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From Souk to Souk: Travels Through the Middle East
Robin Ratchford reflects on a series of unforgettable experiences across the Middle East. This innovative account of his colourful and atmospheric journeys shows us why this region has always caught the imagination of those who visit. From the historic bazaar of Aleppo in Syria, to the street markets of Baghdad, join Robin in a captivating account of his travels across the Middle East with its ancient cities and glittering metropolises. During his travels he gets lost in the Yemeni capital's maze of ancient winding streets and 'goes round the bend' in Oman, meeting a kaleidoscope of clerics, artists and artisans along the way. From Souk to Souk breaks the rules of the traditional travelogue. Robin takes the many challenges this volatile part of the world faces and gives them a more human perspective, providing a new way to view these countries steeped in history. Travelling through a region rich in contrasts, discover how history and humanity link its cities and people to a past which is not only theirs, but ours too. With a combination of atmospheric descriptions and a critique both of Middle Eastern societies and Western perceptions of them, this book offers a personal insight into the Middle East in a way which is accessible to all, particularly those interested in travelling and the region itself.
- GenresTravelNonfiction
224 pages, Paperback
First published March 28, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 20, 2014
I picked this up off Net Galley, and this review should be seen in the following context. I'm actually from one of the countries that Robin Ratchford visited, and have spent time in quite a few others. Suffice to say, I am from the region and have spent much of my life there. With that in mind, I approached this book with a particularly critical eye: was the author doing justice to the region? Did he fall into the trap of viewing the Middle East through the orientalist veil of mysticism and wonder? I know that this is what travel literature is all about in some respects, but I believe that it often does more harm than good to exoticize people and places that are different, rather than see them for what they are: just like us.
So, my approach to this book was particularly sensitive to this. The good news is, the author is quite fair to the people of the region, and doesn't really go over the top in stereotyping or mysticizing the region. His tone is sensitive and understanding; perhaps as a seasoned traveler, he's learned not to do this. I respect that. There is, of course, a bit of wonder and amazement on his part about certain things, but that is normal. Visiting Istanbul, I too felt the vibrancy of hundreds of years of rich history with every step. Ratchford captures this quite well in many places.
But I had some issues with his writing as well. To start with, I knew nothing about the author prior to reading the first page. By the hundredth page, I still knew next to nothing. The book starts with him jetting into Istanbul (circa 2001 - his travels seem quite spaced out). But why? Who is Robin Ratchford? What is his interest in the Middle East? Why is he traveling to all these countries? Generally I'd expect some background, some detail about the author and their interests, their perspective. I got nothing.
Secondly, I quickly got irritated with the structure of his travels. To read, it sounds like he spent a day in each place. Clearly this is not true, but the narrative style of every chapter makes it seem that way. He arrives, wanders around a bit, sees some interesting things, and gains some insight into the people of this country. Again, I want to give credit where it is due: he's clearly perceptive, avoids making sweeping and incorrect generalizations, and is sensitive to local conditions. But to the reader, it reads as if he spends an afternoon knocking about before flying home. I wanted a little more. Perhaps a book of less than 200 pages trying to cover so many cities is too ambitious. I felt particularly cheated by the chapters on Beirut (which is a remarkable city) and Oman (Musandam is but an output cut off from the country in general*).
Overall, I give the book 2.5 stars. I like the author and his use of language is occasionally very enjoyable. He certainly doesn't generalize, fall into orientalist caricatures, or attempt to paint entire populations in a particular light. He also freely admits to his own prejudices - as the chapter on Syria demonstrates well. However, the main drawback appears to be the brevity of the book. It needs to be at least twice as long, or cover half as many cities, for it to be memorable. As it is, it's essentially a collection of sketches, written in a similar style but without a great deal of differentiating substance, that don't add up to a great deal in total.
* full disclosure: I lived in Oman for years and loved it to bits, so I was very disappointed by the lack of any meaningful depth on the rest of the country.
So, my approach to this book was particularly sensitive to this. The good news is, the author is quite fair to the people of the region, and doesn't really go over the top in stereotyping or mysticizing the region. His tone is sensitive and understanding; perhaps as a seasoned traveler, he's learned not to do this. I respect that. There is, of course, a bit of wonder and amazement on his part about certain things, but that is normal. Visiting Istanbul, I too felt the vibrancy of hundreds of years of rich history with every step. Ratchford captures this quite well in many places.
But I had some issues with his writing as well. To start with, I knew nothing about the author prior to reading the first page. By the hundredth page, I still knew next to nothing. The book starts with him jetting into Istanbul (circa 2001 - his travels seem quite spaced out). But why? Who is Robin Ratchford? What is his interest in the Middle East? Why is he traveling to all these countries? Generally I'd expect some background, some detail about the author and their interests, their perspective. I got nothing.
