Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life

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Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life

3.74 of 5 stars 3.74 · rating details · 4,974 ratings · 542 reviews

"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 v...more "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(less)

Paperback, 496 pages

Published March 9th 2005 by Miramax Books (first published November 1st 2002)

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Sep 09, 2008 Joanne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Psychologists assert that conflict resolution involves "perspective taking", that is, seeing the word through another's eyes. I was fascinated to read Queen Noor Al Hussein's (whose name was given to her by her husband King Hussein of Jordan when they married - it means "light of Hussein") account of her 20 year marriage, which spanned two decades of turmoil in the Middle East. Queen Noor was born and raised in the United States as Lisa Halaby. Her heritage is both Arab and European. Her vantage...more

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Apr 01, 2007 Xanthe rated it 3 of 5 stars

I picked this book up mostly because my sister is currently living in Amman, Jordan while she spends a semester abroad as part of her college studies. Before she had announced her intentions of leaving for the Middle East, my knowledge of Jordan was limited to what I had heard on the news and picked up while trying to make sense of what was going on in the world. Jordan hardly figured largely in the headlines dominated by Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iran – any other country besides Jordan, it se...more I picked this book up mostly because my sister is currently living in Amman, Jordan while she spends a semester abroad as part of her college studies. Before she had announced her intentions of leaving for the Middle East, my knowledge of Jordan was limited to what I had heard on the news and picked up while trying to make sense of what was going on in the world. Jordan hardly figured largely in the headlines dominated by Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iran – any other country besides Jordan, it seemed. Was the relatively small space allotted to Jordan in the newspapers a sign that the country is a quiet, safe place? Negative evidence wasn’t enough to calm my anxieties about sending my younger sister halfway around the world to live with strangers in a region that I knew to be hostile to outsiders, no matter how much genuine goodwill and eagerness to learn they might arrive with.

As an American who chose to live in Jordan and later convert to Islam, Queen Noor is able to share a unique perspective on her adopted country and on the relationships between the countries in the region and the United States. Born Lisa Halaby into a well-connected family of both European and Arab descent, Queen Noor recounts her childhood and career that led her to a fateful visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Trans-Jordan and the path that her life took from her extraordinary relationship with its King. Her perspective was some ways an ideal window on the events of the past three decades in the Middle East for Americans like me. Queen Noor’s accounts of the history of the region are full of insider details and perspectives that would be hard to come by from a more scholarly participant, while at the same time her American outlook means that she can use terms and references that I understand and can use to make sense of the culture she was describing. I was grateful for this combination of insight and familiarity as an introduction to the very complex country of Jordan.

I don’t yet know enough to judge how biased Queen Noor’s accounts of her husband’s actions and her adopted country’s role are. It is only natural that she would like to present her beloved husband as a voice of reason and above reproach. In her favor, I was impressed by her frankness in her assessment of her own fashion sense (deplorable), King Hussein’s rigid control of the Jordanian press, and her assessment of his near-crippling empathy that manifested itself at times as insensitivity to the suffering of those closest to him. This is only another reason to recommend Leap of Faith as a book that inspires further reading while giving a broad and accessible introduction. After reading it, I was pleased that I was able to ask intelligent questions during my bi-weekly phone calls to my sister and have some hope of one day understanding her answers.

Review written 8/2005(less)

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Oct 16, 2008 Charlotte rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoir

Queen Noor's memoirs offer a unique insight into the royal family of Jordan. An American with Lebanese roots marries the King of Jordan and becomes a head of state. She deals with fame, security threats, wars, politics and speeches all the while raising a family and supporting her husband.

I was frustrated at times with the distance between reader and author. I felt Queen Noor's desire for privacy and understood why this memoir was not more personal. But I also had the suspicion that I was readin...more

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Dec 20, 2008 Nan rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. It was similar to Jahan Sedats bio "A Woman of Egypt" -- I love that one more!!. It is interesting to get differing views of the Arab,Israeli conflict as well the conflicts and dis functionality of some of the Arab countries.

It was interesting to see how an independent American Woman can take on the roll and responsibility of a queen of a Arab country. The roll the media plays in portraying countries and politics is frustrating.

