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Crystal Mountain
Told in a warm humorous manner, this book depicts the life of a missionary family in Lebanon. Set in the early part of the 20th century, the author describes the childhood adventures of herself and of her siblings with village residents and in the surrounding hills.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1955
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January 23, 2020
I must have read this when I was 7 or 8, a few years after it was published in 1955. My grandparents met at the Dormans' house in Beirut... and how cool that the author, Belle, is Pril Dorman's Aunt, and that Pril married my uncle, the youngest child of my grandparents!
I thoroughly enjoyed re-reading it. The jacket is absolutely spot on-- "Belle Dorman (one of my grandmother's students!) has told the story of an American family in the Near East in a delightfully warm and humorous manner. With the vivid memory of her own childhood in Lebanon to draw upon, she writes with an intimate knowledge of the country, and a rare insight into the ways of young people. The boys, whose ages range from 3 to 13 and 10-year old Boadie are completely at home in this Arab country, and accept the manners and customs of its people with poise and understanding."
Humor: that Dorothy, (alias Boadie, her Nickname) says she named herself in the tradition of the Amatans! (you won't find information about that tribe in any encyclopedia). The Edmund, ressembles the Edmund of C.S. Lewis, spoiled and stuffing himself with cupcakes they way I imagine Edmund gorging himself on Turkish Delight in the Narnia tales. Who wouldn't want a governess like Ms. Dunbar? The rescue mission for "Bouncy" and his transformed name of "Argos" when Edmund hears the story of "Useless" (Ulysses); the lovely detail of Latifa, the little Bulbul bird who settles on the goatherd, Braheem's hat when he plays his pipes.
Beirut intrigues me... apparently "safe" to visit, although no longer the "Paris of the Middle East".
I am working on a speculative poem that takes place there (started in Oct. 2019), influenced by Naomi Shihab Nye, one of my favorite poets, after reading her book, "The Tiny Journalist".
I thoroughly enjoyed re-reading it. The jacket is absolutely spot on-- "Belle Dorman (one of my grandmother's students!) has told the story of an American family in the Near East in a delightfully warm and humorous manner. With the vivid memory of her own childhood in Lebanon to draw upon, she writes with an intimate knowledge of the country, and a rare insight into the ways of young people. The boys, whose ages range from 3 to 13 and 10-year old Boadie are completely at home in this Arab country, and accept the manners and customs of its people with poise and understanding."
Humor: that Dorothy, (alias Boadie, her Nickname) says she named herself in the tradition of the Amatans! (you won't find information about that tribe in any encyclopedia). The Edmund, ressembles the Edmund of C.S. Lewis, spoiled and stuffing himself with cupcakes they way I imagine Edmund gorging himself on Turkish Delight in the Narnia tales. Who wouldn't want a governess like Ms. Dunbar? The rescue mission for "Bouncy" and his transformed name of "Argos" when Edmund hears the story of "Useless" (Ulysses); the lovely detail of Latifa, the little Bulbul bird who settles on the goatherd, Braheem's hat when he plays his pipes.
Beirut intrigues me... apparently "safe" to visit, although no longer the "Paris of the Middle East".
I am working on a speculative poem that takes place there (started in Oct. 2019), influenced by Naomi Shihab Nye, one of my favorite poets, after reading her book, "The Tiny Journalist".
Displaying 1 of 1 review