Elliott Colla – Baghdad Central

‘Baghdad Central’ is widely known as a TV series and it was a great series, I believe. At this point, I need to confess I missed it, although I did want to watch it, so I can only go off what chatter I have heard or seen about that particular version. I wanted to do the tour as I always usually find the book is the best version.

Baghdad Central is set in post-war Iraq and is told through the eyes of the Iraqis. At this time the majorly US Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) is looming within the chaos created. Muhsin Khadr Al-Khafaji ends up working for the Americans to create a new Police Force after the CPA disbanded military and law enforcement agencies. He made sure to negotiate treatment for his ill daughter, with access to medical treatment barely there in Iraq at that time this was an important requirement for him. With his daughter’s needs covered his focus is mainly on trying to find his missing niece and other missing female Iraqi translators.

This is a very different book for me, and I really got immersed in this story. Coming from the viewpoints of the locals of the Iraqi side instead of the Western view. Using this view, It opened my eyes as such, even the fact that Khafaji enjoyed poetry. Why should this surprise me? I don’t know, maybe because I see Iraq and the people there as different. Well, this book showed me people are people and I am grateful for my education.

I am glad that people are writing books from the Iraqi view now. The only things we usually see are from the US or British side and that in a way dehumanises people. This story humanised Iraqis for me. It also showed me what an absolute havoc was caused during this time and how hard it was for them to recover.

A most important story for people to read and I shall be trying to find the series to watch also.

Thank you to Random Things Tours and Bitter Lemon Press for my copy of the book to write my review today.