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Mar 18, 2013 Julie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoir

I've always been curious about Queen Noor, the former Lisa Halaby, the American woman who became Queen of Jordan. I wondered how she gave up the freedoms she had as a woman in the US, in order to be a Muslim royal. Alas, this memoir gives only the most superficial of answers to that -- and other -- questions about her life. Granted, she does explain that her father was of Middle Eastern descent and that piqued her interest in her Middle Eastern roots; however, in this memoir she fails to beyond...more

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Jan 07, 2013 April rated it 5 of 5 stars

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 young people of 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,...more 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 young people of 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 perenial 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.)

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 and 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 on a daily basis, the newstory 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. (less)

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Sep 03, 2012 Lynn Crouch rated it 4 of 5 stars

The story of Lisa Halaby, an American who married King Hussein of Jordon. This book gave me great insight into the struggles of King Hussein who desperately wanted peace in the Arab world. It gave the Israel/Palestine crisis from the Palestine way of thinking but also showed what an impossible situation they are both entangled in. I gained new respect for King Hussein who struggled daily with political situations that were largely out of his control.Was intrigued reading about the Shah of Irans...more

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Feb 13, 2012 Azra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bio, memoir, non-fiction

When I picked up Leap of Faith, I had only meant to read the first page or two to see if the book was something I wanted to read next. The next thing I knew, it was daylight and I had read the entire 460+ page book. It was worth it.

While I was a little afraid this book would use more of an "American girl gets her ~~prince~~ King" angle, I was pleasantly surprised. While the romance is there, Queen Noor relates how oblivious she was to many of the overtures in the beginning and what a shock it was to...more When I picked up Leap of Faith, I had only meant to read the first page or two to see if the book was something I wanted to read next. The next thing I knew, it was daylight and I had read the entire 460+ page book. It was worth it.

While I was a little afraid this book would use more of an "American girl gets her ~~prince~~ King" angle, I was pleasantly surprised. While the romance is there, Queen Noor relates how oblivious she was to many of the overtures in the beginning and what a shock it was to realize what exactly it was the King was asking her. She also talks about the days of self - questioning she went through, wondering if she had what it took to be the wife of a King and would be able to make a contribution to the family and country.

What struck me so much about the book was her faith. While not the focus of the book, it is clear how her adopted faith has sustained her and her family. In this day and age where we are constantly bombarded by misinformation and invective about the Islamic faith, it was refreshing to read a positive view of it from the "inside." The Queen converted to Islam on her wedding day, of her own free will, and went on to learn all she could about the faith and culture she had married into. She relates how her husband always kept a positive attitude through his faith, even through various attempts on his life and betrayal by the heads of state around him when he tried to establish peace, especially between Palestine and Israel. The Queen went on to establish several foundations on her own, helping the women and children of her country have better lives.

Since the book is about her life as Queen of Jordan, there is quite a bit of behind the scenes info of important political events of the time, particularly the conflict between Israel, Palestine and surrounding areas. It was interesting to read how the politicos of the time twisted the media to their own ends, making heros out of someone one day and villains the next, whether they had anything to do with the peace negotiations or not. Particularly hard was the events during the first Iraq war, where her country was suddenly plunged into near poverty due to most of the countries in the West pulling their aid from the country. The reason behind it was the accusation the King knew beforehand about Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.

Overall, I was impressed by this book and by Queen Noor. It is a very welcome respite from the vile propaganda out there about the evils of Islam. (less)

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May 21, 2011 Lulu Rahman rated it 4 of 5 stars

When one is beautiful, intelligent and a Queen, does this make her journey through life an easier one? Not so much so, as being revealed by Queen Noor. In her autobiography, she recounted her adventures living as a Queen for one of Arab’s leading nations, Jordan.

For a mere mortal, a wide age gap, such as one between Queen Noor and King Hussein, would look quite controversial. Not so in this case as the man at the centre of this is someone who is a very charismatic, handsome King who reigned over...more When one is beautiful, intelligent and a Queen, does this make her journey through life an easier one? Not so much so, as being revealed by Queen Noor. In her autobiography, she recounted her adventures living as a Queen for one of Arab’s leading nations, Jordan.

