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The Confusion of Languages
A searing debut novel from the award-winning author of You Know When the Men are Gone, about jealousy, the unpredictable path of friendship, and the secrets kept in marriage, all set within the U.S. expat community of the Middle East during the rise of the Arab Spring.
Both Cassie Hugo and Margaret Brickshaw dutifully followed their soldier husbands to the U.S. embassy in Jordan, but that's about all the women have in common. After two years, Cassie's become an expert on the rules, but newly arrived Margaret sees only her chance to explore. So when a fender-bender sends Margaret to the local police station, Cassie reluctantly agrees to watch Margaret's toddler son. But as the hours pass, Cassie's boredom and frustration turn to fear: Why isn't Margaret answering her phone, and why is it taking so long to sort out a routine accident? Snooping around Margaret's apartment, Cassie begins to question not only her friend's whereabouts but also her own role in Margaret's disappearance.
With achingly honest prose and riveting characters, The Confusion of Languages plunges readers into a shattering collision between two women and two worlds, affirming Siobhan Fallon as a powerful voice in American fiction and a storyteller not to be missed.
Both Cassie Hugo and Margaret Brickshaw dutifully followed their soldier husbands to the U.S. embassy in Jordan, but that's about all the women have in common. After two years, Cassie's become an expert on the rules, but newly arrived Margaret sees only her chance to explore. So when a fender-bender sends Margaret to the local police station, Cassie reluctantly agrees to watch Margaret's toddler son. But as the hours pass, Cassie's boredom and frustration turn to fear: Why isn't Margaret answering her phone, and why is it taking so long to sort out a routine accident? Snooping around Margaret's apartment, Cassie begins to question not only her friend's whereabouts but also her own role in Margaret's disappearance.
With achingly honest prose and riveting characters, The Confusion of Languages plunges readers into a shattering collision between two women and two worlds, affirming Siobhan Fallon as a powerful voice in American fiction and a storyteller not to be missed.
324 pages, Hardcover
First published June 27, 2017
192 people are currently reading
10507 people want to read
About the author
Siobhan Fallon
7 books274 followersSiobhan Fallon is the author of the award-winning short story collection, You Know When the Men Are Gone, and the novel, The Confusion of Languages.
Her essays and stories have been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post Magazine, NPR, Stars and Stripes, the anthologies Fire & Forget: Short Stories from the Long War and The Kiss: Intimacies from Writers, among others. Theatrical productions of her work have been performed home and abroad.
Siobhan is the wife of an active-duty Army officer who served three combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Siobhan, her husband, and their two daughters have also spent seven years living in the Middle East and the Gulf.
They now live on the island of Cyprus.
Her work-in-progress is a novel inspired by military spouse Elizabeth “Libbie” Custer: Lieutenant Colonel George Custer’s widow. Siobhan finds there are many similarities between the frontier Army and the issues facing our military today.
Siobhan also has a series on YouTube titled The Lives of the Little Bighorn.
Her essays and stories have been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post Magazine, NPR, Stars and Stripes, the anthologies Fire & Forget: Short Stories from the Long War and The Kiss: Intimacies from Writers, among others. Theatrical productions of her work have been performed home and abroad.
Siobhan is the wife of an active-duty Army officer who served three combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Siobhan, her husband, and their two daughters have also spent seven years living in the Middle East and the Gulf.
They now live on the island of Cyprus.
Her work-in-progress is a novel inspired by military spouse Elizabeth “Libbie” Custer: Lieutenant Colonel George Custer’s widow. Siobhan finds there are many similarities between the frontier Army and the issues facing our military today.
Siobhan also has a series on YouTube titled The Lives of the Little Bighorn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 635 reviews
April 9, 2017
The Confusion of Languages is described as a “shattering portrait of a collision between two women,” and in its most elemental sense, it is. But in a deeper sense, the book is about what the whole striving human race has in common – desire, always reaching and needing more.
Cassie Hugo and her husband Dan – veterans of the U.S. Embassy in Jordan – welcome a new American couple, Margaret and Crick Brickshaw. The women, despite their superficial common ties, are really polar opposites. Cassie has grown bitter and distrustful, unable to conceive a child, convinced that there’s danger in even the most fundamental gestures of friendship with the Jordanians. Margaret, the mother of a young boy, is naïve, unfiltered, and open-hearted, eager to connect with people and believing the best intentions in every interaction. And then Margaret suddenly goes missing.
There is much to recommend the book. For one thing, it’s truly addictive. Siobhan Fallon knows how to tell a story and ratchet up the tension, and once I began, there was totally involved. In addition, this author writes from a position of authority. As a military wife (she is the author of You Know When the Men Are Gone, which I loved), she has actually lived in Jordan and her insights into the culture ring with authenticity. There are powerful insights here, and a drilling down to how each of us is constantly craving more.
There are a few niggling things, though. Once Margaret disappears, Cassie finds Margaret’s diary, using it to gain an understanding of the hidden life of her friend. The conceit of the diary is almost always hard for an author to pull off, because few diarists who are not professional writers write coherent and linear accounts, complete with quotation marks to indicate dialogues they’ve had. The diary didn’t work – for me.
In addition, there were nuanced situations that were given short shrift. Margaret is, at her core, a caregiver (first for her Mother, who suffered from lupus and then – switch one vowel! – to Mather, the toddler son she raises almost single-handedly. The smorgasbord of emotions that derives from caregiving is hinted at, but never reaches the complexity of real life. The two troubled marriages, too, reach resolutions that belie the years of discord.
Having said that, I will still urge my friends to read this book. It is gripping and intelligently written, and deserves a wide readership.
Cassie Hugo and her husband Dan – veterans of the U.S. Embassy in Jordan – welcome a new American couple, Margaret and Crick Brickshaw. The women, despite their superficial common ties, are really polar opposites. Cassie has grown bitter and distrustful, unable to conceive a child, convinced that there’s danger in even the most fundamental gestures of friendship with the Jordanians. Margaret, the mother of a young boy, is naïve, unfiltered, and open-hearted, eager to connect with people and believing the best intentions in every interaction. And then Margaret suddenly goes missing.
There is much to recommend the book. For one thing, it’s truly addictive. Siobhan Fallon knows how to tell a story and ratchet up the tension, and once I began, there was totally involved. In addition, this author writes from a position of authority. As a military wife (she is the author of You Know When the Men Are Gone, which I loved), she has actually lived in Jordan and her insights into the culture ring with authenticity. There are powerful insights here, and a drilling down to how each of us is constantly craving more.
There are a few niggling things, though. Once Margaret disappears, Cassie finds Margaret’s diary, using it to gain an understanding of the hidden life of her friend. The conceit of the diary is almost always hard for an author to pull off, because few diarists who are not professional writers write coherent and linear accounts, complete with quotation marks to indicate dialogues they’ve had. The diary didn’t work – for me.
In addition, there were nuanced situations that were given short shrift. Margaret is, at her core, a caregiver (first for her Mother, who suffered from lupus and then – switch one vowel! – to Mather, the toddler son she raises almost single-handedly. The smorgasbord of emotions that derives from caregiving is hinted at, but never reaches the complexity of real life. The two troubled marriages, too, reach resolutions that belie the years of discord.
Having said that, I will still urge my friends to read this book. It is gripping and intelligently written, and deserves a wide readership.
May 31, 2019
My sister’s husband was career military and I was always curious about their life as a family within military communities at home and abroad. This author’s husband was an officer in the U.S. Army and she drew on her own experiences for this novel, which contributes to its credibility for me. As such, this novel was a compelling glimpse into the life of an expat as it examines the friendship and tensions between two American military wives in Jordan.
The novel’s setting is within a military community in Jordan during the rise of the Arab Spring in May 2011. Cassie Hugo and Margaret Brickshaw are two wives of Army officers stationed at the U.S. Embassy. Cassie has lived abroad for years and rarely breaks any rules of protocol within a foreign military community. She is delegated to introduce newly married Margaret to the locale and the culture of this Middle Eastern community.
Margaret is away from home for the first time. She’s well-intentioned but foolishly ethnocentric. Rather than allow Cassie to show her the ropes, she decides to throw caution to the wind and explore on her own. The story details the consequences of Margaret’s ill-advised decision.
Siobhan Fallon has lived in Jordan which adds to the authenticity of this story about American soldiers and their families stationed in the Middle East. It’s an impressive debut novel and I recommend it highly.
The novel’s setting is within a military community in Jordan during the rise of the Arab Spring in May 2011. Cassie Hugo and Margaret Brickshaw are two wives of Army officers stationed at the U.S. Embassy. Cassie has lived abroad for years and rarely breaks any rules of protocol within a foreign military community. She is delegated to introduce newly married Margaret to the locale and the culture of this Middle Eastern community.
Margaret is away from home for the first time. She’s well-intentioned but foolishly ethnocentric. Rather than allow Cassie to show her the ropes, she decides to throw caution to the wind and explore on her own. The story details the consequences of Margaret’s ill-advised decision.
Siobhan Fallon has lived in Jordan which adds to the authenticity of this story about American soldiers and their families stationed in the Middle East. It’s an impressive debut novel and I recommend it highly.
April 13, 2017
War novels about the men who fight for their countries or who become lifers in the military have always flourished in historical fiction and literature, especially during or after uprisings, conflicts, or major wars. But few have written in-depth about the wives that hold down the fort at home, and how they endure when the men are away. You Know When the Men Are Gone, Fallon’s rich and formidable first book, interconnected stories about the army wives at Fort Hood, placed her squarely as a commander of this new and exciting, and necessary genre.
