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gabizago's review against another edition
5.0
This is a fascinating story about immigration to America and following the American dream, but at the same time showing how sometimes people are really struggling in their home countries and they need to get out to anywhere in the world. It is also even more fascinating finding out this is based on a true story. As someone who voluntarily left her own country to live somewhere else, I find it challenging to start over. But imagine having to do that when you don't even have a place to go back to if anything goes wrong.
The book tells the story of two brothers from Raqqa that, through different paths and motivations, end up leaving the city and the country forever.
The book tells the story of two brothers from Raqqa that, through different paths and motivations, end up leaving the city and the country forever.
bhunsberger's review against another edition
5.0
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.
This nonfiction book follows brothers Riyad and Bashar from their childhood in Raqqa, Syria, through their adult lives as they establish careers and begin families. Riyad moves to United States fairly early in life and experiences some of the challenges an immigrant and starting a new life in a new country. Bashar spents some time in the U.S. but ultimately chooses a life back in Syria. The book really drew on my emotions and anxiety when the family was dealing with bombings and uprisings in Raqqa. This book will definitely stick with me for some time.
This nonfiction book follows brothers Riyad and Bashar from their childhood in Raqqa, Syria, through their adult lives as they establish careers and begin families. Riyad moves to United States fairly early in life and experiences some of the challenges an immigrant and starting a new life in a new country. Bashar spents some time in the U.S. but ultimately chooses a life back in Syria. The book really drew on my emotions and anxiety when the family was dealing with bombings and uprisings in Raqqa. This book will definitely stick with me for some time.
redlikeroses's review against another edition
5.0
5 stars
*My thanks to the author and publishers the advance copy of this book
The Road From Raqqa is a story of two brothers dealing with their separate ideals of what patriotism and homeland mean in a world that lacks acceptance.
When I first received this book I never thought it would have the impact it did.
The book keeps you invested as it flips between the two brothers and their journeys throughout the years, both longing for home, but for different reasons.
One brother longs for Syria's freedom and another is fine with the regime, but both love their homeland all the same.
This was a great insight into the world of the Syrian people and their culture that almost made me cry by the end.
Please pick up this book if you can!
If you love tales of brotherhood, family and acceptance, I would recommend this book!
*My thanks to the author and publishers the advance copy of this book
The Road From Raqqa is a story of two brothers dealing with their separate ideals of what patriotism and homeland mean in a world that lacks acceptance.
When I first received this book I never thought it would have the impact it did.
The book keeps you invested as it flips between the two brothers and their journeys throughout the years, both longing for home, but for different reasons.
One brother longs for Syria's freedom and another is fine with the regime, but both love their homeland all the same.
This was a great insight into the world of the Syrian people and their culture that almost made me cry by the end.
Please pick up this book if you can!
If you love tales of brotherhood, family and acceptance, I would recommend this book!
cgroup6's review against another edition
5.0
I couldn’t put it down - I’m literally writing this review at 2AM because I didn’t want to forget what I just finished reading!
Fantastic writing that just pulls you in - I felt like I was sitting around a table talking with Riyad and Bashar, listening to their stories (just wishing I was also drinking coffee and eating that special hummus). The author did a fantastic job of weaving the separate stories of these two brothers together - especially when they were literally a world apart.
While there are some heartwarming examples of good, kind people who helped Riyad along the way, this book also gives provides a small glimpse into the life of a Muslim immigrant to the US, including some frankly horrific treatment at times by both fellow citizens and the government itself. This is yet another example of how far we have to go to get to the promise and ideals of America.
I received this story as an ARC thanks to Netgalley & the publisher.
Fantastic writing that just pulls you in - I felt like I was sitting around a table talking with Riyad and Bashar, listening to their stories (just wishing I was also drinking coffee and eating that special hummus). The author did a fantastic job of weaving the separate stories of these two brothers together - especially when they were literally a world apart.
While there are some heartwarming examples of good, kind people who helped Riyad along the way, this book also gives provides a small glimpse into the life of a Muslim immigrant to the US, including some frankly horrific treatment at times by both fellow citizens and the government itself. This is yet another example of how far we have to go to get to the promise and ideals of America.
I received this story as an ARC thanks to Netgalley & the publisher.
aseafullofstars's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
5.0
mlight's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Absolutely loved this story centering Chef Rakka, a man I only knew as a generous and brilliant cook who has been feeding my family at one of our favorite restaurants for years. I was expecting new insight into his background and family story but wasn’t expecting such a well written narrative and engaging book. Highly recommend.
emilyacres's review against another edition
3.0
And Riyad and Bashar wondered what makes a city when its people have fled or died, what makes a home when a house has become rubble, what makes a family when brothers and sisters are sent to scatter across the world.
The Road from Raqqa is a beautiful piece of narrative non-fiction. It's a story of two brothers, of immigration, of terror, hope and family. It's a moving story, and wonderfully told.
