Cover Image: The Land Beyond

The Land Beyond

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Member Reviews

This text covers a variety of themes - a glimpse of the divided history and politics of the Middle East; an exploration of the rise of ‘walking trails’ as a method of tourism and exposure in that ancient land; what it is to see the Middle East through Irish eyes; the human encounters that bring depth to a land that so many of us only see through the medium of a hostile media; and what it means to travel through an ancient land on foot, which was, of course, the primary method of transport for most of its inhabitants for millennia.

I had never previously considered the similarities between divided Ireland and the divided Middle East, but this was how the author began. However, this is not a book about politics, but ‘travelling from conversation to conversation,’ a record of his encounters with those he met on the road. The customs of hospitality to travellers and strangers strikes home on every page.

He also begins his journey from Jerusalem, which may seem odd initially, but this is not a traditional pilgrimage account. Instead of focusing on Jerusalem as a holy city, he takes us through the surroundings of the Middle East - the settlements, the Samaritans; Jordan, Petra, Sinai, and the West Bank.

Much of the text is about the lives of Palestinians, how they live in a place beset by political difficulty and violence, but how there is such hope of optimism for the future, and a life of peace. His multitude of encounters over food, how he is welcomed into almost every home, his ailing body tended by Bedouins, but most especially how the hope of walking trails across the region might hopefully one day be as popular as the Camino, drawing people from around the world. The drinking of sweet tea, the farming of olives, the importance of their oil, along with the extensive range of biblical-era vegetables are a constant reminder of the surroundings as he walks.

A recurring theme is that of land and identity - what does it mean to live in an unsettled land and hope for the future? How do you make your put your mark on land that has a history stretching back for millennia - and many of those he meets are desperate to make sure that their history, their lived experience, will not be forgotten. “We have to tread lightly here, to remember what was before and do our best to leave it as it is.”

There is a delightful focus on optimism in the face of daily life challenges, in the hope of the next generation. One of those he meets says: “Sometimes I hate it here. It’s so complicated. But it’s also home, and we’re really proud of our country. I think it’s up to us to make a difference.”

The author is aware of the weight of the situation, and now and again is reminded against romanticisation - the fruit, vegetables and the sun certainly have their glory. Still, the author can always get up and leave tomorrow, whilst this is the past, present and future for the inhabitants. Added to this is the sense of sadness in the future for the nomadic lifestyle.

This book could have so easily been a depressing read, but the author emphasises, again and again, the astonishing resilience of those he encounters.

What makes this book notable is the style of the journey, by foot, and a reflection on what that means, not only for the hope of a trail industry in the area but also for the author. “To walk is to meet people on their level, face to face and shoulder to shoulder, and it serves more powerful that anything else that I have found to highlight shared humanity among all.”

I was of two minds, whether to commend this book. On the one hand, there are many books you can read in the midst of a pandemic, why should this be one of them? This is not a book one would perhaps naturally buy for a present or a gift, but for someone with interest or experience in the Middle East, this is a path through that land by a very different style and route that we usually encounter, and for that, it should be commended.

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From Jerusalem the author follows a number of hiking trails, some ancient - some newer, through the West Bank and into Jordan. From here he walks into the Sinai desert and meets Bedouins. His ultimate goal is to walk up Mt Sinai. During his journey he meets a variety of people as he goes. The book is wide ranging. Landscape, history - ancient and modern, politics and the lives of locals in modern times all get a look in.

Starting in Jerusalem there is a real feel of the past in this writing. However it is a past brought vividly up to date. In the early part of this the troubles and political tensions are a large part of the story. The author does say that he attempts to take a balanced view however there are times when this is hard to do. Inevitably McCarron walks past the Barrier. He offers some interesting information on the growth of this phenomenon - border walls - in our modern times; it is almost solely a modern concept. Once in the West Bank the Barrier is literally viewed quite differently. People say that they used to talk to the folk on the other side and now they can't... He also visits the Samaritans - the original sect of that name. I found his observations on them very interesting.

From there he heads south on the east bank and into a national park. The journey, initially with a companion, moves across the Jordan and into Arab lands properly. It is here that his companion is forced to abandon the trip permanently and McCarron heads back north to restart his adventure.

On his way south again he visits Petra. I've always been fascinated by Petra and so I particularly enjoyed this part of the book. He works in quite a lot of information about the place from Lawrence back to the man who rediscovered it. Here, as elsewhere in the book, he looks at the ways life is still lived and the attitudes and change that is making itself felt in a modern world.

With the journey into Sinai the trip look on a different feel for me. This is travel through desert. There is little there until Mt Sinai. However it was quite powerful to me; the stories of this ancient area and the Bedouins he meets and those who guide him. The ascent of Mt Sinai leaves you feeling the deep history of the mountain and its place in a number of cultures.

Overall I enjoyed this book although I was never quite gripped by it. It has darkness and humour in it. It has meetings with some wonderful characters. We see such contrast between the ancient and the modern. Parts of it I found both fascinating and informative. For anyone with an interest in the Middle East this would probably make a worthwhile read.

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I found this book engrossing and fascinating. Walking in the Middle East is not a task for faint of heart but reading about it was great.
I like the mix of travelogue and history and I like how the author deals with the political issues of the area.
It's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

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