Now, with her second book, a novel focusing on two officers and their wives in Jordan during the Arab Spring, Fallon proves that she can sustain her talent about the wives’ own travails. After all, she is herself an army wife of an officer stationed in Dubai. She’s tackled the confusion of languages in a foreign country, both literal and sublime.
Fallon set her addictive novel during this time in 2011, set against this background, but did not intrude with any authorial intent. I think it was clear that nobody can parse the Middle East conflicts with any overwhelming confidence, and that wasn’t Fallon’s intent. Instead, she focused on two couples, and brought the narrative down to an intimate level, inside the lives of these four people, particularly the women. The prose is straightforward, unembellished, with the occasional well-placed and organic spotlight on the etiology of a word “Because words are beautiful and weird enough all by themselves.”
Cassie and her officer husband Dan Hugo have been in Jordan for two years. Childless, Cassie is often lonely while trying to fill up her days. Enter Margaret and Crick Brickshaw, and their toddler son, Mather, fresh from the States. Cassie reaches out immediately to Margaret to help her assimilate to life as an army officer’s wife. This book primarily focuses on the push-pull of their friendship. Two women, who couldn’t be more at variance outwardly, but inwardly, may share more than meets the eye.
Margaret sees the striking Cassie as similar to the big-boned women of the 1800s. “She ought to have her hair in a bun at the back of her neck and be sawing off gangrenous legs in a battlefield. Someone who knows how to get things done.” But as Cassie perceives the willowy, lithe blonde Margaret, “…Margaret is a force of minor collisions, setting off small earthquakes, never thinking about what her tremors might rearrange or crack.”
This oscillation in their friendship—Cassie conducting herself decorously and by the book, and Margaret violating the rules or language of the land, between herself and protocol, or toward the native Islamic people, provides both levity and tension, and downright suspense. She’s like a butterfly out of the chrysalis, a bohemian rhapsody unto herself at times, while she struggles to be a new wife and mother. Their relationship moves the book forward in unpredictable ways, sometimes careening off the pages!
Speaking of minor collisions, the opening pages begin in media res, right in the thick of action, so to speak. Margaret, or Mar—-“Mar, from the Middle English marren, from the Old English mierran, to impede. To spoil. …”—has gotten in a minor car accident, and the thrust of the novel takes place while Cass is babysitting Mather at the Brickshaw home while Margaret is ostensibly at the police station, filing the necessary papers via protocol. As Cass waits for hours for Margaret to return, she gets bored, and starts reading her friend’s private journal.
Fallon sets up a superbly constructed narrative, the present timeline of Cassie waiting, and the journal itself a meta-chronology or agency of the recent past and present through Margaret’s eyes, and Cassie’s interior responses. The author’s impeccable conception ushers the reader intimately into the tilt and lurch of the women’s perceptions, fears, and desires. The character portrayals are exquisitely full, vulnerable, barbed, and surprising, alternately zooming in on the friends and examining how their differences intersect into relevant connections. Moreover, it comes with an electrifying denouement!
And what are we waiting for with Cass? What does this book say to us and what are Fallon’s themes, as we peek into Margaret’s journal? Friendship, jealousies, betrayals, sadness, fears-- reaching out, drawing back, through biting, sharp, and tender moments between these two women and their husbands, and even towards this misbehaving baby? I saw a quote by Henry James that the author placed squarely on one of her author blogs or pages, which is fundamental to the thesis of this novel:
“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” It boils down to that, between the two women, and the times that kindness may be missing when it is needed. Is it too late to repair and amend some self-hypocrisies?
As Margaret stated, “Oh the mental anguish of trying to be nice! Kindness, I reminded myself. Just be kind. Right and wrong cam be tricky, but kindness, well, kindness has a simplicity I can aim for.”
Fallon aims for the heart, and hits her mark every time, with arresting compassion and grace.
Now, with her second book, a novel focusing on two officers and their wives in Jordan during the Arab Spring, Fallon proves that she can sustain her talent about the wives’ own travails. After all, she is herself an army wife of an officer stationed in Dubai. She’s tackled the confusion of languages in a foreign country, both literal and sublime.
Fallon set her addictive novel during this time in 2011, set against this background, but did not intrude with any authorial intent. I think it was clear that nobody can parse the Middle East conflicts with any overwhelming confidence, and that wasn’t Fallon’s intent. Instead, she focused on two couples, and brought the narrative down to an intimate level, inside the lives of these four people, particularly the women. The prose is straightforward, unembellished, with the occasional well-placed and organic spotlight on the etiology of a word “Because words are beautiful and weird enough all by themselves.”
Cassie and her officer husband Dan Hugo have been in Jordan for two years. Childless, Cassie is often lonely while trying to fill up her days. Enter Margaret and Crick Brickshaw, and their toddler son, Mather, fresh from the States. Cassie reaches out immediately to Margaret to help her assimilate to life as an army officer’s wife. This book primarily focuses on the push-pull of their friendship. Two women, who couldn’t be more at variance outwardly, but inwardly, may share more than meets the eye.
Margaret sees the striking Cassie as similar to the big-boned women of the 1800s. “She ought to have her hair in a bun at the back of her neck and be sawing off gangrenous legs in a battlefield. Someone who knows how to get things done.” But as Cassie perceives the willowy, lithe blonde Margaret, “…Margaret is a force of minor collisions, setting off small earthquakes, never thinking about what her tremors might rearrange or crack.”
This oscillation in their friendship—Cassie conducting herself decorously and by the book, and Margaret violating the rules or language of the land, between herself and protocol, or toward the native Islamic people, provides both levity and tension, and downright suspense. She’s like a butterfly out of the chrysalis, a bohemian rhapsody unto herself at times, while she struggles to be a new wife and mother. Their relationship moves the book forward in unpredictable ways, sometimes careening off the pages!
Speaking of minor collisions, the opening pages begin in media res, right in the thick of action, so to speak. Margaret, or Mar—-“Mar, from the Middle English marren, from the Old English mierran, to impede. To spoil. …”—has gotten in a minor car accident, and the thrust of the novel takes place while Cass is babysitting Mather at the Brickshaw home while Margaret is ostensibly at the police station, filing the necessary papers via protocol. As Cass waits for hours for Margaret to return, she gets bored, and starts reading her friend’s private journal.
Fallon sets up a superbly constructed narrative, the present timeline of Cassie waiting, and the journal itself a meta-chronology or agency of the recent past and present through Margaret’s eyes, and Cassie’s interior responses. The author’s impeccable conception ushers the reader intimately into the tilt and lurch of the women’s perceptions, fears, and desires. The character portrayals are exquisitely full, vulnerable, barbed, and surprising, alternately zooming in on the friends and examining how their differences intersect into relevant connections. Moreover, it comes with an electrifying denouement!
And what are we waiting for with Cass? What does this book say to us and what are Fallon’s themes, as we peek into Margaret’s journal? Friendship, jealousies, betrayals, sadness, fears-- reaching out, drawing back, through biting, sharp, and tender moments between these two women and their husbands, and even towards this misbehaving baby? I saw a quote by Henry James that the author placed squarely on one of her author blogs or pages, which is fundamental to the thesis of this novel:
“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” It boils down to that, between the two women, and the times that kindness may be missing when it is needed. Is it too late to repair and amend some self-hypocrisies?
As Margaret stated, “Oh the mental anguish of trying to be nice! Kindness, I reminded myself. Just be kind. Right and wrong cam be tricky, but kindness, well, kindness has a simplicity I can aim for.”
Fallon aims for the heart, and hits her mark every time, with arresting compassion and grace.
Read
July 12, 2017In January 1998, my husband and I landed in Frankfurt, Germany. We had been married for seven months and had left the United States with very little in the way of life experience. My husband was a relatively new Second Lieutenant in the Army, and this was our very first military assignment.
During the three years we lived there, we tried to see as much as possible but often had to postpone or cancel trips because of a surprise military exercise or other emergency action. While my husband did not have to go anywhere that put his life on the line, he was constantly on call and had to be able to change his plans at an instant. He worked long hours and frequently received calls in the middle of the night that required attention. For him, this was no lark. It was real life, and the Army let him know it.
While my husband tried to help me with the transition to life as a military spouse, he often was not around to do so. Most of the military spouses in my husband’s unit with whom I was supposed to rely on for support were stay-at-home mothers with surprisingly large broods of kids. I was more anxious about finding a job (I did) than having kids. They all lived in military house. Life on the installation meant American television, ready access to the commissary, American neighbors in the same situation, even access to familiar American restaurants that mean so much after a while. We chose to live away from the military installation and lived in a small village about twenty minutes away. Our landlord was German, our neighbors were as well. Very few spoke English, and even fewer knew what to expect from Americans living on their very quiet street. German grocery stores close early and are not open on Sundays. Their restaurants are full of great food, but it is not American food. As for German TV, it is an experience and something American TV will never become.
I mention this only because my experiences had a tremendous impact on how I read and feel about Siobhan Fallon’s debut novel. For me, it was a punch to the gut as I remembered the conflicting emotions of wanting to experience as much as possible but also stay within the familiarity life in the military installations brought. I was Cassie and I was Margaret at different times in those three years. I understand Cassie’s caution as well as Margaret’s feelings of abandonment at the thought of a deployment because I lived them. I know what it is to being hyper-vigilant, about not “looking like an American” when out and about, and being constantly aware of the news in case there was ever a threat that forced me to stay home. I also know what it means to chafe at the restrictions and impositions the military established during our tenure there, not wanting to listen to others with more experience. I understand the impact of having almost no support network to help you navigate this new world or even to keep you busy when the soldiers were gone. It is not a scenario readily explainable to those who cannot fathom packing up all of your belongings and moving to a different country, reliant solely on your significant other, a very small group of friends if you are lucky, and the little support the American consulate and other US military installations can provide.
