Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail

Rating:
Summary: Amazing story of the human spirit!
Review: I have not done any research to verify if the information in this book is accurate or not. However, it was an excellent read and I highly recommend it! It provided an extraordinary glimpse into the world of human rights abuses and leaves the reader with a deep appreciation for the simple joys that we take for granted.

Malika Oufkir was a teenager in the prime of her life when she was put into horrible prison conditions for twenty years with her family. Her family was being punished for the political actions of her father.

Malika is an excellent story teller and has lives on the inside of the royal family in Morocco so it is very interesting to hear details of her upbringing.

It is extraordinary to hear of the atrocious jail conditions inflicted on this family that was used to such a lavish existence. If you have any interest in human rights or the politics of Morocco then you will be fascinated by this read!

Rating:
Summary: A True Story that Reads Like a Novel
Review: This is a book about the effects of imprisonment on the human soul and the eventual triumph of resistance over oppression. Written in simple journalistic style, the narrative reads like a novel but unfortunately represents a harrowing true account of survival. Malika's life changes in one moment from that of a spoiled rich jet setting adolescent to that of a prisoner who must suffer not only deprival of freedom and basic human comforts and necessities, but also contact with fellow family members imprisoned in isolated adjacent cells. The radical change in lifestyle is all the more stiking since it follows a description of her unique childhood experiences as a princess, an adopted daughter of the monarch raised in the palace. The profound injustice of the situation is especially appalling when one considers their innocence in being held accountable for a political crime allegedly committed by the assassinated father, a General. The victims, his wife and children who range in ages 3 from to 20, are committed to live a life of deprivation and endless imprisonment by a despotic Morrocan monarch as punishment for this coup attempt. The book is a powerful way to experience loss of freedom vicariously and from a safe distance and to understand its immediate and long lasting effect on individuals. The title epitomizes the irrevocable loss of life experiences suffered by its victims who on leaving imprisonment must begin life as middle aged or young adults with a 20 year hiatus. The book is touching and deep. It makes one understand the importance of organizations like Amnesty International in at least attempting to make a difference.

Rating:
Summary: Straining for credibility
Review: First, I will admit that I am ignorant about the historical basis of this book. Also, if all that is described truly happened, it is of course a terrible and inhumane thing. The book, however, is so poorly written and rife with contradictions, it makes it difficult to believe that this is an accurate account. For example, the author describes the physical condition of herself and her siblings at the time of their escape as near death, starved, diseased, etc. Yet they manage to tunnel out of jail with a spoon and their bare hands, run for miles from their captors, and make their way to relative's home. (?) The photographs taken at the police station upon their capture show five healthy visages. (?) The author also portrays herself as the only reason she and her family are alive today. She gives virtually no credit to her siblings or the faithful family retainers who shared their fate. Finally, she does not seem to have been transformed from her experience. She is the same self-centered, bratty, spoiled teenager whe was when she was imprisoned. Not a good read.

Rating:
Summary: If you like an inspiring story, read this!!
Review: Beautiful, poignant, heart-warming, and touching. This is a story of survival, of determination, love, respect, and a strength of will in testing one's abilities. Malika takes you into her world, being vulnerable, soft and yet with such strength. The daughter of General Oufkir, she and her siblings suffer the consequneces that were given because of her father's attempt to assasinate the King. From a small country of Morrocco, with fragility, she tells of her love for her country, her King, her family, and her life before and her life after as she struggles to keep her and her family safe from enduring twenty years in a desert prison. It is a truly touching story. I recommend this book to anyone who is inspired by true stories, survival, and most especially, those who love to read about the strength and bond between a family and their country. It's not about the bitterness of suffering but through one woman, a story that gave her a voice, a strength of character and will. Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible Strength
Review: An incredible story of the human spirit and its ability to withstand tremendous adversity. Stolen Lives is a nonfiction account of a Moroccan family imprisoned for twenty years after a failed royal coupe orchestrated by the father. The Oufkirs, once prominent members of the Moroccan government and royal court, were banished by the King to a desert prison after he had their father executed. While imprisoned, the family endured horrendous mental, emotional and physical abuse. After fifteen years of desert isolation, the family masterminded the greatest coupe of all when they escaped their captor's jail by digging a tunnel using the most rudimentary of tools (hands, spoon, sardine lid). The chapter detailing the escape was the most well written section of the book. Suspenseful and engaging, the escape read like a superbly crafted fictional piece. Unfortunately the action was real, the characters flesh and bone, their suffering authentic.

