A House in the Sky: A Memoir - Hardcover

Lindhout, Amanda; Corbett, Sara

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1410463796 ISBN 13: 9781410463791

Publisher: Thorndike Pr, 2013

Synopsis

"The spectacularly dramatic memoir of a woman whose curiosity about the world led her from rural Canada to imperiled and dangerous countries on every continent, and then into fifteen months of harrowing captivity in Somalia--a story of courage, resilience, and extraordinary grace.At the age of eighteen, Amanda Lindhout moved from her hardscrabble Alberta hometown to the big city--Calgary--and worked as a cocktail waitress, saving her tips so she could travel the globe. As a child, she escaped a violent household by paging through National Geographic and imagining herself in its exotic locales. Now she would see those places for real. She backpacked through Latin America, Laos, Bangladesh, and India, and emboldened by each experience, went on to travel solo across Sudan, Syria, and Pakistan. In war-ridden Afghanistan and Iraq she carved out a fledgling career as a TV reporter. And then, in August 2008, she traveled to Mogadishu, Somalia--"the most dangerous place on earth"--to report on the fighting there. On her fourth day in the country, she and her photojournalist companion were abducted. An astoundingly intimate and harrowing account of Lindhout's fifteen months as a captive, A House in the Sky illuminates the psychology, motivations, and desperate extremism of her young guards and the men in charge of them. She is kept in chains, nearly starved, and subjected to unthinkable abuse. She survives by imagining herself in a "house in the sky," looking down at the woman shackled below, and finding strength and hope in the power of her own mind. Lindhout's decision, upon her release, to counter the violence she endured by founding an organization to help the Somali people rebuild their country through education is a wrenching testament to the capacity of the human spirit and an astonishing portrait of the power of compassion and forgiveness"--

About this title

Review:

Exquisitely told [A House in the Sky"] is much more than a gonzo adventure tale gone awry it s a young woman s harrowing coming-of-age story and an extraordinary narrative of forgiveness and spiritual triumph .There s no self-pity or grandiosity in these pages. In the cleanest prose, she and Corbett allow events both horrific and absurd to unfold on their own. Lindhout s resilience transforms the story from a litany of horrors into a humbling encounter with the human spirit. --Eliza Griswold "The New York Times Book Review "

"An amazing, mesmerizing tale that shows international terrorism at a shockingly personal level. Lindhout's strength of character shines through on every page."--Jane Mayer, author of The Dark Side

"If you have ever wondered how extraordinary people overcome physical and mental anguish, you must read A House in the Sky". Amanda Lindhout's riveting account of strength and survival will inspire and leave a lasting impression."--Jared Cohen, author of The New Digital Age

Exquisitely told ["A House in the Sky"] is much more than a gonzo adventure tale gone awry it s a young woman s harrowing coming-of-age story and an extraordinary narrative of forgiveness and spiritual triumph .There s no self-pity or grandiosity in these pages. In the cleanest prose, she and Corbett allow events both horrific and absurd to unfold on their own. Lindhout s resilience transforms the story from a litany of horrors into a humbling encounter with the human spirit. --Eliza Griswold "The New York Times Book Review ""

Lindhout manages to tell her story and to transcend it. Her account stands as a nonfiction companion to Emma Donoghue s shattering, haunting novel about captivity, "Room". --Emily Bazelon "Slate ""

A poetic, profound, and thrilling exploration of one woman s misadventure set against the backdrop of global terrorism Elegant and evocative. --Rebecca Johnson "Vogue ""

A great book The lesson [Amanda Lindhout] taught me and others who know this remarkable young woman is: What matters is not how you got there, but what you do once you ve arrived. --Robert Draper "ELLE ""

[A] harrowing, beautifully written memoir .The wide-eyed optimism and unflappable determination that led [Amanda Lindhout] to danger also kept her alive A brave, compassionate and inspiring triumph. --Korina Lopez "USA Today (4-star review) ""

A searingly unsentimental account Ultimately, it is compassion for her naive younger self, for her kidnappers that becomes the key to [Lindhout s] survival. --Holly Morris "O, the Oprah magazine ""

Keenly observed and sprinkled with arresting details, "A House in the Sky" is more than one woman s heartbreaking tale of captivity. The book sheds light on a conflict area not often painted with nuance. It dares to explore the outer reaches of human empathy. A stunning, haunting, and redemptive read, Lindhout s story is one that stays with you long after the book has been closed. --Grace Bello "The Christian Science Monitor ""

About the Author:

Amanda Lindhout is the founder of the Global Enrichment Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports development, aid, and education initiatives in Somalia and Kenya. For more information, visit AmandaLindhout.com and GlobalEnrichmentFoundation.com.

About this edition

• Publisher: Thorndike Pr
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1410463796
• ISBN 13: 9781410463791
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 653