Unfortunately the autobiography is boring and somewhat distant and impersonal. Actually, overall the writing is uninspired and quite frankly, flat. Queen Noor, obviously a beautiful, intelligent, well-educated woman uses the book as a platform for spouting some pretty blatant untruths about the modern history of the Middle East. I guess I should have expected that, but it was disappointing nonetheless. I might have gritted my teeth and gotten past her politics if the love story was interesting. But it wasn't simply because the writing was so unemotional and disconnected. As I read the book, it was as if I could hear someone speaking in a monotone voice and it was almost sleep-inducing.

Unfortunately the autobiography is boring and somewhat distant and impersonal. Actually, overall the writing is uninspired and quite frankly, flat. Queen Noor, obviously a beautiful, intelligent, well-educated woman uses the book as a platform for spouting some pretty blatant untruths about the modern history of the Middle East. I guess I should have expected that, but it was disappointing nonetheless. I might have gritted my teeth and gotten past her politics if the love story was interesting. But it wasn't.

Leap of Faith is interesting from the young all American becomes Queen standpoint. It really is amazing that a fairly regular young American woman gains the attention of the King of Jordan and becomes Queen.

It is too bad she was not willing to be more real in her telling of a great story.

The book ends up preaching about Queen Noor's view of the political world and quickly becomes tiresome and boring.

It could have been a very exciting story given her exciting life but she had to go preach to us instead.

Here is a glimpse into Middle East history from someone who was there! My own family members have enjoyed reading it as much as I have; I think shall too!

I must admit; I didn't get very far, but this book is a self serving pack of lies by an apologist for the intransigence of the Arab world. For example, she refers to the "forced migration" of 1948 without ever mentioning that the ones doing the forcing were Arabs who promised their people that if they would get out they would "push the Jews into the sea". Nor does she mention the origin of the name "Palestinian" (hint: it is a Hebrew name).

The saddest thing about the Arab world is that 1000 years ago they had the most advanced civilization on earth, and entirely due to problems of their own making they now preside over one giant hell hole.

But if she came out and admitted this the Hashemite family would be in danger of losing their position of privilege in Transjordan.

I would recommend that anyone who reads this book should also read "Warrior" by Ariel Sharon. At least he knows the history of Israel, Syria, and Egypt.

I have YET to receive my book from this bookseller.....its been 3 weeks and counting..... wish I COULD write a review on the book, guess I will have to go to Barnes and Noble to read it....

Leap of Faith wasn't the Cindarella/Princess Grace story that the media made it out to be. Her family hadn't actually been in America very long, so it wasn't really that drastic of a transition for her to "give up" her life in America to be Queen of Jordan. She had lots of ties to the culture already. Also, her family was pretty well off and had a lot of famous/well to do friends in the Middle East, so she wasn't really making a huge cultural or socio-economic jump. That said, the book gave me a really interesting and important perspective on the recent history and politics of the Middle East from someone who does understand what Americans are thinking as well as what Jordanians are thinking. Like any good biography of a famous person, it made the characters involved seem REAL to me. She starts off going way back, we're talking to Mohammed. It was hard to concentrate on that part, and I like history and non-fiction, but it turns out to be important later, so I found myself wanting to re-read the first chapters and pay more attention. After a text-book like slow start it picks up and is a really fascinating story.

As the Chinese curse goes, Queen Noor has lived in 'interesting times'.

For over 20 years, the former American Lisa Halaby was Queen and consort to Jordan's King Hussein. These decades happen to coincide with some of the most dramatic moments of modern history, to which she was an intelligent witness.

She writes in a crisp, clear manner of her meetings and relationships with other rulers and their spouses, her recollections of pivotal moments in history, and even snippets of her private life (of Presidents having to move baby carriages out of the way to get through the door and of King Hussein's love letters to her).

All together, an easy and compelling read.

I appreciated that her candor was utterly hampered by her situation and her agenda. As the dowager Queen of an Arab country, one that she came to as an American (albeit one who stressed her Arab roots and downplayed her Swedish ones), the Queen is exceedingly careful with her words - and it shows.

'Honor Killings', a reviled tradition still legal AND practiced in Jordan, get about 4 lines from her in comparison to the chapters upon chapters she spends writing about the ways she and the King worked to make things better for all Jordanians and especially the women.

Similarly, she expressed 'shock' at the deep pro-Israeli bias of most Americans, despite having been brought up as an American and one smart enough to have excelled at Princeton.

She even plays down having been a cheerleader in college - an activity that would be utterly at odds with the life of a young Muslim woman (she converted at her wedding) and plays up how natural 'being modest' came to her once she moved to Jordan.

Up front, in the forward of the book, she says that she wrote it to capture her husband's legacy.

As if we couldn't tell.

King Hussein is shown to be unflaggingly pro-Peace and each action he took is painted by his Queen in those terms. Even his hard-line stances - many of which hampered peace between Israel and Jordan for many years - were interpreted in terms of a long-run view and care for his people.

