Lives Between The Lines

Name: Lives Between The Lines
Brand: Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand
SKU: 9781474613217
Price: 27.99 NZD
Availability: InStock

A Journey in Search of the Lost Levant

By Michael Vatikiotis

0.0 (0 reviews)

4.2

( 61 ratings, 9 reviews)

Summary

Lives Between The Lines by Michael Vatikiotis is a captivating exploration of the lives of two individuals, Razak and Marc, set against the backdrop of a turbulent Middle East. Through their personal stories, the book weaves a narrative of identity, conflict, and survival, shedding light on the complexities of a region marked by upheaval and transformation. This memoir offers an intimate glimpse into the intertwining of personal and historical events.
Read More

Format: Paperback / softback

$27⁹⁹

AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Lives Between The Lines

$27⁹⁹

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you are fascinated by personal stories that unravel the complexities of Southeast Asia's history and politics. You might enjoy it if you appreciate memoirs that interweave personal experiences with broader socio-political narratives, offering an insightful look into the lives and struggles of those navigating change in an ever-evolving region.

ADAPTATION 15 Oct 2026

The Play to Screen Report - 15/10/2026

Sacha has rounded up all the latest news from the world of toys, games, movies...

HOME AND GARDEN 15 Oct 2026

Marnie shares her tips for Spring!

Marnie is our garden expert and Lizzy kills every plant she brings home. We're getting...

AMELIA'S CORNER 15 Oct 2026

My Favourite Thing About Bookish Puzzles

There's something special about seeing your favourite fictional worlds brought to life through beautiful artwork....

ART 15 Oct 2026

The Cultural Renaissance of Reading

There's something rather wonderful happening in the world of books at the moment. Reading is...

ADAPTATIONS 15 Oct 2026

Story to Screen - 15/10/2026

It's been another big week in the world of book-to-screen adaptations! From exciting casting announcements...

An intimate portrait of a critical period of Middle Eastern history (1869-1948), seen through the eyes of a single family

Description

In Lives Between the Lines, Michael Vatikiotis traces the journey of his Greek and Italian forebears from Tuscany, Crete, Hydra, and Rhodes, as they made their way to Egypt and the coast of Palestine in search of opportunity. In the process, he reveals a period where the Middle East was a place of ethnic and cultural harmony—where Arabs and Jews rubbed shoulders in bazaars and teashops, intermarried, and shared family history.

While lines were eventually drawn and people, including Vatikiotis's family, found themselves caught between clashing faiths, contested identities, and violent conflict, this intimate and sweeping memoir is a paean to tolerance, offering a nuanced understanding of the lost Levant.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Michael Vatikiotis's Lives Between the Lines is praised for its compelling narrative that blends personal memoir and travelogue with historical insights. Reviewers highlight the book's exploration of the Levantine identity against the backdrop of regional turmoil, with vivid portrayals of familial characters and historical context. It is noted for its examination of religious and cultural tolerance, as well as the intricate history of the Middle East, making it a captivating read for those interested in familial and historical narratives.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781474613217

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 August 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 272g

Pages: 304

Collections

Biography & Memoir History & Archaeology History & Military Michael Vatikiotis Middle Eastern History Non-Fiction

About the Author

Michael Vatikiotis is a graduate of the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and gained his doctorate from the University of Oxford. He is a member of the Asia Society's International Council and has a decade of experience working as a private diplomat and conflict mediator for the Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. Prior to that he worked as a journalist in Asia for thirty years, living in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong. He is the author of two previous books on the politics of Southeast Asia and is based in Singapore.

More from Biography & Memoir

View all

New Release

One Helluva Ride

"This book is about where I came from, what I fought against, and what I chose formyself. Fame can blur the truth; this is my attempt to bring it back into focus." A legendary actor and Hollywood Icon whose five-decade career spans film, television,and producing, Michael Douglas has won two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, fiveGolden Globes, a Primetime Emmy,...

By Michael Douglas

Paperback

$32⁰⁰
Elsewhere:
~~$39⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

Swan Song

Beautiful. Beloved. Hunted. The extraordinary life and death of Diana, as told by her brother, Charles – available to pre-order now. ‘When asked, ‘What was it like, growing up with Diana?’, my first thought is always, But I don’t know what it was like not to grow up with her…’ In September 1997, Charles Spencer stood in Westminster Abbey before...

