Rating: 
Summary: Excellent and Inspiring ...
Review: I've always been facinated with Queen Noor and literally had the bookstore pull this book out of the box in the back room the day it dropped. I was not disappointed. The Queen's style of writing is subtle and elegant and she explains middle east history and politics with a simplicity I've yet to find elsewhere. Her pro-Palestinian views are unwavering and presented with passion and respect. Her adoration of the Late King Hussein is relentless and exceptional.The catty side of me would have liked to have read a bit more on the challenges she faced as an non-Muslim American marrying the King of Jordan and becoming Queen. And I was also a little dissapointed to have her story basically end with King Hussein's death. She continues to lead a fruitful and productive life and I would have liked to learn more about what she has been doing over the last 3 years. Regardless, this is an excellent, fast read about an extremely interesting and inspiring life.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent history and autobiography
Review: I thought this was a wonderful book, both easy to read and informative. I liked that Queen Noor gave specific examples of UN resolutions that are able to be confirmed and might serve to inspire readers to learn more about the Middle East. It was a great blend of her life/personality and historical events as she saw them. I particularly liked her description of Petra, the Dead Sea and other places in Jordan.
Within the first chapter she basically says straight out that she is not an expert or a scholar on the Middle East, but rather is giving her view of things as she sees them. ( as most autobiographies do) I found it refreshing to hear an Arab view about the Middle East to balance so much of the negative propaganda we hear about Arabs and Muslims. I did not in anyway find her view anti-Semitic. (It might be noteworthy here to point out that Arabs are themselves Semites.) While she is critical of Israel, America, and Egypt to name a few, she did not come across to me as anti-Jewish. At one point in the book she talks about visiting Iraq, and how the numerous posters of Saddam Hussein reminded her of the propaganda in Nazi Germany, and how she found this quite disturbing.
That said, I found this book informative, inspiring, and entertaining. I think it is one of the best autobiographies I have read. If you are interested in learning more about Islam/Arabs and the West, try Richard Fletcher's book called Moorish Spain. I'm reading it right now, and really enjoying what I am learning. So, thank you Queen Noor, and Thanks!
Rating:
Summary: Modern Day Fairy Tale
Review: I think that this book was above all else a beautiful story that I enjoyed every second of. I agree with the reviewers who claim alot was glossed over. But I think that it was still a beautiful story about a truly beautiful (inside and out) woman who has lived an above-average life. I also really feel, despite questions about accuracy, that she gives an Arab perspective on the Middle East that you don't often hear in America. But above all else it really is a King and I, Grace Kelly type story taking place in a totally foreign, exotic, and unstable region. I personally was inspired by Queen Noor's choices and work with the people and the wonderful things she and her husband achieved.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite books - great lady
Review: What a wonderful book! Since reading it I have been interested in learning more Middle East history especially as it relates to Jordan and King Hussein. I've read other historical articles online and it mostly backs up and elaborates further on Queen Noor's version of things. I realize that she had to be sensitive to her Muslim readers as well as Americans who are used to much more lurid details. I'm sure most Americans would like to know more superficial aspects of her life and also all about her sex life, etc but many Middle Easterners will be interested in the book and would be offended if she told these things. She very wisely refrained. I loved reading the insider information about events in that area. Interesting that Barbara Bush wrote her a letter calling her a traitor since Noor was a citizen of another country at the time. I'd like to know more about how she is doing since Hussein died, though. I know from her web site she is still involved in her many causes. But I still have questions since she is so interesting.