As for those aspects of the King that would have made him 'foreign' or 'unlikable' to an American or English audience - his many rumored affairs, his need to control the press and his own image, his imperious temper, his infamous extravagances (how many homes did he actually own?), his conviction in his own divinity... these Queen Noor sweeps away with a sweep of her pen.

However, the whitewash does not eradicate a deeper truth - King Hussein was an amazing figure of history and his devotion to peace among all Arabs as well as peace among all peoples was as obvious as it was noble. Luckily, he was in a position to do something about it - and he did.

Strip away everything else, and it is this that Queen Noor does an absolutely fantastic job of framing. Giving the King's perspective and motivation a clear, relatable voice that made this unbalanced but intelligently written book more than I thought it would be

When reading a memoir of someone I expect it to revolve around them. I was a bit disappointed in that this book seemed to revolve aroung Noors position to her husband. There was some discussion about her and her feelings but I felt the majority was about politics and her husband.

This book is not only a story of Queen Noor's life as Queen and the challenges that came with it, but it is a wonderful introduction to the history of the conflict in the Middle East. There are things our media does not show, or accurately represent, and she provides a window into such events and the history of what led up to them. It is a wonderfully written book, and I appreciate her effort in helping the Western world understand more of the conflict and frustrations that the Islamic community faces. I also appreciate her effort in bringing awareness of the Arabic culture in a time where many aspects of Islamic life have been misconstrued.

This is the autobiogarphy of Queen Noor, the third wife of the late King Hussein of Jordan. Queen Noor, was born and raised in America. Just prior to her marriage to King Hussein, she converted to Islam. Her story is, of necessity, personal, political, and religous all at the same time.

The personal story, especially, the early years, is fascinating. There is no question that her love for her husband is genuine and deep. However, the personal story gets tedious is place. (We visited this place and met so and so, and it rained etc.)

The political story may enlighten some readers to the "Palestian" cause and certainly there is some truth to her point. Yet, the "Palestinian cause" is accepted uncritically. For instance, she recounts an incident where her husband forgave Yasser Arafat and the palestinians for causing a civil war in Jordan. One wonders how the court of history would have changed if her husband had not been so forgiving. She also informs the reader how very much, in the Muslim world, Sadat was despised for signing a peace treaty with Israel. Again one wonders how history would have changed if Hussein had followed Sadat's lead.


There is also much in the book about her role in the ecomonic development in Jordan. In the afterword, she makes a point how such development promotes peace. This is very much true, but the point should have been clearly stated in the body of the book.

The religious story shows that her conversion to Islam is real. Her pilmigrage after her husband's death was clearly a moving experience. Yet, she does not explain why in Islam, except in a few special mosques, men and women worship seperately. Why can't the husband and wife listen to an Iman's sermon together? She does not provide any justification for the "seperate but equal"
religious practice in Islam.

Overall impression: If it wasn't for the repetitive royal travels, I would give this book five stars. There are unanswered questions, but this does not distract from the book's importance.

What a remarkable woman, wonderful book that gave me a better understanding of the Middle East.....High recommend read.

Interesting read. Well written. However, I would like to have read more on her personal life; children, home life, etc., than on political happenings. Too much focus on politics, for my liking.

Lot's of books teach you things. If read with an open mind, this book changes your perspective toward the muslim world. The book is a very easy and enjoyable read, especially for someone in the same age group as Queen Noor as she relates her experiences during these times that we have all lived through. She shows how she used the principles of peace and love, which we marched for in the 60's and early 70's, in her journey as the Queen of Jordan. Her story is inspiring and enlightening. She says her husband, the King, spent his life dedicated to those principles. For the past six years in this country we have gone through a period of demonization by the administration, and often by the media as well, of any non-christians, especially muslims. This book shows that moderate muslims are just like moderate christians and believe that their relegion teaches to relate to others with compassion and love. Just like in Christianity, the real "silent majority" is not the fundamentalists.

I found this to be an interesting history lesson from a very different perspective. I learned quite a lot about the history of the conflict in the Middle East. It isn't a fast read because you have to digest it as you go.

Lisa Halaby was born in 1951 to a privileged and influential Arab-American family. Upon graduation from Princeton, she worked as an architect and urban planner in several countries, including Jordan. Through her father, she met King Hussein, and after a brief courtship, married him in 1978 and became Queen Noor. She converted to Islam, learned Arabic, had four children, and worked tirelessly for the betterment of her new country. Though she disliked having her life described as a fairy tale, outwardly it certainly seemed to be one.

In her memoirs, the Queen alternates between describing the turbulent and frightening political times of the seventies and eighties, with very personal stories of her family life. She is protective and respectful of her husband, family, and country, and still paints a realistic picture of the challenges she faced adjusting to royal life. Her marriage lasted 21 years, until her beloved husband's death from cancer. She describes him as a loving and dedicated ruler and father. She comes across as an intelligent, hard-working, and articulate lady. Her story is so well-written, I could not put it down. A unique look into a fascinating "unexpected life."

It seems that the entire book is trying to convey her political beliefs. I thought it would be about her life only - which sounds so interesting but there's too many politically inclined comments.

