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jbrundage's review against another edition
5.0
This book was fantastic. And this woman is one of the of the coolest and most badass people alive.
wooknight's review against another edition
5.0
A remarkable work of journalism that reads like a thriller. I could not put it down. The author did a remarkable job on shedding light on the reasons why young people are drawn to jihad and she also is fearless in shedding light on our own hypocrisies in dealing with freedom of speech and religion.
beastreader's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first time that I have heard the name Souad Mekhennet. I am a fan of memoirs/non fiction books. Yet, the last several that I have read missed the mark with me. Not this book. From the very beginning, I was hooked on what Souad had to say and her journey. Reading her journey into dangerous locations...interviewing ruthless men, who were responsible for torturing and beheading; all while doing her job of a reporter was courageous and scary at the same time. I tried to imagine myself in Souad's shoes and I am not sure if I would have been that dedicated to get the "story".
Although, what I admired the most about Souad was her strength. While, she was visiting all of these dangerous locations, she was scared for her life. Yet, she did tried not to show it. Another aspect of this book that I enjoyed is that it did not try to make a political statement. Once, I started reading, I could not stop. Readers of non fiction will be pleased with this book. Don't be the last one to read this book.
Although, what I admired the most about Souad was her strength. While, she was visiting all of these dangerous locations, she was scared for her life. Yet, she did tried not to show it. Another aspect of this book that I enjoyed is that it did not try to make a political statement. Once, I started reading, I could not stop. Readers of non fiction will be pleased with this book. Don't be the last one to read this book.
readwithallyourheart's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
megs_k's review against another edition
4.0
Why did people think that a voting system was protection against totalitarianism? ~ Souad Mekhennet
larryerick's review against another edition
5.0
Can you feel it? Can you see it in what I type? This book is resonating through me, pulsing through me. I am not a new student to the issues affecting the world surrounding the apparent clash -- Did I say clash? The author has this to say about the clash: "The world is not facing a clash of civilizations or cultures, but a clash between those who want to build bridges and those who would rather see the world in polarities, who are working hard to spread hatred and divide us." Say the word, "jihad", and the clash between Muslim and Western Judeo-Christian culture (and the equally intense clashes within those cultures) immediately fills our brains with imagery of conflict, war, hatred, and religious zealotry, overladen with powerful, often devastating economic weaponry. I reflected back on the many books I have read, both fiction and non-fiction, involving some aspect of these clashes, both modern and ancient. I counted 27 altogether. Some were intentionally broad in scope, such as a history of Islam and another one specifically of Afghanistan. Others were fictionalized or highly personal nonfiction accounts showing individuals trying to survive the storms around them. Many were middle east war related, both from a military and political perspective. Despite all that prior scholarship(?), this book easily does more than any other to pull it all together, and it does it in a personal, highly and consistently suspenseful, and extraordinarily lucid, balanced manner. It is very simply a memoir, but it is a memoir that reads much more like a John Grisham novel, albeit from a journalist's, rather than an attorney's, perspective. There is not a single chapter in the book without palpable suspense to one degree or another. I ask you: when was the last time you read a book that dealt so keenly with political policies and religious behavior that could repeatedly stimulate your base emotions? Needless to say, I'm terribly impressed with this book and with the individual that wrote it. Recommended without reservation.
johndiconsiglio's review against another edition
3.0
So much for journalists not making themselves the story. That’s the whole point of Mekhennet’s part-memoir, part-dispatches-from-Jihad-frontlines. A Moroccan Muslim raised in Germany, she traces 15 years of reporting from Middle East danger zones. There’s no questioning her bravery. And she captures the voices of radicalized youth. But her book, while sometimes riveting, is kinda disjointed. It’s a mix of the personal (understanding the embrace of religious violence in her culture), the professional (what’s it like to cover terrorist networks) & the historical (bite-size current event recaps). I’m not sure all the pieces fit.
hecman111's review against another edition
4.0
I appreciate Mekhennet as an author and as a journalist. Her journey gives insight into an often unseen people living with passion, care, fear, and hope that have been frequently demonized (or ignored) by the western media. She tells her story in a compelling way that helps one understand the dangers that wartime correspondents face and their commitment to truth and discovery. I rooted for her the entire way, including in some very tense situations that had me at the edge of my seat. Well worth the read.