A Beirut Heart

by: Cathy Sultan

Published by: Scarletta Press

Reviewed by Jackie Baumgarten

A Beirut Heart is a poignant memoir adeptly intertwining the political climate of Lebanon with the delicate and often mine-filled relationships that cross-cultural families experience. Cathy Sultan relates her experiences with vivid honesty.

In 1964 Cathy is drawn to the exotic culture of her soon to be husband, a Lebanese medical student. After their marriage and his residency, ignoring her family's apprehension and paying little attention to world politics, she and her husband move to Beirut with their two young children.

In 1975, after six delight-filled years war erupts, neighbors and life-long friends turn on each other, her neighborhood becomes a war zone and Cathy's life is irreversibly changed.

As she attempts to provide a secure home environment for her family, the dichotomy of trying to maintain a normal routine and a secure home environment for her family--while adjusting to newly acquired survival skills--doesn't escape her!

But, this is much more than a story of survival through war, it's about a family who discovers they are more alike than different, it's about their finding freedom to express themselves in their politics, their profession and their religion in the country they least wanted to identify with.

Armchair Interviews says: Very interesting perspective on cultural issues.