For a mere mortal, a wide age gap, such as one between Queen Noor and King Hussein, would look quite controversial. Not so in this case as the man at the centre of this is someone who is a very charismatic, handsome King who reigned over the leading rich Arab nation of Jordan. Her love and respect for her King seeps through every page of this book. He is her soul mate - one who is a friend, lover, husband and father to her children. And if one is thinking she’s in it for the glitter and glamour then one is mistaken. Marrying into the Jordanian royal family is a huge responsibility indeed, especially since she’s gaining six children from his previous marriage at one go. Add that to another four of her own.

But despite the huge responsibilities weighed upon her shoulders at that time coupled with the volatile political turmoil in the Middle East, she wrote full of warmth for her life in Jordan and its people. She described the various causes she took on to improve the life of the locals, especially the women and children, and her difficulty in coping with the endless royal duties laid down upon her. She also revealed King Hussein’s role and insight of the international political arena, highlighting the historic developments in the Middle East which led to the situation we know today.

In the beginning of the book, she briefly brought her readers back in time to her former life as American-born, Princeton-educated Lisa Hallby, whose father is an Arab and mother of Swedish descent. Throughout the book, she took pains to align and portray herself as any other ordinary women with strengths and weaknesses, an unlikely candidate for Queen who tries as much as she can to use her privileged position to seek betterment for her womankind.

Her conversion to Islam takes centrestage, which she did on her own free will. She described in detail of her efforts to get acquainted with life as a Muslim and living in a palace with its endless protocols. What’s most prominent in this book is her role and responsibility to King Hussein’s children from his previous marriage, the difficulty of being a stepmother, and having to deal with being the focus of the world’s attention.

This book is written with the dignity and graciousness befitting her status. Every single obstacle that she’s affronted with is dealt with in a rational and cautious manner, even though on hindsight, it may not be the best solution. But most evident of all is her deep and profound love for her husband and her devastation upon his death. This is truly a love story of the highest order.(less)

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Feb 28, 2011 Jennifer Abdo rated it 4 of 5 stars

A very long memoir. It started out slow and seemed at first to be a book about how great she is, but upon finishing it I think it is a very interesting and behind the scenes look at the Queen. Yes, she does list a lot of accomplishments, but she was a Queen and she had the opportunity to do a lot of good, so maybe she deserves a couple hundred pages to refute some rumors, give her side of things for once, and tell what good she tried to accomplish. It does give the Jordanian perspective and artf...more

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Oct 14, 2009 Jane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reading this book forced me to reconsider my opinion of the Camp David accords and the participants there. I have come to think of Carter, Begin, and Sadat as heroes (Sadat going on to sacrifice his life for his decision) and to consider the Jordanian position made me sadly aware of how superficially I understand the complexities of the whole mideast situation. She presents a strong argument for a balanced approach in the mideast and shows that the US often favors Israel unfairly over Arab state...more

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Sep 29, 2009 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

I generally don't read memoirs - I mostly stick to fiction when I'm reading for pleasure. But on my last trip to the library I passed through the nonfiction section and my eye caught this book. From the description on the jacket, I was expecting to read a book about an American woman who happened to fall in love with and marry the king of Jordan, and learn about the fairy-tale existence of her life from ordinary to extraordinary.

And in ways, that was what her life turned out to be... but this bo...more I generally don't read memoirs - I mostly stick to fiction when I'm reading for pleasure. But on my last trip to the library I passed through the nonfiction section and my eye caught this book. From the description on the jacket, I was expecting to read a book about an American woman who happened to fall in love with and marry the king of Jordan, and learn about the fairy-tale existence of her life from ordinary to extraordinary.

And in ways, that was what her life turned out to be... but this book was not about that journey. Rather, Leap of Faith is the history of Jordan, or more accurately, the history of King Hussein's rein of Jordan, which just so happens to include a 20-year marriage to the author.

