“Masks” 5-Star Book Review
by Ray Simmons
I have read a lot of books that tell the story of how difficult it can be for an ambitious woman, or in fact, any woman to succeed and be happy. It can be a strenuous and even degrading task, and a woman needs good people and a lot of luck to be successful sometimes. Not to mention talent. I live in the Middle East now. I teach English as a Second Language and it is quite a culture shock to be in a place where the men and women are segregated, and women must cover their body and face when they go out in public. I wanted to know how life is for some of them here but unfortunately, there is absolutely no chance to talk with them. So, when I got a chance to read Masks by Nataly Restokian, I jumped at the chance to read it. You should jump at the chance to read it too. It is a great book and a powerful story. In this period of the “Me too” movement and the many revelations about powerful men, abusing that power for sexual favors, Masks is relevant indeed.
Masks is the story of a headstrong, ambitious girl from Lebanon are her struggles and sacrifices as she claws her way to the top of the entertainment industry in the Middle East. It is full of rich details and believable characters that only someone who has lived it can know. Every aspect of Masks is on point, setting, plot, and most of all, characters. This is one woman’s story, but it is also a testament to the importance and power of family. Good family. The protagonist, Anna, is strong but she had a great support system in her mother, aunts, sisters, friends, even nieces, and nephews. They all pull together to help Anna get away from a terrible husband and be with her true love in Canada. A very powerful story with a perfect fairytale ending and a great look at life for an actress in the Middle East.