At first glance, Suleika Jaouad’s (Su-lake-uh Ja-wad) memoir, Between Two Kingdoms,” shows us a bright yellow Volkswagen camper van with a young woman and a little white dog perched on top. The van sits off a dirt/sand road alongside open water and mountains in the distance. What could this image be telling us? That’s where we begin close reading of the front and back covers and formulate questions about the story that resides inside.
Just finished watching the TED-X talk that corresponds to this book. I cannot wait to read the book. The yellow van on the cover speaks to me of a new start, an adventure.
My granddaughter is, as of the writing, going through a life-threatening illness. I can’t wait to read the book, then pass it on to her, for inspiration.
I noticed the van, dog, woman and the water behind the van with another shore in the distance. The title made me wonder if the “two kingdoms” were on different shores of a body of water and how you would travel “between” them in van. Maybe on a ferry? The image is intriguing and the accolades make me want to crack it open as soon as I can find time to sit with it a while. WIthout knowing what it’s about, I can already guess that it will take more than a breezy overview to get the most out of… Read more »
The cover artwork is especially noteworthy. I tend to be visually inclined, an old car enthusiast and found the cover to tell a story of its own. The bright yellow VW Camper Van is a design model from approximately 1967 into the early 1970s. It was popular with surfers and the peace generation of hippie nomads who drove the country and camped where convenient. The liner notes affirm a journey of this sort is part of the story. The VW Camper is clean and well painted. It looks to be in good running condition. The tires are not flat, it’s… Read more »
Beautifully noted, Steven!
Agreed.