Living abroad, regardless of where you live, is all about remaining respectful of the local culture and traditions and not drawing attention to yourself. It is also about the importance of friendships and having a strong support network. Life as an expat is not easy, and it takes its toll on you mentally. I cannot adequately express just how well Ms. Fallon excels at doing this. Her descriptions evoke the very same emotions that beset me during my time in Germany, and I found my sympathies switching between the two women, depending on my experiences living abroad and how they matched their own. What eventually happens is much more tragic than anything I experienced and yet it becomes all too easy to see not only how it could happen but sympathize with Margaret as she makes poor decision after poor decision.
The Confusion of Languages is a brilliant title choice as it depicts so much. From simple, obvious things like not knowing the native language to bigger things like having to learn military speak, when you lose the capacity to communicate easily and freely, you lose some freedoms. The chance of misunderstandings increases, and some small dispute quickly escalates into something much worse. We see this time and again in all aspects of life, but it takes on greater meaning when you are away from home.
Through Cassie and Margaret’s very different approaches to living abroad though, Ms. Fallon captures the various attitudes and experiences that come with living at the mercy of the military in a foreign land and makes you experience them. For readers like me, it is like being back there all over again. For those readers who have not experienced such living, it is an eye-opener to everything we take for granted living in the United States but which disappears upon leaving its borders.
During the three years we lived there, we tried to see as much as possible but often had to postpone or cancel trips because of a surprise military exercise or other emergency action. While my husband did not have to go anywhere that put his life on the line, he was constantly on call and had to be able to change his plans at an instant. He worked long hours and frequently received calls in the middle of the night that required attention. For him, this was no lark. It was real life, and the Army let him know it.
While my husband tried to help me with the transition to life as a military spouse, he often was not around to do so. Most of the military spouses in my husband’s unit with whom I was supposed to rely on for support were stay-at-home mothers with surprisingly large broods of kids. I was more anxious about finding a job (I did) than having kids. They all lived in military house. Life on the installation meant American television, ready access to the commissary, American neighbors in the same situation, even access to familiar American restaurants that mean so much after a while. We chose to live away from the military installation and lived in a small village about twenty minutes away. Our landlord was German, our neighbors were as well. Very few spoke English, and even fewer knew what to expect from Americans living on their very quiet street. German grocery stores close early and are not open on Sundays. Their restaurants are full of great food, but it is not American food. As for German TV, it is an experience and something American TV will never become.
I mention this only because my experiences had a tremendous impact on how I read and feel about Siobhan Fallon’s debut novel. For me, it was a punch to the gut as I remembered the conflicting emotions of wanting to experience as much as possible but also stay within the familiarity life in the military installations brought. I was Cassie and I was Margaret at different times in those three years. I understand Cassie’s caution as well as Margaret’s feelings of abandonment at the thought of a deployment because I lived them. I know what it is to being hyper-vigilant, about not “looking like an American” when out and about, and being constantly aware of the news in case there was ever a threat that forced me to stay home. I also know what it means to chafe at the restrictions and impositions the military established during our tenure there, not wanting to listen to others with more experience. I understand the impact of having almost no support network to help you navigate this new world or even to keep you busy when the soldiers were gone. It is not a scenario readily explainable to those who cannot fathom packing up all of your belongings and moving to a different country, reliant solely on your significant other, a very small group of friends if you are lucky, and the little support the American consulate and other US military installations can provide.
Living abroad, regardless of where you live, is all about remaining respectful of the local culture and traditions and not drawing attention to yourself. It is also about the importance of friendships and having a strong support network. Life as an expat is not easy, and it takes its toll on you mentally. I cannot adequately express just how well Ms. Fallon excels at doing this. Her descriptions evoke the very same emotions that beset me during my time in Germany, and I found my sympathies switching between the two women, depending on my experiences living abroad and how they matched their own. What eventually happens is much more tragic than anything I experienced and yet it becomes all too easy to see not only how it could happen but sympathize with Margaret as she makes poor decision after poor decision.
The Confusion of Languages is a brilliant title choice as it depicts so much. From simple, obvious things like not knowing the native language to bigger things like having to learn military speak, when you lose the capacity to communicate easily and freely, you lose some freedoms. The chance of misunderstandings increases, and some small dispute quickly escalates into something much worse. We see this time and again in all aspects of life, but it takes on greater meaning when you are away from home.
Through Cassie and Margaret’s very different approaches to living abroad though, Ms. Fallon captures the various attitudes and experiences that come with living at the mercy of the military in a foreign land and makes you experience them. For readers like me, it is like being back there all over again. For those readers who have not experienced such living, it is an eye-opener to everything we take for granted living in the United States but which disappears upon leaving its borders.
August 14, 2017
"I had always assumed kindness was too fleeting, too weak and insubstantial to make a lasting difference, but again, maybe I'm wrong...It is so easily destroyed, kindness, but isn't that what all of us are looking for, every moment of our sad and sorry lives?"
I've just smudged my mascara and eye makeup all over my face because my natural reaction to something that moves me is to rub my eyes with balled up fists. Ugh! And I've just finished this book, and sitting here thinking about what to write about it has triggered this habitual tick.
This book is fantastic. It will transport you to Amman, Jordan. For awhile you will be a part of two military families living and working there. You will gain admittance to life behind the U.S. Embasssy walls. The unlikely friendship between Cassie and Margaret makes you feel uncomfortable. You know things are careening to an abrupt unhappy ending, but you can't imagine how it will all turn out. As Cassie finds herself reading Margaret's journal, you have this discomfort about prying into someone else's marriage and life. It's unsettling and just so well written. Highly recommend!
I've just smudged my mascara and eye makeup all over my face because my natural reaction to something that moves me is to rub my eyes with balled up fists. Ugh! And I've just finished this book, and sitting here thinking about what to write about it has triggered this habitual tick.
This book is fantastic. It will transport you to Amman, Jordan. For awhile you will be a part of two military families living and working there. You will gain admittance to life behind the U.S. Embasssy walls. The unlikely friendship between Cassie and Margaret makes you feel uncomfortable. You know things are careening to an abrupt unhappy ending, but you can't imagine how it will all turn out. As Cassie finds herself reading Margaret's journal, you have this discomfort about prying into someone else's marriage and life. It's unsettling and just so well written. Highly recommend!
March 17, 2019
Fallon's excellent collection of short stories "You Know When the Men are Gone" immersed me in a world (Fort Hood Army Base) that I knew very little about and her debut novel does the same thing with Amman, Jordan. Cass and Margaret are unlikely friends, thrown together only because their husbands are both stationed in Amman. This unsettling novel explores their relationship and at the same time has an element of suspense. I can't wait to see what Fallon will do next.
June 9, 2017
The Confusion (from the Latin confundere, to mingle) of Languages (based on the Latin for tongue, lingua).
Cassie and Margaret meet in Annam, Jordan, in 2011, the year of the Arab Spring and also of the death of Osama Bin Laden. Their military husbands working in the American Embassy, have been assigned to Rome, assured their wives will "do fine" as long as they have each other and follow the laws of their host nation. The first chapter narrated by Cassie, sets the scene. We learn that she and Margaret have been rear ended in a fender bender, which presents different results under Jordanian law, and Margaret has left her in charge of her lively (and totally unsentamentalized) one-year-old son while she goes to settle things. Over the ensuing hours, during which Margaret fails to reappear, Cassie fills in her backstory and we learn Margaret's through Cassie's reading of her journal (this could be construed as a weakness in the plot structure since people do not write diaries novelistically). As their histories unfold, the reader becomes more and more frustrated by the results that lack of communication can produce, not only between people who do not understand a foreign language, but also between those sharing a common tongue.
At times, the book reminded me of Hilary Mantel's Eight Months on Ghazza Street, a novelization of her experiences in Jeddah highlighted by insecurity in living within the confines of a different culture. With this book, Siobhan Fallon's storytelling skills matched with first hand knowledge of the Jordanian atmosphere in 2011 have resulted in a book that is compulsively readable, wise in its observation of the human heart, and hauntingly memorable.
Cassie and Margaret meet in Annam, Jordan, in 2011, the year of the Arab Spring and also of the death of Osama Bin Laden. Their military husbands working in the American Embassy, have been assigned to Rome, assured their wives will "do fine" as long as they have each other and follow the laws of their host nation. The first chapter narrated by Cassie, sets the scene. We learn that she and Margaret have been rear ended in a fender bender, which presents different results under Jordanian law, and Margaret has left her in charge of her lively (and totally unsentamentalized) one-year-old son while she goes to settle things. Over the ensuing hours, during which Margaret fails to reappear, Cassie fills in her backstory and we learn Margaret's through Cassie's reading of her journal (this could be construed as a weakness in the plot structure since people do not write diaries novelistically). As their histories unfold, the reader becomes more and more frustrated by the results that lack of communication can produce, not only between people who do not understand a foreign language, but also between those sharing a common tongue.
At times, the book reminded me of Hilary Mantel's Eight Months on Ghazza Street, a novelization of her experiences in Jeddah highlighted by insecurity in living within the confines of a different culture. With this book, Siobhan Fallon's storytelling skills matched with first hand knowledge of the Jordanian atmosphere in 2011 have resulted in a book that is compulsively readable, wise in its observation of the human heart, and hauntingly memorable.
