Married to a Bedouin

By: Marguerite van Geldermalsen

Narrated by: Cat Gould

"Where you staying?" the Bedouin asked. "Why you not stay with me tonight - in my cave?"

Thus begins Marguerite van Geldermalsen's story of how a New Zealand-born nurse came to be married to Mohammad Abdallah Othman, a Bedouin souvenir-seller from the ancient city of Petra in Jordan. It was 1978, and she and a friend were travelling through the Middle East when Marguerite met the charismatic Mohammad who convinced her that he was the man for her.

A life with Mohammad meant moving into his ancient cave and learning to love the regular tasks of baking shrak bread on an open fire and collecting water from the spring. And as Marguerite feels herself becoming part of the Bedouin community, she is thankful for the twist in fate that has led her to this contented life.

Marguerite's light-hearted and guileless observations of the people she comes to love are as heart-warming as they are valuable, charting Bedouin traditions now lost to the modern world.

©2006 Marguerite van Geldermalsen (P)2019 Tantor

Loved it!

Well written and described. I wish I had known of it before visiting Petra. Honestly, the book has made me want to go back again!

Fascinating story, rough narration

As someone with an Arab father and American mother I was very curious to hear Marguerite’s story. It’s fascinating and touching; she clearly seems to have loved her family and life in Petra. The story can also get bogged down by minute details—though I also wonder how accurate her memory is, given that she says she kept no diary during her time in the cave. My biggest issue was the narrator’s pronunciation of Arabic phrases. Granted, it’s a book for English speakers, but most of it so far from correct it’s off-putting, and almost feels disrespectful. If the story hadn’t been compelling I might not have stayed with it.

Fascinating details of adjusting to Bedouin life

After having visited Petra a couple of years ago and being hosted to dinner at the home of a modern Bedouin family, I was intrigued by the story of a young modern New Zealand woman adjusting to life in a traditional Bedouin life. Her story gave me a deeper appreciation of the Bedouin culture.

The narrator's voice was a little flat but my being originally from Australia, I understood the New Zealand phrasing and terminology, but I'm not sure about the pronunciation of the Arabic Bedouin language.

I'm glad that I listened to her whole story and prologue.

Moving story showing the power of love!

Candid account of Bedouin culture and a peek into life in Petra. The narrator gives the reader a first hand account on how she integrates into such a remote culture. Captivating.

Enchanted with Petra

Thank you for this interesting rendition of “Married to a Bedouin.”
After visiting Petra, I am curious on how the occupants of Petra live. I admire the way the heroine leaves a New Zealand homeland for a beautiful place and warm people with a man and family she loved. I am grateful for this book and I will listen to it again and again.