Will I love The Woman Who Fell from the Sky?

Steil accepts a short-term assignment in 2006 to teach a journalism class to the local staff of a Yemeni newspaper in the capital, Sanaa. Intrigued by the experience of teaching and befriending men and women of totally different values and beliefs, she extends her stay for a year. She recounts the difficulties of teaching journalism and living in a country where the values she once saw as normal, are constantly being challenged. As often happens with sensitive outsiders, she also sees some advantages of Yemen’s conservative culture that make her question aspects of her own thinking. 

Disclaimer: I went to school with this talented storyteller so I am liable to gush over her prose. Once again, point proven that when you go somewhere and think your life won’t change, you are always wrong. In fact, teaching journalists how to write in Yemen over three weeks might actually be the perfect place for you to discover your purpose—and find the perfect partner. What I love about Jennifer Steil’s writing is her attention to detail, which makes for a gorgeous reading experience.