July 31, 2019
Cassie is Margaret’s sponsor/mentor while they reside in Amman, Jordan. Their military husbands have been temporarily relocated to the U.S. embassy in Italy and Cassie tries to teach free-spirited Margaret how to respect Jordanian cultures and how to remain safe in a politically precarious country. These two women couldn’t be more opposite and what ensues is an unusual relationship.
This is great storytelling while revealing what life is like as an expat and the wife of a military husband in a tumultuous area of the world. It reinforces the need to respect and follow cultural norms to avoid devastating effects. And, it is also a lesson about kindness and the “definition” of life. The structure of the book is engaging and alternates between characters and diary entries. I found the information about Jordanian customs and geography very interesting.
4.5 stars.
This is great storytelling while revealing what life is like as an expat and the wife of a military husband in a tumultuous area of the world. It reinforces the need to respect and follow cultural norms to avoid devastating effects. And, it is also a lesson about kindness and the “definition” of life. The structure of the book is engaging and alternates between characters and diary entries. I found the information about Jordanian customs and geography very interesting.
4.5 stars.
April 24, 2017
Though I felt like the plot of this was one big buildup to nothing, this was a relatively solid book with some interesting details.
I've got to admit, one of the biggest reasons I picked up this book was because it was set in Jordan and I was curious to see how the author would handle this. I felt like the representation of Arab hospitality was well done, but the way that certain scenes went was honestly quite disappointing because ultimately all interactions kind of left me with a sickened taste and if I hadn't experienced this hospitality first hand I'd have some really negative attitudes. That was hugely disappointing.
I'm not Cassie's biggest fan. I think I'm supposed to feel more sympathetic towards her, but she doesn't try very hard for much. There are many other women that she could have befriended if she was lonely. Maybe I can't relate to her because her biggest desire is to have kids, but she really annoyed me with her self-absorbed attitude and the way that she wanted to have everyone snugly wound around her finger.
Though the blurb made it seem as though Cassie and Margaret had arrived in Amman at the same time, Margaret comes much later, leaving Cassie to play tour guide. It seems that, from reading Margaret's diary, the two had little in common from day one. I related much more to Margaret, and though she's portrayed as silly and lighthearted yet manipulative, I felt as though she were at least honest.
The plot did not contain as much suspense as I thought it would, and I found the ultimate ending to be quite disappointing. Most of the suspense is solely due to the way that Cassie had built the entire scenario up in her head.
Considering the lack of books similar to it, this novel is solid, but I hope that a more engaging book with a similar premise is released in the future.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I've got to admit, one of the biggest reasons I picked up this book was because it was set in Jordan and I was curious to see how the author would handle this. I felt like the representation of Arab hospitality was well done, but the way that certain scenes went was honestly quite disappointing because ultimately all interactions kind of left me with a sickened taste and if I hadn't experienced this hospitality first hand I'd have some really negative attitudes. That was hugely disappointing.
I'm not Cassie's biggest fan. I think I'm supposed to feel more sympathetic towards her, but she doesn't try very hard for much. There are many other women that she could have befriended if she was lonely. Maybe I can't relate to her because her biggest desire is to have kids, but she really annoyed me with her self-absorbed attitude and the way that she wanted to have everyone snugly wound around her finger.
Though the blurb made it seem as though Cassie and Margaret had arrived in Amman at the same time, Margaret comes much later, leaving Cassie to play tour guide. It seems that, from reading Margaret's diary, the two had little in common from day one. I related much more to Margaret, and though she's portrayed as silly and lighthearted yet manipulative, I felt as though she were at least honest.
The plot did not contain as much suspense as I thought it would, and I found the ultimate ending to be quite disappointing. Most of the suspense is solely due to the way that Cassie had built the entire scenario up in her head.
Considering the lack of books similar to it, this novel is solid, but I hope that a more engaging book with a similar premise is released in the future.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2017
Set within the expat community of Amman, Jordan on the cusp of the Arab Spring, The Confusion of Languages is a story of the intricate and complicated bonds of friendship. It is also a deep look into an aspect of military life that we are not often privy to: the home life of a military partner who trails behind, making a home in difficult places, both sheltered and threatened by their spouse's chosen career.
Cassie has been in the Middle East for a few years, if not exactly comfortable, at least aware of her expected role and the limits to her freedoms. She befriends Margaret, overseas for the first time with her enigmatic husband, Crick, and their toddler, Mather. Margaret runs into serious trouble in the book's opening pages and the author offers up Margaret's journal, which Cassie reads while minding Mather, exploring Margaret's immediate past and all the terrible decisions that led to her calamity.
Although the device of the journal feels forced at times, Fallon captures the unique voice of each woman, showing the tension and dependence of their friendship, the ambiguities of their roles as wives, Americans, and as women in a Muslim culture.
Cassie has been in the Middle East for a few years, if not exactly comfortable, at least aware of her expected role and the limits to her freedoms. She befriends Margaret, overseas for the first time with her enigmatic husband, Crick, and their toddler, Mather. Margaret runs into serious trouble in the book's opening pages and the author offers up Margaret's journal, which Cassie reads while minding Mather, exploring Margaret's immediate past and all the terrible decisions that led to her calamity.
Although the device of the journal feels forced at times, Fallon captures the unique voice of each woman, showing the tension and dependence of their friendship, the ambiguities of their roles as wives, Americans, and as women in a Muslim culture.
March 15, 2017
I loved this book. Having spent time in the Middle East, Fallon's work amazes me with how she captures and distills the essence of living abroad. The storyline is taut, pulling the read further and further into the world of her two protagonists. These characters jump off the page as they try to navigate the ins and outs of a foreign culture, of marriage, and of friendship. And in a way they serve as metaphors for the U.S.'s involvement in the Middle East - should we dive in and try and fix what we can, our idealism shining as a bright beacon, or should we accept that we are not from or of that part of the world, and their problems are their problems alone? These are the questions Fallon explores, but with humanity and compassion and great dose of tension. I whole-heartedly recommend this book.
June 25, 2017
Didn't quite do it for me. Lost interest around 25% but stuck with it till 57%.
July 16, 2017
it was a waste of time.
June 14, 2017
I really enjoyed Siobhan Fallon’s “You Know When the Men are Gone” and was hoping her second book would be as good, it is!!!
We are introduced to two women, two military wives, who are living in Jordan, their husbands have been stationed there. Cassie and her husband Dan have been in Jordan for a few years and are asked to introduce Margaret and her husband Crick along with their one year old son Mather to the other families living on this base. They are fresh from the states and know nothing about local law. The two women, although forming a kind of friendship, couldn’t be more opposite.
Cassie is immediately jealous of Margaret as she has been struggling to have a child, Margaret takes the child for granted and really “does her own thing” when she wants. Cassie is o.k. With living with the rules for women in that area, mainly covering your body and being quiet and unnoticeable. However Margaret is more of a free spirit and feels that she can bend the rules and get away with it.
She and Cassie travel to a bakery in Swefieh, outside of the safe military base. Margaret insists on trying to start a conversation with the cab driver even though he would rather be silent. Cassie could see that there was something wrong with the situation, “The driver narrowed all of his attention on Margaret and none on the road. I could see his eyes in the rearview mirror, mesmerized by the way her T-shirt pulled tight across her breasts, how she swung her blond ponytail. Her flashing lascivious teeth and naked collarbones.The driver said “I like you much, what is phone number? Tomorrow we meet”. Cassie and Margaret have many conversations about what is proper and what is not to say, wear, act in this foreign culture.
We quickly progress to the main plot which I won’t reveal to spoil anyone’s enjoyment of the book. During this major part of the novel we learn a lot about Margaret as Cassie finds her diary and reads through it. While much information is revealed, the diary didn’t read as authentic to me. It was written as though writing a script with quotation marks for who is talking, etc. But the rest of the writing in the book is so good that this didn’t detract from my general liking of the book. I’m a bit surprised an editor didn’t catch this.
The ending of the book will blow you away, it did me! If you enjoyed this book may I recommend, “The Expatriates” by Janice Y.K.Lee, it is also about women who are living abroad with their husbands, the place in that story is Hong Kong and it has a similar “compound” like feel to the area where the expatriates live. However it is not in an army setting, just thought I’d throw that out there.
Grab this book, you will like it and learn from it. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss, thank you.
We are introduced to two women, two military wives, who are living in Jordan, their husbands have been stationed there. Cassie and her husband Dan have been in Jordan for a few years and are asked to introduce Margaret and her husband Crick along with their one year old son Mather to the other families living on this base. They are fresh from the states and know nothing about local law. The two women, although forming a kind of friendship, couldn’t be more opposite.
Cassie is immediately jealous of Margaret as she has been struggling to have a child, Margaret takes the child for granted and really “does her own thing” when she wants. Cassie is o.k. With living with the rules for women in that area, mainly covering your body and being quiet and unnoticeable. However Margaret is more of a free spirit and feels that she can bend the rules and get away with it.
She and Cassie travel to a bakery in Swefieh, outside of the safe military base. Margaret insists on trying to start a conversation with the cab driver even though he would rather be silent. Cassie could see that there was something wrong with the situation, “The driver narrowed all of his attention on Margaret and none on the road. I could see his eyes in the rearview mirror, mesmerized by the way her T-shirt pulled tight across her breasts, how she swung her blond ponytail. Her flashing lascivious teeth and naked collarbones.The driver said “I like you much, what is phone number? Tomorrow we meet”. Cassie and Margaret have many conversations about what is proper and what is not to say, wear, act in this foreign culture.
