Customer Reviews

A Mighty Heart: The Brave Life and Death of My Husband, Danny Pearl

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Mariane Pearl is to be commended for this wonderful book. She weaves together the story of why she and Mr. Pearl were in Karachi, the current political situation that was taking place, and every emotion she went through when Danny disappeared. This book will ground you in the reality that there IS senseless hatred in the world, but it also will inspire the reader to look towards the future, where hopefully all can live in peace.

The glimpses Mrs. Pearl gives into her life are astounding, particularly when she retells her difficult birth to she and Danny's child. She also expresses her unique balance of inner strength and her will to fight for Danny with her inner calm and ability to still trust in the world.

After the epilogue, she has copied some of the numerous letters she received after the news of Danny's death, and they will restore your faith in humanity. Written by both common individuals and world leaders, these instill within the heart that there is good within mankind. The letters from adherents of Islam are especially poignant, and their calls for a peaceful, united world will bring tears to your eyes. Five stars.

I picked this book (actually an older version of the hardback book) in a bargain book bin at a bookstore last year ~~ and since I am reading up on quite a bit about the Middle East and I knew that the movie was going to be out soon, I thought this would be a good time to read it.

When Daniel Pearl was kidnapped, I was pregnant and still working in the newsroom (nothing like the calibar of Wall Street Journal, mind you!). I remember reading avidly about the kidnapping and eventual murder of Pearl (though I refused to watch the video ... what a cruel thing to do to another human being!) but as time passes by, I got busy raising our twin boys. Reading Mariane Pearl's book on her experiences of waiting to see her husband again and being pregnant brought back memories of conversations I had with my husband. As a woman, I cannot imagine how harrowing it was for her during that time period nor can I imagine giving birth without my husband at my side. This book is a memoir to her husband's courageous stance and beliefs that truth is vital to human growth. It is also a memoir of Mariane's beliefs as well.

Mariane recounts her meeting with Daniel, her wedding (where she didn't stop smiling for the three-day party), her travels with Daniel and even their little routines that all happily married couples have. She recounts her fear and horror but her belief that Daniel will return home to her ~~ how she sees him defying his captors in little ways and how that uplifted her during that horrid time. She writes of the friends that she has made who searched for Daniel and tried to rescue him. She writes of her pregnancy and dreams for their unborn son. It is a beautiful love story that continues in defiance of the terrorists. In this case, the terrorists may have killed Daniel but not his spirit nor his wife's spirit nor his son's. Nor did they kill off the majority of the world's spirits ~~ the humanness of all of us that strives to make this world a beautiful place to live in for ourselves and for future generations.

I am not sure I even want to watch the movie (though I did hear that Jolie did a great job portraying Mariane) because this book is a story in itself ~~ so raw and intimate and collected in so many different places. It is a story of humankind. It is a story of love that will never be severed in spite of the ugliness of worst of humankind. If you are looking for something to read that will rekindle hope in people ~~ this book would do it. Mariane refuses to be bitter though it is obvious that she will always miss Daniel. This is not a pleasure reading either, mind you ~~ but I think it should be read ~~ simply to remind ourselves that love will continue in spite of it all.

6-23-07

This book was a little slow to start, but about halfway through I couldn't put it down. I was hooked. The author lets us know many details of her life with her husband, truly a great man -- what a loss to the world is his death. She exhibits great courage, persistence, hope, and appreciation for those who assisted her through this ordeal. I was crying at several points in this book, even at the end, where she includes many of the letters of support she received from people all over the world. The other bus passengers must have wondered what was going on with me as I sat there reading with tears streaming down my face!

I found this book impossible to put down when I started reading it. I thought I would give it a quick skim and I was hooked. The story and the outcome are well-known, but there are many facts and details here that were not known at all to me.

Contrary to two Amazon reviewers from Pakistan who claim that the book expresses hatred for Pakistanis, the book reveals a woman who has no place in her heart for hate or prejudice or stereotypes. Indeed, she has deep emotional attachments to several Pakistani investigators who tried to find her husband before it was too late.

Mariane Pearl is amazingly kind, generous, and loving, as well as courageous. She faced her trauma with remarkable strength of character. At no point did she blame "Pakistanis," and she is remarkably restrained in what she says about the zealots and terrorists who killed her husband. She describes the experience she lived through and the loving relationship that she had with her husband, as well as describing the remarkable man that he was. They had a beautiful love affair, and her love for him is what sustains the narrative. At the same time, the reader learns about the abundance of terrorist organizations and their connections to Pakistan's elusive intelligence organizations (the ISI).

The book is a compelling narrative and I recommend it highly to anyone who wants to understand the world as it is today. It is a beautiful love story, a suspenseful mystery, a tale of international intrigue, and a guide to some of the scariest terrorist organizations in the world.

