An American Mom in Asia

It was quite difficult to find a book by an author from Bahrain…translated into English…and available to check out through my online library system. So that is how I found myself reading A Boy from Bahrain by Taqi M. Albaharna.

This short nonfiction memoir is set in Manama, Bahrain during Albaharna’s childhood during the 1930’s and 1940’s. I admittedly knew very little about Bahrain, beyond it being an Arabian Gulf nation, so I was optimistic beginning this book. Unfortunately, it’s so dry and slow reading. Albaharna lists so many names of people, teachers, friends, and mentors who were influential during his childhood that I was just confused by them all. I’m sure they were important people, it was just too many for me to keep track. This time during world history, Bahrain was under British colonization and experiencing the World Wars. I can’t say that I really felt a sense of place or Bahrainian culture after finishing this book. What makes Bahrain unique from Qatar or Oman, for example? The most enjoyable chapter followed the publication of a local magazine, which attempted to capture the political and cultural spirit of Bahrain in the 1940’s. But other than that, I really struggled to read this book.

⭐️ My rating: 2 stars of 5