House in the Sky, A

Lindhout, Amanda & Corbett, Sa

  17 Reviews

For intrepid traveller Canadian Amanda Lindhout, the experience of captivity is almost unbearable. But bear it she must: kidnapped along with an Australian friend, she is held captive for 460 days in Somalia. From converting to Islam, to positively engaging with her captors as much as she is able to, Amanda does everything she can to survive. And survive she does, triumphing over the torture and incarceration with courage.

Never maudlin, and positive in outlook, this is a powerful, unforgettable memoir that will engender much discussion. [Small font]

Comments from Groups

We thought 'House in the Sky' was an excellently written and very detailed account of the 15 months Amanda and Nigel were held in captivity by a rebel group in Somalia. We admired Amanda's mental fortitude and physical courage, but did at times question her survival under the abusive conditions. The part of the book describing her childhood and her rather naive travels through Eastern and Asian lands helped to explain her personality. Wellington 117

Two members were impressed with 'A House in the Sky', and believed it was a genuine account of the main character's life and her sufferings in Somalia. Most of us accepted that it was well written, possibly thanks to Sarah's (co-author) assistance, and we certainly admired Amanda's resilience. At the same time however, we felt that a bit more common sense and acknowledgement of fellow journalists' knowledge would have spared all that misery. Motueka 001

The book was described as grim, haunting and difficult to deal with, but all in our group read it. The consensus was that it was very well written, and very matter of fact. A good discussion followed, albeit a very serious one. Wellington 142

A good read - not as grim as expected. Waiheke 002

Reviews