The compelling and insightful account of a New York Times reporter's abduction by the Taliban and his wife's struggle to free him.
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"I was completely sucked into this book & needed to know how it would turn out. It is written by both the kidnapped journalist & his wife. I found his writing to be much more developed and detail filled, although his wife's was more relate-able. I learned a lot about the crisis in Afghanistan, but was more taken by the actual mental courage of the authors."
— Joann (5 out of 5 stars)
" FASCINATING story of escape from a terrorist kidnapping deep in the mountains of Afghanistan. Such guts to do what he did- and survive! "
— Lindsay, 2/19/2014" Loved it! Couldn't put it down! Loved the thrill of the human story as well as learning about the Taliban, War on Terror and the situation in Afganistan/Pakistan!! Makes interesting observations about the practice of religion that are worth discussing! "
— Veronica, 1/21/2014" Lots of informative information about Pakistan, Afghanistan and that region. Gives wide insight to the US invovlement (good and bad) in the region. "
— Marta, 1/14/2014" I loved this book! It was totally riveting, and I also learned a lot about Afghanistan. It is not too gruesome, which I feared. The book is very well constructed, going back and forth between the kidnapped journalist and his wife. Excellent. "
— Judith, 1/8/2014" Good history of Pakistan and Afghanistan. "
— Denise, 12/29/2013" Really interesting ~ hard to put down. "
— Alex, 12/29/2013" A journalist kidnapped by the bad guys. Story told by journalist and his wife---after his escape. "
— Ellie, 10/31/2013" It was very interesting, but I kind of felt like a bit too many details about the history of the land vs teh actual hostage situation. Some history is obviously needed in this, but pages and pages and pages about blah blah blah.... "
— Jacob, 10/24/2013" A husband and wife story authored by each in alternating chapters of a reporter captured in Afghanistan. Interesting hearing the story of the captured and the left behind but parts were a slow read with unnecessary detail. "
— Karen, 6/20/2013" I knew how the story ended and I still couldn't put it down. Great idea for format of alternating accounts of Rohde and his wife. "
— John, 4/22/2013" Fantastic. If you are interested at all in the conflict in Asia (Afghanistan/Pakistan) this, is a great read. "
— Michelle, 2/23/2013" Seems well researched and the story is pretty interesting. Perhaps too much Pakistani/Afghan tribal history for me, but an excellent view of the societal pressures in or near the Pakistan/Afghan border. "
— Chris, 1/26/2013" The story would have been adequately conveyed in juxtaposed essays by the husband and wife. Too many needless details and little anecdotes didn't tie to a greater theme. "
— Jillian, 12/9/2012" Good story, but David had been kidnapped before . . . hello? "
— Garwen, 10/25/2012" This books was fantastic- it had elements of history and conflict summarization, but it was also a very human story. I couldn't read it fast enough. "
— Rachel, 10/9/2012" Engrossing book about a journalist kidnapped by the Taliban who was able to escape some months later. His wife tells her story if what she did to repeatedly get him freed. "
— Tammi, 8/19/2012" I can't believe the escape attempt! Not the best written book I've ever read but it's well worth reading to understand what it's like for the hostage and families. "
— Laurie, 8/17/2012" Very touching story of a NYT reporter who was held by the Taliban for 8 months. He was a newlywed and someone who knows the wife's family suggested it. "
— Mary, 7/29/2012" interesting style to put both viewpoints back to back but there was just too much information for me to get into the story. "
— Danielle, 6/12/2012" Very interesting read. Slow moving book as obviously the kidnapping lasted over several months but so interesting to see both sides of the story. All of the political hoops his wife had to jump through, what he endured and his conversations and observations of his captures. "
— Heather, 10/12/2011" If you want to learn more about the disfunction of policy, Afganistan and Pakastan AND read a great book with an amazing story, read this! "
— MJ, 8/27/2011" If you want to learn more about the disfunction of policy, Afganistan and Pakastan AND read a great book with an amazing story, read this! "
— MJ, 6/29/2011" Good history of Pakistan and Afghanistan. "
— Denise, 4/13/2011" Loved it! Couldn't put it down! Loved the thrill of the human story as well as learning about the Taliban, War on Terror and the situation in Afganistan/Pakistan!! Makes interesting observations about the practice of religion that are worth discussing! "
— Veronica, 3/27/2011" 3.5 stars. I was very interested in the subject, but felt that both authors, kidnapped journalist David Rohde and his wife Kristen Mulvihill, had overly matter-of-fact writing styles. I kept expecting more emotion and suspense. <br/> <br/> "
— Olivia, 3/25/2011" A husband and wife story authored by each in alternating chapters of a reporter captured in Afghanistan. Interesting hearing the story of the captured and the left behind but parts were a slow read with unnecessary detail. "
— Karen, 3/24/2011" Very touching story of a NYT reporter who was held by the Taliban for 8 months. He was a newlywed and someone who knows the wife's family suggested it. "
— Mary, 3/11/2011" The title is pretty corny, but I really liked this book. Although it contains a lot of detailed information concerning the background in the region, it is presented in an interesting way and despite the extraordinary events the authors were going through, it was easy to relate to them. "
— Amy, 3/1/2011" Excellent book. Hard to put down. "
— Stephanie, 2/13/2011" Really interesting ~ hard to put down. "
— Alex, 2/8/2011" A journalist kidnapped by the bad guys. Story told by journalist and his wife---after his escape. "
— Ellie, 2/2/2011" A harrowing story of kidnapping and escape, along with observations about the relationship between Afghanistan and the West over the centuries, as well as now. I would have enjoyed more of that, as I think Americans need better insight into what we've gotten ourselves into. "
— carl, 1/28/2011David Rohde is a columnist for Reuters and the Atlantic. A former reporter for the New York Times, he has won the Pulitzer Prize for journalism twice. He is the author of Endgame: The Betrayal and Fall of Srebrenica, Europe’s Worst Massacre Since World War II; and coauthor, with Kristen Mulvihill, of A Rope and a Prayer: A Kidnapping from Two Sides. He lives in New York City.