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A review by mjnicefield
Lost in Beirut by Ashe and Magdalena Stevens, Ashe and Magdalena Stevens
5.0
Have you ever been to Lebanon? If like me it’s on your bucket list, then you absolutely must pick up this book.
Beirut is “the Paris of the Middle East”; more than a breathtaking city, its warmth and mysticism are magnetic. So much so, I almost read this book in one sitting - spent the afternoon yesterday on my balcony with the sun shining down, felt like I was right in the heart of of it all.
A magical experience for sure, but also a heart wrenching one... as war hits in 2006 and Ashe and his friends, all American citizens, try to find their way back home.
One passage that stuck with me early on, about 50 or so pages in, foreshadows and perfectly captures the essence of Ashe’s journey:
“Covered in sweat and tears of joy, my long-haired wig seemed to become a part of me, sticking to my bare chest and back. Shirtless, the only piece of clothing that mattered to me was the green military pants I got from a designer in LA who went to Vietnam and reused the abandoned fatigues of the American soldiers for his clothing line. I felt I was dancing for someone who no longer could.”
Recounting a memory of the day he met his best friend Danny at Coachella five years prior, the friend who later invites him to Beirut, Ashe here is free and reborn. He’s wearing a wig, a second skin almost, lost the shirt off his back, sweating and exhilarated. On the surface it starts off light and fun, but we soon realize all is not so simple. The moment is surreal.
A story of resilience, of growth, and of hope... Lost in Beirut moved me in ways that words can’t express.
Thank you to the authors for the gifted copy.
Beirut is “the Paris of the Middle East”; more than a breathtaking city, its warmth and mysticism are magnetic. So much so, I almost read this book in one sitting - spent the afternoon yesterday on my balcony with the sun shining down, felt like I was right in the heart of of it all.
A magical experience for sure, but also a heart wrenching one... as war hits in 2006 and Ashe and his friends, all American citizens, try to find their way back home.
One passage that stuck with me early on, about 50 or so pages in, foreshadows and perfectly captures the essence of Ashe’s journey:
“Covered in sweat and tears of joy, my long-haired wig seemed to become a part of me, sticking to my bare chest and back. Shirtless, the only piece of clothing that mattered to me was the green military pants I got from a designer in LA who went to Vietnam and reused the abandoned fatigues of the American soldiers for his clothing line. I felt I was dancing for someone who no longer could.”
Recounting a memory of the day he met his best friend Danny at Coachella five years prior, the friend who later invites him to Beirut, Ashe here is free and reborn. He’s wearing a wig, a second skin almost, lost the shirt off his back, sweating and exhilarated. On the surface it starts off light and fun, but we soon realize all is not so simple. The moment is surreal.
A story of resilience, of growth, and of hope... Lost in Beirut moved me in ways that words can’t express.
Thank you to the authors for the gifted copy.