This book is the most intimate portrayal of the forces of terrorism that has been published. Ms. Pearl's place as a common woman caught unwanted and suddenly alone in the crosshairs of today's most terrible forces makes her comparable to a modern version of Rosa Parks. Ms. Pearl's book is courageous, and her writing is gripping. Moreover, her loving portrait of her husband, Daniel Pearl, is touching and romantic. Far from a tragedy, Ms. Pearl's indomitable spirit transforms the horrendous murder of Daniel Pearl into a sharply focused call for justice and truth. This book is a must read. It will not only teach you about what terrorism is really about. This book has the power to change your life.

The book was better than I expected. Like the many people who wrote to Mariane and Adam, I too expereienced unbelivable pain and anger when I heard about Daniel Pearl. For those of you who commented Mariane's story was one sided GIVE ME A BREAK!!!! Did you read the book??? She consistently said good things about Pakistan and the people of Pakistan. Why do you even have to go there??? This book wasn't a personal attack against Pakistanis or Muslims, it is an attack against hatred and unbelievable evil.The book resonates within me, and I wish Mariane and Adam all the best!! God Bless!!

This book does such an immense service in showing us the complex issues surrounding terrorism, hatred and politics that led to the sad murder of Daniel Pearl. Mariane Pearl was so fair in showing that the extremist Muslims who took her husband's life do not represent all Muslims. She showed the beauty of Muslims such as Captain and her husband's Wall Street Journal colleague who worked tirelessly to help find her husband. Most of all, she showed a reservoir of great strength in being fair to the people of Pakistan. She revealed with great clarity the hatred within the nation that has made life dangerous for the country's own citizens, but poetically shared with the reader the fact that there are many fighting within the country to make the streets safer for everyone. The country would be well served to learn from this amazing book.

Terrorists know so much more about us that we do about them. Now I understand that this HAS to change.This book made me feel like I was a better person, just for reading it. Moreover, it makes me feel want to be a better person. Easy to read, I read it in 4 nights, when usually it takes me 3 months to read a book. I only know about terrorism what I hear in the news or read in the newspaper. This book is a love story, an education and an eye opener all in one. I now have so much admiration for the dedication of journalists, for the people that I never consciously thought about ...who work around the clock to fight terrorism...to fight for our freedom, for peace, for every one of us on this earth. People who literally and knowingly risk their lives for a better world. Mariane is a remarkable woman, as is her friend Asra - both so brave, smart, courageous and warm. This story is one I wish everyone would read. In writing this book, in publishing it, Mariane Pearl has made the world a better place becasue she opens us up to a world that effects all of us. As I read her book, terrorism struck Madrid, and instead of feeling sorrow while watching the news, I felt so much more - it had so much more meaning.

As is written in the book, terrorists know so much more about us that we do about them. Now I understand that this HAS to change.

Mariane Pearl's account of the life and death of her husband, Danny Pearl is rivetting...not so much for the amazing details she provides about what happened, but for the extraordinary courage and love she displays as she refuses to give in to despair. "My religion is defiance", says Mariane Pearl...defiance of all that which stands in the way of truth and love...This in the story of one woman's fight for the life of her husband...and the hope she holds out in the face of all odds. This is the story of a mother who writes furiously so that her unborn son, Adam, will know his father through this passionate story told by his mother. This is the story of a woman who included in her world of support Pakistani and American secret police, presidents and wives of presidents, Buddhists all over the world, and her dearest Muslim friends, who became her confidantes...together as one big family working together, sharing meals and laughing and crying...this is a woman who dared to be real and to speak her truth and lead a search that is so powerful, so inspiring that it is unforgettable.
Don't be put off by the subtitle: The inside story of the Al Quaeda kidnapping of Danny Pearl...This is the story of a mighty heart that knows and holds a love that is so strong and so big that one can feel it come alive in the words...and be inspired to believe that this is a love that will transcend even death.

"A Mighy Heart" chronicles the experiences of Mariane Pearl after her husband, Wall Street Journal reporter Danny Pearl, was kidnapped and later murdered while on assignment in Pakistan. This book details everything that Mariane went through, from the time she learned Danny was kidnapped to the aftermath of his death.

I was completely blown away by Mariane's story. In the book, she describes how brave and strong her husband was and how many wonderful people assisted her during this incredibly difficult time. However, I think Mariane is just as much of a hero as Danny. I can't believe that she was able to keep it together so well when all this was going on, especially since she was five months pregnant at the time! Also, Mariane is the one who basically spearheaded the investigation surrounding Danny's disappearance. She did so much to try to help her husband. I don't think I would be able to be as calm and collected in a high-pressure situation like that.

The final pages of the book contain a sampling of the many letters Mariane and her family received after Danny's death. Reading the letters was incredibly moving. People from all walks of life and all parts of the world were touched by Danny's death and Mariane's courage.

Mariane writes very candidly and honestly. I was very moved by her story. I wish her and her son Adam much happiness, and I hope Danny is at peace.