Volunteer Review: My Trip to Adele
Posted: 01 May 2017, 23:03
[Following is a volunteer OnlineBookClub.org review of "My Trip to Adele by R.I. and A.I. Alyaseer]
My Trip to Adele is a cocktail of three stories played out simultaneously in three cities on three continents. According to the co-authors, the brothers Rana and Ahmad Alyaseer, they were inspired to write the book after attending a concert of Adele in Verona, Rome. The stories focus on the lives of Elias in Rome, the couple Yaser and Mariam in Las Vegas, and Nadia in Amman.
Elias, a Moroccan living in Rome, had visited Marrakesh and fallen in love with a girl called Malika. For inexplicable reasons, he defaulted on his vow to return to Rome with her. For eight years he aches and longs for her. A fortuneteller stops him one day to talk to him about Malika. She reveals to him the identity of an unlikely jealous rival who had cast a spell on him to forsake Malika. She urges him to return to Marrakesh to confront his nemesis, and to be exorcised of the spell. How does Elias overcome his doubts and fears to embark on such a journey to claim his princess charming?
In Las Vegas, Yaser and Mariam are both surgeons who dated at the workplace and got married. However, their love for each either quickly evaporates, leading them to consult a marriage counselor in an attempt to rekindle the spark. As simple as the counselor’s prescription is, will they be able to recall and agree on just one moment of mutual affection for the next counseling session?
And in Jordan, Nadia has liberated herself from the control of an abusive husband. However, her closest friend, Lara, is trapped in a similar abusive marriage situation, and yet she is unwilling to let go. Nadia is compelled to enter into the fray on behalf of her friend, at the same time as she battles her ex-husband over the care of their adolescent son.
The three stories, based on relationships, appear more real than fictional. They could be memoirs depicting the lives of any set of individuals. Another thread that weaves them together is the characters’ liking for Adele and her music. Each chapter bears the title of a song by Adele, and ends with the lyrics that happen to harmonize with the message.
My trip to Adele is what a book looks like at its best. It has drama, ebb and flow. The transition from one story to another is well handled. The flashback feature is aptly used. The narration, in the first person tone, is done by the characters Elias, Yaser and Nadia respectively. I felt like they were talking to me directly, and I could visualize them all like movies in replay. They are laced with rich imagery, like this one: “…..torn up streets beneath the feet of passersby.”
I find the main characters to be well defined and likable. I especially like Nadia for her independence, tenacity and purpose. In a culture where the voice of women is stifled, she is still vocal about injustices against women. She asserts that: “No customs or laws or tribes could define me.” As a divorced mother, her relationship with her son comes out as highly affectionate and heartwarming. Elias, on his part, comes out as a rare specimen of male integrity when he refuses to take advantage of vulnerable Malika, but steadfastly cherishes her for years in absentia. Mariam, in the words of her husband, “ … was just like that rigid page of the holy book”. She dominates their marriage relationship until Yaser rebels.
It was a delight reading the book. I did not find any errors of structure or editing in it. Married couples, especially those with problems, could learn a lot from the book. Women from Arabic countries could also benefit from the book. Anybody else, just like me, would find it to be enjoyable. It is also the book for Adele’s fans. Without any drawbacks to affect its evaluation, I accord the book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars.
My Trip to Adele is a cocktail of three stories played out simultaneously in three cities on three continents. According to the co-authors, the brothers Rana and Ahmad Alyaseer, they were inspired to write the book after attending a concert of Adele in Verona, Rome. The stories focus on the lives of Elias in Rome, the couple Yaser and Mariam in Las Vegas, and Nadia in Amman.
Elias, a Moroccan living in Rome, had visited Marrakesh and fallen in love with a girl called Malika. For inexplicable reasons, he defaulted on his vow to return to Rome with her. For eight years he aches and longs for her. A fortuneteller stops him one day to talk to him about Malika. She reveals to him the identity of an unlikely jealous rival who had cast a spell on him to forsake Malika. She urges him to return to Marrakesh to confront his nemesis, and to be exorcised of the spell. How does Elias overcome his doubts and fears to embark on such a journey to claim his princess charming?
In Las Vegas, Yaser and Mariam are both surgeons who dated at the workplace and got married. However, their love for each either quickly evaporates, leading them to consult a marriage counselor in an attempt to rekindle the spark. As simple as the counselor’s prescription is, will they be able to recall and agree on just one moment of mutual affection for the next counseling session?
And in Jordan, Nadia has liberated herself from the control of an abusive husband. However, her closest friend, Lara, is trapped in a similar abusive marriage situation, and yet she is unwilling to let go. Nadia is compelled to enter into the fray on behalf of her friend, at the same time as she battles her ex-husband over the care of their adolescent son.
The three stories, based on relationships, appear more real than fictional. They could be memoirs depicting the lives of any set of individuals. Another thread that weaves them together is the characters’ liking for Adele and her music. Each chapter bears the title of a song by Adele, and ends with the lyrics that happen to harmonize with the message.
My trip to Adele is what a book looks like at its best. It has drama, ebb and flow. The transition from one story to another is well handled. The flashback feature is aptly used. The narration, in the first person tone, is done by the characters Elias, Yaser and Nadia respectively. I felt like they were talking to me directly, and I could visualize them all like movies in replay. They are laced with rich imagery, like this one: “…..torn up streets beneath the feet of passersby.”
I find the main characters to be well defined and likable. I especially like Nadia for her independence, tenacity and purpose. In a culture where the voice of women is stifled, she is still vocal about injustices against women. She asserts that: “No customs or laws or tribes could define me.” As a divorced mother, her relationship with her son comes out as highly affectionate and heartwarming. Elias, on his part, comes out as a rare specimen of male integrity when he refuses to take advantage of vulnerable Malika, but steadfastly cherishes her for years in absentia. Mariam, in the words of her husband, “ … was just like that rigid page of the holy book”. She dominates their marriage relationship until Yaser rebels.
It was a delight reading the book. I did not find any errors of structure or editing in it. Married couples, especially those with problems, could learn a lot from the book. Women from Arabic countries could also benefit from the book. Anybody else, just like me, would find it to be enjoyable. It is also the book for Adele’s fans. Without any drawbacks to affect its evaluation, I accord the book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars.
