next installments. For me, it was also the first encounter with this author that will definitely keep on my future radar.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Lázár by Nelio Biedermann

Lázár by Nelio Biedermann is like on everyone´s German speaking book list this summer and as usual, I couldn´t resist such a bookish temptation. Since the launch of the book in 2025, the 22-year old Swiss author is a literary sensation. The book was last year, among other prestigious nominations and awards, on the Schweizer Buch Preis list. Lázár is Biedermann´s second published novel.

I had one additional reason to read this book besides the German-speaking realm fame: it is set in Hungary/Austro-Hungarian Empires/Central Europe, a region that will always remain my big academic love. 

The author´s family, on the father´s side, is of noble Hungarian origin, refugiated to Switzerland in the 1950s. Lázár follows a family history during one century, from the times of the Austro-Hungarian empire until the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. The format may remind of the Miklós Bánffy´s Transylvanian Trilogy that hopefully will review it one day part of my CLASSIC READS series (eventually with some additional reading in Hungarian).

The ambiance of Lázár is similar to many books set during this period in this geographical realm, therefore relatable and so is the behavior of most of the characters, suffering of a timeless mal-de-siècle.

But, but, but...I felt for the duration of the 300-page of the novel operating mostly in a bubble. Although towards the end of the book there are more characters relating to the noble family, most of the time they behave as being in a bubble, without too much interaction - and social reflection of their immediate environment. Many locations are vague, unclear, lacking any specific individuality and therefore largely unauthentic.

The sex is true and it keeps busy many of the characters, almost most of the time. Which is fine, but for many characters it seems like this was the only reason why they existed in the story; they had sex once and again, and then few years later they died - not necessarily due to the sex activity. 

Hence, the book missed for me some depth, although it is not easy to emulate the style and talent of the Central European literates. On the other hand, it is noteworthy that the literature based in this region is still of interest and may create such a high wave of literary interest.

Rating: 3 stars

I´m a Fan by Sheena Patel translated into German by Annabelle Assaf

Let´s say that some books better would have not find me. At all. I am interested in books about relationships, dysfunctional, abusive (in books only, obviously). But not all those dysfunctional relationships are equal, especially if they are obsessively ideologic.

I´m a fan, the debut novel by Sheena Patel, was long listed for the 2023 Women´s Prize. I´ve read the book in the German translation by Annabelle Assaf, and at least from the language point of view it was definitely worth it. For the rest of the novel though, it didn´t resonate with me at all. 

The unnamed woman main storyteller - in her 30s - is obsessed by a successful writer - whom she sent a fanmail - , but also by his influencer American influencer lover - one of them. She wants to be like her and be with him. Both of them are white, highly priviledged. She is brown, middle-class. 

Instead of focusing on the relationship(s) dynamics and the obsession and the abusive dynamics between the two, the ideological is shortcuting the narrative without bringing anything else than stereotypes about race and power - which are fine, but in a work of fiction you expect to mix well with the facts of the story. A ´no go´ for me, no matter how many accolades and literary prizes this book was included. 

Definitely, I´m not a fan.

Rating: 2.5 stars  

Joyride by Susan Orlean

 ´(...) reporting makes you invincible´.

I don´t believe in role models in both journalism and literature. Trying to replicate someone else´s life and writing takes away your own creativity. But I strongly believe in people who are keeping your inspiration alive just by showing you how important is to keep what are you doing and how do be the best literary version of yourself.

Susan Orlean writes because she is curious. She examines closely ordinary things. She doesn´t teach a lesson, but wants to show you something that you never tought it is there. Her memoir, Joyride, I had access to in the audiobook format, read by the author herself, is a pleasure for the creative years. I felt blessed to have the chance of reading the contemporary works of such a talented nonfiction writer.

One can read it as both a handbook of contemporary journalism but also as the best remedy against writer´s block. You write because there is no other place for you in the world. You writes because you have the passion to open up to a timeless portal of human experiences. You write because you document humanity - yours and the other´s. 

I´ve had the chance few years back to watch a short video by Orlean explaining how to open up an article. Her articles - her iconic are included in the memoir - have the catchiest opening lines. Once you read it you cannot go away from it until you are reading them. 

Joyride also shares a lot of personal stories - like about her getting drunk on Twitter/currently X, but gives many examples of working with edition houses and the publishing industry in general. 

I will recommend this book to any journalist - in the making or just a bit disillusioned about the current state-of-the arts in the media. It makes you believe again in the power of written words. 

Rating: 5 stars

Compulsive Readers Blogtours: The Stranger on the Stairs by Ruth Mancini

How does it feel to spend decades in prison paying for a crime you never committed, based on an incomplete, unreliable main testimony? Although one cannot bring all those years back, the act of justice itself has a restorative function that should follow its way nevertheless.

The Stranger on the Stairs by Ruth Mancini is based on a true crime story of miscarriage of justice. Jamie Clark is a recovered criminal who knows he paid for someone else´s crime. 

A seven-year old discovers her beloved mother dead on the kitchen´s floor. Her testimony was most important element in reaching a conclusion two decades ago. But now, it seems that there were other elements that haven´t been considered. 

As the case is being reconsidered, there are much more details that are revealed, and this creates an ambiance of incertainty and expectations. The impressive cast of characters and the different points of views going back and forth from the past to the current times creates a confusion that matches so well a thriller. 

I´ve particularly liked how the elements of the thriller are well mixed with details typical for dry the procedural investigation. It gives a completely different perspective to the story. Philosophically, the events in this book also shows, at a higher level, how connected we are, and how our deeds and words may influence the destinies of the others, over decades and generations. 

Personally, it was a very dark yet psychologically insightful read, well-written and seamlessly developed. 

This was my first book by Ruth Mancini, but I am definitely interested in reading her acclaimed debut novel as well. 

Rating: 4.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own