Barefoot in Baghdad

Jan 24, 2013 Rockprincess96 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Barefoot in baghdad has been successful in creating pathos and touching my heart greatly. It is probably because I myself am a muslim living in a country torn and vindicted by war. Although I am not being affected directly by it but the overall tension and atmosphere of distrust is heartwrenching. I think this novel by Manl Omer is a very small part of the picture she is trying to build. I dont think anyone could write about the atrocities and harsh difficulties faced by the iraqi civilians. The...more Barefoot in baghdad has been successful in creating pathos and touching my heart greatly. It is probably because I myself am a muslim living in a country torn and vindicted by war. Although I am not being affected directly by it but the overall tension and atmosphere of distrust is heartwrenching. I think this novel by Manl Omer is a very small part of the picture she is trying to build. I dont think anyone could write about the atrocities and harsh difficulties faced by the iraqi civilians. Their only fault is that they have been tied up in the events of a terrible and fatal war. But they are determined and hopeful for a brighter tomorrow.

And this is what Manal Omer might be trying to do; telling the world about their awe inspiring struggle to secure their futures. And the fact that this a memoir makes the story all the better. I have seen the religious maturity she has gained. Her middle eastern roots that she wants to discover is not necessarily her ancestoral roots it could he her cultural and religious roots. That the fact that many of her statements are conflicting portrays her inner struggle and turmoil at the enfolding of different events and their impact on her work. The slight touch of romance and fairytalish effect that she has successfully added in her book is a surplus. As a muslim girl I know the conflicting emotions or thereof lackof emotions or misjudgement of emotions is quiet possible and expected. Reading this book from a muslim it seems perfect but reading it as a non islamic member of the society,the norms and social morals and values and the authors point of veiw might seem prejudiced, at times absurd and very conservative. The book is inspiring and gives a vivid image of the hurdles faced by the iraqi women as the part of a country on war. It highlights the problems faced by the aid workers working in Iraq and the reluctance of the iraqi's to trust the americans. This novel also shows the ignorance and innocence of the young soliders posted in Iraq. And conveys the mesdsage that with love and hope all can be conquered. At the end of the novel she accepts the fact that Iraqi's can only find freedom with their own power and strongwill. It can also be percieved that until there is love all can be captured.(less)

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Feb 22, 2012 Cathy rated it 1 of 5 stars

A travel narrative of a women's memoirs of this type and found this account extremely boring and lackluster right from the beginning few chapters, continuing on up to the point I couldn't read one more page. The writing style is very dry and factual. The narrative without flow, leaving a very disjointe...more

I tried to get into this book. I believe that the author had been through a lot as she helped women. I was put out by the author mentioning that this was not a politically motivated book bu...more

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Dec 19, 2011 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction, memoir-biography, military-government

My Review: War. It’s brutal; it’s ugly; few would argue that it is utterly and unilaterally devastating. War is one of the most terrifying creations of humankind and, as such, it is arguably one of the best teachers. (If we’d all agree to learn from it, that is…) Indeed, war reflects an exaggerated version of society as a whole; the way we communicate with one another, the way we view and treat our allies and foes, and even the way we see ourselves and our role within a broader societal context....more My Review: War. It’s brutal; it’s ugly; few would argue that it is utterly and unilaterally devastating. War is one of the most terrifying creations of humankind and, as such, it is arguably one of the best teachers. (If we’d all agree to learn from it, that is…) Indeed, war reflects an exaggerated version of society as a whole; the way we communicate with one another, the way we view and treat our allies and foes, and even the way we see ourselves and our role within a broader societal context.

Amid the chaos and destruction of wartime, Manal Omar set herself on a mission to help the women of Iraq. Often overlooked in evaluating wartime efforts, Omar recognized the status of Iraqi women as a fairly effective barometer of progress. She bravely (albeit with some naivety) sought to bring aid to the country’s women firsthand. Barefoot in Baghdad is the gripping description of her work and experiences in Iraq, beginning with determined hope and ending, somewhat surprisingly, with somber resignation. Resignation to the fact that Iraq must solve their own problems as a unified country, that is. In her memoir, Omar confirms what many have begun to believe about the most recent of wars: America isn’t actually the answer to the intergenerational crisis in the Middle East and an occupied police-state is no way to facilitate ongoing peace and societal reconstruction.