This book is absolutely amazing! Written so poignantly and eloquently about Queen Noor's life in the Middle East. She gives an inside look, or backstage pass, if you will, to her life. Which at times can be very mundane and funny and sad. Queen Noor is someone I would love to have lunch with I think she is so fascinating in her accomplishments as a Queen to a country that most of us don't understand. I, too, would have hesitated marrying someone that is head of a country and already has 8 kids where 4 of them still lived at home. She has handled her life with the upmost grace that I think even Grace Kelly would have been in awe of her presence. I thank her for allowing us to see a glimpse of her life and I feel honored. I have walked away with a new understanding that not all leaders of the Middle East think alike and thank goodness for that!! What a gift she has given the World!

Armed with a background in history, anthropology, sociology, psychology, religon, arts, physics, engineering -- obviously, a well-rounded person, Lisa Halaby had all the makings necessary to make a beloved Queen of Jordan!
The major "plus" was her degree in architecture! What more could one ask for in perfect credentials, for a wife and monarch!

I read this book when it first came out. I cannot tell you how many people I had suggested to read this book -- all of whom
raved about it. At the time, it was the best book I ever read!!! (Being a librarian, and a certified archivist, believe me, I have read many books!)


Page 42 sheds light on middle eastern affairs to the world of those who are not enlightened to the whys and mechanics of certain centuries-old hatreds thereby resulting in never-ending conflicts. Queen Noor sums
it up for the layman:
"Living in Tehran, I also became aware of the depth of religious fervor among the Shi'a branch of Islam, which is centered in Iran. I learned that the major difference between the Shi'a and Sunni branches of Islam is the issue of the right of succession from the Prophet Muhammad. When the Prophet died in A.D. 632, a majority of his followers believed that the Prophet's father-in-law, Abu Bakr, should be their spiritual leader. Another group believed that his rightful successor was his cousin and son-in-law, Ali. The latter group eventually formed the Shi'at Ali, the Party of Ali, and persisted in their belief that only Ali, his male heirs, or the members of the Prophet's household could be the rightful spiritual leader, or caliph, of Islam. However, the Sunni Muslims, who greatly outnumbered them, chose the caliph on merit by consensus. Despite the gulf between these two branches of Islam, they both viewed the Hashimites as spiritual leaders.
The rift between Shi'ites and Sunnis escalated into violence in A.D. 680. After Imam Ali died, his son, Imam Hussein, received word in Mecca that the self-proclaimed new Umayyad caliph in Damascus was corrupt and a drunkard, and was not fit to be the spiritual leader of the Muslim world. Despite warnings from his advisers, Imam Hussein left the Hejaz (a region on the western coast of the Arabian Peninsula) with is family and a small army to challenge the spiritually corrupt caliph. In the bloody confrontation that followed, Imam Hussein was ambushed and murdered with seventy of his followers and family at Karbala in southern Iraq. By giving his life for Islam, Hussein became a shaheed, or martyr, central to the Shi'ite identity as oppressed and persecuted, and Karbala, where he is buried, became a holy place of pilgrimage. Since then the story of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein has played a key role in Shi'a religious thought and ritual, which also includes the staging of Shi'a Muslim 'passion plays' that recount that tragic day in Imam Hussein's life to large crowds on the day of Ashura."

... and so, this woman with all this high-fluent credentials, does not put on airs, writing for the common man to understand complex issues of the ages.
(I must say, I found it interesting, in the end, she wished her own son to be crowned king, knowing fully aware of the "line of succession" but could one blame the love of a mother for her son, wishing it for him? I think not.)

I found humorous her mention of the "... bright blue EXCALIBUR..."(page 49) -- YOU may read her story with regard to this; as our neighbors had one and it is my favorite "dream" car, and I could understand whole-heartedly why she would NOT want to go behind the wheel!
"Even now, on our honeymoon, politics had become our constant companion. From those days onward, wherever we would go in the world, a black shortwave radio as large as a briefcase would sit on the nightstand, our waking and nightly connection to current events..."
[Page 114].
"Electricity and telephone service failed in the violence, shutting off Jordan from the outside world. Foreign journalists holed up in Amman somehow got news out, but because their sources were the PLO, their reports were slanted. It fell to King Hussein, an avid ham radio operator, to use his radio to communicate information on the situation. Sharing information with other ham radio oerators around the world... he would always have a small ham radio unit set up in our house, be it in England, the mountains of Austria, or Washington, D.C..."
"... in 1970, his hobby actually played a useful role, as it would again when he saved a ship from sinking off Hong Kong. In that instance, the Port Authority in Hong Kong harbor had no idea that there was a ship in distress 200 miles offshore. For some reason, they could no receive the ship's distress signals, but Hussein did and managed to get the information to the proper authorities. In 1970, however, the radio served as his own lifeline." [page 121].
I know one of the gentleman The King befriended via the Ham radio, Henk Orie from Holland. On one of Henk's sites is a photograph of King Hussein. When I read about his hobby, I thought of he and Henk!
Her memoirs drew another chuckle reading
Page 226:
"'Let's live in a tent. If our forefathers were able to do it, why can't we? Think of all that fresh air and waking up in the morning with the sunrise.' At least we could have chosen where we wanted out tent to be. (The idll would not have lasted long, however since Hussein would have insisted on bringing along a noisy generator, as he did whenever we camped out.)"
"Foul" brought back fond memories of our consuming it in MISR! (page 51).
I liked her wording on page 51 "... They were not deperately driven by material or social needs because they had everything they needed within their own family..."
Page 52 regards "Jordan is quite the melting pot...""... Jordan also provided refuge over hundreds of years for many ethnic minorities fleeing political persecution and violence..."
... and on that note, to whom ever may be reading this, I suggest considering -- what does religion profess...?
PEACE and LOVE!
... and reading Queen Noor's book,
I could not help but ponder
Charles Caleb Colton's quote:
"Men will wrangle for religion; write for it; fight for it; die for it; anything but--live for it."
Queen Noor's book certainly makes one THINK!
Page 104 states she "... had committed my life to my husband and to Jordan, with all its demands and responsibilities, its frustrations and setbacks, its victories and disappointments. I had taken a leap of faith, and faith has richly rewarded me."
A MUST-READ! ... and it is STILL the best book I have ever read!

