Status
Checked out
Due Aug 25, 2023
Publication
Miramax Books (2001), Edition: Later Printing, 293 pages
Description
The daughter of a former aide to the king of Morocco, who was executed after a failed assassination attempt on the ruler, describes how she, her five siblings, and her mother were imprisoned in a desert penal colony for twenty years.
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LibraryThing member lauralkeet
In 1972, Moroccan defense minister General Mohamed Oufkir staged a failed coup d'etat against King Hassan II. Oufkir was reported to have committed suicide, but was found with five bullet wounds. In retaliation for the coup, his entire family was imprisoned: Oufkir's wife, Fatima, and his children
Malika had been adopted at age 5 by King Mohammed V, to serve as a playmate for his daughter. After King Mohammed's death Hassan came into power, and continued to treat Malika like a member of his own family. However, she was completely separated from her family of origin and had only recently rejoined them when the coup attempt took place. The first part of this memoir vividly describes the opulence and luxury of Moroccan court life, which of course was in sharp contrast to prison conditions. Over a 20-year period, Malika and her family were kept in three different places, with markedly different conditions and privileges. Initially they were able to spend their days together, later they were transported to a harsher environment and placed into cells either alone or with 1-2 other family members. They spent 10 years without direct face-to-face contact, and yet devised ways to communicate and support each other in maintaining their will to live. Their mental and physical strength is both amazing and inspiring.
Oufkir's story is a shocking one, and yet is just one example of people who "disappeared" during King Hassan II's reign. I am embarrassed to admit that even though I came of age in the 1970s, and was nearly 30 by the time the Oufkirs gained their freedom, I knew nothing of the human rights violations in Morocco. Stolen Lives was a compelling and enlightening read.
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Malika, Raouf, Soukaina, Maria, Myriam, and Abdellatif. A cousin, Achoura, and a close family friend, Halima, joined them. Malika Oufkir was 17 years old; her brother Abdellatif was only 3. Malika had been adopted at age 5 by King Mohammed V, to serve as a playmate for his daughter. After King Mohammed's death Hassan came into power, and continued to treat Malika like a member of his own family. However, she was completely separated from her family of origin and had only recently rejoined them when the coup attempt took place. The first part of this memoir vividly describes the opulence and luxury of Moroccan court life, which of course was in sharp contrast to prison conditions. Over a 20-year period, Malika and her family were kept in three different places, with markedly different conditions and privileges. Initially they were able to spend their days together, later they were transported to a harsher environment and placed into cells either alone or with 1-2 other family members. They spent 10 years without direct face-to-face contact, and yet devised ways to communicate and support each other in maintaining their will to live. Their mental and physical strength is both amazing and inspiring.
Oufkir's story is a shocking one, and yet is just one example of people who "disappeared" during King Hassan II's reign. I am embarrassed to admit that even though I came of age in the 1970s, and was nearly 30 by the time the Oufkirs gained their freedom, I knew nothing of the human rights violations in Morocco. Stolen Lives was a compelling and enlightening read.
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LibraryThing member writestuff
'Do not hold against us the sins of the fathers; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need.' -From The Bible, Psalm 79:8-
Malika Oufkir, in collaboration with Michele Fitoussi, writes a stunning memoir of her nearly 20 year imprisonment at the hands of the Moroccan King -
The cruelty of Hassan II is told in captivating detail. Malika and her family faced beatings, starvation and abysmal living conditions. They survived through sheer will, creativity, humor and the love they had for each other. Oufkir relates their moments of desperation, hopelessness, and quest for freedom in language which is powerful in its simplicity.
I found myself more than once being grateful for the life I have been given, and the freedoms I often take for granted.
Stolen Lives is a memoir of despair, hope and ultimately triumph. It will stay with the reader long after the final page has been turned.
Recommended.
Malika Oufkir, in collaboration with Michele Fitoussi, writes a stunning memoir of her nearly 20 year imprisonment at the hands of the Moroccan King -
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Hassan II. In 1972, when Malika was only 17 years of age, her father - a man of high standing in the political world of the royalty - failed in his attempt to overthrow and assassinate King Hassan II. Malika's father was executed for his crime, but the King was not satisfied with only that. Malika, her mother and her five siblings - the youngest of whom was only three years old - were arrested and imprisoned for the sins of their husband and father.The cruelty of Hassan II is told in captivating detail. Malika and her family faced beatings, starvation and abysmal living conditions. They survived through sheer will, creativity, humor and the love they had for each other. Oufkir relates their moments of desperation, hopelessness, and quest for freedom in language which is powerful in its simplicity.
I found myself more than once being grateful for the life I have been given, and the freedoms I often take for granted.
Stolen Lives is a memoir of despair, hope and ultimately triumph. It will stay with the reader long after the final page has been turned.
Recommended.