Throughout her journey, Omar faces endless religious, ethnic, and gender-based discrimination; all of which she describes and analyzes candidly in her stories. I was hugely impressed not only by the amount of self-awareness and insight Omar possesses, but also how eloquently and clearly she communicates her growth process to her readers.

But, ultimately, this memoir is not about the war in Iraq. Like many tales that begin under the guise of war, Omar’s political journey evolves into a story of love. I was somewhat disappointed by the fairytale-esque turn of events, however, Barefoot in Baghdad remains a must-read for anyone interested in thinking critically about the intersections of ethnicity, religion, gender, and war.
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Nov 13, 2011 Jeannie Mancini rated it 2 of 5 stars

Manal Omar's memoir titled Barefoot in Baghdad is a book I just couldn't finish. Three quarters of the way through I simply had to just throw in the towel, willfully giving up. I am a reader of many travel narratives and women's memoirs of this type and found this account extremely boring and lackluster right from the beginning few chapters, continuing on up to the point I couldn't read one more page. The writing style is very dry and factual. The narrative without flow, leaving a very disjointe...more Manal Omar's memoir titled Barefoot in Baghdad is a book I just couldn't finish. Three quarters of the way through I simply had to just throw in the towel, willfully giving up. I am a reader of many travel narratives and women's memoirs of this type and found this account extremely boring and lackluster right from the beginning few chapters, continuing on up to the point I couldn't read one more page. The writing style is very dry and factual. The narrative without flow, leaving a very disjointed story.

Manal, a young American-Palestinian travels to Iraq to work with a variety of women's aid groups. Her intent was to help and rescue Iraqi women who have been abused or ill-treated. Unfortunately though, it seems she made little progress, and that her efforts (at least up to the point I quit the book) were without positive outcome which didn't help you root for her or her dreams.

The tag line subtitle on the cover of the book said "A Story of Identity-My Own and What it Means to be a Woman in Chaos." Manal states within the early chapters of this book that part of the reason for her taking this journey was to get in touch with her Middle Eastern roots, yet the reader never gets close to Manal. We learn very little about her as a person, one doesn't get a feeling for her personality, her emotions, her beliefs or personal history. I felt the same about the few particular women she was trying to rescue. Their characters were so flat and the reader gets so little information on them that you don't really care what happens to them or her. For me, reading this book was as if a layer of fog was drifting over the pages clouding up what really could have been, underneath, a tragic story of women in turmoil and one woman's desperate and dangerous attempt to rescue them. But the cloud never lifts in order for you to feel the heartbreak or trauma, the personal tragedies that have brought these lost tortured women to their devastating outcomes. There is no drama, no action, no humor, not much of anything but a dry documentary style reporting of Manal's quest.

The author does little to portray a vivid picture of the urgency in these tragic lives. After I reached the three quarter mark in the book, I felt I just didnt care about the author's mission, her life, or the lives of the girls she tries to help. A lot of pages were dedicated to the politics, red-tape, and muck the author had to wade through in order to advance one tiny step in a very lengthy fight, and I just didn't have the patience to travel with the author at that slow of a pace and not be riveted while I was moving along.

Sorry folks, this reader was very disappointed and bored. Two stars is the most I can offer.(less)

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Jun 11, 2011 Jenny rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I received this book by accident from the publisher. I tried to get into this book but I just could not get past the third chapter. I believe that the author had been through a lot as she helped women. I was put out by the author mentioning that this was not a politically motivated book but then throughout the first part of the book there were many mentions of the errors of the US government.

