Thoughts on: Late for Tea at the Deer Palace by Tamara Chalabi

February 22, 2012

About:
Late for Tea at the Deer Palace : The Lost Dreams of My Iraqi Family by Tamara Chalabi is a book which was hard to classify. Part history, part cultural, part fictional and non-fictional family saga and all about a bygone era.

The pub­lisher is giv­ing away one copy of this book—enter at the end of the post.

  • 448 pages
  • Publisher:Harper (January 18, 2011)
  • Language:English
  • ISBN-10:0061240397

My rating for Late for Tea at the Deer Palace – 5

Great price on this book inpaperformat
through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account

More books by Tamara Chalabi

Thoughts:
I believe that Late for Tea at the Deer Palace by Tamara Chalabi is the first book I read because I have heard of the author’s father. I recognize Ahmad Chalabi’s name from years of living in the Middle East as well as his temporary high profile during The Gulf War where he was accused of many things, including being a triple agent giving faulty intelligence. However, the story of Ahmad Chalabis rise and fall is the least interesting part in this fascinating book.

The first feeling that struck me while reading this book is jealousy. If ever I’d write a book about the history of my family, Late for Tea at the Deer Palace would be my guide. This beautifully written story mixes history and historical fiction (after all, Ms. Chalabi wasn’t privy to personal conversation between adults) and tells the rich story of the Chalabi family through an introduction to Iraqi history, Iraqi society and culture in a magnificent way.

What Ms. Chalabi did was take stories we all hear as kids, how are parents/grandparents or relatives did something amazing or funny and weaved it into a book while giving historical context. How our ancestors lived through times of trouble how they survived (or didn’t) and how the family name will live on.

This book should be required reading to any person who sits down to write his or hers life story for their family.

This book reminded me of:
The Ruins of Usby Keija Parssi­nen
Beirut 39edited by Samuel Shi­mon

Synopsis:
The book chronicles the journey of the prominent Iraqi Chalabi family from the echelons of power and business to having to flee from their country. After reaching the highest pinnacles of success in business and society, they were left with comparatively little when forced to immigrate.
Focusing on Bibi and Hadi, the author’s grandparents, Ms. Chalabi tells a rich tale with an uncanny ability to bring these stranges to life and make them, well, family.

Great price on this book inpaperformat
through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account

More books by Tamara Chalabi

Giveaway

  • Give­away ends: Feb­ru­ary 29, 2012

  • US/Canada Ship­ping Addresses Only

  • No PO Boxes

  • Win­ners will have 24 hours to write back with their address, oth­er­wise an alter­nate win­ner will be picked

Congratulations: nicnac63

TLC Book Tour forLate for Tea at the Deer Palace:
Tuesday, January 31st:BookNAround
Monday, February 6th:Books Like Breathing
Tuesday, February 7th:The Whimsical Cottage
Thursday, February 16th:Broken Teepee
Friday, February 17th:Boarding in My Forties
Monday, February 20th:Library of Clean Reads
Tuesday, February 21st:A Bookish Affair
Wednesday, February 22nd: Man of La Book
Thursday, February 23rd:Ted Lehmann’s Bluegrass, Books, and Brainstorm
Friday, February 24th:Book Club Classics!
Monday, February 27th:Bookstack
Tuesday, February 28th:Luxury Reading

Zohar – Man of la Book
Disclaimer: I got this book for free from TLC Book Tours

BOOK BLOGGERS – Have you read Late for Tea at the Deer Palace? If so link up your review below:

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27 Comments

  • MarjorieFebruary 22, 2012 at 9:06 am

    This book sounds fantastic.
    I tried to share on google+, not sure if it worked.
    Thanks for the chance to win a super book.

  • AudreyFebruary 22, 2012 at 9:22 am

    This sounds very interesting and definitely something I would read. You always have the best stuff. 🙂

  • HarveeFebruary 22, 2012 at 10:10 am

    Thanks for the giveaway. I remember reading about the Chalabais. This should be a very good read.

  • Stefanie McMullenFebruary 22, 2012 at 2:25 pm

    sweet_ophelia[AT]hotmail[DOT]ca

  • C.E. HartFebruary 22, 2012 at 4:56 pm

    Thanks, Zohar. 🙂 Interesting.

  • C.E. HartFebruary 22, 2012 at 4:57 pm

    Is the rewards program disabled? It hasn’t been loading the last few times I’ve visited.

  • Maegan MorinFebruary 22, 2012 at 6:51 pm

    Thanks for another awesome giveaway! This book looks great!

  • Laurie CFebruary 22, 2012 at 9:53 pm

    This sounds excellent. Whenever I hear that someone is jealous of someone over their writing, I take it as a sign of good writing. Thanks for the giveaway!

  • Lori D.February 23, 2012 at 9:32 am

    I would love to read this! 🙂 Thanks for the chance to win a copy!

  • Lori D.February 23, 2012 at 9:33 am

    Google + follower, Lori Davis

  • VesperFebruary 23, 2012 at 10:07 am

    I enjoy discovering new authors, thanks for the giveaway

  • BarbaraFebruary 23, 2012 at 11:10 am

    Sounds fascinating! What a great giveaway! 🙂

  • BarbaraFebruary 23, 2012 at 11:12 am

    I am Barbara Cobham on Google+ 🙂

  • AmberFebruary 23, 2012 at 2:31 pm

    The rafflecopter didn’t have a spot to leave my e-mail so I’m posting a response with it…

  • SammiFebruary 23, 2012 at 4:08 pm

    count me in!

  • stacy norrisFebruary 23, 2012 at 8:38 pm
  • Heather McCormickFebruary 23, 2012 at 8:47 pm

    Sounds like a great book

    booboo918@hotmail.com

  • Heather McCormickFebruary 23, 2012 at 8:50 pm

    Google+ follower- Heather McCormick

  • Heather J. @ TLC Book ToursFebruary 24, 2012 at 9:48 pm

    Being the lover of family history that I am, this sentence really struck me: “The first feel­ing that struck me while read­ing this book is jeal­ousy. If ever I’d write a book about the his­tory of my fam­ily, Late for Tea at the Deer Palace would be my guide.” I can think of no better compliment to the author than what you wrote.

    Thanks for being on the tour. I’m featuring your review on TLC’s Facebook page today.

  • Melissa AveyFebruary 25, 2012 at 12:55 am
  • MargieFebruary 26, 2012 at 8:45 am

    This sounds like an inspiring book. Thanks for the giveaway.
    -I clicked on Google+ but not sure if it worked!
    -currently a follower by Networked Blogs (Marjorie)

  • KimFebruary 26, 2012 at 2:26 pm

    email is kimct77 at hotmail.com

    Thanks for the chance. Sounds like a great book.

  • KimFebruary 26, 2012 at 2:28 pm

    Networked Blogs= Kim Thompson Owens
    GFC= Kim Owens
    RSS= kimct77 at hotmail.com

  • Aliya D.February 26, 2012 at 11:16 pm

    This sounds like a wonderful book! Thank you for the giveaway!

    Aliya D.
    aliyadaya(at)shaw(dot)ca

  • Aliya D.February 26, 2012 at 11:19 pm

    Also follow on Google+ as Aliya Daya.

  • Angela MFebruary 27, 2012 at 4:08 am

    This books sounds very interesting — would love to check it out.

  • Angela MFebruary 27, 2012 at 4:09 am

    Added to Google+
    Angela M

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