Some Other Rainbow

by John McCarthy & Jill Morrell

On 17 April 1986 John McCarthy was kidnapped in Beirut. For the next five years he was cut off from everything and everybody he knew and loved, from family, friends, and, perhaps above all, from Jill Morrell, the girl he was going to marry.For five years, John McCarthy had to endure the deprivation - both physical and psychological - of captivity; the filth and squalor of the cells in which he was kept; the agony of isolation and repeated self-examination; and the pain of ignorance, of not knowing if those he loved even realized he was alive.For Jill Morrell, the five years of John's captivity were a different kind of the initial shock and disbelief; the gradual acceptance that John had been taken and that her life had changed irrevocably, that all their plans had been shattered.But Jill refused to give up hope. For five years she and a group of friends worked ceaselessly on behalf of John and all British hostages in the Middle East, until the extraordinary day in August 1991 when John McCarthy stepped down from an aeroplane at RAF Lyneham. A day when they could begin again.This is their story, a remarkable account of courage, endurance, hope and love.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Memoir, Autobiography, Middle East, War, History

704 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 1993

Reviews

[Rachel Docherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book 25 years ago. It’s about John McCarthy who was held hostage in Beirut for 5 years. Sitting in my back garden on this beautiful sunny day I was reminded about it. We may be on lockdown in April 2020 but I have nothing to complain about compared to what John endured over his 5 years in incarceration. A very sobering thought.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be an interesting companion to Brian Keenan's "Evil Cradling" which is essentially the same story from a different perspective. Whereas McCarthy's approach, as a journalist, is "just the facts ma'am" you really need to read Keenan's book to get an insight into life as a hostage.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this after reading Brian Keenan's 'An Evil Cradling'. It seemed logical, to get the other half of the story.
but it is actually two more sides of the same story but from a very English perspective. Brian's Gaelic character is evident in his writing by comparison.

This juxtaposition of the two concurrent stories is a good device, but would have probably worked better with more concise or shorter chapters, which is the pattern it falls into in the concluding chapter -'Exile on Main Street'. It reads a like two concurrent books, in jumps and starts rather than one with a sense of flow.

The first thing to note then, is that Brian Keenan is a far better writer than either John or Jill McCarthy, Brian's book is a literary work as well as a testimony to endurance and strength of spirit. These stories are interesting on a humanitarian level, as view into extreme experiences and a retake on a turbulent time of modern World History of a very different kind. It is precisely this which impels this book and keeps the narrative going. And a good thing too! Whilst the inherent relationship subtext is evident the chapters in general are very long and meander a little into minutiae but as the book develops the perseverance is repaid leaving you with a respect and empathy for both authors. I was amazed at how well they remembered details actually despite my previous comment, particularly when you fully consider the severely limited and reduced life that John McCarthy was forced to live for 5 years. That they were willing to share such intimacies with the general public is a commendable, if questionable folly in itself but, I for one am grateful that they did.
The character, humanity and endurance of both parties is evident however the obvious villains of the piece, Islamic Jihad are joined by the British Press and Government; alongside John's account of captivity we also get to see from the home based English perspective from which the arrogant apathy of the then Tory Foreign Office's policy and the all too familiar insensitivity and fickleness of the British Press become obvious and odious.

Overall worth the read but an Evil Cradling is far, far better.
Now onto ' Taken on Trust' Terry Waite's story.

[Dark-Draco · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was quite young when the kidnappings happened, but I do remember the talk on the news and the media hoopla when one of the hostages was released, so this book filled in a lot of the political and social issues that went over my head at the time. I really did like the concept of the book, with first John, and then Jill, narrating a chapter that covered the same timeline from each of their view points. The sheer frustration comes across clearly in the pages, whether on the outside battling the politicians or inside trying to come to terms with the unjust imprisonment.

My only real criticism of the book is the sheer length of the chapters. By necessity, there's a lot of repetition, but I felt this was made more tedious than it should be - I sometimes felt I was battling to reach the end of the section, and ended up with large breaks reading something else just to give brain a rest. As a result, this took me ages to read and I didn't feel I engaged with it as I do something that is read in one enthusiastic burst.

Worth sticking with though.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really long but also very interesting to learn about the kidnappings in Beirut.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember, at the time, the agony of those families that had loved ones kidnapped in Beirut and Lebanon. I recall their efforts to keep the story alive.

Then they were released. then came the books.

I really enjoyed reading this book plus Brian Keenans book. I really didn't go for Terry Waites... though he always got the most publicity.

Not sure that these books will mean much to anyone that doesn't recall the events of that time.

[Natalie Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing true story. Held as a hostage for five years, his spirit and courage is inspirational.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another retrospective review. In my memory this is a story of love. The two story writers endure a separation of a kind that is much removed from any point of reference I might have and they endure.

John McCarthy tells of his capture and years of deprivation as a hostage .. he and Brian Keenan were often bound together, quite literally.. and their story as hostages together adds another layer of human and inhuman experience.

Jill Morrelle spends years struggling to even get the UK govt to acknowledge that John is a hostage and then to try and get him released.

An outstanding read.

[Chrissy Frost · Rating 5 out of 5]

When this book was written in the early 90s, John McCarthy and Jill Morrell were still together - rebuilding their relationship after enduring five years of trauma and stress following John’s kidnapping in Lebanon. Of course now we know that their romance did not have a fairytale ending - adding extra poignancy to this account. This is a well-written and riveting chronicle of John’s harrowing experiences in captivity and Jill’s tireless campaigning to keep his plight in the public consciousness.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2026 will mark the 40th Anniversary of the capture of John McCarthy in Beirut, and 35 years since his release. This book was co-written by John and his then-girlfriend Jill Morrell a year after he regained his freedom. I liked the alternating sections with John and Jill each recalling events of surviving in captivity, and campaigning for release respectively, but found how they navigated the 12 months following John’s release the most interesting part of their story, and from reading this it wasn’t surprising that they went their separate ways in 1995.

[s · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book many years ago but it stuck with me. John and Jill tell the story of this obviously traumatic and devastating period in a relatable and inspirational way.

[Susan]

5 years as a Middle East hostage

[Ann Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this some years ago and was totally captivated. I liked the way Johns story was intertwined with the story of Jill’s campaign for his release progressed in the UK. An excellent read.

[P · Rating 4 out of 5]

read with brian keenans book

[Wendy Brennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of kidnap in Beirut. One chapter Jill one John.

[Monica Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and historical. Tough time for 2 people and friends/family around them. Informative politically too!

[Duerguej · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an incredible but true story. It's an endless source of inspiration for me. Lots of love to all great journalists who risk life and limb on a regular basis (more like THAT!) - Seriously - best book ever - the friendships between these kidnapped and tortured people as they are surviving in chains in dungeons for years on end, are a lesson to us all in how to be human under the most extreme circumstances imaginable. It's a book you want to stuff in peoples' heads and make them KNOW and feel what's actually REALLY happening in too many scary places in this bloody and sad world. John McCarthy is a credit to humanity, as are his courageous colleagues. This is a book everyone needs to read.

[Rosesareread · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all three of the British books: An Evil Cradling; Taken on Trust, and Some other Rainbow, but the last one is the only one I have kept. Excellently written; heartbreaking in conclusion and one that I will read again - and again!

[Kate Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review: http://www.noseinabook.co.uk/?p=1610

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poignant, moving and inspiring. A real triumph for the human spirit

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant read, I could not put this book down, I literally only stopped to sleep.