We quickly progress to the main plot which I won’t reveal to spoil anyone’s enjoyment of the book. During this major part of the novel we learn a lot about Margaret as Cassie finds her diary and reads through it. While much information is revealed, the diary didn’t read as authentic to me. It was written as though writing a script with quotation marks for who is talking, etc. But the rest of the writing in the book is so good that this didn’t detract from my general liking of the book. I’m a bit surprised an editor didn’t catch this.
The ending of the book will blow you away, it did me! If you enjoyed this book may I recommend, “The Expatriates” by Janice Y.K.Lee, it is also about women who are living abroad with their husbands, the place in that story is Hong Kong and it has a similar “compound” like feel to the area where the expatriates live. However it is not in an army setting, just thought I’d throw that out there.
Grab this book, you will like it and learn from it. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss, thank you.
May 10, 2017
I'm so glad I had the weekend to read Siobhan Fallon's, "The Confusion of Languages", because it consumed my Saturday - I simply couldn't put it down. The dual narratives of two Army wives stationed in Jordan during the Arab Spring, started of well and just got better and better, deeper and deeper, the suspense and dread building steadily and keeping this reader in thrall.
Cassie, is the experienced Army wife, her husband Dan has been working in the US Embassy in Amman for some time, so she is naturally tapped to "sponsor" new arrival Margaret, there with her Major husband, Crick, and baby Mather. These two characters are my favorite kind of characters/narrators - complex and not always likeable. Cassie is a bit of a jerk, and Margaret is a bit of a flake; both are a bit bitter, and there are many times in the course of their narratives when the reader is utterly bewildered by their terrible choices.
Fallon employs a wonderfully effective structure in this gripper; the main action of the story takes place on one day, May 13, 2011, as Margaret goes missing and Cassie is left with Mather wondering what has happened to Margaret AND how Cassie's own actions may be responsible. From that set-up the back story of Cassie and Margaret's "frenemy" relationship unfolds.
Fallon, who herself lived in Jordan in 2011, paints a fascinating picture of what it's like to be an American woman in the Middle East. Cassie is a rule follower and continually warns Margaret not to become overly-familiar with the Jordanians. Margaret doesn't listen, with dire consequences. Where does the trademark American friendliness and kindness impinge on a foreign culture? Is it true kindness or disregard and disrespect? Is it more of a kindness to respect other cultural norms and rules, or to exemplify your own world-view because you thinks it's "better"? It's a profound question. "The Confusion of Languages" is thought-provoking in addition to being a well-paced mystery/thriller.
Cassie, is the experienced Army wife, her husband Dan has been working in the US Embassy in Amman for some time, so she is naturally tapped to "sponsor" new arrival Margaret, there with her Major husband, Crick, and baby Mather. These two characters are my favorite kind of characters/narrators - complex and not always likeable. Cassie is a bit of a jerk, and Margaret is a bit of a flake; both are a bit bitter, and there are many times in the course of their narratives when the reader is utterly bewildered by their terrible choices.
Fallon employs a wonderfully effective structure in this gripper; the main action of the story takes place on one day, May 13, 2011, as Margaret goes missing and Cassie is left with Mather wondering what has happened to Margaret AND how Cassie's own actions may be responsible. From that set-up the back story of Cassie and Margaret's "frenemy" relationship unfolds.
Fallon, who herself lived in Jordan in 2011, paints a fascinating picture of what it's like to be an American woman in the Middle East. Cassie is a rule follower and continually warns Margaret not to become overly-familiar with the Jordanians. Margaret doesn't listen, with dire consequences. Where does the trademark American friendliness and kindness impinge on a foreign culture? Is it true kindness or disregard and disrespect? Is it more of a kindness to respect other cultural norms and rules, or to exemplify your own world-view because you thinks it's "better"? It's a profound question. "The Confusion of Languages" is thought-provoking in addition to being a well-paced mystery/thriller.
April 5, 2017
This is a gripping, fascinating novel that I looked forward to reading every night after I got my kids to bed -- well, for the three nights that it took me to finish it. I kept having to tell myself to slow down because I wanted to savor Fallon's witty dialogue and smart, pointed insights, at the same time that I was desperate to know what happened to the characters!
Fallon has a keen nose for the nuance of relationships, which she put on display mightily with her collection of short stories, 'You Know When the Men Are Gone.' Here, in her debut novel, she gets to stick with a handful of relationships for a longer time and really get into the nitty-gritty, and it's just delightful. I can imagine 'The Confusion of Languages' as ideal book club fare, with so much to hash out between both the husband-and-wife characters but especially the main pair of female friends, Cass and Margaret. There's just enough room for debate and disagreement to make this book a truly enjoyable book club read.
Fallon has a keen nose for the nuance of relationships, which she put on display mightily with her collection of short stories, 'You Know When the Men Are Gone.' Here, in her debut novel, she gets to stick with a handful of relationships for a longer time and really get into the nitty-gritty, and it's just delightful. I can imagine 'The Confusion of Languages' as ideal book club fare, with so much to hash out between both the husband-and-wife characters but especially the main pair of female friends, Cass and Margaret. There's just enough room for debate and disagreement to make this book a truly enjoyable book club read.
November 4, 2017
See more of my book reviews at www.BugBugBooks.com.
American couple Cassie and Dan Hugo have been living in Jordan for the past two years. In that time, they've grown more familiar with their new environment, though never quite comfortable in the volatile region. Cassie, especially, is struggling, since she's been unable to get pregnant and, therefore, has fewer things in common with most of the military wives who have young children. Her infertility woes aren't helping the quality of her relationship with Dan either.
So when Margaret and Crick Brickshaw arrive in Jordan and become the Hugo's new neighbors, Cassie is secretly hopeful that she might find a friend in Margaret. Oh sure, Margaret is younger and prettier, and also mother to a chunky and demanding toddler, Mather (who Cassie doesn't much care for). But Cassie envisions herself as Margaret's mentor, her guide to understanding the rules and regulations of their shared situation. So she's willing to make it work.
At first, Margaret is grateful for Cassie's advice. But soon it becomes obvious that Margaret has no intention of being confined---not to her house, not to the embassy, and certainly not by any rules. It isn't until a freak accident leads to Margaret's disappearance that Cassie realizes just how much her friend has been hiding.
Although I've read a lot of books, both fiction and nonfiction, about the experiences of soldiers engaged in conflicts overseas, I actually haven't read much of anything on the experiences of military families living abroad. Cassie and Margaret's routines, struggles, and conflicts were all new to me, so the book ended up being very eye-opening and educational in that respect.
And the story itself is so well done. Of course the mystery of the missing person drew me in, but the characters are what had me feverishly flipping pages. Margaret, especially, stole my heart. Somehow I was always as irritated with her as I was sympathetic, but I never, not once, left her corner. There is something so fragile and needy about her. On the outside she comes across as effortlessly effervescent, but inside she's so rattled, shellshocked by grief, and overwhelmed by her own desperate longing to be seen and known, that even though she kept making stupid decision after stupid decision, I still couldn't help empathizing with her, her humanness.
I won't give anything away, but I will say that the ending of this book absolutely shocked me. I wasn't expecting it at all. And, truthfully, it tormented me a bit! Is there a message in this ending? Is author Fallon letting us know that certain people, certain personalities perhaps don't have a place in this world? And if they don't, is that their fault or everyone else's? Oh man, it got to me, and I'm still sorting out how I feel.
In short, this was a wonderful read. Such beautiful writing and such a moving story about friendship, marriage, jealousy, and misunderstanding. I loved it start to finish.
ARC provided through Net Galley.
American couple Cassie and Dan Hugo have been living in Jordan for the past two years. In that time, they've grown more familiar with their new environment, though never quite comfortable in the volatile region. Cassie, especially, is struggling, since she's been unable to get pregnant and, therefore, has fewer things in common with most of the military wives who have young children. Her infertility woes aren't helping the quality of her relationship with Dan either.
So when Margaret and Crick Brickshaw arrive in Jordan and become the Hugo's new neighbors, Cassie is secretly hopeful that she might find a friend in Margaret. Oh sure, Margaret is younger and prettier, and also mother to a chunky and demanding toddler, Mather (who Cassie doesn't much care for). But Cassie envisions herself as Margaret's mentor, her guide to understanding the rules and regulations of their shared situation. So she's willing to make it work.
At first, Margaret is grateful for Cassie's advice. But soon it becomes obvious that Margaret has no intention of being confined---not to her house, not to the embassy, and certainly not by any rules. It isn't until a freak accident leads to Margaret's disappearance that Cassie realizes just how much her friend has been hiding.
* * * *
Although I've read a lot of books, both fiction and nonfiction, about the experiences of soldiers engaged in conflicts overseas, I actually haven't read much of anything on the experiences of military families living abroad. Cassie and Margaret's routines, struggles, and conflicts were all new to me, so the book ended up being very eye-opening and educational in that respect.
And the story itself is so well done. Of course the mystery of the missing person drew me in, but the characters are what had me feverishly flipping pages. Margaret, especially, stole my heart. Somehow I was always as irritated with her as I was sympathetic, but I never, not once, left her corner. There is something so fragile and needy about her. On the outside she comes across as effortlessly effervescent, but inside she's so rattled, shellshocked by grief, and overwhelmed by her own desperate longing to be seen and known, that even though she kept making stupid decision after stupid decision, I still couldn't help empathizing with her, her humanness.
