As she gradually took on the mantle of queen, noors joys and challenges grew. Born into a distinguished arabamerican 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. While leap of faith is primarily the author queen noors memoir and a tribute to her late husband king hussein of jordan, what i like most about this book is the authors explanations about the history of conflicts in the middle east region. In the book she describes her courtship days with hussein as filled with family evenings which included the recently motherless children. It is also the refreshingly candid story of a mother coming to terms with the demands the kings role as a world statesman placed on her familys private life. The subtitle of this engaging and inspiring book is memoirs of an unexpected life.
I usually consider the israel palestine conflict too daunting to think about. The first page of the pdf of this article appears above. The dramatic and inspiring story of one womans incredible journey into the heart of a man and his nation. Buy a leap of faith by queen noor from waterstones today. Queen noor, widow of king hussein of jordan, discussed leap of faith, a memoir.
I remember seeing photos of her and king hussein in the newspaper when their engagement was announced. I keep hoping that it will fall out of a book or show up in a desk drawer. In this detailed memoir, she inscribes openly the challenges that are endured being a kings wife and mother of many children. It was a good history lesson of the area and the problems they faced together. Leap of faith written by anonymous from scottsdale, az on april 12th, 2009.
Queen noor gives up very little about herself and her inner life as queen of. Arabamerican lisa halaby became queen noor of jordan in 1978 after she married king hussein. I bought this book ver amazon and waited around 4 weeks for it to be. A leap of faith by queen noor, 9780753817568, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Nov 17, 2019 queen noor discussing her book leap of faith. Memoirs of an unexpected life one of my book groups selected leap of faith. Nov 01, 2002 while leap of faith is primarily the author queen noors memoir and a tribute to her late husband king hussein of jordan, what i like most about this book is the authors explanations about the history of conflicts in the middle east region. Memoirs of an unexpected life by queen noor online at alibris. The subtitle of this engaging and inspiring book is.
Queen noor signed copies of her book leap of faith. In the acknowledgments section queen noor states, this book was written in the spirit of reconciliation, which i hope will contribute to a greater awareness, especially in the west, of events that have shaped the modern middle east, and encourage a deeper understanding of contemporary challenges facing the arab world. The majority of the book focuses on her life as the queen of jordan and as such the arabisraeli conflict is discussed at great length. This moving memoir provides a timely look at one womans story against a backdrop of 30 turbulent years. My book clubs selection for october was leap of faith by jordans queen noor. Noor queen, consort of hussein, king of jordan 1951. Introduction read by the author queen noor read by suzanne toren leap of faith is the dramatic and inspiring story of an american womans remarkable journey into the heart of a man and his nation. On one hand, this is a glossy and decorous account of the queens unusual experiences, with a polite. Memoir of an unexpected life paperback march 1, 2004 by queen of jordan noor author 4. With her husband being not only jordans monarch but the spiritual leader of all muslims, lisa was unsure what her role would be. In her book, leap of faith, queen noor describes her life as an independent, well educated american woman, and later her life as the proactive, compassionate queen of jordan. It was published by miramax and has a total of 480 pages in the book. Born into a distinguished arabamerican family and raised amid privilege, lisa halaby joined the first freshman class at princeton to accept women, graduating in 1974 with a degree in.
Shell take questions from jeff greenfield, senior analyst at cnn queen noor was born. A noor mohamed book noor alhussein, 1951 the authors voice. Leap of faith is the dramatic and inspiring story of an american womans remarkable journey into the heart of a man and his nation. Born into a distinguished arabamerican family, lisa halaby was a strongly independent young woman. Memoirs of an unexpected life 2003 is a book written by queen noor of jordan, wife of the late jordanian king hussein i. Sharing a personal perspective on the past three decades of world history, leap of faith highlights queen noors views on islam and the west. Her love for her husband and her adopted country are both obvious and her writing gives some personal insights while maintaining the privacy of the royal family of jordan and that of her own family. Leap of faith presents a heartfelt personal perspective of queen norr and the late king hussein of jordan. Queen noor gives up very little about herself and her inner life as queen of jordan, which is what most readers would want to know. Memoirs of an unexpected life, published by miramax books. Queen noor lisa halaby was her birth name was born in the united states. Her father was an influential man involved in the air industry and governance, at one time becoming the ceo of pan am. Leap of faith memoirs an unexpected life queen noor. Born in america in 1951 as lisa halaby, noor came from a wealthy, well.
