The Kurdish Bike: A Novel

By: Alesa Lightbourne

Narrated by: Alesa Lightbourne

Gold Medal: Best Regional Fiction e-Book, Independent Publishers Book Awards 2017

First Place: Best Fiction of 2017, North Street Book Contest

With her marriage over and life gone flat, Theresa Turner responds to an online ad and lands at a school in Kurdish Iraq. Befriended by a widow in a nearby village, Theresa is embroiled in the joys and agonies of traditional Kurds, especially the women who survived Saddam's genocide only to be crippled by age-old restrictions, brutality, and honor killings.

Theresa's greatest challenge will be balancing respect for cultural values while trying to introduce more enlightened attitudes toward women - at the same time seeking new spiritual dimensions within herself.

The Kurdish Bike is gripping, tender, wry, and compassionate - an eye-opener into little known customs in one of the world's most explosive regions - a novel of love, betrayal, and redemption.

©2016 Alesa M. Lightbourne (P)2018 Alesa Lightbourne

An interesting look at a world unknown to many.

I listened to this story in the midst of an upsetting week, political-news wise, so I found the tale (which has subplots devoted to the continued prevalence of female genital mutilation) particularly disturbing. No matter what part of the globe one examines (with the possible exception of Scandinavia), huge numbers of men remain determined to control and subdue women through any means possible. The book is narrated by the author, who admits that much of it is semi-biographical, following her own stay among the Iraqi Kurds. While I felt enriched by learning of many of the adventures and experiences recounted, I often questioned the protagonist's choices and judgment. Her exposure to the Kurdish society was made easier by her brash decision to ride around (alone and female) on a bike, and thus there would probably have been no book without that decision. But many of her actions (such as taking hallucinogenic drugs and going out alone to lie under the sky and await wisdom) seemed decidedly ill-advised and poorly conceived (as did her recounted histories with men back home who continued to take advantage of her even while she was half-way around the world). Ms. Lightbourne writes beautifully, and her words were skillfully used to convey moods, settings, and personalities with great immediacy. The narration was at a quicker pace than many professional narrators use, but I find that a plus. The author graciously gifted me a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review, and I'm glad I listened to it. But it certainly didn't serve to brighten my week.

The Kindness of Teachers

I delighted in the author’s adventures not only on her Kurdish bike but also with the Kurdish people and other expats. Her humanity and kindness shown through her experiences. She was a wonderful Ambassador for America.

It’s a keeper.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved learning about the Kurdish culture in a very palatable manner. The author is humorous and self-deprecating.

A dive into Kurdish culture from American woman’s perspective.

I really enjoy learning about culture and history different than my own. I’ve learned as a white 60 something woman that it’s unlikely that I’ll be able to immerse myself into other cultures, so literature and film is the next best thing.
This is a story about expatriate teachers in Kurdistan. The protagonist forms a family like relationship with a traditional Kurdish family.
This book felt authentic, realistically describing humanity in our similarities and perceived extreme differences.

Mind Opening Novel

Excellent story comparing women s role in two very different cultures. The author describes the country and it's people through the eyes of an American visitor a little down on her luck and then realized she is the lucky one.