A Mighty Heart: The Inside Story of the Al Qaeda Kidnapping of Danny Pearl [ペーパーバック]

Mariane Pearl is to be commended for this wonderful book. She weaves together the story of why she and Mr. Pearl were in Karachi, the current political situation that was taking place, and every emotion she went through when Danny disappeared. This book will ground you in the reality that there IS senseless hatred in the world, but it also will inspire the reader to look towards the future, where hopefully all can live in peace.

The glimpses Mrs. Pearl gives into her life are astounding, particularly when she retells her difficult birth to she and Danny's child. She also expresses her unique balance of inner strength and her will to fight for Danny with her inner calm and ability to still trust in the world.

After the epilogue, she has copied some of the numerous letters she received after the news of Danny's death, and they will restore your faith in humanity. Written by both common individuals and world leaders, these instill within the heart that there is good within mankind. The letters from adherents of Islam are especially poignant, and their calls for a peaceful, united world will bring tears to your eyes. Five stars.

I picked this book (actually an older version of the hardback book) in a bargain book bin at a bookstore last year ~~ and since I am reading up on quite a bit about the Middle East and I knew that the movie was going to be out soon, I thought this would be a good time to read it.

When Daniel Pearl was kidnapped, I was pregnant and still working in the newsroom (nothing like the calibar of Wall Street Journal, mind you!). I remember reading avidly about the kidnapping and eventual murder of Pearl (though I refused to watch the video ... what a cruel thing to do to another human being!) but as time passes by, I got busy raising our twin boys. Reading Mariane Pearl's book on her experiences of waiting to see her husband again and being pregnant brought back memories of conversations I had with my husband. As a woman, I cannot imagine how harrowing it was for her during that time period nor can I imagine giving birth without my husband at my side. This book is a memoir to her husband's courageous stance and beliefs that truth is vital to human growth. It is also a memoir of Mariane's beliefs as well.

Mariane recounts her meeting with Daniel, her wedding (where she didn't stop smiling for the three-day party), her travels with Daniel and even their little routines that all happily married couples have. She recounts her fear and horror but her belief that Daniel will return home to her ~~ how she sees him defying his captors in little ways and how that uplifted her during that horrid time. She writes of the friends that she has made who searched for Daniel and tried to rescue him. She writes of her pregnancy and dreams for their unborn son. It is a beautiful love story that continues in defiance of the terrorists. In this case, the terrorists may have killed Daniel but not his spirit nor his wife's spirit nor his son's. Nor did they kill off the majority of the world's spirits ~~ the humanness of all of us that strives to make this world a beautiful place to live in for ourselves and for future generations.

I am not sure I even want to watch the movie (though I did hear that Jolie did a great job portraying Mariane) because this book is a story in itself ~~ so raw and intimate and collected in so many different places. It is a story of humankind. It is a story of love that will never be severed in spite of the ugliness of worst of humankind. If you are looking for something to read that will rekindle hope in people ~~ this book would do it. Mariane refuses to be bitter though it is obvious that she will always miss Daniel. This is not a pleasure reading either, mind you ~~ but I think it should be read ~~ simply to remind ourselves that love will continue in spite of it all.

6-23-07

This book was a little slow to start, but about halfway through I couldn't put it down. I was hooked. The author lets us know many details of her life with her husband, truly a great man -- what a loss to the world is his death. She exhibits great courage, persistence, hope, and appreciation for those who assisted her through this ordeal. I was crying at several points in this book, even at the end, where she includes many of the letters of support she received from people all over the world. The other bus passengers must have wondered what was going on with me as I sat there reading with tears streaming down my face!