The Monk of Mokha by Dave Eggers - 4 stars

[Joy D]

The Monk of Mokha by Dave Eggers - 4* - My Review

Non-fiction biography about a young Yemeni American, Moktar Alkhanshali, and his personal journey from the poverty of the Tenderloin in San Francisco to become the head of a specialty coffee company. He returns to his family’s original home in Yemen, hoping to reinvigorate the country’s coffee trade. In the process, he found himself in the midst of Yemen’s civil war. He and two others fled the country, narrowly escaping with their lives. The narrative tells his story. Dave Eggers is an accomplished writer, and this book reads like a thriller. My only reservation is that some of the scenes could not have been independently verified, but Eggers states he checked everything he could. Proceeds from this book go to the Mokha Foundation, dedicated to improving the quality of life for people in Yemen.

PBT Comments: This is also a good selection for next month's "adventure" tag.