Rating: 
Summary: A Sheer Disappointment
Review: I was disappointed with this book. All throughout the book, Queen Noor had a tendency to vilify America and many of our leaders and officials, as well as the nation of Israel, our greatest friend in the Middle East. I believe she was using the writing of her "memoirs" as nothing more than an occasion to get back at people who had hurt, offended, or slighted her and King Hussein in the past - a cheap shot that I'd hope the Queen would have been far above. She came across as extremely smug and self-righteous at times, as she painted herself to be a Mother Theresa in the political world facing the evils of Barbara Bush and other highly esteemed national leaders. At times, her words were downright insulting to anyone in the West. For instance, when coalition troops fought against Iraq when it invaded Kuwait, she and her husband were concerned because "foreign troops on the sacred soil of Saudi Arabia would be seen as a humilitation to all Arabs..." - the inference being that the land would be contaminated and defiled by the unclean infidels of the West. At times, the Queen was pathetically naive concerning war. While every peace-loving person wants to avoid war at all cost, sometimes it is necessary when dealing with the Sadaam Husseins and Adolf Hitlers of the world. The Queen always felt that a diplomatic situation could be reached in every situation, and often accused the U.S. of using military force as a means to gets its differences with other nations resolved. For some reason, she, like many others, cannot grasp the fact that there are some individuals in the world who CANNOT be reasoned with (such as in the case of terrorists or Sadaam Hussein), and in such cases, war is necessary to prevent a greater evil from occurring in the future. Obviously, her book is written from an Arab perspective, but one needs to read other sources concerning Middle East history as well. I wholly disagree with the Queen's position and perspective on Middle East history, as well as the conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Always remember that there are two sides to every story. If you want to reach your own conclusions, you'll have to read the Israeli side as well. While the book was successful in putting a human face on the Arab world (which is important since all we ever see on television is Islamic Jihad, al Qaeda, and Hamas) I was disappointed at the lameness of the Queen to "get in her last digs" and make what I perceived to be snide comments in retaliation of those who may have offended her in the past. It was as if she had been keeping score for the past twenty years, and was using her "memoirs" as an occasion to get even with the world, and I felt that this was highly unprofessional and unbecoming to someone in her position. While her love for the late King Hussein comes through loud and clear, her disdain for the Jewish people does so as well, and this I cannot tolerate. As a Christian, I have a deep love, respect, and admiration for the Jewish people, and I wholly support the nation of Israel. I've studied Middle East history, and I found her version of things not always in line with the truth, and certainly in contradiction with the history of Israel laid out in the Holy Bible. The Muslim claim on Jerusalem is absolutely ludicrous, and anybody who has a modicum of sense and intelligence concerning the Holy Bible will clearly see this. If you're going to read this book, you'll have to read it with an open mind and not with the closed mind in which it was obviously written. Sorry, Your Majesty....One star due to lameness, narrow-minded thinking, biased perspective, and nasty little cheap shots. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again!
Rating:
Summary: A Pleasant-and unexpected-Surprise.
Review: "Leap of Faith" was a very pleasant surprise to this reviewer. I picked it up because my wife enjoyed the story, half expecting a mushy "girl tale. To describe LOF in that fashion is inaccurate, derogatory to the authoress and unfair to females in general. Queen Noor was born Lisa Halaby, an American of Swedish/Arabic descent. She went to the best schools, was well traveled. She was no ingenue. Lisa was working in the Middle East when she met the then recently divorced King of Jordan. LOF details the Queen's life after her 1978 marriage until the King's death from cancer in 1999. It must have been terribly difficult for an American woman, even one with Arabic father, to adjust to a new life. She was a highly public figure in a strange land, a stepmother to children form 2 previous marriages and wed to a man who was quite "occupied" with the affairs of state. Noor skillfully alludes to these problems without dwelling on them or glossing them over. She presents herself as both a sincere, independent woman but a loyal wife as well. The strongest point to LOF is its' perspective on the Israel/ Palestine conflict. Let there be no doubt! Readers get the Muslim viewpoint here! The Queen is not a neutral obersver-nor should she be! Noor was an Arabic monarch and makes no apologies, not that any are due. Noor plainly sees her late husband as an under appreciated moderate, constantly striving for peace. The Queen firmly and fervently makes the case that Israel is the aggressor in the Middle East, has seized far too much Palestinian land and that her leaders (the late Mr. Rabin excepted) are not interested in peace. She takes dead aim at Messrs. Begin and Netanyahu. Virtually every reviewer who gave LOF low rankings seized this point to criticize LOF. This reviewer takes the Queens' side for 3 reasons: 1) She may be correct. 2) Americans need to be exposed to the Arabic view. The Israeli slant is far to dominant in the USA. Pat Buchanan has labeled this condition the "Amen Corner". 3) LOF is not history. It is a highly personal memoir from an Arab-American uniquely situated in the heart of the conflict. (Credit to previous reviewer "Darleen" on that vital point). LOF has 2 minor weak points: 1) It recounts too much travel, too much coming and going. There are too many high level receptions and state visits. Granted, Noor was a busy woman but too much ink is devoted to these activities. 2) We don't find out what happened to her after her husband died! Is she still Queen? Is she back in the States? How did her husband's succession play out? What are her plans for the future? She is still a relatively young woman! She still has much too offer the world. Since portions of LOF are so intense, this reviewer hated to see the story end so vaguely. This reviewer's minor criticisms or those of others on the Arabic/Israeli conflict should deter no one from reading LOF. This is a fine story of a smart and sensitive lady who chose a difficult and challenging path for herself. She performed a diplomatic balancing act extremely well. She and her biography deserve respect
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book
Review: Queen Noor is inspiring. The book (because it is so interesting) leaves the reader wanting to know more about her, the Royal family, Jordan, and the Middle East. However, Queen Noor is easily the most fascinating figure in this story and I'm so glad she wrote her story now, not later as she contemplated. After reading the entire book, the only criticism I had was that she compared the American GOVERNMENT'S views with European CITIZENS' views (concluding that Americans are more narrow minded about the situation with Israel). My reaction was that she should compare governments with governments and people with people. Although our government is pro-Israel to an extreme, I think most of the general citizens believe our government should be neutral (just as the European citizens believe). However, we never have any political candidates who stand on that platform. Anyway, I'm sure it was an unintentional mis-comparison and though it struck a nerve, this was the best book I have read in over a decade. Queen Noor is a true role model.
