amyma's review against another edition
3.0
This is a compelling book packed full of "behind-the-scenes" of Saddam's tyranny, yet easily readable. I can't imagine the fear this family, and the rest that were Saddam's "friends", experienced. I do think the dad of the family should have taken his family out of the country to save them from the horrors they experienced. This was brought up and the father said he wouldn't do it, I personally don't feel that was being a good husband and father. I know he loved his family deeply, but he should have put them first. Fearing what would have happened to remaining extended family members is not reason to put your wife and children through the nightmare they lived.
What a blessing that Zainab was able to leave, even through difficult circumstances. Her work with other women suffering from oppression is amazing, how wonderful that she has been able to take her bad experiences and use them to aid others in desperate need of assistance.
This was a good book and I feel I learned a lot, but there seemed to be a lot of repetition and it was quite slow at times.
What a blessing that Zainab was able to leave, even through difficult circumstances. Her work with other women suffering from oppression is amazing, how wonderful that she has been able to take her bad experiences and use them to aid others in desperate need of assistance.
This was a good book and I feel I learned a lot, but there seemed to be a lot of repetition and it was quite slow at times.
mmontgomery's review against another edition
5.0
Unimaginable story that brings a new perspective to life in Iraq before and during Hussein's control. Salbi's story and retrospective view of it is inspiring. What she experienced was unbelievable, but what she has chosen to do because of it is amazing. Cannot recommend her memoir more.
lorenadh27's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know that much about Iraq or about Saddam Hussein, so this was a really interesting book and I genuinely feel like I learned a lot. Solid read.
valleest's review against another edition
4.0
Another autobiography by a woman growing up enduring hardships I can't even imagine. This is a really impressive, impactful book and I urge everyone to read it. It has educated me massively.
jhadler's review against another edition
5.0
Drama and tragedy are handled sensitively by the insightful writer. And another plus--I finally understand the basic reasons behind the Iran-Iraq war and why Saddam Hussein was considered such an evil leader.
gainzbybrownie's review against another edition
3.0
I stopped reading this book, I tried my best to get excited for this but I couldn't. The book isn't bad or something but I'm not a fan of non-fiction books. I read the first half of the book and I knew some new things about Iraqi culture and about Sadam Hussain, Just I couldn't finish it so the 3-stars rating is for the first half of the book.
val_halla's review against another edition
5.0
I would highly recommend this book - I learned a ton about why dictators are able to keep power despite massive human rights abuses.
virginiaduan's review against another edition
4.0
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 truly oblivious I am to most of it. I am grateful and ashamed.
I am glad to have read this book - if only to bear witness to Salbi's story. I never realized just how similar Salbi's privileged childhood in Iraq resembled life in the US. I always assumed that Iraq has always been backwards and war-torn. How arrogant and stupid that view seems to me now. (Not that I am an expert by any means on Iraq now.)
It pains me to have read this and to now hold these stories within me. But I also witnessed beauty and the triumph of Salbi, her healing, and the shining love of Salbi's mother and father and brothers.
Once again, I am grateful that my life is so easy and good and full of joy. I pray that my children and I will never experience the depth of pain and suffering that Salbi and her people have.
I am glad to have read this book - if only to bear witness to Salbi's story. I never realized just how similar Salbi's privileged childhood in Iraq resembled life in the US. I always assumed that Iraq has always been backwards and war-torn. How arrogant and stupid that view seems to me now. (Not that I am an expert by any means on Iraq now.)
It pains me to have read this and to now hold these stories within me. But I also witnessed beauty and the triumph of Salbi, her healing, and the shining love of Salbi's mother and father and brothers.
Once again, I am grateful that my life is so easy and good and full of joy. I pray that my children and I will never experience the depth of pain and suffering that Salbi and her people have.
zreader's review against another edition
3.0
Salbi’s story of growing up in Saddam Hussein’s Iraq was tough to read, but also tough to put down.
She shares her life story of growing up in his shadow, as the book’s title explains. It wasn’t a story of growing up around Hussein, but a story about Salbi and her time both in and outside Iraq.
Hussein was able to completely manipulate an entire country through the use of terror. His power came from fear. More than half of the book is the story of adults being so scared that they forget how to make their own decisions.
Because of her family’s proximity to Hussein, they had to make themselves available to him whenever he called on them and live the life he wanted them to live.
This story does a great job of letting us live the life of an affluent family in Iraq at that time.
However, Salbi explains her family’s relationship with Hussein as, somehow, different than any other affluent family that was in his inner circle. She says that, to everyone else in the country, she was an outsider because her family was “Friends of Saddam.” Within Hussein’s inner circle, she considered her family outsiders, as well. While she may believe that is true, I find it hard to believe that the people her family spent the most time with saw them as outsiders.
Understandably, she seems to have trouble coping with her relationship with Hussein. She goes back and forth when she talks about how she felt. She describes knowing two different versions of Saddam Hussein. She makes comments about hating him as a child and young adult but also tells stories about how she had fun with him or while in his company. So I wonder if her recollection of hatred is real, or only hindsight.
In all, an excellent book with a story that helped me view the world from a different perspective.
She shares her life story of growing up in his shadow, as the book’s title explains. It wasn’t a story of growing up around Hussein, but a story about Salbi and her time both in and outside Iraq.
Hussein was able to completely manipulate an entire country through the use of terror. His power came from fear. More than half of the book is the story of adults being so scared that they forget how to make their own decisions.
Because of her family’s proximity to Hussein, they had to make themselves available to him whenever he called on them and live the life he wanted them to live.
This story does a great job of letting us live the life of an affluent family in Iraq at that time.
However, Salbi explains her family’s relationship with Hussein as, somehow, different than any other affluent family that was in his inner circle. She says that, to everyone else in the country, she was an outsider because her family was “Friends of Saddam.” Within Hussein’s inner circle, she considered her family outsiders, as well. While she may believe that is true, I find it hard to believe that the people her family spent the most time with saw them as outsiders.
Understandably, she seems to have trouble coping with her relationship with Hussein. She goes back and forth when she talks about how she felt. She describes knowing two different versions of Saddam Hussein. She makes comments about hating him as a child and young adult but also tells stories about how she had fun with him or while in his company. So I wonder if her recollection of hatred is real, or only hindsight.
In all, an excellent book with a story that helped me view the world from a different perspective.
zanthems's review
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
An intense, intimate portrait of life in Sadam Hussein’s inner circle. It’s a heavy story, but also an illuminating one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape