A Rope And A Prayer: A Kidnapping From Two Sides (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
I liked this book - and it's duality in storytelling. The experience of a New York Times journalist being kidnapped is told through two perspectives, his and his wife's - who fought continuously for his release. It was an interesting perspective, David fighting endlessly to retain sanity amongst a physiological 'warfare' and his wife struggling to remain present in two worlds, one of a kidnapped situation and the second a life in NYC holding a job as Cosmopolitan. In truth, I read this book because it hits close to home; however, I found that I have learned more about Pakistan and Afghanistan history, wars and culture than ever before. It is a region of so much conflict and endless fighting, it is easy to tune it all out while living in the US. This book puts it into a digestible format where I was able to gain a perspective of the region as a whole. In the end, I was surprised that no ransom was ever paid and it was the grit of David that got him out of the situation. Many others haven't been that fortunate. (not really a spoiler alert since you know he lived to tell the story...). Either way, it was an educational and enlightening read. I recommend. David Rohde’s account of his capture by the Taliban in Afghanistan with alternating accounts by his wife, Kristen Mulvihill, of her struggle in determining David’s predicament and location as she fights for his return through political means from her home in the U.S. It is an account revealing the defiant, vengeful, aimless and ragtag nature of radical Islam cast in the backdrop of a good international historical explanation of prior circumstances. It provides some insight into a culture in chaos, lost in endless revolution among its own factions as the world leaves them in a stone age they seem to embrace as they grant no grace among themselves or toward other cultures, religions or nations. It also provides insight into the helpless nature of international negotiations for such isolated cases of international kidnapping for political purposes. I recommend this book.
What do You think about A Rope And A Prayer: A Kidnapping From Two Sides (2010)?
A journalist kidnapped by the bad guys. Story told by journalist and his wife---after his escape.
—Alex
Good story, but David had been kidnapped before . . . hello?
—kearl2012
Please check display shelves/cases in our collection
—Nikki
