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92nd out of 485 books
—
402 voters
Olives: A Violent Romance
by
Alexander McNabb (Goodreads Author)
When Paul Stokes runs out of choices, his only path is betrayal.
The fragile peace is holding. Behind the scenes, the Israelis are competing for dwindling water resources as Jordan and Palestine face drought. Daoud Dajani has the solution to Jordan’s water problems and is bidding against the British for the privatisation of Jordan’s water network.
When journalist Paul Stokes...more
The fragile peace is holding. Behind the scenes, the Israelis are competing for dwindling water resources as Jordan and Palestine face drought. Daoud Dajani has the solution to Jordan’s water problems and is bidding against the British for the privatisation of Jordan’s water network.
When journalist Paul Stokes...more
Kindle Edition, 269 pages
Published
November 1st 2011
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Olives is a suspense/romance novel set in Jordan. I read the book for my book club, and was happy to do so as I enjoy books set in the Middle East. Also, I was curious what the novel would reveal about the plight of the Palestinians, a subject close to my heart.
Most of all, I enjoyed the descriptions of Jordan. I appreciate that the novel presents the Palestinian point of view—something rarely seen in fiction by Westerners. The Palestinian characters spoke for themselves, explaining their family...more
Most of all, I enjoyed the descriptions of Jordan. I appreciate that the novel presents the Palestinian point of view—something rarely seen in fiction by Westerners. The Palestinian characters spoke for themselves, explaining their family...more
Great local flavour.
This book was chosen by our book group because the author will be attending the Emirates International Festival of Literature in March. We were interested in it because it is set in Jordan and covers aspects of Palestinian/Israeli issues, particularly the potential shortage of water in the area.
Paul Stokes arrives in Jordan to take up a new job - publishing a magazine for a recently formed Jordanian Ministry. He is helped to find his feet by a colleague, Aisha Dajani, a stunn...more
This book was chosen by our book group because the author will be attending the Emirates International Festival of Literature in March. We were interested in it because it is set in Jordan and covers aspects of Palestinian/Israeli issues, particularly the potential shortage of water in the area.
Paul Stokes arrives in Jordan to take up a new job - publishing a magazine for a recently formed Jordanian Ministry. He is helped to find his feet by a colleague, Aisha Dajani, a stunn...more
Two themes automatically spring to mind when I think of the Middle East: conflict and oil. There’s certainly conflict in Olives, Alexander McNabb’s first novel, but the primary concern is water, not oil. Just one of several perspectives one ordinarily doesn’t find in news stories about this part of the world.
Paul Stokes is a British journalist off to Amman, Jordan to produce a magazine about natural resources. Things start out poorly right from the airport when our professionally competent but c...more
Paul Stokes is a British journalist off to Amman, Jordan to produce a magazine about natural resources. Things start out poorly right from the airport when our professionally competent but c...more
The book starts with the protagonist finding himself at the verge of being stripped of his freedom in a foreign land- A scary feeling which stalks him throughout the course of the story and makes him think and do things that he normally wouldn’t have. Now magnify this feeling manifold and apply it to the citizens of a city or a country. Would you behave normally if your homeland was snatched away from you, or if you were being threatened with a possibility of that happening? Would you act normal...more
Olives is one of those novels that continually surprised me throughout. The ideas and plot that McNabb puts together is truly thought provoking and recently, having read a few novels dealing with similar political/social issues in the Middle East, I am beginning to find myself more au fait with some of the terms and political knowledge required to get the most from novels set in the area. I felt I got the most from Olives.
Despite feeling no particular empathy for the protagonist and narrator, Pa...more
Despite feeling no particular empathy for the protagonist and narrator, Pa...more
I attended a workshop that McNabb presented at the Dubai Literature Festival where he said he'd self-published Olives after being turned down by over 80 agents. What a crowd of pillocks they were. This is an incredibly well written book. The hero doesn't know what is the truth of his situation until the very last page and you won't either. The writing is very high level, the knowledge of the Middle East and the political situation very detailed. I've visited Jordan as a tourist and recognised pl...more
Yet another independent offering in an ever-expanding sea of self-published novels. Maybe it’s the circles I move in, but I’m bombarded daily via Twitter and Facebook and the like to read this ebook and that ebook. It’s the shape of the future and if more indie novels were as good as Olives by Alexander McNabb then mainstream publishing would have cause to tremble.
Of course, if quality was the only gauge then the market wouldn’t be so flooded with high-profile dross from the big publishing house...more
Of course, if quality was the only gauge then the market wouldn’t be so flooded with high-profile dross from the big publishing house...more
If you take the Tailor of Panama, add a sprinkle of Lawrence of Arabia, introduce rich and memorable characters, a modern concern about water scarcity, and bring up the speed, you will get Olives – A Violent Romance by Alexander McNabb.
