Mention Books In Favor Of Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life
| Original Title: | Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life |
| ISBN: | 1401359485 (ISBN13: 9781401359485) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Characters: | Noor of Jordan |
Noor Al-Hussein
Paperback | Pages: 496 pages Rating: 3.8 | 8862 Users | 743 Reviews
Chronicle During Books Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life
Leap of Faith is the dramatic and inspiring story of an American woman's remarkable journey into the heart of a man and his nation. Born into a distinguished Arab-American family and raised amid privilege, Lisa Halaby joined the first freshman class at Princeton to accept women, graduating in 1974 with a degree in architecture and urban planning. Two years later, while visiting her father in Jordan, she was casually introduced on the airport runway to King Hussein. Widely admired in the Arab world as a voice of moderation, and for his direct lineage to the prophet Muhammad, Hussein would soon become the world's most eligible bachelor after the tragic death of his wife. The next time they met, Hussein would fall headlong in love with the athletic, outspoken daughter of his longtime friend. After a whirlwind, secret courtship Lisa Halaby became Noor Al Hussein, Queen of Jordan. With eloquence and candor, Queen Noor speaks of the obstacles she faced as a naive young bride in the royal court, of rebelling against the smothering embrace of security guards and palace life, and of her own successful struggle to create a working role as a humanitarian activist in a court that simply expected Noor to keep her husband happy. As she gradually took on the mantle of a queen, Noor's joys and challenges grew. After a heartbreaking miscarriage, she gave birth to four children. Meshing the demands of motherhood with the commitments of her position often proved difficult, but she tried to keep her young children by her side, even while flying the world with her husband in his relentless quest for peace. This mission would reap satisfying rewards, including greater Arab unity and a peace treaty with Israel, and suffer such terrible setbacks as the Gulf War and the assassination of Prime Minister Rabin. Leap of Faith is a remarkable document. It is the story of a young American woman who became wife and partner to an Arab monarch. It provides a compelling portrait of the late King Hussein and his lifelong effort to bring peace to his war-torn region, and an insider's view of the growing gulf between the United States and the Arab nations. It is also the refreshingly candid story of a mother coming to terms with the demands the king's role as a world statesman placed on her family's private life. But most of all it is a love story — the intimate account of a woman who lost her heart to a king, and to his people.
Details Of Books Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life
| Title | : | Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life |
| Author | : | Noor Al-Hussein |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Special Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 496 pages |
| Published | : | March 9th 2005 by Miramax Books (first published November 1st 2002) |
| Categories | : | Nonfiction. Biography. Autobiography. Memoir |
Rating Of Books Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life
Ratings: 3.8 From 8862 Users | 743 ReviewsAssessment Of Books Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life
I distinctly recall my first impressions of Jordan. I had been en route to the United States from Iran, where I was working for a British urban planning firm. From the window of my aircraft, I had found myself spellbound by the serene of desert landscape washed golden by the retreating sun at dusk. I was overwhelmed by an extraordinary sensation of belonging, an almost mystical sense of peace.I decided to read Queen Noors autobiography for my 52 Books Around the World Challenge, in the hopes ofI've always been curious about Queen Noor, the former Lisa Halaby, the American woman who became Queen of Jordan. I wondered how she gave up the freedoms she had as a woman in the US, in order to be a Muslim royal. Alas, this memoir gives only the most superficial of answers to that -- and other -- questions about her life. Granted, she does explain that her father was of Middle Eastern descent and that piqued her interest in her Middle Eastern roots; however, in this memoir she fails to beyond
Incredible story and very interesting to read about Jordan over the past 40 years after visiting last year. A personal story, about family, love and home, but also a political memoir of a turbulent time in a very special country.
King Hussein of Jordan married four times.After the death of his third wife in an air crash,his fourth wife was the former Lisa Hallaby,an American woman with an Arab father.She changed her name and her religion and became Queen Noor of Jordan.This is a highly readable account of her years with King Hussein,palace intrigues, politics and war in the turbulent Middle East.King Hussein travelled the world frequently,in his quest for Middle East peace.She describes her encounters with plenty of
King Hussein of Jordan married four times.After the death of his third wife in an air crash,his fourth wife was the former Lisa Hallaby,an American woman with an Arab father.She changed her name and her religion and became Queen Noor of Jordan.This is a highly readable account of her years with King Hussein,palace intrigues, politics and war in the turbulent Middle East.King Hussein travelled the world frequently,in his quest for Middle East peace.She describes her encounters with plenty of
This must have been one of the last books my mother read before her death in 2005, and its sat on my shelf ever since. I knew she was deeply affected by Queen Noors account, but I only now finally openedand devouredit.Having lived through the history she recounts, I found myself questioning the version of events I had accepted. I have become skeptical of news reports on all sides of current issues. Why not old events as well? Her account, while perhaps biased by her love for King Hussein and her
The Arab perspective on the mideast conflicts from the time Lisa Najeeb Halaby married King Hussein of Jordan becoming Queen Noor. She was American born, and was introduced to the King by her father when she was 26 years old. I've since done some reading about the history and geography of the area to more fully understand the story she tells. I would recommend this book!
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