Customer Reviews

Mighty Heart

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I read this book with my book club and it is our favorite to date. Marianne Pearl recounts beautifully the story of her happy marriage, demanding and sometimes dangerous career (journalism), and frustrating search for her kidnapped husband. I recommend this book to everyone looking for a good read that is different from your average novel or biography.

This is such an inspiring story. The story is so interesting. a must read!

Although I knew the outcome of this riveting story before reading the book, it held my interest from page one. The names and places in Pakistan were a bit confusing, but the themes of love, hope, and courage shone through every event, the happy and the sad. Mariane Pearl thinks of her husband Danny as having a mighty heart, but I think most readers of this book will argue that she too has a mighty heart, a brave one.

Interwoven within the horrors of the kidnapping and the interminable waiting that goes on, there is a love story. You sense the love the Pearls have for each other, the dreams for their unborn child, and the excitement of the life they have together. You sense the feeling of terror that Mariane feels when Danny doesn't answer his phone; nor does he call her. Still, life must go on, and she co-hosts a dinner party, one that she knows he would never miss if he were available. She suspects the worst, and by morning authorities have been contacted. There follow several tortuous weeks of waiting and hoping, of promises to bring "your Danny home" to the horrible tape that shows Danny's death.

Educational, A Mighty Heart is also a story of contrasts, good and evil. Although Danny Pearl was killed in a merciless manner, his loyal friends, loving wife, family in the states, and Adam (born at the end) demonstrate that there's still love in the world...and hope.

A sad story of how a journalist met his untimely death by Pakistani Islamic terrorists associated with al Quada. Pearl did not want to cover the story of the Afghan War, but he was interested in the conflict in Pakistan. He was trying to get leads to the Richard Reid shoe bombing contacts in Karachi when he was lured to his kidnapping and death by terrorists.

This story is by his wife and companion Marianne Pearl and is dedicated to their unborn son Adam. Marianne was a devoted wife and loved her husband a great deal. She details the aftermath of the kidnapping and how she attempted to deal with it. One of the things I was amazed at is when Pearl was killed, many Muslims in authority attempted to link Pearl to The CIA, Mossad, etc and in turn blame the killing on a Western conspiracy. Rather than admit that fanatics from their religion killed this innocent man, they blame the West or even the victim himself.

This is a moving read. Danny should be proud of his wife Marianne for holding up his ideals even after this tragedy.

I found this book to be quite unfactual. I've been to the areas that she describes and I wonder if she has done any interviews or if she actually is searching for a movie deal.