Secondly, I quickly got irritated with the structure of his travels. To read, it sounds like he spent a day in each place. Clearly this is not true, but the narrative style of every chapter makes it seem that way. He arrives, wanders around a bit, sees some interesting things, and gains some insight into the people of this country. Again, I want to give credit where it is due: he's clearly perceptive, avoids making sweeping and incorrect generalizations, and is sensitive to local conditions. But to the reader, it reads as if he spends an afternoon knocking about before flying home. I wanted a little more. Perhaps a book of less than 200 pages trying to cover so many cities is too ambitious. I felt particularly cheated by the chapters on Beirut (which is a remarkable city) and Oman (Musandam is but an output cut off from the country in general*).
Overall, I give the book 2.5 stars. I like the author and his use of language is occasionally very enjoyable. He certainly doesn't generalize, fall into orientalist caricatures, or attempt to paint entire populations in a particular light. He also freely admits to his own prejudices - as the chapter on Syria demonstrates well. However, the main drawback appears to be the brevity of the book. It needs to be at least twice as long, or cover half as many cities, for it to be memorable. As it is, it's essentially a collection of sketches, written in a similar style but without a great deal of differentiating substance, that don't add up to a great deal in total.
* full disclosure: I lived in Oman for years and loved it to bits, so I was very disappointed by the lack of any meaningful depth on the rest of the country.
December 6, 2017
A curious little travelogue. Ratchford attempts to cover a dozen locations in just under 200 pages, which means that inevitably it feels rushed and lacking in depth. In most chapters it feels like he only spent a day there, and often he gets to do nothing more interesting than browse the souk (and they all start to look the same after a while), buy a souvenir, and see one token historical monument. Women are noticeable by their absence which is understandable in some of the more conservative cultures, but in any case I get the impression the author is more interested in the men. The chapter on Dubai is an over-long description of a night out drinking with a bunch of expats.
And yet there is some good writing here, he manages to evoke the foreignness of the lands he visits, and makes some attempt to understand them and put their current situations in historical context. There are glimpses of a better, longer and more detailed book.
And yet there is some good writing here, he manages to evoke the foreignness of the lands he visits, and makes some attempt to understand them and put their current situations in historical context. There are glimpses of a better, longer and more detailed book.
March 3, 2018
my review is not fully reliable becUse I didn't finish the book. The author hasn't done a bad job writing the book, its just that I am in a reading slump. I couldn't quite get myself to read when I thought about finishing this book because its a very slow paced book. Nothing adventurous happens, not even small travel mishaps. So I found it a bit boring. But its probably pretty accurate though.
February 9, 2025
A travelogue of the author's journeys throughout the Middle East during a period ranging from before September 11 through the beginning of the Arab Spring. While there are some interesting insights, because Ratchford writes as a traveler, it lacks depth. It also ends on a rather lonely note.
March 31, 2014
Why Read: I had decided that I was done with NetGalley for a while, that my brain was sore and wanted a break from reading all of these different thrillers and literary fiction. But I took one last look because as a bookworm, I can’t just resist all of these incredible books at my fingertips. And I’m absurdly glad I did, because From Souk to Souk is one of the best books I’ve read this month (and I mean that… look at my ratings and you’ll see what I mean).
Review: If there was a prize for being a sucker for travelogues for random places that aren’t particularly inviting to visitors, I would win. From Souk to Souk seemed to fit those requirements perfectly. Although I’m not as much of a fan of books that focus solely on the conflict aspect of the Middle East, I do enjoy books which go on and on and on about the culture.
From Souk to Souk fulfilled that. Robin Ratchford reminded me of a gentle narrator who led me by the hand through the mystical and dusty landscapes of Aleppo, Dubai, Yemen, Beirut and so many more places I couldn’t have imagined without conflict before this book. And what he did so perfectly was the combination of ancient history and his own personal travels which seemed like something out of fiction.
The flow between chapters and within the chapters themselves was a slow and meandering tale through the Middle East, citing towns and cities that I would never have sought out myself. The mark of a good travel book in my opinion is the urges I get thereafter to seek the places out, to find what he described and to travel outside of the places we find comfortable. The fact that I want to visit the Middle East as I have never felt in my life before answers the question for me.
The most poignant part of From Souk to Souk for me was the chapter titled ‘The Whore and the Potter’. I felt as though the internal world of Beirut will be forever emblazoned in my mind as the potter Joseph. His beautiful and incredible works of pottery right beside the whorish tendencies of the rest of the city, and then the heart-wrenching moment I experienced upon realizing that he no longer existed.