I read this book because I wanted to read a woman's perspective of living and working in the middle east.

I was fascinated by her decision to marry King Hussein of Jordan and her learning to become a public figure. I think some issues were glossed over. I hoped there would be more details about the transition from being a United States citizen to becoming Jordanian.

I truly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it.

After great reviews, I was dissapointed in this book. It was dry which made it difficult to follow.

A lovingly written account of Queen Noor's life prior to, during, and after life with King Hussein of Jordan. Although she was born into a privileged life, she showed great humility and compassion to others.

An excellent book, a lovingly written account of Queen Noor's life with King Hussein of Jordan, and an excellent source of history of the creation of the State of Israel.

I ordered this book along with the Hollywood 24-Hr. Miracle Diet. The book was originally packed in the same box with the 3 bottles of the liquid diet. One of the 3 bottles of the Hollywood Diet broke open and leaked all over the box and ruined the book. I returned the book with the one open bottle of the diet along with the two unopened bottles of the diet.

In the future I suggest your employees pack liquid items securely and separately from other items so they do not move all over the box and break open ruining the other items that are shipped along with the liquid items.

I requested a replacement copy of the book which I received.

Truthfully I did not finish this book. It was an autobiography (or memoir) that states the writer's opinions as fact. She was born after the Israeli wars but describes them as if she was present at the time. Queen Noor's disdain (if not hatred) for Israel glares from every page.

As an American of Queen Noor's generation, I have been marinated in the endless two note coverage of the Middle East: Isreal-small-but-plucky-nation-ruthlessly-beseiged-by-evil-arab-nations, and Blood-thirsty-insane-evil-Palestinians-perpetrate-yet-more-suicide-attacks-designed-only-to-harm-innocents: and I have to admit, the sheer monotony has been wearing on my last nerve. Not only that, but it was really really hard not to notice the obscene overkill of the Israeli response in 2006 to the Lebanese Hezbollah kidnapping of some poor Israeli kid sporting the latest in active duty military gear according to the legal mandate of his country.

So there I was, at the local public library in my neighborhood ... which just happens to be one of the most thinly stocked local libraries I've ever had the misfortunate of living nearby (but I digress)... hunting a decent read for the upcoming weekend. After scanning the six shelves of science fiction, the cookbooks, and the travelogues, I pondered the autobiographies. And there it was, something that seemed reasonably current, and yet somehow pertinent not only to my life (the Queen is exactly ten years my senior), but relevant to global news what with the "war on terror" and the on-going Iraq war. Great.

Which is exactly what I got. A readable autobiography skimming the early years of Lisa Halaby's life (American-born cultural hodge-podge) and quickly diving into the story: Her meeting with Hussein, her life and family with Hussein, and her own unique perspective on what happened with the people, politics and culture of the Middle East during her years as the Queen of Jordan.

Of course you get a biased view of Middle-Eastern politics. But, then... that's what we're consistently fed by the popular media anyway. So if we're getting the story from the other side, it might be time to suck it up and consider the possiblity that there are two radically different perspectives on what has and is happening... and that both have valid points. That's not to say this book is some kind of victim-mentality diatribe. Its report of the Arab world's struggle for peace, equity, and internal transformation is balanced and credible - due mainly to the fact that Noor's narrative is reflective, compassionate, and rational. Her understanding of the events and issues just happens to be little more profound and personal than most reportage on the issues at hand.

All in all, this a highly palatable way of reviewing recent history in the Middle East, and learning a little bit about Arab involvement in environmental and social reforms. While I'm not usually drawn to autobiographies, I would recommend this one highly, both as entertainment, and as a means of broadening your world view.

This book puts a lot of the middle east politics and US politics and policies into a clearer light and is an amazing story of the daughter of the head of the FAA marrying a direct decendent of Mohammad, King Hussein. I really couldn't believe when people like Ted Turner would pop up out of nowhere in this book and show up in Jordan. It's a small world...