The author has me tuned out when she continued to include her strong opinion about the mistakes of the go...more

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Dec 15, 2010 Lois rated it 5 of 5 stars

Despite her family’s opposition to Omar’s assuming the position of country director in Iraq with Women for Women International, a group that helped female survivors of war to rebuild their lives, she quickly took up the reins of such a position, proving her worth in her many encounters with those women whom she helped free from a life of degradation and fear. The dichotomy of her status, as both Arab and American, born in Saudi Arabia to Palestinian parents and raised in the American South, as a...more Despite her family’s opposition to Omar’s assuming the position of country director in Iraq with Women for Women International, a group that helped female survivors of war to rebuild their lives, she quickly took up the reins of such a position, proving her worth in her many encounters with those women whom she helped free from a life of degradation and fear. The dichotomy of her status, as both Arab and American, born in Saudi Arabia to Palestinian parents and raised in the American South, as a Muslim and a woman, she was in an ideal position to negotiate the hazardous and diverse microcosm of Iraq, still trying to recover from the ravages of Saddam Hussein’s brutal regime. In this moving memoir, she describes how she was among the first international aid workers to arrive in Baghdad in 2003. Barefoot in Baghdad tells of the two years that she spent working with Iraqi women as they struggled to create a new nation and a new identity for themselves.

Omar describes her daily battle to overcome prejudices in the society, which were present in many forms. She not only had to suppress her own misgivings about having to work sometimes in close conjunction with the US-dominated Coalition Provisional Authority, but also to persuade her Iraqi colleagues of the integrity of her intent. She asks a telling question at the outset of the memoir: “Who was better equipped to adapt within a country experiencing a period of tumultuous change than someone who had been raised with an ever-shifting identity?”

The redemptive nature of this tale, both on a personal and broader societal front, conveys a central message of hope overcoming what might so easily have been a position of despair. The uplifting and youthful approach which Omar takes to her subject matter is as captivating in the fluency and ease of her writing as it is in the way in which she is able to navigate her position among the many diverse segments of Iraqi society. No matter whether you view the US occupation of Iraq as unwarranted or as totally justifiable in terms of their acting as a liberation force, Barefoot in Baghdad should be of interest to you. Giving both an insider’s and an outsider’s view of the unfolding drama of Iraq, the memoir should prove worthwhile reading for anyone who has a keen interest in developments in the Middle East. [Reviewer for Bookpleasures.com]

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Sep 09, 2010 Nancy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Manal is an American Muslim who follows Muslim traditions and chooses to wear a veil. She seeks out opportunity to return to Iraq, a country she fell in love with years ago and becomes the director of a small organization to assist women in Iraq; the women who are primary breadwinners but unskilled, widows, divorced women, and others.

The story begins with Manal attempting to assist Kalthoum, a 16 year old girl who was married off at the age of 13, raped and abused, and escapes to the streets to...more Manal is an American Muslim who follows Muslim traditions and chooses to wear a veil. She seeks out opportunity to return to Iraq, a country she fell in love with years ago and becomes the director of a small organization to assist women in Iraq; the women who are primary breadwinners but unskilled, widows, divorced women, and others.

The story begins with Manal attempting to assist Kalthoum, a 16 year old girl who was married off at the age of 13, raped and abused, and escapes to the streets to become a prostitute. Manal's mission is to find a safe place for this girl before her family claims her and honorably executes her for dirtying their name.

This is a strong beginning and grabs my attention. Unfortunately, there are few things within the pages that hold my attention. Most of the book is Omar telling the reader about the politics of Iraq, including the different organizations and brutally painting the United States soldiers as insensitive and uncouth, describing their poor decisions regarding the war in Iraq, its occupation, and organizations that were wrong. At the same time, Omar contrasts her own work and decisions to live among the Iraqi downtrodden, her embracing of the Iraqi way, her sensitivity and Muslim lifestyle, and occasionally includes a brief story of her work as a humanitarian aid worker.

What disappointed me about this book is that I found Omar's agenda to be splashed on nearly every page that the military was wrong and she wanted nothing to do with them. She was an aid worker and balked at any association. She briefly concedes that life under Saddam Hussein was unbearable and the Iraqi people, particularly the downtrodden, saw the toppling of the old government as a new beginning yet she is relentless in pointing out the wrongness of the war in Iraq. Never does she acknowledge that the work she is able to do is directly related to Saddam's overthrown government. Not only that, but time after time, it is (begrudgingly on her part) through the military that she is often able to break through barriers and dead ends.

