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This title in other editionsEating the Flowers of Paradise: One Man's Journey Through Ethiopia and Yemenby Kevin Rushby
Staff Pick
For some reason, when this book came out a few years ago, it was almost completely ignored. But with the glut of bad travel books (and of even worse books on Africa) I can't figure out why. Rushby's account of his travels through Ethiopia and Yemen tracing the story of the enigmatic drug called "qat" is so vivid and engaging and enlightening that it should have gotten far more attention. Or at least it should have gotten some. Rushby recounts amazing tales and fascinating history while also following the paths of other writers who traveled in the region before him, like Sir Richard Burton and Arthur Rimbaud. Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:Lured by idyllic memories of ancient cities, spectacular mountains and, most of all, dreamy afternoons spent chewing the psychoactive leaves of the Qat tree, Kevin Rushby set out to travel from the highlands of Ethiopia to Yemen. It was a fascinating and dangerous journey, peopled with an extraordinary array of characters — criminals, Islamic scholars, an exorcist, and Cedric the travelling companion from hell. Eating the Flowers of Paradise combines classic travel writing with an explanation of the rich and varied culture surrounding the drug qat. Legal in the U.K. but banned in the U.S., experts variously claim to be as mild as tea or as addictive as cocaine. In the Yemen, it is central to the life of the country, and, as he goes, Rushby explores our attitudes towards substance abuse and addiction. Book News Annotation:Paper edition reprint of a 1999 work about which Book News wrote:
English teacher turned author and photographer, Rushby recounts his
trip along the old Qat Road from the highlands of Ethiopia to Yemen,
describing the people and cultures he encountered. He augments
traditional travel narrative by exploring the rich and varied culture
surrounding the drug qat, legal in Britain, banned in the US, central
to the life of Yemen, and variously characterized as being as mild as
tea or as addictive as cocaine. Indeed he includes a qat glossary and
consumer's guide to buying and enjoying it, and ponders the range of
attitudes about drugs and addiction.
Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Synopsis:Ethiopia in Eastern Africa and Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula remain two of the most inviting outposts for travelers seeking the exotic. In these two places, Qat is just one name given to a green leafy plant that is cultivated there. When chewed, the leaves of this plant release two substances that produce a hypnotic, reverential "high," distinctive in the thoughtful state it induces. Kevin Rushby discovered that the use of Qat is a way of life since it plays a pivotal role in all facets of the culture influencing everything from architecture to television schedules. About the AuthorKEVIN RUSHBY taught English in Sudan, Malaysia, and Yemen before becoming a full-time author and photographer. Table of ContentsAfrica * The Red Sea * Arabia * A Qat Glossary and Consumer’s Guide Africa * The Red Sea * Arabia * A Qat Glossary and Consumer’s Guide What Our Readers Are SayingBe the first to add a comment for a chance to win!Product Details
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Related SubjectsTravel » Travel Writing » General
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