In 1948, as violence erupts in Jerusalem, a young Arab woman, Hind Husseini, finds fifty-five abandoned children in the streets and faces the biggest challenge of her life. Hind establishes the Dar El-Tifel orphanage, dedicating her life to providing love, support and education to the children, changing their destiny. As the years pass and the conflict rages on, Hind finds that - despite her best efforts - some of her older students are taking part in the violent struggle for Palestinian independence, including one of her brightest students, Miral. Rula Jebreal traces the lives of generations of Palestinians in order to understand the intractable conflict. Based on fact, Hind Husseini, benefactor of thousands of children, is the figurehead in this examination of race, religion and what a homeland means.
Miral
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Heartbreaking novel dissecting the Palestinian conflictbased on a true story; film adaptation starring Freida Pinto and directed by Julian Schnabel to debut at Venice Film Festival
From the Back Cover
A young girl must decide howt o save her peopleIn 1948, as violence erupts in Jerusalem, a young Arab woman, Hind Husseini, finds fifty-five abandoned children and faces the biggest challenge of her life - changing their destiny. She dedicated her life to providing the children with love and education, and establishes the Dar El-Tifel orphanage. As the years pass and the conflics rages on, Hind finds that - despite her best efforts - some of her older students are taking part in the violent struggle for Palestinian independence, including one of her brightest students, Miral. Hind desperately tries to save Miral from this legacy of destruction. But is she too late?Rula Jebreal is an award-winning Italo-Palestinian journalist who specialises in foreign affairs and immigration rights issues. She was born in Haifa, studied and worked in Italy as an anchorwoman for many years, and now makes her home in New York. Rula Jebreal wrote the script for the movie Miral, which was directed by Julian Schnabel. Miral stars Freida Pinto.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ms Jebreal is a journalist and I found the first half of the book read very much like an extended newspaper article. This section covered the lives of Hind Husseini and several of Miral's relatives. However, once I reached the story of Miral herself, the whole feel of the book changed and became much more immediate; evoking more reaction from myself as a reader.
Hind Husseini, whose school Miral attended for much of her childhood, was an amazing woman. She chanced upon 50 desperate children, orphaned and lost after their village had been ransacked in 1948. They had been dumped near the Church of the Holy Sepulcre in Jerusalem and had nowhere to go. Hind gathered them up and took them home, and it was from this event that she started a children's home. As time passed, she managed to procure some financial aid and the children's home grew to a school for nearly 2,000 girls.
Miral and her sister lost their mother when they were very young and their father felt unable to raise them alone. He brought them to Hind and they lived at the school, going home only at weekends. At first they were very homesick, but the school provided a stable base for them and Hind became like a surrogate mother to Miral.
As Miral grew and gradually became more aware of events taking place around her, she felt compelled to become more active. She helped in a refugee camp, but wanted to do more for the Palestinian struggle against the loss of their homeland. Hind did not permit her pupils to march in demonstrations so Miral had to do so illicitly. It was here that she met another activist and fell in love. However, she also had an Israeli friend, which gave the whole a much more balanced feel.
This book is marketed as fiction, in spite of the fact that the author is known to have stated that it is based on her life. From this, I would deduce that the events are factual but some of the characters and details may be fictional. This seems fair enough to me, as long as I know.
As yet I have not seen the film but I believe it is a good representation of the book and I fully intend to see it soon.
I would also recommend Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa as an excellent novel in the same genre.
Hind Husseini, whose school Miral attended for much of her childhood, was an amazing woman. She chanced upon 50 desperate children, orphaned and lost after their village had been ransacked in 1948. They had been dumped near the Church of the Holy Sepulcre in Jerusalem and had nowhere to go. Hind gathered them up and took them home, and it was from this event that she started a children's home. As time passed, she managed to procure some financial aid and the children's home grew to a school for nearly 2,000 girls.
Miral and her sister lost their mother when they were very young and their father felt unable to raise them alone. He brought them to Hind and they lived at the school, going home only at weekends. At first they were very homesick, but the school provided a stable base for them and Hind became like a surrogate mother to Miral.
As Miral grew and gradually became more aware of events taking place around her, she felt compelled to become more active. She helped in a refugee camp, but wanted to do more for the Palestinian struggle against the loss of their homeland. Hind did not permit her pupils to march in demonstrations so Miral had to do so illicitly. It was here that she met another activist and fell in love. However, she also had an Israeli friend, which gave the whole a much more balanced feel.
This book is marketed as fiction, in spite of the fact that the author is known to have stated that it is based on her life. From this, I would deduce that the events are factual but some of the characters and details may be fictional. This seems fair enough to me, as long as I know.
As yet I have not seen the film but I believe it is a good representation of the book and I fully intend to see it soon.
I would also recommend Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa as an excellent novel in the same genre.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.7 out of 5 stars
23 reviews
37 of 45 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing,,,,,
22 Dec 2010
By Sheri
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
I just finished reading this book and I want to say I found it amazing! Having just visited Palestine this past summer, last time I was there was 1976, I known where every part of this book takes place. Rula does such a great job bringing alive the colors, smells and landscape of the country. I eyewitnessed myself and my 18 year old son, the hardship of occupation but the unrelating hope that both sides have for peace. In Ramallah there is contact bustle from shop owner and their customers. Especially coming from America and knowing the freedom to be able to travel anywhere in the 50 states without carrying passports or official documents, i couldn't help but be sad for those kicked off the bus just because they were Palestinian. But they were content and went back to there homes. In Jersulem, although separated I witnessed Isreali and Palestinian walking and working together. It is a hard life for both peoples but especially the Palestinian people. That being said there is always a glimmer of hope for peace! Rula does such a great writing this book and her story is so amazing for her to have accomplished this much. I would recommend this book to everyone. It gives you such a great sense of hope for one day peace in the region!
33 of 40 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thank You, Jimmy Fallon
20 Jan 2011
By Reader
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Surprisingly, I learned about this book on the late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon. I purchased it the day I received my Kindle for Christmas (First book I read on the ebook reader!). Jebreal is a talented author with the ability to hook readers. Most surprisingly, I have learned a significant amount about the historical context of the story. Not a product plug, but... It helped reading with the Kindle as the dictionary would explain some cultural references. Enjoy! And thank you Jimmy Fallon!
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Essential reading for any proponent of Peace.
10 April 2011
By Alwina
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Charlie Rose in his inimitable choice of guests on his show gave the public a chance to meet Rula Jabreal. It didn't take a minute after the show for me to run to my computer and push the Amazon.com quick order button to get her book. Although Rula calls her book a novel - it is based on a true story and she writes in a journalistic rather than literary style - at first reading a little confusing.
There are statements in the book one wants to underline! It gives a heart-rendering account not only of the harsh political background but the experience of suffering political choices can,have and always will create. The further away from the first reading the more impact the content has on you - it warrants a second reading. One feels the true cry for the world in general to pursue Peace as a first priority. One word of warning: Don't see the film without having read the book! The film is good as augmentation.
There are statements in the book one wants to underline! It gives a heart-rendering account not only of the harsh political background but the experience of suffering political choices can,have and always will create. The further away from the first reading the more impact the content has on you - it warrants a second reading. One feels the true cry for the world in general to pursue Peace as a first priority. One word of warning: Don't see the film without having read the book! The film is good as augmentation.
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3.7 out of 5 stars
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