I really enjoyed Omar's personal stories that lacked political overtones. I did enjoy understanding more about the culture and the difficulty she had reconciling women given the Iraqi way. I enjoyed the developing relationship between her and one of the Iraqi men. I was bored reading about the organizations she felt were doing nothing or harm to the culture. Although not a fan of the Iraqi occupation, I came away feeling defensive of the U.S. government's military personnel and deeply offended by Omar's dismissal of the sacrifices made by the United States to overturn tyranny.(less)

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Apr 30, 2013 Shawn rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: biographies-memoirs-autobio-us, international, travel-books

Given the subject this could have been a fascinating book since it is a memoir about a young aid worker who goes to Baghdad to help with women's issues, but somehow the author made the subject BORING (so boring the book was extremely difficult to finish and every time I picked it up it was with dread instead of my usual excitement about reading a book). I think this stems from the fact that the book was written by someone who is not a writer and the fact that the author was so young and immature...more Given the subject this could have been a fascinating book since it is a memoir about a young aid worker who goes to Baghdad to help with women's issues, but somehow the author made the subject BORING (so boring the book was extremely difficult to finish and every time I picked it up it was with dread instead of my usual excitement about reading a book). I think this stems from the fact that the book was written by someone who is not a writer and the fact that the author was so young and immature when she wrote this book.

Normally when I don't like a book I realize that I am not the target audience for the book and note that in my review, but I should have been here..and with that said...I have not been able to figure out who the target audience is for this book.

The book isn't written for those who want to learn about the Middle East since in the first part of the book the author does a poor job at explaining basic issues and terms. She starts off the book by using a lot of industry and/or Baghdad specific terms and abbreviations. In rare instance she defines international agency abbreviations, she does so only once often only providing their full name. Examples I can remember off the top of my head include: the green zone, the fridge, NCCI, CPA (Coalition Provisional Authority), USAID, NGO, CARE and the list goes on....(on a side note...if you are reading this book on a Kindle you can touch a world and pull up every time it is mentioned in a book...a feature that I often use when reading a book with lots of characters).

I didn't feel the book was written for anyone interested in the Middle East, women's issues or the international development community either since the author seems more interested in talking about her social activities than telling us stories of the women she is employed to help. The cause that the "Woman for Woman" program is working for is so important and there are so many woman that need help it is heartbreaking. Unfortunately, when Manal tells stories of her work, I was often disturbed since her arrogance and bitterness seemed to do more to hurt the "Woman for Woman International" organization and their causes, than to help. In addition, the author's immaturity and arrogance (this is reflected in way she voices her very strong opinions and the stories she tells about herself in the book) will be offensive to many. Middle East politics is a sensitive issue and needs to be handled with more class and restrain than this author used.

The author still sees the world in overly simplistic black and white terms and suffers from the "I am right and everyone else is wrong" syndrome. I know a lot of this is due to her lack of maturity but there are a lot of other authors out there who have the emotional intelligence to handle these issues with more tact. ...and their stories are fascinating to read, unlike the ones in this book.

I also found her attitude and how she talked about others disturbing. For example here is what she said about some of the other aid workers... "I wanted to lean over and smack him"..."the caretakers were obnoxious and rude"..."I resisted the urge to take off my shoe and beat the Iraqi translator." This was very prevalent in the first half of the book.

The last section of the book which is almost entirely about her "courtship" and marriage, Manal comes across as a much nicer person. Although a lot of what she said did not ring true to me. For example she both worked with and was living in the same home, "unchaperoned" as the man she later marries but they were never alone? This part of the book is interesting for a non Muslim since you do get an insight into Muslim "courtship", engagement and marriage practices. "Courtship" is in " " since men and female are supposedly never left alone until they are engaged and the family approves of the match.
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Sep 21, 2011 Jamie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Manal Omar is an Arab-American woman with liberal ideals and a humanitarian spirit. In 2003 she travels with the non-governmental organization Women for Women International that goes into war-torn countries and begins rebuilding communities, from the women up. Manal had been to Iraq years before, and remembers it for it's history, beauty, and resilient people. This is her story of what it was really like to live in Iraq from 2003-2005, what the people were really like, as well as stories of the...more

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Apr 17, 2011 Amy Sabol rated it 3 of 5 stars

As an avid supporter of Women for Women International, I was excited to read a first hand "boots on the ground" account of one of the key players for this program in Baghdad. While I admire Omar's courage for starting the Baghdad program without her families blessing and amidst extremely dangerous conditions, I was disappointed that there were very few details as to where my sponsorship $'s went. I was craving an anecdotal account of a true success story (or really i just wanted to read a letter...more

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Sep 13, 2010 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: personal_memoir_biography

[Note: the copy I read was titled Barefoot in Baghdad.