Riyad and Bashar Alkasem are the two eldest sons of the ancestral line of one of the twelve founding tribes of Raqqa. Indeed they are the descendants of the very founder himself who once set up the first tent in the desert and invited others to join him with a welcoming cup of coffee. The brothers lives follow two very different paths. Riyad became a political dissident after a traumatic experience witnessing the horrors of the state violence of the Assad regime. Syria was no longer a safe place for Riyad to live and so pursued an education in America. Bashar, now the patriarch of the family remained in Syria through the civil war and the following occupation by the Islamic State in Raqqa.
The story is expertly told by the author. It's readable in its narrative structure but also very evidently journalistic in tone which I found helpful in keeping me grounded in its reality. Though both brothers have an interesting story I was definitely drawn more to Bashar, the brother that remained in Syria and I really appreciated the historical context provided by the author to round out an otherwise personal tale. There were moments I found slower than others but I loved getting to read about two very different and yet connected immigrant experiences. I hope more people will read this book and that Jordan Ritter Conn continues his writing!
Thank you to the publisher for proving this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
coffeebooksrepeat's review against another edition
5.0
How do you define Home? How do you find it?
- - - -
Riyad, the eldest of a highly regarded tribal family, whose dream until he was a young man, was to topple a regime one law and one court at a time in Syria but instead ended up follwing his dream by introducing and spreading his culture one lamb and rice, and hummus at a time in America at Cafe Rakka.
Bashar, the younger brother, the one who chose to be left behind, the one who chose to stay, whose intense love for tradition, culture, and country seemed to have made him deaf to the gunfights and bomb drops and blind to what is really happening in his beloved city, Raqqa.
Sometimes no matter how hard we try to talk ourselves and others into thinking that life is good, that we are settled, comfortable, and that we are “home”, circumstances would arrive right at our doorsteps at the most inconvenient times, in different forms — in knocks, in calls, in dreams.
I don’t know which brother I loved (or hated) more, the one who left and followed his dreams, or the one you stayed putting everyone in constant danger and fears? For until the end, they all had their own reasons — reasons for leaving, reasons for staying.
Reasons to fight to stay alive.
A pot of tea, a tray of pita breads, and a bowl of hummus of this non fiction debut that was so beautifully written, readers would think it’s literary fiction.
- - - -
Riyad, the eldest of a highly regarded tribal family, whose dream until he was a young man, was to topple a regime one law and one court at a time in Syria but instead ended up follwing his dream by introducing and spreading his culture one lamb and rice, and hummus at a time in America at Cafe Rakka.
Bashar, the younger brother, the one who chose to be left behind, the one who chose to stay, whose intense love for tradition, culture, and country seemed to have made him deaf to the gunfights and bomb drops and blind to what is really happening in his beloved city, Raqqa.
Sometimes no matter how hard we try to talk ourselves and others into thinking that life is good, that we are settled, comfortable, and that we are “home”, circumstances would arrive right at our doorsteps at the most inconvenient times, in different forms — in knocks, in calls, in dreams.
I don’t know which brother I loved (or hated) more, the one who left and followed his dreams, or the one you stayed putting everyone in constant danger and fears? For until the end, they all had their own reasons — reasons for leaving, reasons for staying.
Reasons to fight to stay alive.
A pot of tea, a tray of pita breads, and a bowl of hummus of this non fiction debut that was so beautifully written, readers would think it’s literary fiction.
ashleygrossreads's review against another edition
4.0
THE ROAD FROM RAQQA is a biography of two brothers from Raqqa, the town in Syria that would later become the capital for ISIS. As teenagers, both brothers dream of becoming lawyers to improve their home country. Riyad moves to America hoping to study the country's government and law and bring its practices to Syria but becomes increasingly concerned with the news he's hearing of his hometown.
Bashar stays in Syria and becomes an expert on government law. He is up for a judgeship when civil war turns its eyes on Raqqa. Conflicted on whether to stay or to leave, Basha is forced to make decisions that will change the path of his family forever.
.
Wow, this book really struck a chord with me. I have never read a true account of an immigration or refugee story, and it was eye opening; especially Riyad's account of life after 9/11, and his experience back in Raqqa with Bashar. There were acts of generosity in this book that made me cry, and acts so inhumane that I wanted to throw the book across the room. A heartfelt book that explores the meaning of home and gives previously unseen insight into the life of an immigrant and a refugee. We need more eyes on this book telling previously unheard accounts of real life suruvial and bravery! 4 out of 5 stars
.
Thank you Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for reaching out about this book. I was given this book in return for an honest review.
Bashar stays in Syria and becomes an expert on government law. He is up for a judgeship when civil war turns its eyes on Raqqa. Conflicted on whether to stay or to leave, Basha is forced to make decisions that will change the path of his family forever.
.
Wow, this book really struck a chord with me. I have never read a true account of an immigration or refugee story, and it was eye opening; especially Riyad's account of life after 9/11, and his experience back in Raqqa with Bashar. There were acts of generosity in this book that made me cry, and acts so inhumane that I wanted to throw the book across the room. A heartfelt book that explores the meaning of home and gives previously unseen insight into the life of an immigrant and a refugee. We need more eyes on this book telling previously unheard accounts of real life suruvial and bravery! 4 out of 5 stars
.
Thank you Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for reaching out about this book. I was given this book in return for an honest review.