At first I was a bit put off by the fact that this book was not what I had been expecting to read, but as I continued further into its pages I realized how very ignorant I have been of the history of the Middle East, about how very little I know about the creation of Israel and the turmoil that has been present there since the Jews moved into and began taking over Palestinian lands. This is - I'm sure - by no means an exhaustive history of the events that took place in that region, but it is a detailed account from a woman who was a firsthand witness to many of the political details that are normally not accurately disclosed to the public.

When I first completed the reading of this book, I was left wanting to know more about her family life; about her role as a mother and about her children. But as I've been reflecting back over the common theme that Queen Noor has discussed about her utter lack of a private life because of her position in Jordan, I can understand why she chose to leave her children mostly out of this story. This book was never intended to be about them, but rather about her marriage to her husband, and as a mother I understand the decision to give her children as much privacy as she could in light of needing to include them in her memoirs.

Although I think this book was mislabeled and mispromoted, I really enjoyed reading it. I feel as though this was a very good introduction to the more recent history of Jordan and its political standing within the Middle East and among other Arab countries. If you know little to nothing about this region's history - as I did and still do - I would recommend this as a starting off book.(less)

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Aug 20, 2009 Bridget rated it 3 of 5 stars

I think it’s safe to say that any Queen has an extraordinary life, but being a Queen in the Middle East during the most conflicted times of the 20th century has a unique place in history. Queen Noor’s autobiography is a love story, not only the love of her husband and family but also her love of Jordan. The book chronicles her life from growing up in California to the death of her husband. Much of the book discusses relatively “normal” issues: a blended family with many stepchildren, having chil...more

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Aug 19, 2009 Ellen Librarian rated it 3 of 5 stars

It's hard to think of anyone who has led a more interesting life than Queen Noor of Jordan. Born into a well-connected Arab-American family in the US, she met and married King Hussein of Jordan as a young woman, converted to Islam and committed herself to helping her husband promote peace and moderatism in the Middle East.

Although the book serves as more of a love letter to the now-deceased Hussein than as an exploration of her own life as an American who has not only adopted a foreign country...more

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Dec 04, 2008 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars

First half was FASCINATING, and last half good as well, but I lost interest somewhat because it was SO long. Very interesting to get the perspective of an Islamic woman (who was born and raised and educated in the US and had up-close experience of the Kennedy administration) on all the troubles and conflicts in the Middle East. I would love to visit Jordan some day, and I so respect and admire this woman. I just noticed how goofy the author's name appears here on Good Reads, as if "Of Jordan" is...more

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Oct 22, 2012 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography, international

I wanted to read this true story because Queen Noor seemed fascinating: The youngest queen at the time of her marriage, and an American woman and architecture graduate of Princeton, married to the monarch King of Jordan.

The book is written in autobiography form, with immense information about the Middle East and the political disputes and agreements between the countries of that region, as well as with the United States. In fact, Queen Noor refers to her journal a lot and as a result, it seems...more

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Apr 22, 2013 Daisy*•.♥.•* rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: memoir-biography

What an interesting love story Queen Noor had with King Hussein. This was a refreshing tale of what life was like for Queen Noor when she first married into the royal court and her strong, close relationship with her husband.

I must admit that I was surprised at the description she gave of the Kind. He indeed seemed like a loving and caring man. It was refreshing to read this about a Middle Eastern man. I was pleasantly surprised because unfortunately the books I have read about others has not pu...more

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Mar 04, 2012 L12_LaurieLaning rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: info-bios, multicultural

Summary

In this lovely autobiography, Queen Noor of Jordan tells a very candid and succinct story of her life as the Queen of Jordan. She was a 26-year-old, Princton graduate, born in American and working as a photographer, when her father who owned an aviation company, paid a visit to King Hussein of Jordan. The King then courted her and the fairytale-like story ensues. She promotes her husband's attempts at peace in the Arab countries, particularly Israel. His meetings with Arafat, Saddam Husse...more

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Mar 04, 2012 Bayan Abubakr rated it 4 of 5 stars

