Frances Fuller, author of 'In Borrowed Houses' has a unique background that allows for insight into the mindset of the Middle East. She is uniquely qualified, in that she spent thirty years in the Middle East, twenty four of those years as a Christian publisher in Lebanon. Fuller recently posted an article that brings to light a number of issues that American may not have considered, but certainly should.
In a blog called “What the Lebanese Can Teach Us About Voting for a President,” Fuller responds to a piece that appeared in the Beirut Daily Star, written by David Ignatius of The Washington Post. Ignasius’ article concerns the proposal of John Sarbanes, a Maryland Democrat ,(published in the Harvard Journal on Legislation) to fix the dysfunctional American political system. Why, Fuller asks, would comments by an editor and columnist of the Washington Post on a solution to an American problem, be found in the Beirut Daily Star?
"A proposal to mend America’s broken political system will be read with great interest in Lebanon," Fuller stated. "The Lebanese know, better than we know, that if our democracy doesn’t work, no one’s democracy is likely to work. If we love money more than we love the ideals on which our country was established, then money, not people, will rule the world. (They have already believed this about money for quite a long time.) They see the international repercussions of everything America does, while we are thinking of nothing but social issues and the tax rate and the personalities of candidates. Surrounded by enemies and inundated by refugees, one per two citizens, they are wondering where they will get the money to incorporate 450,000 alien children into a public school system of half that many, while leadership of the richest, most powerful country in the world, built by refugees, is in danger of being bought by a billionaire preaching fear of refugees. Feeling powerless, the Lebanese know, better than they know anything else, that whatever we Americans do is going to change their world for better or worse. You can bet they are listening with bated breath to news about the American election. This is the burden we voting Americans lift every time we mark a ballot. We can cast a vote that gives the world hope. Or not."
Frances puts a face on the Middle East many Americans have not yet seen. Her award-winning memoir, 'In Borrowed Houses', gives readers a penetrating glimpse of the Middle East from the inside.
Told in short episodes, Fuller’s book reveals the alienation, confusion and courage of civilians in the Lebanese civil war, introducing to the reader a variety of real people with whom the author interacts: editors, salesmen, neighbors, refugees, soldiers, missionaries, lawyers, shepherds, artists, students. With these people she works, studies, plays games, prays, laughs and cries, all to the accompaniment of gunfire. Together these small stories tell what war is like for civilians caught on a battlefield, and they create the impression of the Lebanese as a fun-loving, witty, patient and resilient people. Fuller's stories compose not a political history, but a historical document of a time and a place.
Critics have praised ‘In Borrowed Houses.’ A judge in the 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards called 'In Borrowed Houses' “ . . a well written book full of compassion . . . a captivating story . . . ”. Another reviewer described the book as “Wise, honest, sensitive, funny, heart-wrenching . . .”. Colin Chapman, lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut said, “ . . . western Christians and Middle Eastern Christians need to read this story…full of remarkable perceptiveness and genuine hope.”
Frances Fuller is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at frances0516@att.net. The full text of her latest article is available at her website. Fuller's book is available at Amazon and other book retailers. A free ebook sample from 'In Borrowed Houses' is available at http://www.payhip.com/francesfuller. Frances Fuller also blogs on other issues relating to the Middle East on her website at http://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com.
About Frances Fuller:
Frances Fuller spent thirty years in the violent Middle East and for twenty-four of those years was the director of a Christian publishing program with offices in Lebanon. While leading the development of spiritual books in the Arabic language, she survived long years of civil war and invasions.
Contact:
Frances Fuller
frances0516@att.net
http://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com
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