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LibraryThing member mahallett
i don't know exactly why i didn't enjoy this. her life was so horrible.
LibraryThing member KinnicChick
Harrowing, uplifting, amazing and tragic in so many ways. The story of Malika Oufkir and her family. She was born the daughter of the King of Morocco's closest aide. She spent her younger years in the palace after the King adopted her to be a companion for his young daughter.
Then in 1972 her own
The story is one of amazing resilience as they strive to keep each other going in these horrible circumstances using their family's love and humor as tools and weapons against evil and imagination as perhaps one of the best defenses of all.
It is a great tale of this family's triumph over tragedy and cruelty.
Then in 1972 her own
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father was executed for attempting to assassinate the King and her life of luxury ended. She and her mother and siblings (all children) were then imprisoned for twenty years under horrible conditions because of her father's actions. The story is one of amazing resilience as they strive to keep each other going in these horrible circumstances using their family's love and humor as tools and weapons against evil and imagination as perhaps one of the best defenses of all.
It is a great tale of this family's triumph over tragedy and cruelty.
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LibraryThing member klburnside
This memoir is written by the daughter of a General Oufkir, who was a high ranking Moroccan official. After her father attempted a coup against the Moroccan king, the author, her mother, her siblings, and family friends are all imprisoned for twenty years as retaliation. This book is an account of
I found the first half of this book to be extremely boring. I wasn't very interested in the author's life in the palace and it just seemed to drag on and on. It got a little better towards the end. The author suffered horrible things and I'm always amazed that people can persevere through such a horrible imprisonment.
My problem with this book was again the expectations I had going in. I have read a lot of memoirs, and I absolutely love learning about political and social situations of other countries as it is interwoven with a personal story. I really wanted there to be something more of the Moroccan political situation woven into the story. I realize the author was isolated during this time, and had no idea what was going on in the country, but I think that is where the co-author could have stepped it up and done a little more research into the political background. I guess that was just beyond the scope of the book, and maybe not what most people would want. It just seems like if you are going to write such a heart wrenching book, it would be valuable to slide a little more historical education into it. Oh well. I may have given this book three stars, but I'm trying to spread out my ratings and give more things one and two stars.
If anyone knows any good books about Morocco, let me know.
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those twenty years. I found the first half of this book to be extremely boring. I wasn't very interested in the author's life in the palace and it just seemed to drag on and on. It got a little better towards the end. The author suffered horrible things and I'm always amazed that people can persevere through such a horrible imprisonment.
My problem with this book was again the expectations I had going in. I have read a lot of memoirs, and I absolutely love learning about political and social situations of other countries as it is interwoven with a personal story. I really wanted there to be something more of the Moroccan political situation woven into the story. I realize the author was isolated during this time, and had no idea what was going on in the country, but I think that is where the co-author could have stepped it up and done a little more research into the political background. I guess that was just beyond the scope of the book, and maybe not what most people would want. It just seems like if you are going to write such a heart wrenching book, it would be valuable to slide a little more historical education into it. Oh well. I may have given this book three stars, but I'm trying to spread out my ratings and give more things one and two stars.
If anyone knows any good books about Morocco, let me know.
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LibraryThing member TeenieLee
I am not generally a fan of Oprah books and do not read them BECAUSE they are Oprah books. Most of the time, I find them depressing and awful. This book, though depressing and awful is also a compelling story of survival, family and shows just how quickly one can go from skipping through the
I've seen criticism of the author's writing style, selfishness and inconsistency, which I can see, but that I don't hold against her. She was a prisoner HER ENTIRE LIFE, while in the palace and while in the desert. After enduring what she did, I feel it's appropriate that she's self-congratulatory and isn't sure of facts.
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gardens to being held prisoner for years and years.I've seen criticism of the author's writing style, selfishness and inconsistency, which I can see, but that I don't hold against her. She was a prisoner HER ENTIRE LIFE, while in the palace and while in the desert. After enduring what she did, I feel it's appropriate that she's self-congratulatory and isn't sure of facts.
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LibraryThing member AlisonY
Intriguing as books about long stints in prison are, I normally avoid them as I feel I've had my fill of those kind of trauma books. But the blurb on the back cover of this book piqued my interest when I came across it on a hotel 'borrow / take' bookshelf, and it turned out to be fascinating,
Malika Oufkir led a very privileged life in Morocco. Born to a wealthy heiress who thought nothing of selling an apartment block to fund a new couture collection, and a powerful army general who was the king's closest aide, the king demanded that her parents let him adopt her at the age of 5 to become a companion to his own daughter of the same age.
For 11 years she lived inside the king's world, and her account of this closed world of concubines, palaces the size of cities, and extreme opulence was utterly fascinating. This on it's own would have been enough to fill a novel, but when her father led a failed military coup in 1972 and was executed, she and her mother and 6 siblings plus 2 members of staff were banished, becoming part of the network of 'disappeared' political prisoners.