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

Throughout history, there have been many instances where one has ‘climbed’ the social ladder. One instance is Shakespeare, whose father was a Glover. William lucidly prevailed through the trials of a poet and his low social status, and successfully became one of the world’s most remarkable writers. Another modest example would be Queen Noor Al- Hussein of Jordan. Born Lisa Halaby, Noor was the average American girl, with ‘average’ America...more Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life – Book Review

Throughout history, there have been many instances where one has ‘climbed’ the social ladder. One instance is Shakespeare, whose father was a Glover. William lucidly prevailed through the trials of a poet and his low social status, and successfully became one of the world’s most remarkable writers. Another modest example would be Queen Noor Al- Hussein of Jordan. Born Lisa Halaby, Noor was the average American girl, with ‘average’ American roots and ‘average’ family. Her ‘average’ life drastically changed when she stole the heart of none other than the deceased King Hussein bin Talal of Jordan. Slowly, yet grandly, Lisa’s life changed for the…unexpected. Although her life was filled with trials and tribulations, Noor proves through her bestselling novel, Leap of Faith – Memoirs of a Unexpected life, that anyone from any background could very much as well become anything. Published by Miramax Books in 2003, the former Lisa Halaby keeps you wanting to turn the pages, as the book’s overall message, the setting, and her humble character keep your eyes glued to the mesmerizing 488 - page account of her leap of faith.

The overall message or theme in Leap of Faith was that anyone, from really any background could become anything. But the only way to truly remain successful is by staying true to one’s self. This is obvious, as her life is sole proof that this is possible. “My childhood memories begin around this time. My brother Christian was in born in 1953, and my sister, Alexa, in 1955. We grew up simply, our life was the typical life of an American family,” (Al – Hussein 14). Queen Noor was no monarch before she became queen; her humble beginnings are what truly set her apart from monarchs around the world. But with hard work, dedication and sheer luck; Lisa Halaby became Queen Noor of Jordan. “… I wanted to join the Peace Corps to fight inequality in the world” (Al – Hussein 15). Yet again, Queen Noor talks of her humble beginnings. It’s interesting to note how the former Lisa wanted to join the Peace Corps, as her family’s wealth and social status could have given her endless possibilities. What’s even greater is the extensive amount of charity work the Queen preformed after her ostentatious title was given. “… I was a pioneer for women’s rights by sponsoring the first women’s union in Jordan and the women’s branch of the Jordan National Red Crescent Society” (Al-Hussein 134). Here is yet another quote exemplifying Queen Noor’s sole motif and dogma. That one cannot reach success without first staying true to themselves. Lisa Halaby, a meek woman from the outskirts of Washington became the Queen of Jordan. The only way Noor remained successful and the light of her people’s eyes is by first and foremost, staying true to her beliefs.

