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Life in a Tumble Dryer: Living and Working in Khartoum, the World’s Hottest Capital (Not How I Planned It)
Life in a Tumble Dryer is Leoma Gilley’s vivid and deeply personal memoir of her years living and working in Khartoum, Sudan, specifically the sweltering, dust-choked, unpredictable chaos of everyday life in the world’s hottest capital. The book is structured around letters to her cousin Harriet and weaves together tales of linguistic research, cultural missteps, bureaucratic wrangling, unexpected friendships, and survival tactics in a place where the electricity vanishes with the heat and dust storms sneak up like petty thieves.
What really stuck with me from the start was how sharply Leoma captures the absurdity and humor of adapting to a totally different way of life. Her story about arriving in Khartoum with 256 kilograms of luggage, complete with solar panels, books, and fans, only to be delayed by a flat tire on the tarmac at 3 a.m. is a peak travel nightmare. But she tells it with a wink and grit that made me laugh out loud. Even funnier, she ends up in the wrong airport queue behind Orthodox Jews boarding an El Al flight, while she’s bound for Sudan, one of those “what even is my life” moments you just can’t make up.
But the memoir isn’t all quirky misadventures. What’s most powerful is the subtle unraveling of her own assumptions. Leoma is honest about her initial sense of control and expertise, especially when it comes to linguistics. But then, in a scene that humbled even me as a reader, she recalls how a colleague gently reminded her that it’s not her job to decide for people what their language or culture should look like. “It is their language and thus their decision,” she’s told. That moment comes back again and again, and it’s the soul of the book. She’s not there to fix anything; she’s there to walk alongside. That shift in mindset is deeply moving, especially when so many “aid” narratives fall into the trap of saviorism.
The book is more a series of letters and anecdotes than a tightly plotted memoir, so it’s best to read it slowly, maybe a chapter at a time. Still, that format is part of its charm. The chapter where she writes a parody song called “The Yellar Dust of Khartoum” had me wheezing, especially the line: “Your oily skin is daily dried by that abrasive touch, but one good thing about it, it doesn’t cost that much.” There’s something about surviving in a brutal climate with nothing but a fan, peanut butter on sour crepes, and a sense of humor that made me love this book all the more.
By the end, I felt like I knew Khartoum, its smells, its setbacks, its kindnesses, and I admired Leoma not just for what she did there, but how she let herself be changed by the place. Life in a Tumble Dryer is perfect for readers who love honest travel writing, especially memoirs with heart, humor, and a dose of humility. If you’ve ever tried to make a home somewhere wildly unfamiliar or wondered what it would take, this book is for you.
Pages: 319 | ASIN : B0DSLP2V12
Widen the Lens of Perspective
In Falling from Disgrace, you share with readers the complexities of growing up in the Mormon faith and your experiences with forced conformity. What inspired you to share your story?
To be perfectly honest, initially I was inspired by an urge to expose, particularly the sexism, of what is otherwise glossed over as a “squeaky clean” community. Social rejection leaves a lasting sting, one that I perceived as unfair. As the project unfolded, inspiration increasingly came from readers and peers with whom the narrative unexpectedly resonated: people struggling with gender or sexual identity, people estranged from their families for a variety of reasons, people pushed out of other oppressive religious communities, and even people with deep religious faith who found the story worthy of reflection. The more I received feedback that the tale had universal appeal, the more my inspiration shifted from achieving personal satisfaction to helping others find peace or perspective.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
It’s a tie between writing about youthful sex and writing about shoplifting. As a young person, I had been trained to treat youthful sex with such seriousness that it still makes me blush, even while snickering at the silliness of this prudishness. I found writing about it equal parts embarrassing and silly. Writing about shoplifting was also humiliating but not in the same silly way as sex. Sexual activity was not a character flaw, even if I believed it was. Stealing, however, was a character flaw, even if I believed it was not. I know this now, of course. Writing about one’s genuine flaws is never easy. I had to force myself to do it because I knew how much it served the story. I owed that to my readers.
Did you learn anything about yourself while writing your memoir?
Most certainly. I learned I could find forgiveness and tolerance through empathy. When writing a memoir, one absolutely must show readers scenes from a wide angle, not simply a narrow and self-centered view. When you widen the lens of perspective, you let empathy in. You simply can’t keep it out when the lens is wide enough. And as soon as empathy enters your perspective, so does tolerance and acceptance. I now believe perhaps almost everything is forgivable. Even the deepest of hurts can heal with empathy. It is a self-reparative gift from nature.
What is one thing you hope your readers take away from the experiences you shared and lessons you learned?
