Unveiled: How an American Woman Found Her Way Through Politics, Love, and Obedience in the Middle East [Hardcover]

Deborah Kanafani (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 8, 2008

Deborah Kanafani is a Lebanese-American woman, born and raised in New York. In her 20s, she was swept into the world of high-powered diplomats and dignitaries, marrying the handsome and charismatic Palestinian Marwan Kanafani, a former soccer star for the Egyptian national team who was then the director of the Arab League and who would go on to become Yassir Arafat's chief advisor. But Marwan Kanafani was a traditional Middle Eastern man, and as his wife, Deborah Kanafani was compelled to give up her friends and American sense of independence, dividing her time between Washington, DC, and the Middle East attending posh parties with world leaders but always kept on the sidelines.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This uneven memoir frustrates and fascinates, as Kanafani appears to find the lives of others more interesting than her own. The surprising result: passages in which Kanafani's description of events as dramatic as falling for a prince on a cross-Atlantic voyage and watching her father go to prison for business irregularities (that are never disclosed) come across as mildly tedious. Fortunately, the tales she relates of Palestinian politics, Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts and Arab women bucking tradition to struggle for social justice are captivating. The author sees that both her father and her ex-husband, former Yasser Arafat adviser Marwan Kanafani, were controlling and abusive, but fails to consider why her relationship with the former may have led to her bond with the latter, and only rarely intimates what these love-hate relationships meant for her. Writing of a new friend, she says, I wanted to tell her that I was strong and independent too; I wanted to whisper this great secret to her, but I couldn't let Marwan hear me. Ultimately, Kanafani's curiosity about others and the surprising details she reveals about lesser-known topics such as Islamic marriage law or details of Yasser Arafat's marriage are worth the effort, but the payoff is a long time coming. (Jan. 8)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"Much of this remarkable story takes place in parts of the world many of us will never see, but its essential geography is familiar to us all: the hardscrabble landscape of the heart, the longing for love, the disappointment when it fails, the stubborn optimism that impels a person to collect the pieces and soldier on, the fearless resolve of parenthood. Debbie Kanafani's courage is palpable, whether when fighting for her children or in standing up to the powerful men in her way. The unadorned honesty of her writing is luminescent, eminently accessible, and impossible to forget." -- Ernest Thompson, Oscar-winning screenwriter of "On Golden Pond"

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Free Press; 1 edition (January 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743291832
• ISBN-13: 978-0743291835
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,323,118 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A compelling story..., February 9, 2011

By 

ebwhitmore - See all my reviews

This review is from: Unveiled: How an American Woman Found Her Way Through Politics, Love, and Obedience in the Middle East (Paperback)

...told by an gifted storyteller. Deborah tells the true story of her life as an Lebanese/American woman married into the political society of an emerging Palestinian state. Set during the height of political conflict she struggles with the new life she enters and the unexpected pitfalls she faces when she divorces her husband. Along the way we are introduced to strong women, such as Queen Dina and Mrs. Arafat, who overcame objections within their marriages and culture, and made a lasting impression within the political climate of the Arab world. This compassionate book is a must-read for those longing for a look beneath the contemporary version of the Arab world.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting & Intelligent, February 9, 2011

By 

Crocus - See all my reviews

This review is from: Unveiled (Kindle Edition)

I recommend this book if you are looking to learn about the Middle East from a perspective that is rarely heard, while being entertained at the same time. Ms. Kanafani's experiences are fascinating and she writes with an insight and compassion that is palpable throughout. Though the book is about a woman's experiences it is by no means of limited interest to the female reader. The fascinating characters she interviews and describes, the challenges she personally faced and her unique social & cultural duality presents such a unique and refreshing perspective about a subject that many of us know so little. Such a great read I cannot recommend it highly enough.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating, February 9, 2011

By 

Bryan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Unveiled: How an American Woman Found Her Way Through Politics, Love, and Obedience in the Middle East (Paperback)

A timely read to help appreciate events that are relevant today. A fascinating look at a culture that many, including me, don't understand fully. Highly recommended.