Captivity By James Loney
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missy7411
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- Latest Review: "Captivity" by James Loney
Captivity By James Loney
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Captivity: 118 Days in Iraq and the Struggle for a World without War" by James Loney.]
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Captivity: 118 Days in Iraq and the Struggle for a World without War by James Loney, is the true story of the capture and imprisonment of four foreign civilians in Iraq in 2005. James Loney’s nonfiction book follows the events of the abduction of himself (Jim) & Harmeet Sing Sooden, the Canadians, Norman Kember of London, and the American, Tom Fox while working on a peace mission and the 118 days of their captivity.
The four men are members of the Christian Peacemakers Team (CPT) in Iraq to help ease conflicts without the need for firearms or violence, and to give a true account of the war. While leaving a meeting at the Muslim Scholars Association national headquarters, their van is hijacked and the men are taken into captivity. They are blindfolded and taken to a house where they are forced to make a videos pleading for the withdrawal of foreign troops in Iraq, in order for their release.
Jim, Harmeet, Norman and Tom are hand cuffed together and forced to spend their days in plastic lawn chairs and their nights cramped on a small mat with a blanket that barely covers them. Over time the men try to get on the good side of their captors to get items they need such as medicine, clothes and notebooks to write in. The men are told by their captors that they will be released as soon as negotiations are made and the money comes through. This is told to them several times over their 118 days of captivity, wearing on their hope for freedom.
James Loney’s account of their captivity makes one question the cost of war. The hardships faced by Iraqis since the fall of Hussein and the occupation of foreign troops and the uprising of radical Iraqi groups are direct results of the war. Is life better or worse for the Iraqi people since the fall of Hussein? Are the occupying troops helping to develop the country or causing strife and uprisings among the people? These are just some of the questions raised by Jim, and the CPT organization. He takes us through the struggle of holding onto faith and hope when it all seems lost. At one point during the captivity Jim becomes very sick and says “Prayer is useless. God is dead.” However, when his captors bring him medicine a new hope springs in him where he decides “God is not dead after all.” (280)
I rate this book as a 4 out of 4 stars. I enjoyed reading the book, and was drawn into the account of their struggle for freedom and the strength Jim needed to hold onto his faith. I found myself asking many of the same questions as he did and looking deeper into myself and reflecting on my own faith and how easy it is to take many everyday items and luxuries we take for granted. I would suggest this book as a must read to anyone who wants to learn more about events that have taken place during the war in the Middle East.
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Buy "Captivity: 118 Days in Iraq and the Struggle for a World without War" on Amazon
Buy "Captivity: 118 Days in Iraq and the Struggle for a World without War" on Barnes and Noble
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The four men are members of the Christian Peacemakers Team (CPT) in Iraq to help ease conflicts without the need for firearms or violence, and to give a true account of the war. While leaving a meeting at the Muslim Scholars Association national headquarters, their van is hijacked and the men are taken into captivity. They are blindfolded and taken to a house where they are forced to make a videos pleading for the withdrawal of foreign troops in Iraq, in order for their release.
Jim, Harmeet, Norman and Tom are hand cuffed together and forced to spend their days in plastic lawn chairs and their nights cramped on a small mat with a blanket that barely covers them. Over time the men try to get on the good side of their captors to get items they need such as medicine, clothes and notebooks to write in. The men are told by their captors that they will be released as soon as negotiations are made and the money comes through. This is told to them several times over their 118 days of captivity, wearing on their hope for freedom.
James Loney’s account of their captivity makes one question the cost of war. The hardships faced by Iraqis since the fall of Hussein and the occupation of foreign troops and the uprising of radical Iraqi groups are direct results of the war. Is life better or worse for the Iraqi people since the fall of Hussein? Are the occupying troops helping to develop the country or causing strife and uprisings among the people? These are just some of the questions raised by Jim, and the CPT organization. He takes us through the struggle of holding onto faith and hope when it all seems lost. At one point during the captivity Jim becomes very sick and says “Prayer is useless. God is dead.” However, when his captors bring him medicine a new hope springs in him where he decides “God is not dead after all.” (280)
I rate this book as a 4 out of 4 stars. I enjoyed reading the book, and was drawn into the account of their struggle for freedom and the strength Jim needed to hold onto his faith. I found myself asking many of the same questions as he did and looking deeper into myself and reflecting on my own faith and how easy it is to take many everyday items and luxuries we take for granted. I would suggest this book as a must read to anyone who wants to learn more about events that have taken place during the war in the Middle East.
***
Buy "Captivity: 118 Days in Iraq and the Struggle for a World without War" on Amazon
Buy "Captivity: 118 Days in Iraq and the Struggle for a World without War" on Barnes and Noble
Latest Review: "Captivity" by James Loney