This book is a moving account of the 20 year imprisonment of the family in various desert prisons, where they are held in horrifying conditions whilst the regime waits for them to eventually die. How this imprisonment comes to an end is the stuff of Hollywood movies (no spoilers), yet for the family their ordeal can never truly be in the past. After 20 years they came out of prison as adults in their 20s and 30s, yet essentially they were still locked in the mental age they were when they were taken, not having had the opportunity to mature in the way normal adults do, yet enduring way beyond what most people ever have to face.
Traumatic as the family's story is, this is an amazing story of resilience, hope and courage. The setting in Morocco was fascinating, the insight into the royal lives enthralling, and the plot more extraordinary than anything fictional.
I couldn't put it down - 5 stars.
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haunting and thought-provoking in equal measure because of the unique background of the story teller.Malika Oufkir led a very privileged life in Morocco. Born to a wealthy heiress who thought nothing of selling an apartment block to fund a new couture collection, and a powerful army general who was the king's closest aide, the king demanded that her parents let him adopt her at the age of 5 to become a companion to his own daughter of the same age.
For 11 years she lived inside the king's world, and her account of this closed world of concubines, palaces the size of cities, and extreme opulence was utterly fascinating. This on it's own would have been enough to fill a novel, but when her father led a failed military coup in 1972 and was executed, she and her mother and 6 siblings plus 2 members of staff were banished, becoming part of the network of 'disappeared' political prisoners.
This book is a moving account of the 20 year imprisonment of the family in various desert prisons, where they are held in horrifying conditions whilst the regime waits for them to eventually die. How this imprisonment comes to an end is the stuff of Hollywood movies (no spoilers), yet for the family their ordeal can never truly be in the past. After 20 years they came out of prison as adults in their 20s and 30s, yet essentially they were still locked in the mental age they were when they were taken, not having had the opportunity to mature in the way normal adults do, yet enduring way beyond what most people ever have to face.
Traumatic as the family's story is, this is an amazing story of resilience, hope and courage. The setting in Morocco was fascinating, the insight into the royal lives enthralling, and the plot more extraordinary than anything fictional.
I couldn't put it down - 5 stars.
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LibraryThing member BookAddict
I was disturbed that even after all her suffering, when she escaped the prison, she still spoke about common people in a very prejudiced way. She critisized the house she was confined in, which was a very elaborate large home and called it a *middle class* house. I think that what happened to her
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was horrible but there are many other people, that aren't prisoners, that live in conditions similar to this on a daily basis. I had a hard time liking her at any time except when she was actually in prison. I did feel terribly sorry for her brother that had never been free since he was 3 and wasn't a spoiled brat like she was. The long term damage to his psych must have been horrible. I have never read a story that went from such luxurious extravagence to such squalid conditions before. I couldn't help thinking that even though the conditions were bad they would have been much worse if she had started out poor. I doubt the public would have protested her case then either. She made the news because of her family's name. Nevertheless no one should have to suffer like that for any reason. Show Less
LibraryThing member clik4
Stolen Lives is an autobiographical account of the life of Malika Ourkir. She was the daughter of a general who was the closest aide of the King of Morocco. At five, the king decided his own daughter needed a playmate and so she was transferred into the King’s family. She lived her life from the
In 1972, her father is executed after a failed attempt to assassinate the King. The family of the general is imprisoned in a desert penal colony for 15 years.
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age of five in the seclusion of the court harem. She was surrounded by luxury most of us can never imagine. But hse lived away from the father she idealized and her mother who she adored.In 1972, her father is executed after a failed attempt to assassinate the King. The family of the general is imprisoned in a desert penal colony for 15 years.
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LibraryThing member LireEnRoute
The story was riveting, but the storytelling quite lacking.
LibraryThing member meggyweg
The autobiography of a member of the Oufkir family, who were political prisoners in Morocco for five years before hand-digging an escape tunnel, only to be recaptured after five days and kept in solitary cells for ten years, until their release to live in exile.
LibraryThing member sallyawolf
This book is a Documentary about the life of Malika Oufkir her father was the General for the king. The king even adopted her when she was little. Then her father turned against the king and was excited for treason. The king then imprisoned his entire family for twenty years until they escaped to
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France. I really liked this book it is all about how politics can crush humanity. This book shows that even if you are put through the worst time of your life your family is the most important thing in it. I also liked that while she was imprisoned she wrote stories to stay alive and to keep her family alive as a writer this was very moving. I give it a 4 out of 5 it flows well and is worth the read. This audio book was bought at Great Escape. Show Less
LibraryThing member SoapBoxinMyMind
This is the heartbreaking story of a woman and her family being cast out and jailed and her final redemtion after years of deprivation. I enjoyed the descriptiveness and flow of the chapters. The tone was easy to read. Hard to believe what cruelty lies in this world.