This book will make you laugh, cry, and more...

There is even a scene in this book when King Hussein is trying to woo Noor and he is playing ABBA in the kitchen of hte palace and he's singing her, "Take A Chance On Me"... It's amazingly great reading.

This is a pretty long autobiography, but Queen Noor has led a pretty interesting life so it makes sense. The story is not simply about her and King Hussein, but her role as a Queen and what she was able to accomplish during her time in Jordan. Although she talks about her husband very lovingly, I didn't `feel' the romance in this story. It wasn't a fairy tale to me - it seemed more as though she was subservient to her husband and that she basically did as she was told. I don't think it was a great as we are led to believe by the media. Thankfully, the focus is mostly on the Middle East region and its struggles. The book was a good way to learn about the region and was a pretty interesting read.

I had not realized to what extent these memoirs would actually provide a historical, and yes, to some degree, subjective prospective of the crisis in the Middle East. As someone already with an interest in Arab culture, I enjoyed it. (I live in an area possessing the largest Arab population outside of the Middle East, and went to school with many kids from this background.)

I was amused by some of the negative reviews. Noor did not refuse to acknowledge Israel's right to exist, and in fact, correctly attributed the seeds of the whole Jewish-Arab conflict to the European meddling in the early 20th century. She is correct that prior to the British mandate, Arabs, Jews and Christians all co-existed in the region. She also pointed out the documented instances of Israel's over-retaliation, and their perrenial disregard of UN Resolutions that could've done much to temper the volatility in the region. (There is no need for her to detail Palestinian aggressive responses, as they have been media fodder all along. However, she does relate these instances as well.)

The review from the person who quit after page 37, to say nothing of the reviewer who announced that the book "sucked", is hilarious. Heaven forbid they might have learned something. Maybe Danielle Steele is more their speed. But now I'm reviewing the reviews and that is not my intention.

Overall, it is a fascinating account of a woman transplanted into nearly surreal circumstances against the backdrop of global events - and her struggle to achieve a balance professionally and personally.

This book is not meant to be merely a love story. It is meant to enlighten the side of a conflict that has been given an all too biased facade over the past 60 years.

Complaints over the lack of personal expression also bemuse me. Were readers actually expecting a detailed accounting of their intimate moments from a woman whose faith circumscribes modesty and piousness? I think her emotional reactions over different events from the marital to the political are quite warmly well-expressed.

Her observations over the stereotypical ways Arabs are portrayed in movies and TV are definitely on, and something I had already noticed myself.

I especially appreciated the point about obsession in other parts of the world with the truly absurd. While in that part of the world, civilians were dying or being displaced everyday, the newsstory du jour in the US was the "assault" on Nancy Kerrigan. We do have a distorted view of the value of pop culture.

Her speeches, some of which are published on her official website, show her eloquence and ongoing mission to bring about, not just sympathy for the Palestinians per se, but the necessity of widened understanding among all opposing groups.

If you were looking for something more like an Andrew Morton book ala Diana, this ain't it.

She fell in love with the King of a small, poor kingdom in a war torn region and was a trooper to the end.

What little I knew of the King included his survival of multiple assassination attempts, his moderate stands, and his change in succession plans just prior to his death.

This book was an eye opener in many ways. For starters, I was unaware that this country with 5 million people has absorbed 1.5 million refugees... and that Jordan paid the teachers and other gov. employees in the West Bank into the late 1980s.

King Hussein was constantly betrayed by his Moslem brothers: Quddafi dines with him one night and plots to kill him soon after, Arafat virtually makes war on him, and Mubarak cuts him diplomatically. I was unaware of the ramifications of the Egypt-Isreal peace for Jordan. King Hussein was marginalized by the west, he at one time learns the fate of his country on CNN. He and Queen Noor never let any of this deter their commitment to peace in the region.

The Queen has to put up with a lot besides the region's nasty politics. Jordan's parliament will not remove an honor killing statute. Hard liners try to abolish her Ramadan fast breaking with women (who should be home cooking) and rid Jordan of an annual festival. The tabliods won't let her alone. She has step children from two other mothers, and at one point they give her a list of grievances.

I was unaware of the "networking" among contemporary royals. The Husseins hob nob with and receive gifts from monarchs the world over.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in the Middle East. It's a little lengthy, but I don't know where it should be cut. It presents the story from the Arab point of view, a view is certainly overshadowed and undermined, not only by the well financed lobbyists that the Queen writes about, but also by suicide bombs, other acts of terrorism and Moslem treatment of women.

In the begining I thought the book was a little slow, but it picked up and soon I could not put it down. I have a great interest in middle eastern history and current affairs so to me the book was very informative and educational. I also liked the easy yet intelligent way that Queen Noor expressed herself. I think this book is best suited for someone who is interested in learning more about middle eastern politics and or culture and also for people that would like to read about a woman who is strong and successful.I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest for learning about Middle Eastern society in general.