Barefoot in Baghdad is going to be a hard book for me to review because I have very mixed feelings about it.

First, let me make it clear that I applaud the author for the work she was, and is, doing. I have nothing but respect and admiration for that.

The author, who describes herself as an Arab, an American, a Palestinian, a Southerner, a Muslim, and a woman, traveled to Iraq as an American aid worker. In addition, she chooses traditional dre...more

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Mar 22, 2012 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoir-biography

I always enjoy memoirs. I enjoy stories, of people. People who are living out their passions and finding a side of a bigger story most people don't have the privelege of knowing. Manal Omar's Barefoot in Baghdad provided me a personal, emotional story of the not only her life but the life of many admirable woman from Iraq and the world over as well as a number of admirable men who mutually understand the value of women. At times, I wish there were more details of her experiences but enjoyed the...more

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Jun 09, 2011 Ari rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

I thought this book was oddly devoid of what Ms. Omar DID exactly in Iraq. It all seemed very vague, she talked about setting up women's centers but mostly this book focused on the difficulties aid agencies faced working in Iraq. Which was disappointing to me because I had hoped the story would be specifically about what Women for Women International did in Iraq or even touch on what NGOs in general did in Iraq. Instead (and I guess it makes sense since this is a memoir) the story very much focu...more I thought this book was oddly devoid of what Ms. Omar DID exactly in Iraq. It all seemed very vague, she talked about setting up women's centers but mostly this book focused on the difficulties aid agencies faced working in Iraq. Which was disappointing to me because I had hoped the story would be specifically about what Women for Women International did in Iraq or even touch on what NGOs in general did in Iraq. Instead (and I guess it makes sense since this is a memoir) the story very much focuses on relationships but personally I cared more about her work than her personal life. Which sounds way harsh and I don't mean to say her personal life isn't interesting but I wish she had found a better balance. I wasn't a fan of the writing style either the book opens up moving fast with an engaging and heartbreaking story and then the story is dropped. I honestly couldn't remember who Ms. Omar was talking about once she resumed the story (after a looonnnggg pause in which she discussed her family and her first few months in Iraq) and I had to flip back to the beginning.

I was captivated by the fact that the author had such difficulty gaining the trust of American soldiers as well as the Iraqi women because she wore the veil. The men she worked with were disappointed because at first they didn't view her as a 'true American' and the Iraqi women feared she might be a religious fanatic. The point is continuously made that Iraq is a fairly secular country compared to the countries around them (they often say they are not like Iran) and that is a point of immense pride for the Iraqi people, especially concerning women's rights "They [Iraqi women] had paved the way for women in the region by being among the first to vote, the first to participate in the judiciary system, and the first to demonstrate their economic power. Women from the rural areas became legendary for devising methods to survive the sanctions of the 1990s." (pg. 17). Furthermore the author did an excellent job portraying her relationships with the Iraqi people, they all came alive and the inevitable deaths quite literally broke my heart. I obviously didn't suffer as much as Ms. Omar but I did get so wrapped up that I was near tears.