Setting in Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life changes drastically. Lisa’s life is mainly spent in Washington, Jordan, and Minnesota. Location plays an important role in the memoir, as Noor’s life takes a drastic turn with every move. Nonetheless she remains true to herself and dignified through the many ordeals each move makes. “We left California when I was ten, to move to Washington, D.C… my father had been approached soon afterward by two his former colleagues at Yale Law School…to take over the federal Aviation administration,” (Al- Hussein 18). At this point in her young life, Lisa’s parents are continually fighting; this move only worsened the situation. It’s not exactly the move that enchants the reader, but how Lisa reacts to the situation. “I protected myself as much as possible from the turbulence in their marriage, trying very hard to distance myself from them emotionally…” (Al-Hussein 24). From a young age, it is obvious that Lisa is one to stray from conflict, never one to truly face her problems. When reading the book, I questioned how this meek character could ultimately become the Queen of Jordan. But as the setting and times changes, as does Noor. When the late King Hussein is diagnosed with Cancer, Noor and the rest of the monarch move to Minnesota, or more specifically Mayo Clinic. “My husband and I met with our team of Jordanian and Mayo Clinic medical experts,” (Al – Hussein 435). Yet again, the setting has changed for the worst. King Hussein is ultimately facing death, but the Queen takes the stance of a strong lioness. “My husband was very much alive, the doctors and I kept assuring our children that the odds were good that he would win his battle with cancer” (Al – Hussein 419). Unlike her reaction to her timely parent’s divorce, Noor remained strong through one of the toughest ordeals of her life. Instead of closing herself off, she was the protector for her own children, like a true queen. The setting lucidly affect’s Lisa’s growth from a tall, awkward girl, to a majestic, enchanting Queen. Which truly proved to make Leap of Faith an interesting read.
As stated previously, Queen Noor was the typical American girl. She vied to attend Princeton University, and wanted to fight inequality by joining the Peace Corps. Her humble, and open minded character is the essence of the memoir.“…My mother told me about my Swedish and European ancestry on her side of the family and my Arab roots on my father’s…to my mother’s long-standing frustration, I was most intrigued by my Arab roots…” (Al- Hussein 9). In the time of which Queen Noor was a young girl, it was 1957, a time in which the Arabs weren’t exactly held in the best of light. This clearly shows how Queen Noor didn’t exactly follow the ‘mainstream’ thought. In that day in age, and even in modern society, most refrain from taking pride in their multi-cultural heritage. For Queen Noor to proudly announce herself as an Arab truly proves how the Queen was unbiased and one worth reading about. “Martin Luther King came up on the screen, commenting on the mistreatment of Meredith. Filled with admiration, I said, ‘Isn’t he wonderful?’ my grandmother agreed, but it quickly became apparent that she was praising George Wallace, the racist governor of Alabama…” (Al – Hussein 21). Yet again, it is shown here that Noor has disbanded herself of the typical thought. This not only proves that she was far from an ignorant racist, but that she is strong to her beliefs, strong enough to ignore her grandmother for almost the next 10 years of her life. Throughout her life, Noor not only stayed genuine to her principles, but ultimately to herself. “I had been deeply involved in women’s issues since my marriage” (Al – Hussein 395). When one is handed power and fame, it is inevitable that it will ultimately ‘go to their head’ and this power will corrupt them. This was not the case for Lisa Halaby. Even though she was handed the greatest title of them all, she remained humble, and kind to those beneath her. This is what makes a true queen, one who remains modest and kind, and never forgetful of her ordinary beginnings. All these factors are what truly make Queen Noor an interesting specimen, from her modesty, to her open-mind, and to her true personality, Queen Noor’s memoir proves to truly be inspirational and exemplary.
Overall, Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life proved to be an interesting read. The memoir not only takes you through the life of the graceful Queen Noor, but also introduces you to the life of the Jordanian family. I would recommend this memoir to anyway who holds any interest in politics, or specifically Jordanian matters, as it definitely proves to insight the reader with a plethora of knowledge. In full honesty, I do believe Noor conveyed her message; that anyone can become anything, but in the process, they must remain true to themselves. Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life not only proves to be an informing, and entertaining memoir, but holds a strong theme that could easily fix the tainted minds of those in power.
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Oct 10, 2009 Jamie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2009

This book is really fascinating. As other reviewers have noted, it is about an American-born woman with Arab roots who marries the King of Jordan.

Queen Noor's revelations about her day to day life as Queen of Jordan are fascinating. She tries to explain how she went from Lisa Halaby to Queen Noor, and I find her attempts at explaining her extraordinary life alternatively believable and frustrating. Believable because at the heart of it she truly does seem to love the King, in many ways they see...more This book is really fascinating. As other reviewers have noted, it is about an American-born woman with Arab roots who marries the King of Jordan.

Queen Noor's revelations about her day to day life as Queen of Jordan are fascinating. She tries to explain how she went from Lisa Halaby to Queen Noor, and I find her attempts at explaining her extraordinary life alternatively believable and frustrating. Believable because at the heart of it she truly does seem to love the King, in many ways they seem to be a good match, and with her Arab roots she does have some ties to (some of) the Jordanian people.

I feel really frustrated, though, with the parts of the book in which she makes it sound like becoming the Queen was as easy as putting on a different pair of shoes. For instance, when she discusses changing her name from Lisa to Noor. She says that the name Noor is the best gift the King ever gave her, that she was glad to give up her given name Lisa, and that she never felt attached to her original name and gladly became this new person. She also talks about her instinctive need early on to protect the king and squash her own needs to avoid adding to his stress. The eagerness with which she immediately abandons her own work, her name, and her own life is just a little too Stepford wife. It smacks a bit of both martyrdom and a deep subservience that suggests Daddy Issues or hero worship.