If you have any desire to be proud of what women can achieve as they raise families and lead the world in diplomacy than this is the read of the year! This is a very enjoyable tale and it is ten times better on AUDIO.

Queen Noor is one of only two women on the planet to see her husband and her son be reined in as the Supreme leader of a Nation. The other was Barbara Bush. Queen Noor was a US citizen before her Marriage to her husband who became the Shaw. This book is a great insight into a love story that also bound two countries together during some very tumultuous times. She gives the reader a unique insight on the duties of becoming a Queen, being a national diplomat that is also dragging little kids around the planet, and trying to create paths for women to make money through small business grants. You will not be disappointed by this one.

No offense to her but the book could have been 1/10th the size. I'm interested in history but it was more like being force-fed castor oil - after pages and pages of Jordanian history. Lady Annabel, An Unconventional Life, does the memoir of someone 'important' much better. Seems like Queen Noor is afraid to either reveal to us or to herself what she was really feeling, thinking and doing and that, to me, is the essence of a good memoir. The book reads as if she's surrounded by body guards who won't let her really tell her life story.

A Leap of Faith

Years ago, when the marriage of Lisa Halaby was in all of the newspapers I vaguely paid attention. The stuff of fairy tale weddings didn't really interest me. Given the current place of world politics it was a story that is much more interesting that I had originally thought.

I enjoyed the account of her parents marriage. It wasn't all sugar and lovey-dovey. It seemed to be an honest account of two very human beings who married, raised children and struggled with issues of race, politics, and things that other people may not have had to worry about that eventually made their relationship an impossibility. It reminded me a little of Alice Walker and her white Jewish ex-husband. It was refreshing in these days of Beaver Cleaver families.

The way she described herself was interesting. She seemed like a very likeable person and not at all like most female 'royalty' (not that I know any to make that distinction) that I have read about in biographies or autobiographies.

Her version of the events that have occured in Jordan were obviously those of her late husband's. It is interesting that he would have the ability to tell his side of the story after his death through her retelling. From some of the reviews, many disagree with them. I cannot count for the veracity but it is interesting to note that by telling your story through your widow you can afford to make both sides angry with you and tell a straight story. It seems as if Jordan has been caught many times in the middle and we all know how uncomfortable that can be especially in the middle east. It would seem sometimes that history in the middle east can vary greatly with the historian.

There was one part that I thought she was a little out of touch with reality. It was the part about the kidnapped young brides. In days with the human trade being what it is I don't think that many young girls would be that impressed with being kidnapped anymore. I could be wrong, but it seems that many youth are becoming disenchanted by arranged marriages.

I enjoyed it and would recommend it for anyone.

Within the first pages I knew this was a boring account of what must have been an interesting life. After page 37 I called it quits. Why struggle through it when there are so many great books to read? Her writing reflects her demeanor in interviews. Guarded. Expressionless. Unemotional. DO NOT waste your time on this. It stinks.

This book is both a love stor and accounts of Queen Nora's reign and of King Hussein's long and intimate contact with the politics of the Mideast. Having read the book, I feel I've learned about the Mideast from the perspective of Arabs, a point of view I've not had in the U.S. coverage in the press and from our government. I highly recommend reading this book for a full appreciation of what's going on in the Mideast.

Queen Noor is an amazing woman and reading her story is so uplifting! She writes about her life, her challenges and the difficulties she and the Arab people have faced. A definite must read for anyone who values love, courage, faith and freedom. Long live the Queen!

Take it for what it is - a one-sided narrative, grinding the Palistinian axe all the way. However, between the condemnations of Israel and the lionization of all things Hussein, there is a very interesting story being told. The history of the Israeli-Palistinian conflict is presented, and the facts are not 100% neglected - I learned much among the rhetoric. Still, it's amusing how the Queen presents every Israeli "atrocity" as unprovoked and undeserved. For me, it was an interesting chance to hear the other side of the story, and gain some understanding of the Palestinian mindset. Even if it ignores salient facts and destorts even more, this is the story that the Palistinian youths are told - it's no wonder they are predisposed against Israel!

I expected to read a sweet, fun, and touristy book, how a young American princess came to help govern an important country. In a King and I type read, I expected to see Queen Noor as the voice of reason, expressing love for her country, but counseling moderation and understanding. I expected her to explain how countries of various faiths and beliefs could co-exist if only Israel withdrew from the occupied territories. Her views surpised me.

She does not acknowledge the right of Israel to exist or the legitimacy of the country. For hardliners in Israel who believe that withdrawal would be regarded as a step towards the elimination of Israel, he book would be exhibit 1. She explains how the establishment of Israel was questionable, but ignores some basic points you would expect a college-educated queen to at least discuss.

There are approxiamtely 20 countries in the middle east, 19 of which are Arab or Moslem. Having a single small, Jewish country in the area does not seem unduly burdensome or unfair. The 1 is too many analysis seems difficult to sustain.

Jews obviously point to the horrors of the holocaust and how they sought one Jewish country they could call their own, but she found the immigration from Germany in the 1930's an annoyance. "The steady influx of Jewish immigrants became a flood after the Nazis took over Germany in 1933." She is annoyed at the choice of Jewish men, women and children to survive is apparent.