Barefoot in Baghdad was a disappointing story because I had different expectations. I would recommend going into this story with the mindset of having no expectations or expecting a strong focus on personal relationships between the author and certain people as well as a discussion of American policy flaws in Iraq. I personally admired Ms. Omar because her career path is one I would LOVE to follow. I want to major in international relations and work for an aid agency and travel around the world. However I was hoping to read a story that concentrated largely on aid work and it did not. From a cultural aspect I had a really hard time understanding Ms. Omar deciding to get married so suddenly but she explains that in her culture women don't date. Which I knew from other YA books I'd read but I guess I just assumed adult women would date if they wanted to, but Ms. Omar's culture and religious beliefs are very important to her and I respect that immensely. She asks for her parents blessings on everything but if they say no, she will fight them on it if she believes it's truly important. A striking story that looks at the time when Iraq began to crumble and the danger aid workers faced in Iraq as well as the even greater danger faced by the Iraqi people. I walked away from this book wanting to learn more about this amazing country. The story also reads like a how-to guide for humanitarians imparting lessons such as the IQ and this "As much as we thought we knew what was needed, in the end only the communities we planned to work with really knew" (pg.22).
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Feb 19, 2011 Lorraine rated it 3 of 5 stars

It seems every other book on the bookshelves of the library are about the middle east and women. So I thought this was an interesting addition to my education about the middle east of today! Manal Omar was raised in the US by Palestinian parents. She is Muslim and American and interested in women's rights. She accepted a NGO position to Iraq after Saddam was toppled to help marginalized women rebuild their lives, given the status of women in that society without a husband - for whatever reason....more

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Jun 19, 2011 Marahm rated it 4 of 5 stars

Manal told this story in a conversational tone. True to most conversations, she wove in and out of it, introducing diverse elements easily and leaving them just as easily. I would have appreciated more consistency and more focus upon her actual work.

The narrative picks up drama towards the end, when Manal's safety becomes untenable and she must evacuate.

I would have liked to hear more about the women she helped. Much of the book is wasted on prolonged accounts of her moves into various apartme...more

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Oct 01, 2010 Angela Taylor rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction

i have really struggled with what to write about this book. i liked it and didn't like it. i liked get a view of what life is like for iraq women. it was interesting to read about the authors struggle with identity, as she is an arab american, raised it texas. she feels she is not seen as an american here, and not accepted as arab in arabic countries. manal's family is very important to her, as she is to them. her time spent in iraq was for a very worthy cause.
i did not like her attitude towards...more

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Feb 15, 2012 Barb rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is written by a Palistinian born American and it gives a very different view of the crisis in Baghdad. Manal is an young American lady living and working in Washington whose wish is to 'do some good in the world and help women who are in need'. Thus she joins a N.G.O. and travels to Baghdad to help women there in their struggle to put their lives back to any kind of 'normal' in the aftermath of the invasion by U.S. Forces. Her views are very distinct and in opposition to her family's,...more

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Oct 15, 2010 Deb rated it 1 of 5 stars

totally disappointing! I forced myself to finish this book in hopes the author would shake herself out of the self justification of why she felt she needed to prove to everyone she was not really an American but not really Palestinian; not really supportive of the US military until she had no other options; proving that whining is a sure way to wear down your superiors and family; why escaping from a war zone at the last possible moment, putting your friends at risk to humor your self imposed im...more

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Oct 18, 2010 Anne rated it 5 of 5 stars

The author is a very young American Muslim sent to Iraq to help with a woman's organization. She has to fight/cope on several fronts at once, being a woman, being young (maybe unexperienced and at times naive), being a Muslim, being a Palestinian (not an Iraqi) and an American, being an American with a headscarf, being for peace but having to work with soldiers...in a country where rules have gone, where terror reigns, where people do not trust anyone, where foreigners are trying to make money o...more

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Aug 14, 2010 Nancy rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was a page turner from day 1. I kept on finding creative ways to sneak away for "just one more chapter!" Very well written and gives the reader an eye opening look at the life of an aid-worker in Iraq during the Iraq war. My heart went out to every one of the female characters Manal tried her hardest to assist. I found myself engulfed in tears when she recounts how she made Yusuf and the others turn the car around to go back to the orphanage, knowing she couldn't bear leaving her there...more

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Dec 07, 2011 Sandy rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was an easy and compelling read for me, while still touching and concerning. I highly recommend Manal Omar's personal account of heading up a women's organization in Iraq during the dangerous mid-2000s. Ms. Omar, an Arab-American, was herself in danger as the Americans became "occupiers" instead of "liberators." I enjoyed how intimately she shared her feelings with the reader; in fact, she called her book a personal journal. I felt the profound hardship of the Iraqis trying to live ordinary...more

