Zaatar Days, Henna Nights

I've been wanting to read this book, mainly for the title, and patiently waiting for COVID-19 to die down enough for my library branch to start Interlibrary Loans back up. And it's been a real joy to read! There are many places in the Middle East that I'd love to see and experience but I don't believe I can, so I'm glad to be able to live vicariously thru her experiences.The author's style and imagery reminds me of [a:Frances Mayes 4826 Frances Mayes https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1267654734p2/4826.jpg] and her books on her 2nd home, in Tuscany. I love this style.I'm reading this in 2021 and the book was written in 2006. I do travel often on my own but I'm not sure I would be as comfortable as her friend Bea was. And there has been so much that's changed in the region since the book was written, that it has me wondering if the author would still feel as comfortable traveling the region now as she did then?

Masood travels alone across Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey, though she does not speak the languages of these countries and though she is both a foreigner and a woman. All of these get Masood into deep trouble at times. In the process of traveling she deepens her Muslim faith and makes many new friends.