Some of the book's political overviews and commentary is helpful, but I cannot say how much I retained. Imagine reading about complex and centuries-old political issues of multiple countries featuring lots of people you've never heard of, combined with historical commentary of a time you can't remember, in a culture not your own, and it's a bit much to soak in. I am a bit embarrassed to admit that after reading her numerous and lengthy summaries of political events, it's pretty much in-one-ear-and-out-the-other for me. I think that is because the explanations (like the events themselves) are so long and convoluted that I eventually give up, feeling like I am never going to understand it anyway. Still, some knowledge is better than none at all, and I didn't expect to come away from reading this book with a deep understanding of the region's politics.

My cynical side insists that I note the definite hints of propaganda throughout the book. Naturally I do not expect her to be neutral, but her acccounts of King Hussein suggest that he was superhuman, and that Jordan was an innocent bystander in the many and varied Middle Eastern skirmishes. I'm skeptical of both. But it did give me a surface-level understanding of the deep and nuanced complexities of the Middle East, where no country is really innocent, each country has legitimate gripes, and there are no easy answers.(less)

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Oct 26, 2010 AnaD Domingos rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: português, own

Não foi dos melhores livros que já li, mas foi um dos que mais gostei de ler.

A rainha Noor e o rei Hussein, sempre despertaram em mim uma enorme admiração.
Neste livro acompanhamos a vida de Lisa até se transformar em Noor, uma mulher forte, determinada, islâmica, bonita ... Neste livro aprendemos que que ser mulher e ser islâmica não é muitas vezes o que nós ocidentais temos em mente, que é possível ser tudo o que somos. A Jordânia é um oásis no médio oriente, muito graças a Hussein.

Uma das par...more

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Apr 16, 2007 Julz rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoirs

Someone borrowed this one after I finished it and never returned it, but I didn't mind. It was interesting, and I'm glad I read it once, but it's not re-read material.

She seems like a nice enough person, but it still puzzles me how she can be the darling of liberal Washington when she lived a lavish life in such an impoverished country--one which represses women, at that!

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Feb 21, 2011 Mary Anne rated it 3 of 5 stars

I read Leap of Faith for my book club; otherwise, I probably would not have read it. I gained a very different perspective on the Middle East -Arab/Israeli problem. After hearing only the Israeli side of the story in this country, it was interesting to read about the Arab point of view. Lisa Halaby who becomes Queen Noor presents a unique viewpoint. It is obvious that she was deeply in love with her husband King Hussein of Jordan. She very readily gave up her American citizenship to become a Jor...more

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Jan 27, 2010 Jenny rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book definitely picked up toward the end, but I found myself frustrated by the apparent glossing over of many potentially difficult stages. Was it really so easy to give up your name? Your birth country? To take on a new religion? Was it really ok when your husband one-uped your emotional crises? I kind of wanted to read the unauthorized biography...

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Oct 11, 2012 Anna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was fascinating and well written. Queen Noor is close to my own age, just a couple of years older, and consequently I know the historical period she lived through and about which she wrote in this book. Her unique perspective gives the reader, especially an American one, a whole new way to view the Mid-East peace process, the leaders of our country, events in our country, and around the world.

The Queen is a native born American of Arab descent and upon her marriage she embraced the Is...more

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Jun 29, 2008 Maura rated it 4 of 5 stars

I remember when the news was full of her engagement - it was treated like a fairy tale. Reading this book shows you the reality behind the fantasy of becoming a queen or princess, but also reveals the thoughtful, intelligent person that Queen Noor is. Her explanations of various allegiances makes the snarl of Mid-East politics much clearer.