I hope that readers will absorb and internalize the harms and dangers of misogyny so that perhaps there will be a little less of this damaging worldview flowing through humanity. I am not so naive as to believe it can ever be wiped out. We may even be “wired” to believe sexism is fundamental for the survival of our species. But times have changed. The world has changed. We have changed it. And now, minimizing sexism has become fundamental. I also hope readers see and feel the type of feminism that is as sympathetic toward men as it is to women. The men in my story are not better off because they were treated as superior. Unfair, unequal, and lopsided expectations harm both genders. Equality benefits us all.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Tammy Dietz grew up committed to her family’s Mormon faith, a profoundly patriarchal hierarchy that declares men superior and women subordinate, that demands devotion, purity, and chastity. But when the dogma of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints clashes with the forces of a changing world, Tammy’s destiny transforms.
Patriarchy provides order but also chaos in a family with a depressed mother and a hoarding father. Set in the affluent Bay Area, Tammy’s coming-of-age story is one of poverty amid wealth and a desire for status, recognition, and inclusion, both inside the Church and out. But when Tammy breaks the most serious of rules, her once certain path falters, her once protective community turns intrusive, and she finds herself on an unexpected journey.
Falling From Disgrace
Tammy Dietz’s Falling from Disgrace is an evocative memoir that delves into the complexities of identity, belonging, and personal redemption. Dietz narrates her life with honesty, tracing her journey through a childhood steeped in Mormon traditions, her struggles with family dynamics, and the quiet yet seismic moments that reshaped her worldview. The book’s episodic structure, with chapters reflecting pivotal memories, provides readers with an intimate lens into her spiritual, emotional, and social experiences.
One of the book’s most striking aspects is its unflinching portrayal of religious rigidity and the consequences of enforced conformity. Dietz’s exploration of growing up in the Mormon faith, highlighted by vivid recollections such as her family’s reverence for the Salt Lake Temple or the revelation about Brigham Young’s multiple wives, illustrates her inner conflict. These moments are rendered with rich detail and childlike curiosity, making them relatable yet poignant.
I found myself deeply moved by her observations about gender roles and the burdens of expectation placed upon women within the community. Dietz’s voice—both sharp and tender—adds layers to these reflections, creating a narrative that is both specific to her life and universally resonant. Dietz captures the turbulence of adolescence with a rare authenticity, particularly in chapters like “I Love Twinkies,” where her struggle with modesty and the tension between personal identity and religious orthodoxy take center stage. These stories are both heartbreaking and humorous, reflecting the contradictions of youth. Her honesty about her mother’s depression and her own doubts about faith—captured vividly during their harrowing walk along the Grand Canyon—left me pensive long after I closed the book. Her prose, though straightforward, often surprises with its poetic undercurrents, particularly in moments of introspection.
Falling from Disgrace is a courageous and captivating memoir that will resonate with anyone who has ever questioned their place in the world. Tammy Dietz’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of self-discovery. I recommend this book to readers interested in coming-of-age narratives, religious critique, or memoirs that balance humor and heartbreak. It’s a journey worth taking, one that lingers long after the final page.
Pages: 248 | ASIN : B0CJ13VY14
Mario of My Life
In Mario of My Life, author Jill Campbell-Mason transports readers to the historic 15th-century city of Machu Picchu, set in contemporary Peru, through the eyes of Mario, a young shoeshine boy. Despite the challenges of poverty, Mario’s vibrant spirit and innate talents shine brightly. His life takes an intriguing turn when he encounters an American family, sparking a cultural exchange that promises mutual enrichment.
The narrative, reminiscent of a Dickensian journey from rags to riches, weaves a tale of personal growth and the boundless potential of the human spirit. Campbell-Mason’s storytelling, said to be inspired by true events, evokes the essence of the acclaimed film Slumdog Millionaire, offering a rich, multi-layered experience. At its core, the novel is an ode to optimism, a quality increasingly rare in today’s world. Campbell-Mason skillfully crafts characters that are not only believable but also resonate with depth and complexity. The interactions between Mario, Grandma Jana, Ciel, and Sonorisa are not only central to the unfolding story but also serve as a testament to the transformative power of understanding and connection.
One of the standout features of this work is the dialogue. Crafting authentic and compelling conversations is a formidable task for any writer, yet Campbell-Mason excels, using it as a vehicle to advance the plot and deepen the readers’ understanding of each character. The precision and natural flow of the exchanges speak to her skill and serve as a valuable study for enthusiasts of creative writing.
Mario of My Life is a well-conceived and executed novel. The story is engaging, the themes are meaningful, and the lessons imparted are both timeless and relevant. It’s a testament to Campbell-Mason’s literary acumen and a compelling invitation to explore the richness of human experience through the lens of a young boy in Machu Picchu.
Pages: 280 | ASIN : B0CL99SNQQ
LITERARY TITAN 