LibraryThing member sallyawolf
This book is a Documentary about the life of Malika Oufkir her father was the General for the king. The king even adopted her when she was little. Then her father turned against the king and was excited for treason. The king then imprisoned his entire family for twenty years until they escaped to
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France. I really liked this book it is all about how politics can crush humanity. This book shows that even if you are put through the worst time of your life your family is the most important thing in it. I also liked that while she was imprisoned she wrote stories to stay alive and to keep her family alive as a writer this was very moving. I give it a 4 out of 5 it flows well and is worth the read. This audio book was bought at Great Escape. Show Less
LibraryThing member eachurch
Although this book was well-written, and, despite it's subject matter, easy to read, it felt flat to me. It would have helped if the events had been put into some sort of historical/cultural/political context, and if there had been more reflection on what things meant.
LibraryThing member jaddington
This is a terrible story. But you say "hey lady, you gave this 5 stars". I say, not terribly written, it's certainly interesting and draws us into a different culture, a different time. What is terrible is how humans treat other humans. And that is what is terrible about this story. My heart was
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broken on multiple occasions while reading this. I think I cried from start to finish. What people suffer, that is heart breaking. What children suffer is even more heart breaking. The fact that this is a true story. That this women lived this story is the most heart breaking of all. And yes you should read it. Heart break is a good thing. Show Less
LibraryThing member Thomas_Cannon
A fascinating and terrify account of a young girl's life in prisons. Her family was held as political prisoners
LibraryThing member Thomas_Cannon
A fascinating and terrify account of a young girl's life in prisons. Her family was held as political prisoners
LibraryThing member scartertn
Wow! An incredibly powerful story of a family that was locked up as political prisoners for twenty plus years. The suffering they endured is beyond belief. I could not put it down and just had to find out what happened. Just read it.
LibraryThing member jaddington
This is a terrible story. But you say "hey lady, you gave this 5 stars". I say, not terribly written, it's certainly interesting and draws us into a different culture, a different time. What is terrible is how humans treat other humans. And that is what is terrible about this story. My heart was
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broken on multiple occasions while reading this. I think I cried from start to finish. What people suffer, that is heart breaking. What children suffer is even more heart breaking. The fact that this is a true story. That this women lived this story is the most heart breaking of all. And yes you should read it. Heart break is a good thing. Show Less
LibraryThing member christinejoseph
Morocco's privilege to nothing — luxury when adopted daughter in Palace then whole family (father shot) to jail
A gripping memoir that reads like a political thriller--the story of Malika Oufkir's turbulent and remarkable life. Born in 1953, Malika Oufkir was the eldest daughter of General Oufkir,
A gripping memoir that reads like a political thriller--the story of Malika Oufkir's turbulent and remarkable life. Born in 1953, Malika Oufkir was the eldest daughter of General Oufkir,
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the King of Morocco's closest aide. Adopted by the king at the age of five, Malika spent most of her childhood and adolescence in the seclusion of the court harem, one of the most eligible heiresses in the kingdom, surrounded by luxury and extraordinary privilege. Show Less
LibraryThing member Sandra_Berglund
Compelling true-life events are told in a haphazard manner with no “story telling” ability. Although I was intellectually horrified at what this family was subjected to and amazed at their determination to survive, the story was told with such detachment that I consequently felt emotionally
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detached. I know it’s nonfiction but I expected to FEEL something and the cold, disjointed litany of facts left me wanting. Her descriptions of everything (from people, to events, to material aspects of her world) were often disconcertingly contradictory, sometimes within the same paragraph, so it was difficult to form a clear picture of reality (e.g., she loved living in the palace, she hated living in the palace; she loved the feeling of freedom while riding horses, she did anything she could to get out of riding horses, etc.). Maybe this duality is a consequence of coping with an entire life experience, one way or another, of imprisonment and oppression? Show Less
LibraryThing member Thomas.Cannon
A fascinating and terrify account of a young girl's life in prisons. Her family was held as political prisoners
LibraryThing member KamGeb
Very interesting story by a woman who experienced things few have seen. She tells about growing up in the palace being raised by the king as an adopted daughter. She also tells about being an incredibly privileged jet setter in her teen age years. Finally she tells about being a prisoner, living in
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horrifying situations. She is very insightful, and can see both good and bad, throughout her life. Would definitely recommend it. Show Less
LibraryThing member dele2451
A young family's struggle to survive and maintain their dignity while being wrongfully held in a remote Moroccan desert jail for almost two decades. If you are looking for a real example of the power of human dignity when everything else has been stripped from you, look no further.
Subjects
Awards
Oprah's Book Club selection (2001)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1999
Physical description
6.5 inches
ISBN
0786868619 / 9780786868612