jiujensu's reviews
446 reviews

Same as the first, I couldn't stop reading it, but it's not that great. Some characters are too flat, some plots/resolutions are contrived, characters do things that are really out of character, etc. It does hold one's attention, though! The Amish are interesting.Spoiler warning!I was disappointed that the whole Katie imposter thing ended by the imposter suddenly leaving. We were led to believe that she was really committed to getting the money and it was a bit wierd that she just left. That plot was pretty good (she arrives to find an imposter and instead gets a job as a maid), I thought, until the anticlimatic resolution. The Alyson and Dylan characters weren't really that well developed, though they played pretty big roles. Also we were led to believe Dylan was pretty devious, but he and Alyson just up and leave for a quick, neat, contrived resolution. That could have used more drama.

I already knew most of this stuff, so it wasn't a great book. I should have read it closer to when it came out I suppose. Or not read so much about the election.

There were some tidbits of interesting behind the scenes drama. It basically reinforces that we picked the right guy for president for sure. Beyond a doubt.

The attacks on Obama were indeed as ridiculous as they seemed and Palin was even more reckless a choice than she looked. She got less vetting than the Sec of Dept of Agriculture and it blew up in their faces. Reliving the antics of the McCain campaign was interesting. So glad that pair didn't make it to the WH! The campaign at one point thought she was mentally unstable. Wow.

Wanted to hear more about why McCain/Palin thought Rashid Khalidi was a good attack, but that one wasn't mentioned. Most of the other ones were, though.

I'm still torn on whether Egypt did the right thing in making peace with Israel or left Palestinians high and dry, but over all the book left me with a great deal of respect for Sadat and his wife.

The book is touted as her plan for peace, but I'd say that is not at all what it is about. The greater theme of forgiveness and understanding definitely applies, but some of her specifics are all wrong. She thinks there is a resolution to the refugee problem in letting them return to the region, but not Israel proper- which I think is absurd. I'm still going with one state as the fairest solution, but I realize that one will come with conflict as well.

It was interesting to read a bit about their lives and Sadat's legacy of democracy and peace. He did what he believed in and was willing to pay for it with his life (and did).

She writes about Islam and what it means to her for a bit as well. This is perfect for those who are intent on telling as many as possible that Islam is not a religion of peace, "they" all want to kill us, true Islam is what extremists practice, where are the moderates, etc.

She is a bit confused about Christianity, which is understandable. I thought many of her contrasts with Islam, however, were invalid because she used examples from Catholicism and Calvinism, which in many ways I don't believe are supported by scripture. This in no way invalidates what she says about Islam of her practice of it. The West could learn a lot even if one disagrees with it.

She also writes about feminism. While she encourages independence, she also speaks to the Christian (and Muslim) value of the sexes having different roles, but being partners as well. Often in the US it is a choice- are you a feminist or do you take care of the home?

All in all, it's a good read and short, too.

If you're a Christian and still think all Muslims are secretly terrorists and the true Islam promotes terrorism, this is probably a book you should read. As an American convert to Islam, she has some good perspective and insights.

Again (as with Jehan Sadat), raised an atheist (Sadat being Muslim of course), I don't think she has a good grasp of Christianity when she talks about it. She contrasts Islam with Calvinism and Catholicsm and lists a bunch of things I as a Christian don't believe in either (hierarchy, original sin, etc).

All in all, a great read. I was disappointed when it ended just before her return to America for an extended period after a year or more in Egypt with her conversion, marriage, near assimilation all happening in that time. Maybe it's not been long enough since the events occurred, but I was wanting to know how her experience in America was after her living in Egypt and trying so hard to fit in there. What stuck out to her? Did she prefer one place after all or was she torn? Did Americans seem coarse and overbearing? Did she easily slip back into a Muslim version of her American self or stay more Arab as she had become? So many things. Maybe there will be another book.

I didn't finish this. I don't know if it's written in a way that failed to keep my interest, I had already heard the revelations on news programs, or I was just too busy. Probably all of the above.

Scott McClellan's position gave the book an interesting perspective, though. I always like to hear what it's really like hanging out at the White House. I think all the best and most shocking things already came out in the news and there really wasn't much else to say to add to them.