A House in the Sky: A Memoir

By Amanda Lindhout and Sara Corbett

Book Overview

"Exquisitely told...A young woman's harrowing coming-of-age story and an extraordinary narrative of forgiveness and spiritual triumph." --The New York Times Book Review Amanda Lindhout's unforgettable... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1451651481
• ISBN13: 9781451651485
• Release Date: January 2013
• Publisher: Scribner
• Length: 373 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.4" x 1.2" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Positive thinking in a most horrible place

This book tells a hideous story of both the physical and mental trauma endured during captivity. It would have been easy for Lindhout to be bitter, broken, and have a totally negative outlook but her strong heart and determination to find gratefulness is on every page. It is impossible not to feel fortunate and grateful for one's life when reading how she survived without being utterly defeated.

Great book

This book really grabs at your heart. It is astounding what other humans will do to other humans, for money. A book that everyone should read and hopefully change the ways of some people.

A view from captavity

A gripping story of life backpacking around the world and ending up in captivity. A well written story about third world nations. A novel that shows the other side of the "no ransoms paid to terrorists" rule. My copy had a book group discussion guide to help bring out the different aspects of the narrative. The story goes into the Islam religion from a very balanced perspective. A story that helps shape how one feels about other countries.

Wonderful, heartbreaking, insightful

For those of you who are interested in the fundamentals AND extremism of Islam as a religion, and like a good travel-narrative, this book is for you. Amanda, the author, spends her early adulthood traveling. She and her ex-boyfriend (THAT'S a complicated part) get caught and imprisoned by some Somali kidnappers who ransom white people for money, and spend over a year being moved from house to house in Somalia. The two decide to "convert" to Islam while in captivity, and the information on what Islam is like as a religion and what exactly the Quran/Koran says is sooo interesting. For example, Islam is mostly a peaceful religion, except a man may brutalize/rape those he holds under his right hand. I.E. anyone he enslaves. What Amanda goes through is heart-wrenching. It is such a good read, I finished it so quickly. Then I sent a copy to some family members, saying it's one of my favorites therefore they should read it too.