Songs: We Didn't Start the Fire

Gotta love a bit of Billy Joel.   Though as we discovered, this is very hard to do at karaoke!  

Book Reviews: Married to a Bedouin

This book first came to my attention a few years ago on a trip to Jordan.   The book was in every book shop there.   It's the true story of a New Zealand woman who went to Petra in Jordan on a gap year and fell in love with a Bedouin tribesman.   They got married, had children, and she stayed in Jordan until his death.   Petra is such an amazing place, and it was great to learn about it from the point of view of someone who's lived there.   The book describes in detail what it was like to live as a Bedouin in the 70s, in an ancient tomb, carved into a cliff.   It's fascinating!   Despite the author's strong feelings on the subject, I was quite glad when all the Bedouin were moved from the ancient site that they'd been treating so carelessly.   Its is sad that their way of life was lost, but in my eyes an ancient site as amazing as Petra is more important.   It gave me a real insight into another culture as well.   Made me more understanding.   And she's kind of living my dream too.   I often think I'd love to run away and live in a cave.   There are certain aspects of the writer's personality I didn't like, but apart from that I would thoroughly recommend this book.

Songs: Fire

Some 60s glory to celebrate Friday night:

Book Reviews: A Venetian Affair

A Venetian Affair is a really interesting book.   It's the true story of an 18th century love affair between a member of the Venetian ruling class and the illegitimate daughter of an English baronet.   They couldn't get married because she illegitimate, foreign and a protestant, but they carried on their passionate affair for many years.   The story was published by one of the man's descendants, and is told through the couple's real love letters, with commentary by the author.   It's a fascinating look at 18th century life, and a reminder that people never change.   Sadly this isn't a fairytale and there's no happy ending here.   The couple end up splitting up. What I enjoyed most about the book wasn't the love affair (bits did get a bit tedious, with jealousy and lovers' tiffs), but the historical aspects.   We get a first hand glimpse of 18th century Venice, Paris, London and people like Casanova and Napolean.   It's a really interesting read.