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Aug 15, 2012 Danette rated it 2 of 5 stars

"I was surprised and disappointed by this book. It ended up being a hero-worshippingrose-colored glasses look at the late King Hussein of Jordan and his efforts at peace in the violent toilet they call the Middle East. Queen Noor shows no perspective in her memoirs and writes little of herself and her lifeopting instead to fawn about her late husband who apparently could do no wrongeven as his woefully inadequate efforts at peace in the region were rebuffed time and again by his Arab neighbors....more

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May 07, 2012 Suzanne rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoir, non-fiction, around-the-world-challenge

“I distinctly recall my first impressions of Jordan. I had been en route to the United States from Iran, where I was working for a British urban planning firm. From the window of my aircraft, I had found myself spellbound by the serene of desert landscape washed golden by the retreating sun at dusk. I was overwhelmed by an extraordinary sensation of belonging, an almost mystical sense of peace.”

I decided to read Queen Noor’s autobiography for my 52 Books Around the World Challenge, in the hopes...more “I distinctly recall my first impressions of Jordan. I had been en route to the United States from Iran, where I was working for a British urban planning firm. From the window of my aircraft, I had found myself spellbound by the serene of desert landscape washed golden by the retreating sun at dusk. I was overwhelmed by an extraordinary sensation of belonging, an almost mystical sense of peace.”

I decided to read Queen Noor’s autobiography for my 52 Books Around the World Challenge, in the hopes of learning more about the country of Jordan. After all, an American girl who finds herself the love interest of a Middle Eastern King is bound to have an interesting perspective on this exotic and fascinating kingdom.

While I certainly did not expect a “tell-all”, I did expect more than I got. There was very little describing and contrasting Jordan with Lisa Halaby’s (Queen Noor’s name pre-marriage) earlier life. I expected this book to be similar to contemporary “First Lady” autobiographies, which tell of their struggles to fit the role assigned to them, their passions and their work as the first lady of the land, and of course, their love and admiration of their husbands. She definitely got the love and admiration part down. In fact, she absolutely sanctifies the man. I’m not sure if that was purposeful on her part, or if she was encouraged to do so. I found it amusing that the few comments about Hussein that might be construed as faults (like his tendency to risk own life and the lives of his passengers by doing crazy stunts while piloting airplanes), she related as amusing anecdotes. Perhaps that was the only way she could reveal his character flaws, or perhaps she really did enjoy his “wild side.”

Queen Noor presents quite a bit of the history of Jordan and the Arab perspective of the conflicts in the Middle East. Unfortunately, it’s extremely slanted. In fact, it’s so biased there were times I felt I was being subjected to a propaganda piece. For instance, she lists several examples of Israel’s unfairness in dealing with the Palestinians, including setting curfews that make it difficult for Palestinians to get to and from work. I seem to recall near daily attacks from suicide bombers in Israel at that time, and the curfews were a way to address these violent attacks. After all, Israel could have denied Palestinians admittance entirely. Also, she condemned Israel for attacking Jordanian territory on the West Bank in retaliation for Palestinian attacks coming from the settlements there. And yet, Jordan refused to refused to police the area or arrest the offenders in order to stop the attacks.

Ultimately, she describes her husband King Hussein as a saint who could have achieved peace in the Middle East if it weren’t for the Israelis, the PLO, The United States, and all those self-interested leaders who agree to one thing and then go head and do the other.

On a positive note, it did make me want to learn more about the Middle East. Perhaps my next book will be more enlightening.(less)

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Apr 25, 2009 Kathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Queen Noor speaks with candor as she details a remarkable insight into the middle-east region, her great love for her peace-loving husband and family and the people that they served together for 21 years. I lived through this period of history and since I was either pregnant or lactating through most of it, I took the opportunity to go back and do some internet reading along with this book and study this period in history. Overwhelming. I was warmed by the goodness of all humanity worldwide, and...more

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Dec 05, 2010 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

A western woman who 'ends up' married to the king of Jordan ... how interesting.

And yet, it wasn't quite as interesting as I'd hoped. She was a lot more deferential and a lot less independent than I was hoping. And the narrative was scattered enough that it didn't feel like a narrative. More like a bunch of incoherent vignettes.

I thought I'd learn more about the experiences of a muslim woman ... but she glossed over all of that.

I did learn (some) about the awkwardness of suddenly becoming a qu...more

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