About:
Hostage: A Memoir of Terrorism, Trauma, and Resilience by Mimi Nichter is a memoir of her time as a Palestinian hostage during the 1970s. Ms. Nichter, an American, was kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists coming back from a trip to Israel.
- 232 pages
- Publisher : Potomac Books
- Language : English
- ISBN-10 : 1640126848
My rating for Hostage – 4
Buy Hostage from Amazon.com*
More books by Mimi Nichter*
Thoughts:
This book does not make any profound political statements, nor is it a political treatise. Instead, the author explores her terrifying experience, discovering her strength under physical and psychological stress.
The kidnapping that Ms. Nichter was part of was a huge event at the time, dominating the headlines even though she didn’t know it at the time. In September 1970, members of the PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) kidnapped four international flights diverting them to the Jordanian dessert.
The events described in Hostage by Mimi Nichter were a catalyst for a regional war and a shift in airline security. After letting the passengers off, the PFLP blew up three airplanes, the dramatic pictures were shown on every news program and front-page of every newspaper. For King Hussein of Jordan, hijacked planes on Jordanian soil were the final straw and he ordered the military to move against Palestinian fedayeen (military groups willing to fight to the death), which led to a brutal civil war, Black September.
Ms. Nichter’s fight was the psychological limbo her and her fellow passengers fell in. They did not know if anyone knew where they were, if they were alive, or if anyone was working to free them. She tries to humanize her captures, which, to me, came across to keep balanced and stay politically correct as to not hurt anyone’s feelings, balancing her experience between “victimized” Mimi and “observer” Mimi. Unfortunately, Mimi Nichter didn’t get the help she needed, PTSD was not treated at the time, and her trauma was simply integrated into her identity.
Even though the events of the book took place more than five decades ago, it addresses timeless themes which are still relevant. Her story attempting to bridge her experience, historical events and an understanding of recovery decades later makes for an interesting read.
Buy Hostage from Amazon.com*
More books by Mimi Nichter*
Zohar – Man of la Book
Disclaimer: I got this book for free.
*Amazon links point to an affiliate account