She envisions an Arabic state in Israel where Jews are free to worship. Yet she never explains how this would come to pass when Jewish temples have been destroyed in Arab countries like Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, and Jews prohibit from worship is certain areas.

Her analysis tends to be sketchy but paradoxically she tells the reader of her tremendous knowledge, insight, and intellectual skills.

Some of the book is interesting and you can trace her visits with various world leaders. Her husband is not regarded as a bad man and he apparently grasped the nuances of the Middle East better than she. She might have acknowledged and intelligently examined the various obstacles to peace. Instaed, all that can be said in her defense is that the book was apparently heavily censored, and that she took pains not to present political positions that could be troubling to some.

This is a disappointing, self-serving attempt at revisionist history in an attempt to glorify Queen Noor and King Hussein. She paints herself and her husband as saints who fail to elevate Jordon from a third world, impoverished, war torn country only because all the leaders of the world are against them and lie to them repeatedly. According to Noor, all Jordon's actions are taken with pure altruistic motives, trying to induce peace into the world. Queen Noor has no reservations about distorting history to paint King Hussein as the only world leader with good intentions. Like so many leftist liberals, she views the United States' aid to Jordon, forgiving Jordon's debt, and providing US weapon systems to Jordon as entitlements. Her one-sided view of the Arab/Palistinian cause is laughable.

This book is a fascinating read because of the fact that until she married King Hussein of Jordan, Queen Noor was an ordinary American woman. She was raised as an American and was a citizen until she was approximately 26 years old when she wedded King Hussein; Jordan; and Islam.
What is truly remarkable about this book is that Queen Noor is, by all accounts an intelligent, educated woman who has seen a great deal of the world. Yet, accordig to her autobiography, she manages to immediately incorporate the Arab / Islamic tribal ideology into her life and thoughts, completely supplanting her American upbringing.
She manages to relate heart-warming anecdotes when writing about her experiences with various personalities and countries throughout the world. She notes the tender human foibles of various people such as Arafat and Khaddafi and the leaders of Syria, even as she writes about how they tried to murder her husband, King Hussein.
However, throughout her paen to Jordan and the Arab world, she does not have a single complimentary or kind word to say about anything relating to Israel or even Judaism. It is astonishing that an American women could so immerse herself in the tribal hatreds of the region that she cannot even mention that Israeli jets saved Jordan from invasion by Syria during the Black September uprising.
She constantly belittles and accuses Israel and the "Zionist lobby" in the United States of the most gross callousness and cruelties, whether Israel is "disproportionately" reacting to "fedayeen raids" by the PLO from Jordan, or whether Israel is making peace with Egypt. In Queen Noor's world, Israel is the villain responsible for the insanities of Saddam Hussein and the venal money grubbing ways of the Saudi oil Sheikdom.
Whereas I would not recommend this book to anyone who is uniformed about the Middle East, for those wishing to try and understand the rigid tribal and clan warlord mentality of the Arabs, this is and excellent read.

This is one of the worst autobiographies that I've read. I couldn't even finish it. Queen Noor obviously doesn't have any literary talents because her narration is flat and unemotional. It is almost as if she has removed herself from the events in the story and has offered us a highly guarded and censored version of what happened in her life. This, coupled with the worst literary style I have ever seen in an autobiography make this book a really horrible read.
And for those of you who are buying the book to see "the other side" of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, please don't be fooled. The Jordanian Royal family, like all the other Arab regimes is corrupt and viewed as illegitimate by most of the country's population. They have stolen billions from their people and continue to rule in the ancient monarchial style that the people of the Middle East despise. They are known for torturing civilians and for their strong relations with Saddam's corrupt Ba'athi regime. A person from such a family is hardly qualified to be giving the Arab and Muslim viewpoint on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Moreover, the Jordanian government is viewed as a traitor to the Palestinian cause because of its strong relationship to Israel. And this is not only the view taken by hardliners but by the majority of intellectuals in the Arab worlds. Arabs that are pro-democratic are against their corrupt regimes and would like to see them all go. There is a consensus in the Arab world about this whether you are an islamic radical or a westernized intellectual
When Queen Noor described King Hussain as a Pan-Arabist, I couldn't help but laugh because he that is something that he definately is not. Neither is he highly respected because he is a descendant of the prophet. In fact the only people who mention the importance of this is the Royal Family of Jordan.
Buy this book if you want to be bored and uninformed..

The book "Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life" by Queen Noor arrived within a short period of time in very good condition. I would order books from Joanne's Bookstore again.

I decided to buy a copy of Leap of Faith despite the negative reviews on amazon. This is a very candid memoir by a person that has little experience in writing. The book is well written and is easy to read. I found the history easy to follow since I was raised in the Middle East. I wouldn't take every word at face value though; most of the facts have been sugar-coated and are obviously biased. Having said that, I empathize with Noor's stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which I know is a huge morass. Everything said and done it's worth a read. I enjoyed it for sure.

