4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
When I chose the book My Trip to Adele by A.I.Alyaseer, R.I.Alyaseer, I did it primarily because I had read the preview and found out that it was inspired by the lyrics and music of my favourite singer Adele. I was so excited to see how the story would relate to her songs that I put off all the other activities and started reading it and I wasn’t disappointed. On the contrary, I just couldn’t let go of the book. Each section of the book describing different characters and their stories has a title of one of Adele's songs and ends up with the lyrics of that song which perfectly illustrates the given episode in these people’s lives.
The title of the book A Trip to Adele could also be A Journey to Freedom, since it is basically about breaking free. This theme is a connecting thread which is woven into the three stories of people who live in different parts of the world. One story is about a young man - Elias, who is haunted by the memories of love. He is from Marrakesh, Morocco, but lives in Rome, Italy, the city which can not soothe his “burdened heart”, so after eight years he decides to visit the place of his lost love and try to “unseal his fortune”.
The second one tells about a married couple who have it all, at first sight. Mariam and Yaser live in Las Vegas, USA; they are quite well-off, being successful surgeons, with two little children. However, routine has crept into their marriage and Yaser feels suffocated and wants to break free from the stale relationship.
The third story tells about a single mom who breaks free from her abusive husband. Her name is Nadia and she lives with her ten-year-old son in Amman, Jordan. She takes a huge, courageous step and gets divorced in a country where men make decisions and where tribal rules prevail over the laws. She even stands up against her bosses to defend her rights, but in the end she realises that her freedom is not as unconditional as she thought it was.
What they all have in common is the upcoming Adele concert in Verona, Italy, which they are all looking forward to. Their lives relate to many of her songs; her lyrics express their feelings of love, fear, redemption, doubt, etc. The stories run parallelly, each gradually building suspense. You get so involved with the characters that you just can't wait to see what happens next with them. Apart from that, I enjoyed the description of the places. The authors not only describe them, but make you feel the atmoshehe as if you were there, roaming the streets and squares of Marrakesh, wandreing aimlessly through the Sin city, as they call Las Vegas.
As such, I'm happy to rate A Trip to Adele 4 out of 4 stars. If the authors want for people to fall in love with the book, they have definitelly made it. I certainly have and it was not just because of Adele, but because of the charm with which the book captivates your attention and carries it all to the end. I could recommend the book to anyone, young or old, no age limits, although maybe readers below the age of sixteen wouldn't undrestand the subtle philosphy of the characters' lives. Otherwise, all those who love Adele, go for it.
******
My Trip to Adele
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like maraman's review? Post a comment saying so!