I can’t recommend a better book if you love travel and know little about the Middle East. Although I’ve studied the different parts of the world, having finished the book, the appreciation I feel for the more genuine parts of that world, disappearing a little every day, has doubled if not tripled in volume.
Review: If there was a prize for being a sucker for travelogues for random places that aren’t particularly inviting to visitors, I would win. From Souk to Souk seemed to fit those requirements perfectly. Although I’m not as much of a fan of books that focus solely on the conflict aspect of the Middle East, I do enjoy books which go on and on and on about the culture.
From Souk to Souk fulfilled that. Robin Ratchford reminded me of a gentle narrator who led me by the hand through the mystical and dusty landscapes of Aleppo, Dubai, Yemen, Beirut and so many more places I couldn’t have imagined without conflict before this book. And what he did so perfectly was the combination of ancient history and his own personal travels which seemed like something out of fiction.
The flow between chapters and within the chapters themselves was a slow and meandering tale through the Middle East, citing towns and cities that I would never have sought out myself. The mark of a good travel book in my opinion is the urges I get thereafter to seek the places out, to find what he described and to travel outside of the places we find comfortable. The fact that I want to visit the Middle East as I have never felt in my life before answers the question for me.
The most poignant part of From Souk to Souk for me was the chapter titled ‘The Whore and the Potter’. I felt as though the internal world of Beirut will be forever emblazoned in my mind as the potter Joseph. His beautiful and incredible works of pottery right beside the whorish tendencies of the rest of the city, and then the heart-wrenching moment I experienced upon realizing that he no longer existed.
I can’t recommend a better book if you love travel and know little about the Middle East. Although I’ve studied the different parts of the world, having finished the book, the appreciation I feel for the more genuine parts of that world, disappearing a little every day, has doubled if not tripled in volume.
May 16, 2014
First of all a Souk is is a market or part of a market in an Arab city. I think the author presumes that his readers will automatically know this as it is not clearly defined at the beginning. I went into the book, hazarding a guess, and while it does quickly become apparent what the author is referring to, a brief explanation from the offset would have been nice...
Moan over, this is one of the most engaging and sensually stimulating books that I have read in a long time. Ratchford says from the offset that some of the tales from his travels are fiction and others are told as it happened. The fact that, as a reader, you have no idea what is fact and what is embellished, simply adds to the whole mystery and excitement of his exotic travels. His travels to a whole host of countries, which most people would consider off limits (Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria) to name but three, happened just before the Arab Spring, and Ratchford states that he has deliberately depicted the countries as they were at that moment, rather than portraying them retrospectively. This, I think was a smart move as he manages to bring humanity to countries that are perceived by the west to be inhumane. I hope that he writes a sequel, and re-visits these countries as soon as it is safe to do so.
I am a self confessed scaredy cat. I know that I will never dare venture to any of these countries, however, in a small way; I feel that I have now visited these countries and Ratchford has seared some images that will remain in my mind for a long time to come. (The image of seeing a giant tadpole like drone, as he flew into Kabul airport. The notion of Syria being a country that anyone would actually want to visit. Yemen, and images of the Queen of Sheba.)
With the kindle version coming in at £4.99, Ratchford clearly isn't about to start pandering to the trend of authors giving their books away for free. Don't let the price put you off though. This is an absolute must read for anyone with a lingering love of travel...and a fear of wandering off the beaten track.
Moan over, this is one of the most engaging and sensually stimulating books that I have read in a long time. Ratchford says from the offset that some of the tales from his travels are fiction and others are told as it happened. The fact that, as a reader, you have no idea what is fact and what is embellished, simply adds to the whole mystery and excitement of his exotic travels. His travels to a whole host of countries, which most people would consider off limits (Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria) to name but three, happened just before the Arab Spring, and Ratchford states that he has deliberately depicted the countries as they were at that moment, rather than portraying them retrospectively. This, I think was a smart move as he manages to bring humanity to countries that are perceived by the west to be inhumane. I hope that he writes a sequel, and re-visits these countries as soon as it is safe to do so.
I am a self confessed scaredy cat. I know that I will never dare venture to any of these countries, however, in a small way; I feel that I have now visited these countries and Ratchford has seared some images that will remain in my mind for a long time to come. (The image of seeing a giant tadpole like drone, as he flew into Kabul airport. The notion of Syria being a country that anyone would actually want to visit. Yemen, and images of the Queen of Sheba.)