Stolen Lives is a testament to the vitality of the human spirit, and the grace of a loving God. It speaks to the love of family and friends and its ability to sustain us at our lowest points. I was overwhelmed by the loyalty expressed by Achoura and Halima. The Oufkirs were forced into exile by the King, Achoura and Halima chose exile in support the family they loved. That's a choice not many would make. I applaud and honor them for their commitment. This story is one that will join many others in the annals of human rights violations. It adds to the collective suffering of the world and should serve as a reminder that injustice anywhere is indeed a threat to justice everywhere. That power in malevolent hands spawns corruption. Hurrah! Hurrah! to the Oufkirs! May your courage and strength be contagious.

Rating:
Summary: Take the time to read this
Review: This book is a story of human survival under conditions that are almost unimaginable. It's amazing that it happened in our time in a country we hear little about. This has to be one of the most moving books I've ever read. I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Horrifying!
Review: Horrifying, true story. This book is depressing, yet inspiring.

Rating:
Summary: Harrowing and disturbing
Review: Not for the faint-of-heart, this book kept me up at night. Though I thought some of the scenes somewhat unbelievable, I can't honestly comment, having never been in prison. That said, I'd highly reconmmend this tale to anyone who likes a good story.

Also recommended: Bark of the Dogwood, Fortune's Rock, The Five People you Meet in Heaven

Rating:
Summary: Wrongful Imprisonment
Review: To many, the idea of spending time in prison is an ugly thought. Deprived of liberty and happiness, prisoners waste away most of their lives, confined to a small space devoid of any luxuries.

Any prison time would be terrible, but imagine what it would be like to go jail through no fault of your own. And on top of that, imagine what it would be like to be imprisoned based solely on the wrongdoings of another family member and to have this nightmare occur during the prime years of your life (ages 20 to 40). This is the situation that Malika Oufkir finds herself and her family from roughly 1972 to 1994. In this book, "Stolen Lives" she describes the agony of spending more than two decades either in jail or under house arrest.

This book is written by Malika Oufkir and Michele Fitoussi and it covers the young Malika's life preceeding the imprisonment all the way through the mid 1990's, when she was finally released (now in her 40's) and moved to France. The majority of the book centers on the time spent in prison, and it can get very disgusting from time to time. The co- authors talk about the unsanity conditions, the lack of adequate food and drink, the severe lack of medical care, and other agonies associated with serving a prison sentence in the country of Morocco (the Oufkir family's home country).

This book has a few suspenseful moments, reaching a climax toward the end when several of the family members escape by building a tunnel and then proceed to Casablanca where they spend several days running from the law. They are finally recaptured, but placed "only" under house arrest (not as bad as imprisonment, but still not the equivalent of freedom). After a few years, they are released and allowed to leave the country.

This book is non- fiction, but it reads like a book of fiction. It's hard to imagine such a contrived situation like this being reality, but it was. The writing of the material, however, doesn't quite measure up to what I expected. I was looking for a more dramatic book, with personal accounts from each surviver and with more suspense and emotion. The authors really don't write the way a fiction expert would, but they at least succeed at keeping one's interest. I did enjoy reading this book, but I would probably have rated it higher if it was a little more personable (not just on the part of Malika, but on the part of the rest of the family as well) and written in a more suspenseful and engaging way. The end of the book (in my opinion, the best part), where they make their escape, is probably the best part of the entire book and one of the few parts that offers a substantial degree of suspense.

This book is included in Oprah Winfrey's Book Club, but it's not quite as enjoyable as she makes it out to be. Still, I think the story and the writing are at least worthy of an average rating. It's not a captivating book by any means (like one would expect with a book written about a prison sentence and escape). But it does keep your attention enough to recommend.

Rating:
Summary: Great Read!
Review: One of the best books I have read. It is an incredible story of perserverance. It is also heart-wrenching and inspirational at the same time.