Rating: 
Summary: A disappointing "autobiography"
Review: A tedious, superficial and dishonest book about a beautiful and supposedly highly educated woman. Her relationship with King H. is all cream and roses. There is no depth or openess in the recounting of her marriage. And the book is laced with a generous portion of one-sided history - this has nothing to do with the trials and tribulations of a Christian woman changing her religion to her husband's and sharing her life with a man whose religious and cultural background is vastly different than her own. If I am interested in Arab history I would have chosen to read a book solely dedicated to this subject. After reading "Honor Lost - Love and Death in Modern-Day Jordan" I get the impression that royalty is far-removed from daily life just down the street. Compared to most women around her, Queen Noor seems to be inhabiting an ivory tower. A disappointing read - there are more honest books out there.
Rating: 
Summary: Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life
Review: I couldn't put this book down until I finished it, and even though I knew King Hussein would die, I felt so sad at the end of the book. She really explained the Israili/Arab conflict so well that I think I understand it better now. With people like King Hussein who had worked so hard for peace and for Queen Noor continuing his policies, there might be a chance for peace in that region.I feel bad that so many innocent people have been killed or maimed. She has done so much to further the rights of women there and I'm sure she hasn't finished yet. This was just a wonderful book.
Rating:
Summary: very informative and educational
Review: Leap of faith is exactly what it's cover describes:a remarkable document. It is well written, informative, and gives a balanced look at Middle East history. Queen Noor has done a wonderful job in her personal example of cultural sensitivity and awareness.The book was highly enlightening and objective , even though it is a memoir. I highly recommend it to every American, especially in light of the World Trade Center tragedy.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointment
Review: I was disappointed in the book and in the person... I thought that Queen Noor was a "typical American girl" before she married the king of Jordan.
In fact, she was wealthy and sheltered, going to elite private schools and with middle-eastern heritage. She had even worked in the middle east before she met the king.
Yes, she "demonstrated" for things she believed in, but at arms length and never had to mix with the population in the states or in Jordan.
Although she may have wonderful ideals and the book portrays her adopted country in a positive light, I doubt this reflects the reality of most people.
Rating: 
Summary: easy-to-read first account of middle east history
Review: Certainly the events surrounding Queen Noor's life are capable of a million interpretations; what comes across however in her account is an honest review from her perspective. It was nice to read a female, American-born, educated voice speak about her life with an Arab king. It lent legitimacy to Arab culture, in contrast to (as she often bemoans) the American stereotyping of Arabs. I felt educated by her book.
Rating:
Summary: Heartwarming, inspirational
Review: Queen Noor is an unbelievable woman with great strength and vision. I thank her for sharing her story - it was inspirational, educational and heartwarming.
Rating: 
Summary: not what I'd hoped for
Review: Leap of Faith was on my summer reading list for my book group. I'm always pushing for more non-fiction titles so was pleased to see that this book had been chosen. My joy disappeared shortly after reading the first few chapters. This book seemed like a long list of Jordanian political history thrown together in chronological order. But this history didn't contain enough balanced detail to be a serious textbook (nor should it, it's an autobiography after all).If I'd wanted a political text, I certainly wouldn't have been reading this one. I wanted an autobiography.I had been hoping for a more personal account of young and beautiful western woman living in the Middle East and her life with the King of Jordan. Instead I ended up with a moderately interesting recanting of Queen Noor's appointment book. This book is timely however. With recent events in Iraq we need to be reminded that there is always another side to every story and that the information we are feed by the US government is not always accurate. It is good for us to to listen to differing views and for that reason alone we should all read 'Leap of Faith'. However, don't expect to be enthralled or entertained. It's a bit of a grind.
Rating:
Summary: An honest, romantic, educational history and politics lesson
Review: This book is one of the most charming, revealing, and enlightening books of the decade. QN sheds light on the rulers and political antics of many nations, while reminding the reader that kings, queens, ministers and ambassadors are still real people. She is open and even-handed in her description of everyone and every country, describing both major political events and the reactions of staff and press to a queen who first travelled on state visits with a nursing infant. The only party that emerges in a bad light is Israel, whose scheming becomes evident from the historical events revealed by this insider.
Rating:
Summary: A Story Worth Telling
Review: Often autobiographies are laden with excuses, explanations, justifications, apologies, and an exhausting defense of the decisions the author made in the past (it stands to reason that, more often than not, these are political biographies). This book is quite the opposite. Queen Noor presents a life that, at times, is steeped in political controversy and the witness of social and religious unrest. Despite the enormous responsibility of raising a family, conceiving and building socio-economic and sustainable design programs in Jordan, and remaining a source of strength and companionship for her husband, she does so with a sense of pride and purpose that is refreshing. Queen Noor presents her life story and weaves in the lives of those around her as lessons in political and personal history that are absorbing and uplifting. She often writes about others who have inspired her, rather than simply focusing on herself. This makes the book become even larger than it is - if one told a story all about themselves, it would probably make for dull reading! This is one of the warmest and absorbing books I've read in awhile.
Rating:
Summary: More P.R. For Unelected Arab Monarchs...
Review: It's sad that so many ignorant Americans, who claim to have a love of democracy, are heaping praise on a book written by an unelected monarch of one of the Arab world's 22 non-democratic countries. Elitist kings and queens like Queen Noor are not part of the solution: they are the problem. The Arab countries need open elections, separation of church and state, and the development of a culture that values human life over hatred of Israel. Noone who knows anything about the Middle East ...the massacre of thousands of Palestinians the during Black September, for instance...can take this woman seriously. She's now officially an esteemed member of a growing line of celebrity Arab propagandists - including Nabil Al-Jubeir and Hanna Ashwari - whose mission in life is to present a false picture of an unenlightened culture that has yet to hold a single fair election, substantially promote a non-state controlled newspaper, or unequivocally empower women to be independent and in touch with their own sexuality (That Noor does not address this aspect of herself is telling. Most autobiographies, male or female, at least touch on this in some way, since intimacy is such a huge part of a person's life). I find it appropriate that certain western media elites, such as Janet Maslin of the New York Times, have heaped praise on this book. Call it self-congratulation: the privileged participating in cross cultural mating, their only bond being their hatred and envy of jews. Pathetic. I got through the first few chapters of this empty garbage and gave up.
|
