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20th out of 80 books
—
124 voters
Between Two Worlds: Escape from Tyranny: Growing Up in the Shadow of Saddam
Zainab Salbi was eleven years old when her father was chosen to be Saddam Hussein's personal pilot and her family's life was grafted onto his. Her mother, the beautiful Alia, taught her daughter the skills she needed to survive. A plastic smile. Saying yes. Burying in boxes in her mind the horrors she glimpsed around her. "Learn to erase your memories," she instructed. "He...more
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
August 17th 2006
by Gotham
(first published October 6th 2005)
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Feb 08, 2008
Cathyb53
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
women, anyone with a curiosity about the lives of other women & families, in other places
Zainab Salbi is an amazing woman. I first came to know of her when she appeared on 'Oprah', talking about an organization she founded called Women for Women International . In this program, women in the worst circumstances in the world - Rwanda, Sudan, Bosnia, Congo, the survivors of civil war, poverty, rape, and violence - are linked directly with their "sisters", sponsors who send a small amount of money every month directly to the women who need it. The women are educated in such issues as hu...more
I learned so much from this book. I really have never understood what is going on over in Iraq/Iran, but haven't really known how to find out. This book, while entertaining me, helped me understand so much about the middle east and the conflicts there. What an eye opener. People there are just like you and me! (should of already known that).
I changed my rating to two stars, because towards the end of the book there is a part in which very foul language is used. I'm disappointed and not sure wha...more
I changed my rating to two stars, because towards the end of the book there is a part in which very foul language is used. I'm disappointed and not sure wha...more
1 like · like · see review
Zainab Salbi is the founder and president of Women for Women International, a non-profit organization providing women survivors of war with support (financial and moral) to move from crisis to stability.
Salbi herself is a survivor. As she went to war-torn countries, she listened to women brave enough to share their horrendous and, to them, shameful stories so that they could give courage and encouragement to other victims. Salbi realized she needed to face her own "shame" and in so doing perhaps...more
Salbi herself is a survivor. As she went to war-torn countries, she listened to women brave enough to share their horrendous and, to them, shameful stories so that they could give courage and encouragement to other victims. Salbi realized she needed to face her own "shame" and in so doing perhaps...more
While news headlines cover torture and executions carried out under Saddam Hussein’s orders, this book covers the deeper mental and psychological effects of his tyranny. Between Two Worlds: Escape from Tyranny: Growing Up in the Shadow of Saddam tells the revealing and inspirational story of Zainab Salbi, an extraordinary Iraqi woman whose father, and by extension her whole family, was bound by employment to the notorious dictator.
Between Two Worlds chronicles Salbi’s life from her childhood in...more
Between Two Worlds chronicles Salbi’s life from her childhood in...more
Zainab Salbi was the daughter of Saddam Hussein's pilot. By being his pilot he was now part of Saddam's "inner circle" and because of that his family has to follow suit. Zainab was just a young girl when she was made to call Saddam "Amo", which meant uncle. Through his tyranny, he expected people to show their affection for him by forcing them to give him gifts of gold, kiss him, call him endearing names and be at his beck and call, which included rape if he so desired. Zainab's parents were ver...more
I was deeply moved by this book. Such a personal account. Salbi is the daughter of a man who was Saddam Hussein's pilot.
I learned much about Iraq reading this book. I did not know (perhaps you did?) that the life of middle/upper class people was so "suburban" ... that her children was spent with liberal parents, wearing modern clothing, and being encouraged to study and be independent. The impact Saddam had on her parents, their slow withering away of their souls, and her mother's attempts to pr...more
I learned much about Iraq reading this book. I did not know (perhaps you did?) that the life of middle/upper class people was so "suburban" ... that her children was spent with liberal parents, wearing modern clothing, and being encouraged to study and be independent. The impact Saddam had on her parents, their slow withering away of their souls, and her mother's attempts to pr...more
Zainab Salbi was eleven years old when her father was chosen to serve as Saddam Hussein's personal pilot, her family often forced to spend weekends with Saddam where he watched their every move. As a palace insider, Zainab offers a singular glimpse of what it is like to come of age under a dictator and provides an intimate portrait of the man she was taught to call 'uncle.' She watched as Saddam pitted friends, spouses and even children against each other to compete for his approval. She was sen...more
Between Two Worlds by Zainab Salbi was the first account I have read by someone who personally knew and socialized with Saddam. Her book is a wrenching description of the horrors she and her family experienced in their "privileged" position as friends of Saddam. It's a very worthwhile account.