By Charles Spencer

Hardback

$54⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$65⁰⁰~~

(1)

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

Fictional Selves

From the beloved actor and star of Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet and Sex and the City comes a candid and deeply personal memoir. In this highly anticipated memoir, the beloved actor and star of Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, Sex and the City and more shares his utterly original account of his offbeat journey in Hollywood, his battles with fear and...

By Kyle MacLachlan

Hardback

$47⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$60⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

The Steps

The long-awaited memoir from a true Hollywood icon. We know Sylvester Stallone as one of the most revered actors, writers, and directors of all time, yet his life story is every bit as dramatic, intense, and inspiring as his greatest creations on screen. Bringing together a no-holds-barred account of a fascinating life with messages of hope, positivity, and resilience, in...

By Sylvester Stallone

Paperback

$32⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$39⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

Shirl's Pick

Home Again

Join rock-legend, former Shihad frontman and lead singer of The Adults, Jon Toogood in this unflinching and no-holds-barred memoir Home Again.This is more than a rock story. Toogood looks back on a 37-year career that helped define New Zealand rock music, and the personal cost that came with it. From a music-obsessed childhood in Wellington to the deafening roar of international stages, this...

By Jon Toogood

Paperback

$31⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$39⁹⁹~~

(1)

In Stock
Ships today
Dogs, Boys and Other Things I've Cried About

From the social media superstar behind @SimonSits, Isabel Klee--known for her heartwarming tales of dog rescue--comes an utterly winning memoir about a twentysomething woman's search for true love in New York City and the dogs who helped her find it. A Jersey girl by birth, Isabel Klee had always wanted to live in New York City. At age 20, she...

By Isabel Klee

Paperback

$32⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$39⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
Lizzy's Pick

Famesick

Chronicling the tumultuous decade between the premiere of Girls to her 2021 shotgun wedding (minus the baby, because she has no uterus), Lena Dunham takes us through her journey with her trademark mix of humor, unsparing honesty, and keen eye for detail. We peek behind the scenes - of her work, her family, her relationships, and her battle to reclaim her body...

By Lena Dunham

Paperback

$32⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$35⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships today
This Angry Pen of Mine

This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...

By Layne Staley

Hardback

$72⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$89⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
Signed Copy

Shirl's Pick

Stakes

Read our interview with author Noelle McCarthy! A darkly funny, sparkling follow-up to the author’s bestselling memoir Grand. You have to invite him in. You have to want the vampire’s badness in the house with you. Growing up in Catholic Ireland, Noelle McCarthy is captivated by Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The vampire is a risk-free fantasy, a suave alternative to the fraught realities...

By Noelle McCarthy

Paperback

$31⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$40⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships today
Built for This

Raised among strong women, butcher's benches, and hard ideas about what men are meant to be, Brad Poulter grows up knowing he's different long before he has the words for it. But in late '90s small-town New Zealand, 'different' isn't discussed, it's managed. Joining the Royal New Zealand Navy offers escape, certainty, and belonging. The rules are clear, the uniform...

By Brad Poulter

Paperback

$31⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$37⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
Even the Good Girls Will Cry

Thanks to a thrown beer bottle and a fan letter to a P.O. box, Melissa Auf der Maur's first band scored an opening slot for the Smashing Pumpkins in her bohemian home town, Montreal. Sensing Melissa's talent, Billy Corgan recommended her to Courtney Love. Whisked from her local scene, Melissa joined Hole just after the deaths of Kurt Cobain and...

By Melissa Auf der Maur

Paperback

$31⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$39⁹⁹~~

(1)

In Stock
Ships today
An Ocean and a Day

An utterly riveting, moving and poignant memoir of grief and loss that will speak to anyone who's ever lost someone they love. An Ocean and a Day is Hannah Richell's personal account of losing her husband, Matt, in a surfing accident on Tamarama beach in 2014. It is the story of the grief journey she travelled over the first two...

By Hannah Richell

Paperback

$31⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$37⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.