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Book Review of A Mighty Heart: The Brave Life and Death of My Husband, Danny Pearl

A Mighty Heart: The Brave Life and Death of My Husband, Danny Pearl
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The tragic story of Danny Pearl's journalistic life, capture and death is told in riveting detail by his wife, Mariane. Those of us who lived during this period remember the news coverage well. Danny was an idealist who believed in people and followed the news wherever it went. He covered the Middle East and South Asia for The Wall Street Journal. That he was also Jewish I did not know until I read the book.

Coupled with Danny's story is the love he and Marianne shared. She tells how and when they met and shares many little stories about their life together. My heart was yanked often as I read her when she described their life together and the type of person he was. I pictured a happy young man in love with his vocation, his wife and his life.

Cooperating in effort to save the kidnapped Danny, people from Pakistan, India and our own country searched intensively for the journalist. Yes, we all know the ending but Mariane emphasizes the positive sides of the search and people while reporting the facts. It occurred to me that perhaps he signed his own death warrant when he told someone that he was Jewish.