So much of what we have been told even by own government has been untrue, and harmful to jordan, and undeserving for all that king. See all 6 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Leap of faith is the dramatic and inspiring story of an american wom. Leap of faith memoirs an unexpected life queen noor suzanne. Leap of faith is the remarkable story of a young american woman who became wife and partner to an arab monarch. Queen noor states, this book was written in the spirit of reconciliation, which i hope will contribute to a greater awareness, especially in the west, of events that have shaped the modern middle east, and encourage a deeper understanding of. I remember hearing her name before, but thats about it. In the acknowledgments section queen noor states, this book was written in the spirit of reconciliation, which i hope will contribute to a greater awareness, especially in the west, of events that have shaped the modern middle east, and encourage a deeper understanding of. The book because it is so interesting leaves the reader wanting to know more about her, the royal family, jordan, and the middle east. Queen noor of jordan, who was the consort of king hussein, was trained as an urban planner and works as a philanthropistworld activist. Anyone who loved the king and i will readily warm to the love story of queen noor and the late king hussein of jordan. Born in 1951 to a distinguished arabamerican family, lisa najeeb halaby became the fourth wife of king hussein at age 27. Oct 20, 2011 my book clubs selection for october was leap of faith by jordans queen noor.
Queen noor is a commissioner of the international commission on missing persons. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders. Memoirs of an unexpected life, queen noor describes the devotion she and king hussein shared as magic. Queen noors perspective is particularly fascinating on this topic. On one hand, this is a glossy and decorous account of the queen s unusual experiences, with a polite tendency to accentuate the positive.
Memoirs of an unexpected life by jordanian queen noor. Leap of faith by queen noor overdrive rakuten overdrive. Apr 05, 2010 leap of faith queen noor april 5, 2010 by claire the captive reader in 1999 when king hussein of jordan died, i was twelve years old and had very little understanding of the politics of the middle east. Israel, as you would expect, is a major focus of the political events in the book. Queen noors book is certainly a personal account, with enough historical context. Then on reading other books a reference was made to this and yes they were all very good. Memoirs of an unexpected life by queen noor and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Memoirs of an unexpected life, published by miramax books and released in paperback in march 2005. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Memoirs of an unexpected life 1st by queen noor isbn. Memoirs of an unexpected life by queen noor this spring. Noor, queen, consort of hussein, king of jordan a leap of faith. Final wrap up september 25, 2006 posted by han in leap of faith by queen noor.
Sharing a personal perspective on the past three decades of world history, leap of faith highlights queen noor s views on islam and the west. Memoirs of an unexpected life by queen noor 467pp, weidenfeld. Memoirs of an unexpected life queen noor, 2003 miramax books 496 pp. Most of you should be done with the book now and that leaves us this week to wrap up discussion on the book.
The former lisa halaby discusses her late husband, king hussein i 193599, and his. Queen noor s story exposes the truth and that arrogant prejudice is born out of wilful, deliberate ignorance. They moved around a lot and lisa learnt to become selfsufficient and avoid attention. Leap of faith, by queen noor queen noor the former lisa halaby is my agemate. When lisa najeeb halaby was twentysix, her father introduced her to king hussein of jordan. The title of this book is leap of faith and it was written by queen noor. Memoir of an unexpected life noor, queen of jordan on. Leap of faith by queen noor i loved this moving memoir of the love story of queen noor with king husein of jordan.
Lisa halaby grew up in the usa with a swedishamerican mother and an arabamerican father. After finishing up a tale of two cities, i plowed through this book in record time. Unfortunately, i missed the group discussion, but i did read the 440page book and learned a great deal. However, queen noor is easily the most fascinating figure in this story and im so glad she wrote her story now, not later as she contemplated. Queen snore should be the name of the authorit takes a leap of faith to make it to the end. Shell take questions from jeff greenfield, senior analyst at cnn. Memoirs of an unexpected life paperback bargain price, march 9, 2005 by queen noor author 4. The important message from this bookand there is a message, is that the king wanted peace, but he was saddled with palestinian refugees and a difficult yassir aarafat. Memoirs of an unexpected life is a book written by queen noor of jordan, wife of the late jordanian king hussein i. Sold by ibook store and ships from amazon fulfillment.