An Evil Cradling

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Brian's account of his incarceration at the hands of extremist groups in Beirut during the 1980s is a harrowing read in its "matter of factness " - his observations and inner thoughts give the reader an insight into how desperate it must feel to have no control over any part of your existence and for for how long the situation would last. It’s tinged with black humour here and there, and a great deal of reflection and self-examination as he observes himself and his reactions, determined to stay strong.

Overall, I think Keenan struck the balance right between focusing on himself and focusing on others. Yet I didn’t hold back from reading; the descriptions somehow manage to stimulate the imagination while avoiding any goriness; they are harrowing at times, but never gratuitous. But there is a moment where he directly addresses the reader and invites them inside his cell, and I think that a reader can make a decision there, to go that little bit further. Few people have been where these men have been, but everybody can take something away from their experience and find enrichment or hope especially when it is shared as honestly and eloquently s this. I couldn't bear to part with my book, even to lend it to someone, so I bought another as a gift for one of my daughter's-in-law.Keenan almost immediately struck me as a little full of himself, if I'm honest, and lo and behold I finished the book still thinking that. net), no owner's name or other inscription, D/j has no tears, nicks, creases or marks and is protected by a clear removable sleeve. Instead I found myself compulsively reading every moment I could, determined to finish this incredible book before the meeting, and not wanting to miss a word. I didn’t expect anything out of it, but I still discovered I had a number of expectations, because I discovered them whilst I was reading something that seemed to contradict what I subconsciously thought. But if you don't shy from dark subjects, and you want to read some of the most descriptive writing you'll probably ever read, I'd recommend picking this up.

Their aim is to read books outside our usual preferred genres, and, where possible, to choose books written in different cultures. Together they withstood the horrors that the Beirut militias unleashed on them, until their eventual release. Throughout the isolation, degrading treatement and abuse, Brian never lost his compassion for others "We cannot know ourselves or declare ourselves human unless we share in the humanity of another". Whether this was intentional, a desire to avoid shying away from the less pleasant parts of his personality, or whether he just wrote so honestly that the good and the bad revealed themselves in equal balance, I don't know. This is a powerful memoir which will leave you wondering about how you yourself would cope in situations of such lengthy internment and deprivation.It reveals a depth of spirit, a nobility of character and the sheer belligerent will that enables one to fight in the face of inhumane behaviour as well as a sadness at how far short we often fall. Anyone who would seek to defend imprisonment without trial should read and consider this man's experiences.