With the kindle version coming in at £4.99, Ratchford clearly isn't about to start pandering to the trend of authors giving their books away for free. Don't let the price put you off though. This is an absolute must read for anyone with a lingering love of travel...and a fear of wandering off the beaten track.
August 10, 2016
I appreciate the author's honest and sensitive portrayal of the region depicted in this book. As someone with family in Tunisia (where the Arab Spring started and I witnessed it through their first hand accounts), I'm rather sensitive about the region and the general view of it. From Souk to Souk was a nice change of pace from that.
But my fault with From Souk to Souk was the detachment from the author. Whenever I read about someone's travels, I expect to learn about them as well. While the honest depiction of the Middle East is appreciated and the descriptions are so well done, I struggled with not getting a glimpse of the author. Whenever I travel, I always take a piece of it home with me. Each trip changes me and leaves it's imprint on me. I wanted to see that from From Souk to Souk.
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.
But my fault with From Souk to Souk was the detachment from the author. Whenever I read about someone's travels, I expect to learn about them as well. While the honest depiction of the Middle East is appreciated and the descriptions are so well done, I struggled with not getting a glimpse of the author. Whenever I travel, I always take a piece of it home with me. Each trip changes me and leaves it's imprint on me. I wanted to see that from From Souk to Souk.
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.
April 20, 2014
Delightful book, the trips of the author to the major capitals of the Middle East: going from Instambul to a Syria that had not yet been ravaged by war and then visiting Damascus and Aleppo. Continuing through all the various nuances of the money through Dubai and Qatar to arrive in Arabia Felix, i.e. Yemen which is drying. Then move from Afghanistan and Iraq, as not to miss anything. Charming
Libro delizioso, i viaggi dell'autore nelle maggiori capitali del medio oriente: partire da Instambul passando per una Siria che ancora non era stata devastata dalla guerra e visitando quindi Damasco ed Aleppo Proseguire attraverso tutte le varie sfumature dei soldi attraverso Dubai e il Qatar per arrivare nell'Arabia Felix, nello Yemen che si sta seccando. Passare poi dall'Afghanistan e dall'Iraq, cosí, tanto per non farsi mancare niente.
Affascinante.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND TROUBADOR PUBLISHING LTD. FOR THE PREVIEW!
Libro delizioso, i viaggi dell'autore nelle maggiori capitali del medio oriente: partire da Instambul passando per una Siria che ancora non era stata devastata dalla guerra e visitando quindi Damasco ed Aleppo Proseguire attraverso tutte le varie sfumature dei soldi attraverso Dubai e il Qatar per arrivare nell'Arabia Felix, nello Yemen che si sta seccando. Passare poi dall'Afghanistan e dall'Iraq, cosí, tanto per non farsi mancare niente.
Affascinante.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND TROUBADOR PUBLISHING LTD. FOR THE PREVIEW!
January 24, 2015
An interesting and highly personal travel book, in which the author travels to various Middle East destinations, from tourist-friendly cities such as Istanbul, to places which most of us would not care to visit, such as Kabul. The writing is vividly descriptive, and this was an informative and entertaining read. One minor annoyance is how the narrator refers to other 'tourists' in a disparaging way. This is fairly common in travel books, with the writer thinking him or herself somehow superior. However, far more irritating are the errors in grammar and spelling which let this book down.
Reviewed in exchange for a preview Kindle copy.
Reviewed in exchange for a preview Kindle copy.
August 12, 2016
Robin Ratchford used to look through his collection of stamps and dream about the places that he writes about in this book. Each chapter represents his visit to a different Middle Eastern city and the locales include Baghdad, Damascus, Jerusalem, Kabul, Dubai and more. The descriptions of the places and the people were beautifully written and always interesting. I did think it could have been longer but it is a wonderful and honest introduction to the area and was easily read in a short time span. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2014
Thanks to the publisher for an advance reading copy.
Just like Robin Ratchford, I have dreams of getting lost in a Middle Eastern souk, so I'm jealous that he actually made it happen. The book started out great with a trip through Istanbul, and many of the following chapters are enchantingly written. Towards the end of the book, I felt like each location wasn't as distinctive, and the last chapter on Jerusalem felt flat-out negative. I think with some different organization, the book would have been stronger, but it's definitely worth exploring.
Just like Robin Ratchford, I have dreams of getting lost in a Middle Eastern souk, so I'm jealous that he actually made it happen. The book started out great with a trip through Istanbul, and many of the following chapters are enchantingly written. Towards the end of the book, I felt like each location wasn't as distinctive, and the last chapter on Jerusalem felt flat-out negative. I think with some different organization, the book would have been stronger, but it's definitely worth exploring.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews