I was browsing the new shelf in our small branch library when a book caught my eye. Upon further investigation I discovered that the book was sequel to an “international best seller” about the author’s childhood. Our little branch library HAD the first book too, so I checked both out.
From the book jacket:
“Malika Oufkir has spent virtually her whole life as a prisoner. Born in 1953, the eldest daughter of General Oufkir, the King of Morocco’s closest aide, Malika was adopted by the King at the age of five, and was brought up as the companion to his little daughter. Spending most of her childhood and adolescence in the seclusion of the court harem, Malika was one of the most eligible heiresses in the kingdom, surrounded by luxury and extraordinary privilege.
“Then on August 16th, 1972, her father was arrested and executed after an attempt to assassinate the King. Malika, her five siblings, and her mother were immediately imprisoned in a penal colony. After fifteen years, the last ten of which they spent locked up in solitary cells, the Oufkir children managed to dig a tunnel with their bare hands and make a daring escape...though they were recaptured after only five days of freedom. Malika was finally able to leave Morocco and begin a new life in exile in 1996.
“*Stolen Lives* is a heart-rending account of resilience in the face of extreme deprivation, of the courage and even humor with which one family faced their tormented fate. A shocking true story, it is hard to comprehend that it could have happened in our own times. “
I found *Stolen Lives* haunting. I found myself contemplating what I had been doing those same 20 years when Malika was imprisoned for the crimes of her father. I did not agree with all her religious thoughts, life-style or such…but I did find this book to be an incredible story and one that will stay with me for years to come.
I just went looking for a photo to post with this and discovered that this book is an “Oprah Book of the Month”. ::snort:: I swore off Oprah’s books years ago as I found the two I read to be incredibly dark, strange, immoral and depressing. I’m glad there was no “O” on the cover of my library’s edition, I’m not sure I would have read it. Silly, but true.
6 comments:
LOL, just that "Oprah" comment is enough to make me hesitate! I was just about ready to go to my library website and request! I still will, but with a little more caution!
I'm doing so well on my reading this month that I feel like I have plenty of "down" time later this year, and I don't have to keep up the same pace!
:)
Years ago I also tried to read some of Oprah's suggested readings but I also couldn't handle many of them. I can't even remember the last one I read. The book looks interesting and intriguing .. I will put it on my list.
The ONLY Oprah-recommended book I ever read was Cold Mountain and yes, it lived up (down) to your description.
I think I'd been spoilt by years of Sonlight books!
I believe that Morocco still has the world last Absolute Monarch.
Dorothy
The book was good. I think it is an eye opener to those who have never seen or lived in a country with wide-spread human rights violations. She's very matter of fact about what they experienced....not lots of details...for instance in the second book (which I started yesterday) she says "molesting hands of guards" but never described those scenes.....in other words I don't feel that she sensationalizes her experiences.
I was really SURPRISED yesterday to find that this was an O book....because it's not on either of the covers at our library. LOL
I'm really liking the second book so far....had to laugh at her experience in a grocery store in Paris as it mirrored my reactions to the grocery stores in America when I first moved back here. LOL
I've read a few "Oprah" books and came to the same conclusion...no happy endings!
I will try these on your recommendation. Thanks for the review.
De'Etta, do you think this would be okay for Bessie to read (14yo). She enjoys this type of book. You mentioned that it wasn't too graphic in it's discriptions. What do you think?
She usually grabs the books before I get to read them.
Post a Comment