Leap of Faith by Queen Noor

Leap of Faith – Memoirs of An Unexpected Life by Queen Noor - To be discussed on November 3, 2010 at 6:30 PM

Born in America in 1951 as Lisa Halaby, Noor came from a wealthy, well-connected family and was part of Princeton's first co-ed class. Her father's aviation business produced a chance meeting with King Hussein of Jordan in 1976, and a year or two later Noor realized the king was courting her. He was 41, she was 26. He was thrice married. The rumor mills buzzed: was she the next Grace Kelly? Before long, the king renamed her Noor (light in Arabic), and she converted to Islam. They were married in the summer of 1978. From this point on, her story is mostly his, mainly covering his attempts to broker peace in the Middle East. There are meetings with Arafat, Saddam Hussein, American presidents and other leaders. Noor details Hussein's struggles to create Arab unity and his vision of peaceful coexistence with Israel. Her own activities developing village-based economic self-sufficiency projects and improving Jordan's medical, educational and cultural facilities take second place to her husband's struggles on the world stage. And while she occasionally acknowledges her domestic difficulties, Noor is careful not to allow personal problems to become any more than asides. Her pleasing memoir ends with the king's death in 1999 after his struggle with cancer, although readers may suspect that this smart, courageous woman will remain a world presence for years to come.

Queen Noor offers a vastly informative and even fascinating memoir of her life from her childhood in an Arab American family, daughter of a very successful man in politics and business (including a stint as director of the Federal Aviation Administration), to her tenure as consort of the charismatic King Hussein. Her Majesty naturally adopts a Jordanian perspective in her reminiscences; we are not surprised when she posits, for instance, that "Jews, Muslims, and Christians had lived peacefully in the Middle East and indeed in Palestine for centuries. It was not until the rise of Zionism and the creation of Israel that animosities took root." As the woman who stood behind one of the major players in the Middle East in the second half of the twentieth century, Queen Noor brings a unique perspective to the contemporary history of the region.

1 How did Lisa meet the King of Jordan?

2 Was it love at first sight?

3 Was Lisa accepted by his family and country men?

4 Lisa gave up much when she married the King. Did he give up anything by marrying her?

5 Were there subjects that Lisa and the King did not agree on?

6 Was Lisa able to make friends in Jordan?

7 Was she able to stay in touch with her family and friends in USA after her marriage?

8 Did she have any job responsibilities by marrying the King?

9 How did her life change after her husband’s death?

10 Would you like to switch places with her? Why or Why not?

11 Were you familiar with her story?

12 Would you recommend this book to others?