Rating:
Summary: Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life
Review: We love stories about princesses. This particular royal tale is true and shows that being a contemporary princess (or queen) involves a tremendous amount of responsibility and not a little loneliness. Of Jordanian and Swedish descent, American-born and Princeton-educated Lisa Najeeb Halaby was 26 years old when she became the fourth wife of Jordan's King Hussein in 1978. Upon her conversion to Islam he chose Noor Al Hussein as her Arabic name, meaning "Light of Hussein." The Arab-Israeli conflict and Hussein's efforts at peacemaking are a large part of this work, part love story, part political commentary, told naturally from the Jordanian side. Hussein's stance estranged him at times from other Arabs (in particular Egyptians) as well as from Israelis, a point Noor emphasizes perhaps to make him more appealing to American readers. In addition to raising their four children (and his eight from previous marriages) and traveling with her husband, she chaired the board of the Noor Al Hussein Foundation, which promotes culture and development in Jordan, with an emphasis on women's issues. She now works with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. Noor ably reads the introduction, but the rest of the book is narrated by Suzanne Toren, whose precise, cultured tone is exactly what we expect from a queen.-
Rating: 
Summary: no depth of character
Review: I was looking so forward to reading this book due to my interest in middle eastern culture and my love for biographies. As a book on middle eastern culture it appears very one sided and ignores many truths by vilifying Isreal. It ignores the fact that so many middle eastern rulers were tyrants and still supported by her husband (eg.sadam hussein). As a biography it was SO shallow. I never had even a slight feel of who she is as a person and what her family problems were. It appears before she was married all she did was go to school, ride horses, and work. Did she ever have a boyfriend prior? who knows. You won't get anything interesting from this book. If you are going to write a biography you should open up more.
Rating:
Summary: A Dream becomes reality
Review: It's a dream of many to grow up to become a queen, to enjoy the wealth and power. To most people this is just a dream, however to Lisa Halaby this became reality. This book is a memoir telling us about her unexpected life, the story of how an American became the queen of Jordan. Lisa got to know king Hussein through her father who was the appointed head of the FAA at that time. His father went to Jordan to provide advice on the newly created airline by the king. Never did she know that this man would be her other half for the next twenty some years. After her marriage with the king her name was changed to Queen Noor (Noor means light). Not did it tell the story of how she became queen it also tells the reader how it's like being a Queen in modern days. Being a Queen isn't that easy as it seems, in many cases it sacrifices the time of being a mother. Another requirement of being a queen only believes in one religion. Although she didn't have to be an Islamic but she still insisted on converting to one, which shows her passion to the Arabic culture. Because of her position as queen she had many adventures around the world. Although during that time she hardly got to see her children. Throughout the book, her love for her husband never fades. Eventually Hussein dies from cancer, which also is the ending of the story. It leaves the reader with a depressed feeling. Queen Noor surprises me because she is not as sad as I thought she would be. Instead she believes that when she dies it's the time they meet again. After reading this book I believe many would wipe off the conventional thought of being a queen, because it's not as easy as it seems, its instead really tiring and cuts in the time when you get to spend time with your family.
|
