Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life

Queen Noor

Quick Take

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 wartorn 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 storythe intimate account of a woman who lost her heart to a king, and to his people.

Reader's Review

Book Review Summary: Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life

Introduction

"Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life" is a remarkable book that tells the story of an American woman named Queen Noor, who unexpectedly became the wife of King Hussein of Jordan. Born into a distinguished Arab-American family, Queen Noor joined the first freshman class at Princeton University to accept women and graduated in 1974 with a degree in architecture and urban planning. Two years later, while visiting her father in Jordan, she met King Hussein on the airport runway and fell in love with him. They married and Queen Noor became Noor Al Hussein, Queen of Jordan. In this book, Queen Noor speaks candidly about her experiences as a young bride in the royal court, her struggles to create a working role as a humanitarian activist, and her journey as a mother balancing the demands of motherhood with her husband's role as a world statesman.

About Queen Noor

Queen Noor, born Lisa Halaby, is the last wife and widow of King Hussein of Jordan. She was queen consort of Jordan during her marriage (1978-1999) and has been queen dowager of Jordan since her husband's death in 1999. Queen Noor is an advocate for peace and human rights, and has been involved in various humanitarian efforts throughout her life. She is also the president of the United World Colleges movement and an advocate for the anti-nuclear weapons proliferation campaign, Global Zero.

Analysis of Views

A Different Perspective on the Middle East: Many readers praised Queen Noor's unique perspective on the Middle East conflict. They appreciated her ability to provide a different perspective on the situation, highlighting the complexities and nuances of the region.
A Love Story: The book is also described as a love story, with Queen Noor sharing intimate details about her relationship with King Hussein. Readers found this aspect of the book to be particularly moving and compelling.
Well-Written and Engaging: Many readers found the book to be well-written and engaging, with a clear and concise narrative that kept them interested throughout. They appreciated the author's ability to share her experiences without being overly sentimental or biased.
Insider's View: The book provides an insider's view of the royal court and the challenges faced by Queen Noor as a member of the royal family. Readers found this aspect of the book to be fascinating and insightful, offering a glimpse into a world they may not have known much about before.
Personal Struggles: Queen Noor shares her personal struggles as a young bride in a foreign country, juggling the demands of motherhood with her husband's role as a world statesman. Readers found these aspects of the book to be relatable and admired Queen Noor's strength and resilience in facing these challenges.

Reasons for Recommendation

Unique Perspective: The book provides a unique perspective on the Middle East conflict and offers readers a fresh perspective on the region. This alone makes it worth reading for those interested in politics and international relations.
Engaging Narrative: The book is well-written and engaging, making it easy to read and follow along with Queen Noor's journey. The narrative is clear and concise, making it accessible to readers of all backgrounds.
Personal Struggles: Queen Noor's personal struggles as a young bride and mother are relatable and inspiring. Readers found her strength and resilience in facing these challenges to be particularly compelling.
Insider's View: The book provides an insider's view of the royal court and offers readers an inside look at the life of a queen consort. This aspect of the book adds depth and intrigue to the overall narrative.

Reasons for Not Recommendation

Lack of Personal Expression: Some readers felt that Queen Noor did not express enough personal emotion or opinion in the book. They felt that she toned down her feelings and frustrations, which made it difficult to connect with her on a personal level.
Bias: A few readers felt that Queen Noor's perspective on the Middle East conflict was biased and one-sided, which made it difficult for them to fully engage with the book. They felt that she was overly critical of certain political figures and countries, which detracted from the overall narrative.

Conclusion

"Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life" is a remarkable book that tells the story of an American woman who unexpectedly became Queen of Jordan. Queen Noor speaks candidly about her experiences as a young bride in the royal court, her struggles as a humanitarian activist, and her journey as a mother balancing motherhood with her husband's role as a world statesman. The book provides a unique perspective on the Middle East conflict and offers readers an insider's view of the royal court. While some readers felt that Queen Noor's perspective was biased or lacked personal expression, many found her strength and resilience in facing challenges to be compelling and found the book engaging overall.