Queen Noor of Jordan's "Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life," chronicled the Queen's journey from a young American, virtually unknown to become the only American woman to become a Queen. She started the memoir with her early life, moving from city to city due to her father's work and how she met the King Hussein and eventually won his heart. She wrote about the difficulties of being married to such an important man as well as being the stepmother to his children from his three previous marriages. Queen Noor provided lots of information concerning the Middle East history as well as politics which I thought was interesting even if it seems one-sided.

I thought this was a rather interesting memoir to read about an American woman's unusual journey. I especially enjoy the personal aspects of her memoirs, such as her relationship with King Hussein as well as her acceptance towards Islam as her religion. Towards the middle of her book, Queen Noor focused quite exclusively to the Middle East politics at that time, writing on King Hussein's foreign and diplomatic policies. There were definitely insights into the various decisions that King Hussein made in "Leap of Faith." It was also interesting to learn about the difficulties that both King Hussein and Queen Noor went through during the Kuwait invasion by Iraq where Jordan was isolated from their allies. This is definitely a fascinating read to learn and understand the journey of an American woman who became such a huge influence in the Middle East region.

I was greatly disappointed in this tedious tome and find it ironic that the queen once aspired to be a journalist. her writing style is flat and colorless and her caution drains any romance from her story.

The Queen is exceedingly cautious in revealing anything about her personal life. Although she hints that raising all those children was, at times, problematic, she does not go into any detail. There is a suggestion of suspicion of adultery, which is glossed over. Similarly, she fails to flesh out life and politics in the palace and the challenges of a young woman placed in a royal setting. Instead she focuses on all the perceived wrongs and misconceptions about her husband and rehashes the old rhetoric about Israel. Earth to Noor, Israel is there now, they are not leaving any time soon.

Her flat prose did dilute my anger to mere disgust on her apparent rejection of America,its traditions and the Christian culture.(Funny, how she chose to educate her children in the US and England and enjoy lavish homes in both countries.) Absent was any condemnation of terrorism or appreciation for advantages she enjoyed in this culture. Despite her whining about how wonderful and underappreciated her husband was, it appears that some of the criticism is on target. Additionally it appears that when the mood hit him, he would just buy a new residence, despite the apparent poverty of his people and the Palistinians.

This guarded account should have come wrapped in a burka.

I just finished reading the book.. it touched me deeply to see through Queen Noor's eyes ,an American who returned to her homeland to marry the king, n a fairy tale kind of way -although am not a great fan of fairy tales but it was a nice romantic side of the story...
And it really touched me ...knowing about her husband what a great man he was, both on human and political levels.
King Hussein remained vague to the eastern and western worlds all the same... Sometimes was considered an enemy even to his own people... so to see for the 1st time what took him to do what he did... trying in his own way to achieve the balance between the east and the west.. it took him his life!
n his open- minded approach the eastern world considered him so many things far from the truth.. he was the liar, the friend-to-the-enemy and even a traitor... but the thing was that he never explained himself-maybe- thinking that his intentions were obvious and understandable.
I can't think of it as anything less than heartbreaking that someone would waste his whole life, devoted to achieve something for his people, and at the end he remains misunderstood and questioned. He was set to achieve something great and at the end his business remained unfinished , his efforts unnoticed and his accomplishments denied.
I know that this book discusses the political events n a new light, different from the Arab point of view and the western point of view... but history can be told in so many different ways... everyone claims that his way is the right one.. one can never know ..so if u can't think of "leap of faith" as a great book or a touching biography just think of it as another way to tell history.

As you can see from other reviewers, this is no objective view of the Middle East. It's a highly-readable romance novel with an upside personal view of personal experience and history, with few bothersome negative details.

Clearly, Queen Noor has a touchy domestic audience to consider and both the Royal family and Jordan's role in recent history are a little too one-sided to be credible to anyone seeking a balanced personal viewpoint.

That said, this was an enjoyable read despite more than a few "wait a minute, that's not how I remember this" moments when she strays into details about politics, war and international relations.

The story of Queen Noor's life reads like a romance novel- well, not the usual romance novel, because in this one, the ordinary girl marries the King of a nation created by Western powers in the wake of WWII who manages to survive amidst countries run by murdurous dictators by willingly bowing to the demands of whomever has the largest army at his door. A King whose country subsumed "Arab Palestine" and yet who can pretend to be a defender of the Palestinians.

Of course that's really of no interest to the readers of this book, who see Queen Noor with the same unjaundiced eye they cast towards the late Princess Diana, another fairy-tale princess- at least in the legend created by her hoarde of press agents and promoters.

But if a fairy tale is what you're looking for- you'll certainly find it here.

Queen Noor writes eloquently as she shares from the heart the solutions to unite humanity through peace, rather than weapons and war.
I found her courage and heartfelt intentions throughout the book to help raise awareness of the culture she married into, in order to bridge the gap between cultures in the Arab world, that is obviously wide and in dire need of peaceful resolution.

She is humble and gracious, highly educated and carries her mission to unite with her heart, rather than an ego gain for might and domineering power.
She is an example to emulate. Her book is an outstanding read.