I'm struck by the parallels between Zainab Salbi and Fatima Shihabi, the heroine of my novel A Thousand Veils. Almost identical in age, both women were only daughters in loving Shiite families. Both bonded...more
I'm struck by the parallels between Zainab Salbi and Fatima Shihabi, the heroine of my novel A Thousand Veils. Almost identical in age, both women were only daughters in loving Shiite families. Both bonded...more
This memoir by the daughter of a privileged Iraqi family offers a glimpse of Iraqi culture, religion and the personal life of Saddam Hussein. Hussein systematically enmeshed Salbi’s family with his own. He made Salbi’s father his personal pilot. He gave her parents a home within one of his (150) palace compounds and insisted they spend weekends there. Trapped in a situation with no good choices they gradually became immobilized by fear and compromised their values and their lives in order to sur...more
I am so glad that I read this book - I learned a lot. The author tells an amazing personal story while sharing about the country and culture of Iraq.
She acknowledges that her experience was from a privileged perspective, but she humbly takes you into the reality of Iraqi life under Saddam Hussein for all people.
The recounts of her personal meetings with him are chilling and her family's struggle to come to terms with the relationship is very human.
Salbi is an extraordinary person who is not o...more
She acknowledges that her experience was from a privileged perspective, but she humbly takes you into the reality of Iraqi life under Saddam Hussein for all people.
The recounts of her personal meetings with him are chilling and her family's struggle to come to terms with the relationship is very human.
Salbi is an extraordinary person who is not o...more
This is a really interesting glimpse into the personal life of Saddam Hussein, written by a woman who was forced to grow up in his inner circle. As the daughter of Saddam's personal pilot, Zainab Salbi reveals what it was like for her family and others to be forced into friendship with a man who idolized Hitler and Stalin ... the fear they lived with daily ... the way their lives were manipulated by Saddam's threats ... and the way her family and others were destroyed by this megalomaniac/despot...more
After reading A Thousand Sisters by Lisa Shannon, who raised money for Women for Women International by running marathons, I was interested in reading the story of that organization's founder. Zainab Salbi describes towards the end of the book how she started Women for Women, but mostly Between Two Worlds is the story of her family's life in Iraq. Her father was a pilot who was asked by Saddam Hussein to fly his private jets. The family experienced tremendous stress and conflict as they simultan...more
Extraordinary. What I particularly like is that the age of the author almost syncs with my own and I can reflect on where I was, in cushy misguided USA, when her country was at war. And despite the different techniques and styles, Salbi's story coincides with Persipolis, which also follows a young coming-of-age girl with progressive parents dealing with a war--the same war--but on the opposite side. For someone who grew up completely confused by the Gulf and their leaders, this book provided me...more
Salbi's memoir is a fascinating look at growing up in a family that was "chosen" to be part of Saddam Hussein's close social circle - her father was his personal pilot for a time. While her immediate family members survived frequent "eliminations" of friends of Saddam, the forced friendship came at great personal cost to Salbi and her family. Her personal sacrifices led her to found Women For Women International, a non-profit that serves women who've survived the ravages of war and ethnic cleans...more
Zainab's story of growing up in Iraq, before and throughout each war since Iraq-Iran in 1980, gives great insight into the real lives of Iraqi culture, beliefs, and government. As Saddam's pilot's daughter, her family was in constant contact with Saddam and this affected her greatly. Writing from a child's perspective into a young woman who moves to America for an arranged marriage, these memoirs are touching and heart-wrenching. The book is also a great coming-of-age story and emphasizes family...more
I didn't get pulled into this book as much as I did some other memoirs I have read. The teaser makes it sound as if there was more eyewitness detail than there was, and the fear of the Iraqui people during the reign of Saddam Hussein was adequately explained but not very well conveyed to the reader. Still, I was interested enough to pick it up whenever I had a few minutes and get through it pretty quickly. There was one segment in the last 20% of the book that had me thinking I wouldn't be able...more
Very interesting and compelling story about Saddam Hussein's pilot's daughter and her experience growing up in Iraq with Saddam Hussein as a family friend. In reality, Hussein controlled their family and the question of why they never left is something the author struggled with all her life. Salbi started Women for Women International, a group that helps women all over the world who are survivors of war that brings violence and rape to women as part of the plan to crush the country. This particu...more
I loved this book. You get a first hand look at what it is to be in the control of Saddam.
What an amazing memoir. An intimate look at the inner circle of Saddam Hussein from a young women's point of view. Having viewed the fear he instilled on all levels, it propelled Zainab to fight the injustices of women throughout the world, especially as the victims of war. Through opening up and sharing her memories, her heart and her soul, Zainab found her voice. She overcame her nagging doubts, and realized her story was worth the telling. I for one, am glad she did. She has inspired me to th...more
I feel a bit odd writing a review for this book, given that I know Zainab personally. I am happy to write, however, that Zainab is an amazing woman doing amazing things for women (check out her organization Women for Women International) and it's wonderful to have a book telling the story of how she came to be who she is today.