I won't give anything away, but I will say that the ending of this book absolutely shocked me. I wasn't expecting it at all. And, truthfully, it tormented me a bit! Is there a message in this ending? Is author Fallon letting us know that certain people, certain personalities perhaps don't have a place in this world? And if they don't, is that their fault or everyone else's? Oh man, it got to me, and I'm still sorting out how I feel.
In short, this was a wonderful read. Such beautiful writing and such a moving story about friendship, marriage, jealousy, and misunderstanding. I loved it start to finish.
ARC provided through Net Galley.
June 21, 2017
A story about two unrelated women married to military service men stationed in Amman, Jordan. Cassie is the sponsor for newly arrived Margaret and her son and becomes embroiled in Margaret's life as she scoffs at safety rules that expats are warned to follow, and sets off to see the sites and make friends with Jordanians.
The author is a gifted storyteller and is familiar with life as an expat. She gives readers a good understanding of what life is like for American expats living in the Middle East and what the American Embassy does to help protect American citizens. I enjoyed reading her take on the Jordanian people and Muslim customs and traditions; things I also observed while living in Cairo, Egypt.
This is a well written and informational novel that kept me wondering until the very end. I also appreciated the author's epilogue, which wrapped up the story nicely.
The author is a gifted storyteller and is familiar with life as an expat. She gives readers a good understanding of what life is like for American expats living in the Middle East and what the American Embassy does to help protect American citizens. I enjoyed reading her take on the Jordanian people and Muslim customs and traditions; things I also observed while living in Cairo, Egypt.
This is a well written and informational novel that kept me wondering until the very end. I also appreciated the author's epilogue, which wrapped up the story nicely.
May 24, 2017
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
That's the tag line that best fits this particular narrative.
Cassie Hugo is as structured as could be, a control freak whose military husband is deployed to Jordan. So aware of the dangers of radical Islam, she sees a Bin Laden in every Arabic face and threats around every corner.
She's annoying and unlikeable and if author Siobhan Fallon says it once she says it more than enough times. Cassie, being infertile, has an attitude about babies. I got it early on. No need to repeat.
Due to circumstances where you can't pick your friends because there's but a small pool of American embassy workers on hand, she tries to cozy up to Margaret Hugo.
Margaret is a stereotypical California girl, head full of clouds. You can get away with using stereotypes when you've won a few writing awards. But all those awards don't make for a likeable character either.
Cassie keeps her distance while Margaret rushes head-long into making nice with the natives. Being empty-headed, she's blissfully unaware of cultural differences and acts the role of ugly American, doing things her way in the assumption that she can bring people together through kindness. Kindness American style, which does not translate into Jordanian life. Hence, the confusion of languages.
The novel is told in first person by both Cassie and Margaret, so be on your toes as you read. Margaret's side of the story is revealed through her secret diary that Cassie discovers after Margaret goes missing, leaving her toddler in Cassie's care. Oddly enough, Margaret's journal is written just like a novel, with dialogue and everything.
As for Cassie, her narrative covers the time period from when Margaret dumps said toddler and she finds out what happened to Margaret, the chapters moving slowly through time as backstory is revealed and Cassie discovers some insight into herself. To use the military term, Margaret's good intentions result in a massive clusterfuck of trouble that descends on those she tried to help. The actions she takes drive the narrative and work to build the tension, so that you can almost forget how much you dislike all the characters and read on to see how the dust settles.
The story builds to a strong finish, with plenty of strong emotional elements. Some will love THE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES and some will not get far once Cassie starts whinging about sloppy babies. Self-edit, skim, and get yourself to the meat of the story.
Review copy provided by Penguin Random House, thanks a million.
That's the tag line that best fits this particular narrative.
Cassie Hugo is as structured as could be, a control freak whose military husband is deployed to Jordan. So aware of the dangers of radical Islam, she sees a Bin Laden in every Arabic face and threats around every corner.
She's annoying and unlikeable and if author Siobhan Fallon says it once she says it more than enough times. Cassie, being infertile, has an attitude about babies. I got it early on. No need to repeat.
Due to circumstances where you can't pick your friends because there's but a small pool of American embassy workers on hand, she tries to cozy up to Margaret Hugo.
Margaret is a stereotypical California girl, head full of clouds. You can get away with using stereotypes when you've won a few writing awards. But all those awards don't make for a likeable character either.
Cassie keeps her distance while Margaret rushes head-long into making nice with the natives. Being empty-headed, she's blissfully unaware of cultural differences and acts the role of ugly American, doing things her way in the assumption that she can bring people together through kindness. Kindness American style, which does not translate into Jordanian life. Hence, the confusion of languages.
The novel is told in first person by both Cassie and Margaret, so be on your toes as you read. Margaret's side of the story is revealed through her secret diary that Cassie discovers after Margaret goes missing, leaving her toddler in Cassie's care. Oddly enough, Margaret's journal is written just like a novel, with dialogue and everything.
As for Cassie, her narrative covers the time period from when Margaret dumps said toddler and she finds out what happened to Margaret, the chapters moving slowly through time as backstory is revealed and Cassie discovers some insight into herself. To use the military term, Margaret's good intentions result in a massive clusterfuck of trouble that descends on those she tried to help. The actions she takes drive the narrative and work to build the tension, so that you can almost forget how much you dislike all the characters and read on to see how the dust settles.
The story builds to a strong finish, with plenty of strong emotional elements. Some will love THE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES and some will not get far once Cassie starts whinging about sloppy babies. Self-edit, skim, and get yourself to the meat of the story.
Review copy provided by Penguin Random House, thanks a million.
April 14, 2017
As I read this book, I really disliked it, not because of the writing or even the style though that did take some adjustment at first as it goes from present back to what is being read in a journal, but because I didn't like either of the women. Yet, I have to admit, it's a brutally honest depiction of women in real life. The jealousy, the need to be accepted, the looking down on others, the finding of faults... Sadly, most women, instead of picking each other up, put each other down, and are two faced with each one another. In this novel we don't just see the faces women show the world; we see the vicious other face not usually novelized. Because who wants to sit down and immerse themselves in petty jealousy and hatred? In backstabbing and assumption? In eyeballing someone else's spouse?
It's like Devious Maids in Jordan in Army wife format.
But towards the end, as we're finding out what exactly happened and why, I was riveted. I was skimming just because I had to know what happened. I was engrossed despite my dislike of the characters. And then as I turned the last page, I realized that this novel really made me think deep. There's a strong moral here...DO NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS. Be careful what you say about others. The repercussions can be vast.
And again, what I took from this is: Women, stop competing with each other. Stop eyeballing each other. Stop putting each other down. We need to band together and help, really help each other. Not pretend help, not help only as long as it benefits us.
Anyway, there's a reason for the pettiness and the jealousy and the thoughts. We have two women in Jordan, both married to Army men. One is childless and resents the other, the prettier, the smaller, the mother. Little does she know that what she sees is not really what is there.
Another interesting thing about this novel is the look into how we should behave in other cultures; how if we don't adapt, things can go very wrong.
I read You Know When the Men Are Gone and I've come to the conclusion Siobhan Fallon is a master writer and has given us yet another thought-evoking read. You can take away a lot from this if you think about what you're reading.
It's like Devious Maids in Jordan in Army wife format.
But towards the end, as we're finding out what exactly happened and why, I was riveted. I was skimming just because I had to know what happened. I was engrossed despite my dislike of the characters. And then as I turned the last page, I realized that this novel really made me think deep. There's a strong moral here...DO NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS. Be careful what you say about others. The repercussions can be vast.
And again, what I took from this is: Women, stop competing with each other. Stop eyeballing each other. Stop putting each other down. We need to band together and help, really help each other. Not pretend help, not help only as long as it benefits us.
Anyway, there's a reason for the pettiness and the jealousy and the thoughts. We have two women in Jordan, both married to Army men. One is childless and resents the other, the prettier, the smaller, the mother. Little does she know that what she sees is not really what is there.
Another interesting thing about this novel is the look into how we should behave in other cultures; how if we don't adapt, things can go very wrong.
I read You Know When the Men Are Gone and I've come to the conclusion Siobhan Fallon is a master writer and has given us yet another thought-evoking read. You can take away a lot from this if you think about what you're reading.
June 25, 2017
Wow! What a beautifully written novel. This follows two women who are living in Jordan with their Army husbands who work at the American embassy. One is seasoned in the ways of the country and what to do and what NOT to do. The other is a new wife, new mother, and complete free spirit, to her detriment at times. In times of turmoil for the country and region, they have to be careful about where they go and who they talk to. Both women are flawed in their own ways and both believe themselves to be strong and independent...but are they really? This book had such great conflict and the characters were so interesting and complex. I found myself both sympathetic and frustrated with both women at times. When one of them goes missing, things get interesting when the other is both trying to locate her and finds her journal, which reveals so much more than she bargained for. WONDERFUL BOOK!
June 11, 2017
A longer review is available on my blog:
http://reviewsofbooksonmynightstand.b...
