Tuesday, April 29, 2008

I have been reading Daughter of Iraq MAYADA by Jean Sasson...

This is a book for our times.

As we prepare for another presidential election at the end of this year, it might behoove each of us to get a better understanding about this war we have waged in Iraq.

Mayada addresses things with which we can not possibly relate. To begin to understand the life of an Iraqi woman - of any class - is to realize we don't comprehend a thing about her/their culture whatsoever.

It is a book well worth reading . . . if you have the stomach for the reality of one woman's survival under Saddam Hussein.

Lovely Americans - we are so completely blessed!!

5 comments:

Happy The Man said...

This probably isn't going to be on the top of my "to read" list. I'm reading and interesting book about "boys adrift", why boys aren't doing so well in school in this day and age. I'll blog on it some day when I'm finished reading it.

I'll just close with this teaser, expectations of kindergarten kids to be reading and doing what was 1st grade work 20 years ago is not helping our boys, they're not ready for it, their brains don't develop in that area until more like 7. Girls on the other hand are ready for learning between 3 and 5. One size does not fit all in education.

Joyce said...

This is exactly the reason Oliver Taylor is turning 7 tnext week and is still in kindergarten.

Campbell Hall suggested he needed to be placed there as he wasn't quite up to par for the first grade last fall.

Having a son around for an extra year can be a real pain, but probably is worth it in the long run.

xoxoxo

Unknown said...

Hi Joyce, This is Jean Sasson, the author of MAYADA, Daughter of Iraq. You are so right regarding your comments about this book. Whether one agrees with the war in Iraq or not, all Americans should seek full knowledge of the history of that country. It's hard to imagine the brutality the Iraqi people have experienced, but this true story gets one as close as they can be without actually having lived it. And, any knowledge we have about this issue truely does help us to understand the background of a country that we are very much involved with. And, after losing so many of our young men and women in that country, Iraq will forever be in our memories. It would be a dream come true if Iraq and Iraqis could finally have peace and to prosper. It would be a dream come true if the sacrifices made by so many American families are not in vain. When Mayada would tell me those stories, and then I would write them, I was so devastated that often I would have to leave my computer to go home and get in bed and weep. How people can be so cruel to one another is beyond me. Jean Sasson

Joyce said...

Thank you for writing, Jean. Your book about MAYADA is profoundly moving - almost beyond my ability to comprehend that this type of thing goes on - even as I sit in my comfortable home, at my computer.

I look forward to reading the other books you have written and perhaps I will visit you at your website at www.jeansasson.com

Also I intend to mail this book to "happy the man's" wife, with all expectations that she WILL read it and be captivated as I was, indeed.

Happy The Man said...

3 of my 4 boys have late birthdays and were held back rather than pushed forward. Jonathan is the only one that started when the world would have him start. Thankfully, he doesn't seem to have any problems. He does do strange things like hit people and what not but he seems to be able to pay attention and do the work just fun. We'll see.