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Nov 22, 2010 Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book shed some light on the contrast between US as liberators in Iraq, and US as an occupying force. Written by an American veiled Palestinian woman, this author has some unique insights into the War in Iraq. However, her book is written in a choppy style, without sufficient background information to give a more complete picture of the situation she faced while working with a women's NGO in Iraq in the mid 2000's. It was an easy read, and if it hadn't been, I'd probably have put it down, lo...more

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Mar 01, 2011 Yoonmee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-east, memoir, travel-writing

Manal Omar's story is a story that needs to not only be told but heard. I first heard about her while reading Sisters in War: A Story of Love, Family, and Survival in the New Iraq by Christina Asquith (also a highly recommended read) where she is one of the featured characters, so when I saw this book in the bookstore I was thrilled to hear her story in her own words. Omar is a strong, opinionated, intelligent, amazing woman; her experiences in Iraq need to be heard/read b/c she offers insight t...more

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Feb 05, 2011 Jeannette Katzir rated it 2 of 5 stars

I finished the book last night and feel as if I had a very very light meal. The book is similar to reading a 237 newspaper article. It was interesting, informative, contained likeable characters, but it lacked a grab your guts story line. Yes the woman moved from America to do wonderful world changing selfless work, and she did experience many near misses and suffer the deaths of many of her friends and colleagues, BUT I didn't really get to know her down deep, and without that, the book just we...more

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Sep 26, 2010 Tara Chevrestt rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010-release, non-fiction, memoir, iraq

I was actually unable to finish this, but I paid ten dollars for it so I am stating my opinion.

I hated it. It is very anti American. I'm surprised Sourcebooks picked it up because they have normally chosen their publications very well.

You got a woman, born in Saudi Arabia, of Palestine descent who has had the opportunity to live the American dream. While she has been living comfortably in America as a citizen with all the benefits, Iraq has been under Saddam and living in oppression and with fea...more

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Jul 14, 2011 Marya rated it 4 of 5 stars

A dear friend let me borrow this for summer and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. I realize now why I should give more nonfiction books a try. They are poignant on an entirely different level. The complexities of the region as well as the beauty of the land are woven with great care in this relatable, often personal, narrative by Manal Omar. (I recently saw her on cspan and scared my family by exclaiming that I knew who she was lol) Thank you noha for the great read. Your taste in books is...more

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Aug 12, 2011 Shaima rated it 5 of 5 stars

it's 4:49 in the morning and i just finished reading this book and thought i better review it when it's still fresh in my head. this book is everything i wonder about when i meet someone new at school and i hear they just moved from iraq. i usually just avoid looking at them, not because i think war is infectious like that, but because my curiosity could be seen disrespectful and insensitive. the book tells stories of iraq, the women of iraq more specifically. the author seems to be taken in by...more

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Sep 05, 2010 Jenney rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is impossible to put down once you start. While I strongly disagree with the author's views on the purposes and involvement of the U.S. in the Iraq wars, I respect her courage and determination to make Iraq a better place for women. Reading some of the stories of what Iraqi women have gone through was heart wrenching and I cannot imagine living in a society where things such as honor killings are accepted. Reading this book has given me a greater awareness into the lives of Iraqi women...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Deja . rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved the title and proverb to go along with this: walk barefoot and the thorns will hurt you, meaning, an unconventional life can have pain in it. Not a travel narrative, but a great book about the complicated life of a development worker. I loved the characterization of the lines we have to draw between personal vs. professional, american vs. not-american, women's rights vs. religious values, peace and aid work vs. militarization. I read it in one day. (available on Ebook from my library)

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Dec 13, 2010 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the book and disagree with those who consider the book anti-American. It is not a requirement to blindly agree and follow the government or military, but I digress.

While I do wish that the book had information regarding the women that Ms. Omar met I still found the book to be a compelling read regarding some of the atrocities that happen to the people of Iraq. I believe the book provided a personal element to what can sometimes be just an impersonal piece of news to some of us h...more

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8614954-barefoot-in-baghdad?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328342110l/8614954.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8614954-barefoot-in-baghdad?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Barefoot in Baghdad by Manal M. Omar[/url]

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