Cassie is a bit annoying. She is so cautious that she comes off as culturally insensitive. She assumes that all of the men in Jordan wish her harm and all of the women are judging her for not being conservative enough. Margaret is more open-minded and caring about others, regardless of their nationality. Margaret may be a little too trusting but she does so with the aim of being kind to other people. This book was really interesting and unique but could be slow, at times. Rarely have a I read a book about living in an embassy in another country from the perspective of the wives, though. I really appreciated that angle and the story kept me moving along. The writing was interesting but the constant references to the origin and definition of words quickly turned from interesting to annoying. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It is a great work of Women's Fiction with a bit of multiculturalism thrown in and any reader who enjoys books like that will enjoy this book.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Penguin's First to Read program in order to write an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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Cassie is a bit annoying. She is so cautious that she comes off as culturally insensitive. She assumes that all of the men in Jordan wish her harm and all of the women are judging her for not being conservative enough. Margaret is more open-minded and caring about others, regardless of their nationality. Margaret may be a little too trusting but she does so with the aim of being kind to other people. This book was really interesting and unique but could be slow, at times. Rarely have a I read a book about living in an embassy in another country from the perspective of the wives, though. I really appreciated that angle and the story kept me moving along. The writing was interesting but the constant references to the origin and definition of words quickly turned from interesting to annoying. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It is a great work of Women's Fiction with a bit of multiculturalism thrown in and any reader who enjoys books like that will enjoy this book.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Penguin's First to Read program in order to write an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 22, 2017
Cassie Hugo is an American soldier’s wife. She has survived in Jordan, where Dan is stationed by learning the rules and customs and following them as carefully as possible. Lonely and struggling to get pregnant, Cassie’s marriage is beginning to falter. The couple silently blame each other for everything that is missing from their lives and elusive family. When Margaret Brickshaw arrives she appears to be all that Cassie dreams of. Thin and beautiful, married to a handsome, strapping soldier and carrying a beautiful baby boy named Mather. Cassie is given the job of hosting or introducing Margaret into life in Amman. What initially feels like babysitting morphs into Cassie’s desperate desire to have friendship, companionship and most importantly purpose. But the grass is not always greener. Life in Amman is difficult and the image of Margaret’s happy home is not remotely close to what Cassie has conjured up in her mind. It is not until she mistakenly finds Margaret’s journal that Cassie slowly learns about marriage, loneliness, friendship and the scary truth about herself. Highly recommend this extremely unique, well written glimpse into expat lives living abroad in a war torn region of the world and the solitary walls of loneliness we build to protect ourselves which simultaneously keep everyone away. Written with such in depth clarity that I felt like I was the one surreptitiously reading the journal! Great summer read from a fabulous new author.
June 21, 2017
The Confusion of Languages is a debut novel by Siobhan Fallon. Cassie Hugo’s husband, Dan is a soldier assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Jordan. Dan signed them up to sponsor the Brickshaw family (Crick, Margaret and their son, Mather) without consulting her. Cassie is hoping that Margaret will be a friend, but she has reservations because of their son, Mather. Dan and Cassie have been trying to get pregnant for nine years without success and it has strained their marriage. Cassie explains the rules for women to Margaret (how to act, dress, etc.), but Margaret seems to pay little attention. She is more interested in exploring the city and immersing herself into the culture (breaking many rules along the way). One afternoon Margaret and Cassie are out driving when they are in an auto accident. Margaret needs to go to the police department to pay a fee, but first she returns home. She asks Cassie to watch Mather for her while she is gone. As the hours pass, Cassie gets bored. She finds Margaret’s journal and starts reading it. What Cassie reads makes her concerned for Margaret and guilty. Margaret has not answered her phone, and she never arrived at the police department. Where is Margaret? To discover what led to Margaret’s disappearance, pick up The Confusion of Languages.
The Confusion of Languages was a dissatisfying novel (for me). The story starts in the present and then goes back to when the Brickshaw’s arrived in Jordan. It then keeps going back and forth in time (as Cassie reads Margaret’s journal). I found it disconcerting. The book is written in the first person which did not help (Margaret and Cassie’s perspectives). The book started out good, but then the pace slowed down considerably when Cassie started reading Margaret’s journal entries. The story does get more interesting toward the end after Cassie has finished reading the journal (if you make it that far). The Confusion of Languages has two women who are very different (of course). Margaret wanted to be friendly with the locals (a rule breaker) and Cassie was suspicious of them (a rigid rule follower). The author shows readers what women are thinking and feeling as well as exploring female relationships (which always seem to be explosive). The story seemed to be building up to some big revelation, but it was a huge disappointment. The ending was unoriginal and expected. I found the characters (Cassie, Margaret, Crick, Mather, Saleh) to be unpleasant. I really disliked the scenes with Mather (he cried and screamed all the time as well as running rampant making messes and destroying things while leaving disorder in his wake). I was surprised the embassy had not shipped the husbands back to the states based on their wives’ behavior. I give The Confusion of Languages 1 out of 5 stars. We can see how an individual’s make judgements about people that can cloud a situation or relationship. You do not know what goes on in someone else’s life. They suffer from insecurities and doubts too. The book does contain an extreme amount foul language. The Confusion of Languages shows the importance of behaving or following the rules when we are in other countries (especially in the Middle East). We may not like or understand the laws or regulations, but not following them can harm innocent people. The Confusion of Languages was not a pleasant book to read (at least for me).
The Confusion of Languages was a dissatisfying novel (for me). The story starts in the present and then goes back to when the Brickshaw’s arrived in Jordan. It then keeps going back and forth in time (as Cassie reads Margaret’s journal). I found it disconcerting. The book is written in the first person which did not help (Margaret and Cassie’s perspectives). The book started out good, but then the pace slowed down considerably when Cassie started reading Margaret’s journal entries. The story does get more interesting toward the end after Cassie has finished reading the journal (if you make it that far). The Confusion of Languages has two women who are very different (of course). Margaret wanted to be friendly with the locals (a rule breaker) and Cassie was suspicious of them (a rigid rule follower). The author shows readers what women are thinking and feeling as well as exploring female relationships (which always seem to be explosive). The story seemed to be building up to some big revelation, but it was a huge disappointment. The ending was unoriginal and expected. I found the characters (Cassie, Margaret, Crick, Mather, Saleh) to be unpleasant. I really disliked the scenes with Mather (he cried and screamed all the time as well as running rampant making messes and destroying things while leaving disorder in his wake). I was surprised the embassy had not shipped the husbands back to the states based on their wives’ behavior. I give The Confusion of Languages 1 out of 5 stars. We can see how an individual’s make judgements about people that can cloud a situation or relationship. You do not know what goes on in someone else’s life. They suffer from insecurities and doubts too. The book does contain an extreme amount foul language. The Confusion of Languages shows the importance of behaving or following the rules when we are in other countries (especially in the Middle East). We may not like or understand the laws or regulations, but not following them can harm innocent people. The Confusion of Languages was not a pleasant book to read (at least for me).
July 24, 2017
The one sentence review: Sometimes you can't fix your mistakes.
This is a solid first novel. And as a military spouse living in the Middle East for 18 months and counting (although in Bahrain, not Jordan), a lot of the cultural differences are the same. Avoid State Department-designated red zones. Be in before curfew. Don't disappear or leave the country without telling someone. Maintain vigilance at all times. Do not behave in a provocative manner towards males; if you wear short shorts and a halter top, you will be mistaken for a prostitute. No public displays of affection in public, even between spouses. If you get in a car crash, it will be your fault, even if your car is parked in a parking space and you're nowhere near it. Them's the breaks in the Middle East, white girl. The brown people you see working all over the place are TCNs (ie, Third Country Nationals), probably from the Subcontinent or the Philippines, and you wouldn't believe the wages they get (pitiful by Western standards) but how much better they are than back home, and they don't want to jeopardize their livelihood by getting too friendly with you. So back off.
So there are two main characters in this novel, Cassie and Margaret. Cassie is infertile and tightly wound. Margaret is a free spirit and tries to buck the conventions of the new culture. Anyway, she mainly succeeds in making a bunch of messes. Then she goes missing. While she's missing, Cassie reads her journal and watches her baby and tries to figure out what happened to her.
The book mainly goes back and forth in time between the two main characters, though the journal entries of the one and the other's reactions as she reads the journal. It's a good idea, but in reading it, the voices of the characters are almost indistinguishable to me. If I set down the book and came back to it, it wouldn't be immediately apparent whose point of view I was reading. I've kept journals over the years, and I can't say that I have ever written a journal entry with the narrative richness of Margaret. I understand that she's a word lover, but I'm assuming that her journal is supposed to be draft copy and this is definitely not.
There is a big theme of deception in this novel (and there was in Fallon's other book). Husband keeps secrets from wife, wife keeps secrets from husband, friend keeps secrets from other friend, people hide motives from others, and eventually it makes a huge mess. While I could relate to both of the main characters, I also felt very frustrated by both of them at times. Cassie is an infertile sanctimommy, but Margaret is also a horrid parent. Margaret acts like an airheaded floozy but Cassie also butts into situations that aren't any of her business then wonders why she has no friends (my favorite part was when she directed all of the ATFP notices and news stories about the Arab Spring hostilities to be sent to her friend's gmail box in an attempt to be helpful, and the friend soon leaves the country). Ah, but she meant well. And so did Margaret. And that's the problem, when good intentions make life very difficult for others.
This is a solid first novel. And as a military spouse living in the Middle East for 18 months and counting (although in Bahrain, not Jordan), a lot of the cultural differences are the same. Avoid State Department-designated red zones. Be in before curfew. Don't disappear or leave the country without telling someone. Maintain vigilance at all times. Do not behave in a provocative manner towards males; if you wear short shorts and a halter top, you will be mistaken for a prostitute. No public displays of affection in public, even between spouses. If you get in a car crash, it will be your fault, even if your car is parked in a parking space and you're nowhere near it. Them's the breaks in the Middle East, white girl. The brown people you see working all over the place are TCNs (ie, Third Country Nationals), probably from the Subcontinent or the Philippines, and you wouldn't believe the wages they get (pitiful by Western standards) but how much better they are than back home, and they don't want to jeopardize their livelihood by getting too friendly with you. So back off.
