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

LateforTeaattheDeerPalace 198x300

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 39Ir?t=httpwwwkalelc 20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1608192024edited 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

  • Ef2ad57b6efc25aa3bf0ff91d715ad83d4f398294d8f17cf68ae351afdfc2188
    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.

  • D2a3452a7adbfb430b91ba00d49a638e350ee91405590da08458a9edb1fc7212
    AudreyFebruary 22, 2012 at 9:22 am

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

  • E94d63976e2e2dfae679ad324e61250342722491f0b011d61273625d996edbd0
    HarveeFebruary 22, 2012 at 10:10 am

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

  • F1124de106b29d64e0d823fd400e1429552158d3299efaf691cc47966f0dce15
    Stefanie McMullenFebruary 22, 2012 at 2:25 pm

    sweet_ophelia[AT]hotmail[DOT]ca

  • 8c9c0472271e714e410e03f1af0491494e390cc1b3127d0e717db7eb778afdf8
    C.E. HartFebruary 22, 2012 at 4:56 pm

    Thanks, Zohar. 🙂 Interesting.

  • 8c9c0472271e714e410e03f1af0491494e390cc1b3127d0e717db7eb778afdf8
    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.

  • 9debe654cad29b253374bb1318f7a052901c3cc077dd2a641bf61cd5b9def449
    Maegan MorinFebruary 22, 2012 at 6:51 pm

    Thanks for another awesome giveaway! This book looks great!

  • 4031b0d4349ebf451f09aa66c9ca91b84a7d1f437a53e3e899c5c4b8cfaacfc2
    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!

  • Ff84d04b0a494764434faf28f8ec9e976b0da97c48d05e4b494678b53b84a80f
    Lori D.February 23, 2012 at 9:32 am

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

  • Ff84d04b0a494764434faf28f8ec9e976b0da97c48d05e4b494678b53b84a80f
    Lori D.February 23, 2012 at 9:33 am

    Google + follower, Lori Davis

  • 5094ebc9f802bac359990639e1f9a6cb50fdbd2703029310ab9f348853b63878
    VesperFebruary 23, 2012 at 10:07 am

    I enjoy discovering new authors, thanks for the giveaway

  • Fd08547b1e47c8fe7065bc0959a45b3bd1078beb0c3c9652ddb5132fe4bd179f
    BarbaraFebruary 23, 2012 at 11:10 am

    Sounds fascinating! What a great giveaway! 🙂

  • Fd08547b1e47c8fe7065bc0959a45b3bd1078beb0c3c9652ddb5132fe4bd179f
    BarbaraFebruary 23, 2012 at 11:12 am

    I am Barbara Cobham on Google+ 🙂

  • 8585e12a30ea877ea79a3a467cb3bc79587479186b9cb50988a91fcf29dfa717
    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…

  • 00ed9384584bbdf71317f8805712b95f260a19709cfe38c996c2c14420201db5
    SammiFebruary 23, 2012 at 4:08 pm

    count me in!

  • Bb08bddcb42c3af53822f5c028e1b1cca2214a8df69c585002e86b1b59cd4a1b
    stacy norrisFebruary 23, 2012 at 8:38 pm
  • Ff372acb98bf020c189ed32166901d5e003936a2f536fcd60c0e92338175601f
    Heather McCormickFebruary 23, 2012 at 8:47 pm

    Sounds like a great book

    booboo918@hotmail.com

  • Ff372acb98bf020c189ed32166901d5e003936a2f536fcd60c0e92338175601f
    Heather McCormickFebruary 23, 2012 at 8:50 pm

    Google+ follower- Heather McCormick

  • 61b5b111222ec971dca65e1eac57ebbf33c59718cd98d88474373657eabed910
    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.

  • 504b131ad734a108294715e137556539b0ab5a0b2ff478fea19082c75ef3b182
    Melissa AveyFebruary 25, 2012 at 12:55 am
  • 8cbbd45a55579d57543d99718e4b9313d67eec65304777eef10ef11c41923839
    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)

  • 6528148de07fe0883dfae5d98c20742e218a397fe828f09780de2d7f2dba4fc4
    KimFebruary 26, 2012 at 2:26 pm

    email is kimct77 at hotmail.com

    Thanks for the chance. Sounds like a great book.

  • 6528148de07fe0883dfae5d98c20742e218a397fe828f09780de2d7f2dba4fc4
    KimFebruary 26, 2012 at 2:28 pm

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

  • C897b22db06bac385dd7ace3dea008e169e4ec68e0c842991398b6afdae1d299
    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

  • C897b22db06bac385dd7ace3dea008e169e4ec68e0c842991398b6afdae1d299
    Aliya D.February 26, 2012 at 11:19 pm

    Also follow on Google+ as Aliya Daya.

  • 263cebd1f5721d33f56f6982c07bae38365aa842181af60bd3f48d6ea44fe0fd
    Angela MFebruary 27, 2012 at 4:08 am

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

  • 263cebd1f5721d33f56f6982c07bae38365aa842181af60bd3f48d6ea44fe0fd
    Angela MFebruary 27, 2012 at 4:09 am

    Added to Google+
    Angela M

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