Real Time Review: Lost in Beirut by Ashe & Magdalena Stevens

We’ve all heard idioms like “the grass is always greener on the other side” or “don’t judge a book by its cover”.  These idioms and others convey that our experiences have the power to shape who we are and how we see the world; if we only see a certain part, we never grow or find our place in the world.

 
Lost in Beirut, written by Ashe & Magdalena Stevens, shows us the importance of the role that our perspective takes, taking us on a beautiful journey which shows us what can be gained when you take in your experiences and opportunities (no matter how wild or terrifying) with an open mind and heart.

Ashe Stevens is an actor and go-getting living in Los Angeles, given the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to Beirut to help his friend Danny produce a concert for 50 Cent. Although Ashe is used to the fast-paced nightlife of L.A., he quick finds out that Beirut is a whole separate animal. Throughout his journey he meets new friends, new loves and new experiences that challenge what he knows. Before we know it, it is the night of the 50 Cent concert, and little does he know that his experiences in Beirut will take a complete 180.

Like us all, Ashe carries some preconceived notions of places we’ve seen on the news, but he never lets this fully colour his point of view. A teacher of his told him “fill your vessel” and this is precisely the way he lives, allowing himself to be taken in and shaped by new people and experiences. 

Tying this together is Ashe’s voice; a natural born storyteller, his clever, optimistic and insightful voice always booms through clearly and consistently. I don’t usually underline or mark up my books, but there were some particularly poignant and vivid imagery used (for example, at one point, someone is referred to as having a “straw heart”). And despite everything that he and his crew experience, he never closes himself off from filling his vessel.

Told in chapters that read like vivid and colourful journal entries, we’re transported to the defining moments of Ashe’s Beirut experience.  Through this experience, we briskly move through a story that is at times action-packed, at times a romance, and at times a buddy comedy. 

Thank you Ashe & Magdalena for sharing a gifted copy with me; it means so much!

I thoroughly recommend this title, and can’t wait to see what Ashe & Magdalena do next.  I have a feeling this is only scratching the surface of stories they have to tell and I can’t wait to read the next one!

Visit the website for Lost in Beirut to learn more about the authors and where you can purchase your copy.