Amazon.com:
"The hotel I wanted had no address." Thus begins Annie Caulfield's journey through Jordan, an odyssey inspired by an intrepid female traveler from an earlier time, Gertrude Bell. But whereas Gertrude went to the desert to forget a love, Ms. Caulfield discovers one there - Rathwan, a Bedouin man with film-star looks. In her sympathetic exploration of modern Arab culture, Kingdom of the Film Stars, Annie Caulfield attempts to present a more benign image of Arab men than either the fantasy sheikh made famous by Rudolph Valentino or the callous manipulator of innocent Western women/kidnapper of children so often portrayed in modern news stories, films, and books. In this bittersweet account of her relationship with Rathwan, she largely succeeds.
Though the love affair between Caulfield and Rathwan is at the heart of Kingdom of the Film Stars, Caulfield's beautiful portrait of modern-day Jordan is what distinguishes the story, inviting readers into the mysterious, vanishing culture of the Bedouin. As she weaves her tales of Jordan's history, people, and politics, Annie Caulfield also destroys many of the West's most cherished misconceptions about the Arab world.

Book Description:
Kingdom of the Filmstars is a travel book and a love story. With honesty and humour, Anne Caulfield writes of travelling in Jordan and falling in love with a Bedouin. Her book offers fascinating insights into the country - from the traditional tent life of nomadic to the first woman MP's battle with fundamentalist colleagues. Kingdom of the Filmstars unpicks some of the tight-woven Western myths about the Arab world, but it is not an impersonal analysis: Anne Caulfield presents cultural and political issues within the intimate and immensely readable framework of a compelling love story.

This book has been hiding on my book shelf behind other books, but finally I got it! This is a very interesting story about first hand experiences in Jordan.
And what was even more fun was that the writer continuously mentioned Gertrud Bell. I just read Gertrud Bell's biography some weeks ago. She was a brave woman, too.

Aavikon kuningatar: Gertrude Bellin ainutlaatuinen elämä

Suosittelen! Molempia siis.

Both books are worth reading. But be aware! You might get sand into your eyes. Both women saw a lot of it.

This book represents Jordan in my Geographical Challenge

This is my #27 (100) in "REDUCE MOUNT TBR 2010" Challenge arranged by DoveiLibri.

I picked this from a circling envelope running on the Finnish forum, based on the first page. And what a nice surprise it turned out to be! Thanks Annelis!

Oh boy am I glad I picked this book! I thoroughly enjoyed it, both the travel part and the love story part, even though the latter was indeed bittersweet. I think I fell for Rathwan myself too, a little bit :), and although I understood Annie's decision, I wished she had chosen otherwise. But then I am an idealist, an optimist and a romantic to boot :D

I'm fascinated with the Middle East but have never been to Jordan or any of the other countries in the area. This book made me want to explore the region even more than before - now I just have to convince my husband that it's a good idea...

I found the book rather well written and I particularly enjoyed Annie Caulfield's symphatetic yet also critical eye. I could feel her attachment and her frustration too. A recommended read!

Off to chucklesthescot, who chose the book from the European Pay It Forward Book Relay. Enjoy!

Thank you very much for the book! This looks like a good one!

Found this a bit boring and long-winded with too much of her wonderful romance and not enough of interest about the people of Jordan.

Nobody has this on their wish list so it is wild release time!