So there are two main characters in this novel, Cassie and Margaret. Cassie is infertile and tightly wound. Margaret is a free spirit and tries to buck the conventions of the new culture. Anyway, she mainly succeeds in making a bunch of messes. Then she goes missing. While she's missing, Cassie reads her journal and watches her baby and tries to figure out what happened to her.
The book mainly goes back and forth in time between the two main characters, though the journal entries of the one and the other's reactions as she reads the journal. It's a good idea, but in reading it, the voices of the characters are almost indistinguishable to me. If I set down the book and came back to it, it wouldn't be immediately apparent whose point of view I was reading. I've kept journals over the years, and I can't say that I have ever written a journal entry with the narrative richness of Margaret. I understand that she's a word lover, but I'm assuming that her journal is supposed to be draft copy and this is definitely not.
There is a big theme of deception in this novel (and there was in Fallon's other book). Husband keeps secrets from wife, wife keeps secrets from husband, friend keeps secrets from other friend, people hide motives from others, and eventually it makes a huge mess. While I could relate to both of the main characters, I also felt very frustrated by both of them at times. Cassie is an infertile sanctimommy, but Margaret is also a horrid parent. Margaret acts like an airheaded floozy but Cassie also butts into situations that aren't any of her business then wonders why she has no friends (my favorite part was when she directed all of the ATFP notices and news stories about the Arab Spring hostilities to be sent to her friend's gmail box in an attempt to be helpful, and the friend soon leaves the country). Ah, but she meant well. And so did Margaret. And that's the problem, when good intentions make life very difficult for others.
February 13, 2018
As a diplomat's spouse currently living abroad, I was intrigued by the premise of this book: two military wives posted at the embassy in Amman, Jordan during the beginning of the Arab Spring. I suppose I was expecting see some of my own experiences reflected in their story and was interested in the social/political context of the narrative, but I was left feeling very disappointed and quite frankly disturbed that this is how an embassy community would be portrayed to outsiders. Both of the female protagonists act in ways that are culturally insensitive and reckless, putting themselves and loved ones at serious risk. Moreover, rather than providing a support system for one another and lifting each other up, the women are pitted against each other in petty rivalry, desperate acts of neediness, and two-faced backstabbing. In fact, none of the characters are made to be like-able and none of them provided me with a perspective with which I could identify. The one husband is a brutish, cheating military jock with an overinflated sense of patriotism and the other so deferential and complacent that he fades into the background almost immediately.
Real life parallels aside, the narrative structure is compelling and I (somewhat begrudgingly) will admit that it was difficult to put the book down once I started it. Fallon has a knack for creating a suspenseful and intriguing story--but she does this at the expense of offering her readers any real insight into Jordanian culture. Instead, the city becomes a backdrop for the women's unfolding, drama-filled "friendship". In true colonial fashion, the Jordanian men are oversexualized, conservative and/or pose a threat to the white Western woman, who--if left alone--inevitably become entangled in a dangerous predicament that is a result from their cultural assumptions. Non-verbal communication--another form of social language--sometimes does not translate well across cultures.
It is sad to me that this novel presents these women's experiences as the only two ways of interacting with the local culture. Margaret is so naive and gullible in wanting to experience the "real" Amman, yet at the same she throws all caution to the wind when confronted with social norms of (gendered) behavior. Cassandra, on the other hand, embodies the traditional Western expat abroad who sticks to the embassy bubble and minimizes all contact to the host culture. Regrettably, Fallon provides no alternative to these two attitudes and allows the narrative to culminate in one message to her readers: best not venture too far out into the unknown; it could end tragically.
Real life parallels aside, the narrative structure is compelling and I (somewhat begrudgingly) will admit that it was difficult to put the book down once I started it. Fallon has a knack for creating a suspenseful and intriguing story--but she does this at the expense of offering her readers any real insight into Jordanian culture. Instead, the city becomes a backdrop for the women's unfolding, drama-filled "friendship". In true colonial fashion, the Jordanian men are oversexualized, conservative and/or pose a threat to the white Western woman, who--if left alone--inevitably become entangled in a dangerous predicament that is a result from their cultural assumptions. Non-verbal communication--another form of social language--sometimes does not translate well across cultures.
It is sad to me that this novel presents these women's experiences as the only two ways of interacting with the local culture. Margaret is so naive and gullible in wanting to experience the "real" Amman, yet at the same she throws all caution to the wind when confronted with social norms of (gendered) behavior. Cassandra, on the other hand, embodies the traditional Western expat abroad who sticks to the embassy bubble and minimizes all contact to the host culture. Regrettably, Fallon provides no alternative to these two attitudes and allows the narrative to culminate in one message to her readers: best not venture too far out into the unknown; it could end tragically.
May 12, 2017
So the past few days I went on a surprising journey to the Middle East, over the period of an Arab Spring. With the book The Confusion Of Languages, I don't think I have read about Jordan so everything was new to me. First, of I should say how easy of a read this is, it is not packed with ever long descriptions or filled with unknown or difficult languages. Because the story is based on two American families living in the U.S Embassy in Jordan. It's there story we hear.
I enjoyed both of the main characters, Cassie and Margaret. We hear things from both of their points of view. Which made it very interesting. I didn't have a side. I couldn't possibly pick. You will see what I mean when you read it.
It was rather intriguing to learn about the different culture differences. What you should and should not wear, say and even where to look. This is not a story of war either, of course, it's there in the background. But it's core is about the women and their lives.
With a surprising twist at the end, the book kept me engrossed and entertained from start to finish.
I read the book on kindle, but I googled the cover and it's beautiful. It stands out and it's very pretty. The title fits perfectly with the story.
I enjoyed both of the main characters, Cassie and Margaret. We hear things from both of their points of view. Which made it very interesting. I didn't have a side. I couldn't possibly pick. You will see what I mean when you read it.
It was rather intriguing to learn about the different culture differences. What you should and should not wear, say and even where to look. This is not a story of war either, of course, it's there in the background. But it's core is about the women and their lives.
With a surprising twist at the end, the book kept me engrossed and entertained from start to finish.
I read the book on kindle, but I googled the cover and it's beautiful. It stands out and it's very pretty. The title fits perfectly with the story.
September 10, 2017
3.5 stars for the last third of the book. It took me a while to get into this book. Neither of the characters were really likable, which kept me from connecting from the book in a big way. The only reason I kept reading is because I thought Margaret was ridiculous and wanted to see what problems she might run into as a result of avoiding or not caring about the unspoken rules for Americans in Jordan. That later third of the book was more interesting though, once I started to get to know Margaret more through her journal and seeing how Cassandra started to understand her quirks more.
June 5, 2017
VIEW
I would like to thank First to Read and G..P Putnam's Sons for the ARC of "The Confusion of Languages" by Siobhan Fallon for my honest review. The genre of this story is Adult Fiction. There is also some historical reference.
I appreciate the author's description of the location in Jordan, and the various people affiliated with the American Embassy and those that live there.
The characters are described as complicated and complex. The story-line is about two women, Cassie and Margaret who are accompanying their soldier husbands to the United States Embassy in Jordan. The two women are opposite in their personalities and characteristics. Cassie is familiar with the Jordan culture, and rigidly follows the rules. Margaret, who has a baby, wants to experience Jordan, and disregards many of the rules. Margaret is extremely friendly and flirtatious at times, and is nervous in crowds at others. She feels that it is important to be kind, not understanding the culture. Both women have issues with their marriages.
Often Margaret forgets the time, and will leave Cassie watching her baby. Margaret writes many of her feelings and experiences in a journal.
The author writes about family, friendship, jealousy, betrayal, honest and hope.
I would recommend this intriguing story of cultural differences and friendship!
I would like to thank First to Read and G..P Putnam's Sons for the ARC of "The Confusion of Languages" by Siobhan Fallon for my honest review. The genre of this story is Adult Fiction. There is also some historical reference.
I appreciate the author's description of the location in Jordan, and the various people affiliated with the American Embassy and those that live there.
The characters are described as complicated and complex. The story-line is about two women, Cassie and Margaret who are accompanying their soldier husbands to the United States Embassy in Jordan. The two women are opposite in their personalities and characteristics. Cassie is familiar with the Jordan culture, and rigidly follows the rules. Margaret, who has a baby, wants to experience Jordan, and disregards many of the rules. Margaret is extremely friendly and flirtatious at times, and is nervous in crowds at others. She feels that it is important to be kind, not understanding the culture. Both women have issues with their marriages.
Often Margaret forgets the time, and will leave Cassie watching her baby. Margaret writes many of her feelings and experiences in a journal.
The author writes about family, friendship, jealousy, betrayal, honest and hope.
I would recommend this intriguing story of cultural differences and friendship!
July 23, 2017
Wow. Riveting and intense tale of instant friendship between two army wives living in Jordan. One is too cautious, the other not nearly cautious enough. What happens when a starry-eyed feeder of stray cats insists on having adventures? Her worry-wart (okay, OCD) friend can't seem to nag her into falling into line, but can't stop trying.
Full of wry, trenchant, and just occasionally twisted observations on married life, friendship, and how best to approach living in a community and the world.
Full of wry, trenchant, and just occasionally twisted observations on married life, friendship, and how best to approach living in a community and the world.
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