For many of us, we knew Zainab before she could safely tell the story told in this book, so it was QUITE an eye opener when we read it. We were told a much "safer" (MUCH...more
For many of us, we knew Zainab before she could safely tell the story told in this book, so it was QUITE an eye opener when we read it. We were told a much "safer" (MUCH...more
zainab salbi is one of my heroes. she founded the non-profit women for women international, an organization through which you can sponsor a woman for a year in a war torn country. women tend to be the the fields upon which war is waged, their bodies become the battlefield and use of rape as a systemic weapon of war not only tears apart women, both physically and emotionally, but also entire communities. salbi's program offers woman a chance to put their lives back together and empowers them to s...more
This was a hard book to read. First of all, I hate reading sad books full of suffering - particularly if it is true. Second, throughout the entire book until Salbi's journey to the US, I felt a constant dread as I read about her life. I trust that is just a small taste of her constant fear while growing up in the shadow of Saddam Hussein. Third, I read far too much about rape and war and horrendous suffering. I do not know why I am still astonished at the evil that goes on in this world and how...more
I loved this book. Zainab Salbi is a fascinating and inspirational woman. She gives us a look into the inner circle of Saddam Hussein in Iraq starting from when he became president. As the daughter of his one-time private pilot, Zainab gives us an intimate glimpse inside his palaces, his social life, his corruption, his violence, his control of all those around him, his (and his son's)treatment of women and all facets of life in his inner circle of "friends" as she grows up to become a teenager...more
Hesitated reading this book because I've read so many non fiction accounts of Arab and Muslim life for women that I thought, "What more is there to say?" Had to read it for one of my book clubs. Glad I did! I learned quite a bit about Saddam Hussein and his tyranny, and I learned about the sacrifices made and fear under which this family lived because of Hussein.
Zainab is an amazing women who has found a calling to help other women. The book is written beautifully (yes, it is co-authored.
Zainab is an amazing women who has found a calling to help other women. The book is written beautifully (yes, it is co-authored.
The inside story of Saddam Husein's inner circle, from the view point of a girl growing up in Tyranny. I can relate to her thinking as an ally and not an enemy. When countries go to war against each other, the war is against politics and not all the people. I often wondered what people I met from the middle east think and feel. This book gives inside information of my many questions and understanding of emmigrants to my wonderful country the US.
I have already recommended this book to everyone I know and am giving my copy (which was given to me as a recommendation) to my mother.
Fascinating autobiographical tale of growing up the "pilot's daughter" - the pilot to Saddam Hussein. Weaving her childhood, teen, and adult stories with stories her mother wrote on her deathbed illustrates the different lives of women in Iraq through the last 30 years or so.
Like most americans, I know very little about life, politics and religion in Iraq so thi...more
Fascinating autobiographical tale of growing up the "pilot's daughter" - the pilot to Saddam Hussein. Weaving her childhood, teen, and adult stories with stories her mother wrote on her deathbed illustrates the different lives of women in Iraq through the last 30 years or so.
Like most americans, I know very little about life, politics and religion in Iraq so thi...more
Zainab Salbi was known growing up as “the pilot’s daughter”; her father was Saddam Hussein’s personal pilot and close friend. In Between Two Worlds, Salbi discusses growing up with Hussein as a part of her family - he was present for dinner parties, family gatherings, birthdays, and her engagement. Even though they were close to him politically, Salbi and her family struggled with how to stay away from him personally and emotionally. She shows masterfully Hussein’s communicative power and obsess...more
She gives a compelling look at what the fears and worries were when Saddam obviously wanted to control each and every individual. The story of Saddam manipulating even the children of the people in his control (not letting one play piano while giving high praise to the other). It made me think of the tales about courts that kings and Queens kept to make sure they had friends to do what they wanted.
A very personal memoir of an Iraqi woman who recalls a wonderful family life in Baghdad before her father felt forced to become Saddam Hussein's pilot and "friend". At first I thought the book was a bit disorganized and asked too many repetitive questions, but I realized this served to underscore the intimacy of the story. Some parts of the book are emotionally draining to read including the last chapters that deal with the author's formation and work with "Women to Women International".
LOVED this book! Great true story of the hideous goings-on under Saddam Hussein's reign and remarkable imprints it left on lives. Thank you to the author for sharing her journey of trying to come to grips with the meaning of her life in the aftermath of such a cruel dictatorship.
Thanks Katie for recommending this book to me! I'm definitely going to pass it on.
Thanks Katie for recommending this book to me! I'm definitely going to pass it on.
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Zainab Salbi is an Iraqi American writer, activist and social entrepreneur who is co-founder and president for Women for Women International.
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Mar 07, 2010 07:03am