McNabb skillfully managed to keep the reader as the outsider that Paul continued to be until the very end in a country he did not understand, yet was inadvertently in love with almost from the first pages, or days.
The appeal of the East with its intoxicating warmt...more
McNabb skillfully managed to keep the reader as the outsider that Paul continued to be until the very end in a country he did not understand, yet was inadvertently in love with almost from the first pages, or days.
The appeal of the East with its intoxicating warmt...more
Journalist Paul Stokes heads for Jordan, leaving behind his lover in England, to take up a job working on a magazine. There is a lot of turmoil in Jordan when Stokes arrives. Two rival bids for Jordan’s water network are being considered, there is pressure to ease severe threats of drought and Paul becomes embroiled in the battle. While the British are trying to gain control of Jordan’s water network, a rival bid has come in from Daoud Dajani. On his arrival, Paul works with and falls for Dajani...more
I was intrigued to read a novel set in Jordan and Palestine that was also a love story about an Englishman and a Palestinian. It promised to raise so many thorny issues and I wanted to see how the author dealt with them. He tried. The overall story was a good one, it just fell down in the telling. I found the love scenes pedestrian and the narrator neurotic and naive. And, significantly, even though the author claims to have spent 10 years on the book and also credits an editor, the book badly n...more
How to walk over an egg-shell without cracking it? This is what Alexander McNabb has done with this book as he's skirted around a rather sensitive topic and let you know still enjoy a story with some drama and romance. Living in the Middle East, I can appreciate several sensitivities that McNabb has dealt with both politically and culturally which are portrayed in a manner that shouldn't really offend anyone.
Considering this is the first title that McNabb has published, I must give him a lot of...more
Considering this is the first title that McNabb has published, I must give him a lot of...more
The author of this book requested a review and sent me a copy of the book. I'm glad he did because this is not a book I would have selected to read. I almost didn't even agree to read it.
I understand this book was rejected by multiple traditional publishing houses and I can only say that it can't possibly be due to the writing. The writing is polished and the story is well told.
Paul Stokes is a journalist sent by his employer to work in Jordan. The poor fellow is over his head almost from the mi...more
I understand this book was rejected by multiple traditional publishing houses and I can only say that it can't possibly be due to the writing. The writing is polished and the story is well told.
Paul Stokes is a journalist sent by his employer to work in Jordan. The poor fellow is over his head almost from the mi...more
This is a book with its accellerator stuck on. The further you read, the faster you read, knowing this is all going to end badly but hoping perhaps our protagonist, Paul, can swerve around the oncoming obstacles. This is not your usual romance. Along with the protagonist, you love, you believe, you doubt everything you just believed and loved then you're reeled back in again. You get insights into the lives of people in Jordan and the conflicts they face.
In Olives, Alex sheds light on one of the least discussed issues in the Middle East, water or the lack of. He captures the geography and people of both the East and West Banks of the Jordan and all the intricacies and complexities of their relationships. Nothing is simple in the Middle East, never a dull moment and Alex has superbly captured that. Having lived in Amman the places and the people are accurately portrayed, one loses oneself in the fast flow of events. I enjoyed the pace and it fel...more
Fantastic book that you can't put down. It is a horrifyingly realistic look at culture and life in Jordan, told in a gripping drama.
Totally recommended!
Totally recommended!
Quite a few of our community have written about this book. Its (too) short and sweet. Its fast paced and because its so interesting - it was over too soon.
One of the main interests for me (besides the bit of romance)is the political backdrop and the machinations of private and public sector, the turmoil of ethics versus personal needs. I am so looking forward to the next one. And I've been promised there is a next one with creepy Gerald!
One of the main interests for me (besides the bit of romance)is the political backdrop and the machinations of private and public sector, the turmoil of ethics versus personal needs. I am so looking forward to the next one. And I've been promised there is a next one with creepy Gerald!
So far I've reached section 10, its a very interesting book so far.
The story behind Olives is great, but felt like the story-line and narrative was a bit slow to my taste.
20th feb 2012: Will review soon
Apr 16, 2013
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Alexander McNabb has been working in, living in and travelling around the Middle East for over 25 years. Formerly a journalist, editor and magazine publisher, today he spends his time advising companies on their communications strategies, with a particular focus on digital and online communications.
Alexander is a frequent conference speaker, chair and moderator, particularly on issues around onli...more
More about Alexander McNabb...
Alexander is a frequent conference speaker, chair and moderator, particularly on issues around onli...more
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I've been living in the West Bank for about 1...more
Jan 21, 2012 08:18pm
Congratulations Holly :)
Jan 22, 2012 04:44pm