D. J. Murphy (1)

A Thousand Veils
D.J.Murphy
978-1-4357-0531-9
396 pages

After reading the first paragraph of A Thousand Veils, you will come to realize as I did, that this writer has a brilliant gift of creative language and deep emotional feelings. I was unconsciously glued to every word and I was compelled to read the paragraph repeatedly as if in a trance. Often throughout the book, I would stop and find myself rereading sentences, paragraphs so eloquently written, once was just not enough. D. J. Murphy is show more an intoxicating writer who showcases his talent in this debut novel that is part fiction and part true story.

The book is about a woman he calls Fatima Shihabi who grew up with four brothers, her favorite being Omar. Fatima was educated as were her four brothers a luxury not always presented to woman in her country. Fatima showed an early interest in expressing her thoughts and opinions through poetry. Her brother Omar convinced her that she had a gift to share. With his encouragement Shihabi continued writing.

When she comes of age she is required to don the black veil known in Iraq as the abayah. Fatima resists this the figurative and literal representation of the abayah as by nature she is rebellious and free spirited. The black draped cloak that envelopes the female form is a symbol of Muslim womanhood and When her father describes the black draped cloak enveloping the female form as a symbol of Muslim womanhood and its religious and cultural necessity, Fatima acquiesces. Once she disappears behind the veil she immediately notices the difference in her role as a female in her society. The veil, the abayah, will present many contrasts in her lifetime. It will be hated and loved, confining and liberating, sexually alluring and yet asexual, life altering and life saving. Perhaps this is why the author called his book A Thousand Veils.

Fatima Shihabi writes from her heart and soul about life in Iraq during the rein of Sadam Hussein. She believes she is careful when writing her poetry to remain neutral, but realizes that the middle ground is impossible. Words twisted, intentions misconstrued, a threat to the regime, Fatima becomes a wanted, hunted woman. When ultimately caught she suffers severe inhumane torture, unspeakable experimental interrogation techniques and left near death.

She realizes she must leave Iraq to survive and save her daughter. It is at this time she first decides to remove her abayah (the veil) and escape to Saudi Arabia. When she arrives at the airport she is detained by the Saudi guards and pulled aside. What happens to Fatima will have you nail biting for her safety, weeping for her suffering and praying for her life. Given a talent for intense lyrical poetic communication and the ability to convey meaning through the printed word this petite survivor is up against a tyrant with a tremendous reach. Her story is a true to life adventure.

It has been weeks since I finished this book. I honestly, stopped everything I was doing to read it in one sitting. It is a deeply moving drama with romance and intrigue. I was essentially in a trance and couldn’t break away until I found out what happened to Fatima. D.J. Murphy has written one of the years ten best books on my list for 2008. I have since read over many chapters, and hate to pass this book on to Book Crossings. However, the story was a gift to me and now it is time to gift it to someone else. Keep your eye out for the copy that will be starting out somewhere in Connecticut. Otherwise, buy the book or borrow a copy of A Thousand Veils. You will thank D.J. Murphy a thousand times. show less

Fatima Shihabi is an Iraqi poet and journalist who finds herself on the wrong side of Saddam Hussein and his Bath party loyalists. She had already been imprisoned once for her writings and again the government has cause to be annoyed with her work. With her life in peril, her brother, Omar, contacts a high powered New York lawyer, Charles Sherman, to help get her out of Iraq and possibly to the US. Charles feels that he has better things to do than getting caught in an international intrigue show more but he finds himself drawn into this case almost against his better judgement. Charles is finally able to arrange, after much negotiation, safe passage to France.

When Charles and Fatima meet in France, they fall in love as they try to figure out her next step. Fatima is concerned for her daughter that she left back at home and the reprisals that Saddam and his minions may visit on her. Charles is furiously at work trying to figure out how to get her to a safer place because they soon realize that they have been followed to Paris. Tragedy strikes and Fatima is determined to return to Iraq to get her daughter.

I found the characters to be melodramatic and it sometimes felt like I was watching a movie or play where the actors were overacting. The sense of urgency that was applied to certain things seemed odd and unrealistic. For example, Charles leaving a very important meeting because there is a call from Fatima's brother. Could he not have taken a short break and returned, finished up what he was doing and then handled whatever Omar was calling for? I just find it hard to believe that multi million dollar deals will wait for this one man and his outside emergencies. Also it was sometimes hard to like Fatima as she emotionally all over the place. There is a scene where she is screaming at Charles not long after she meets him and I was floored by her behavior. This man is trying to help you and is gaining precious little in return and you are getting snippy with him? Odd, very odd. Also a lot of the dialogue between Charles and Fatima felt very wooden and forced. It was preachy and quite frankly, people just don't talk like that. Many times it felt like someone was standing on a soap box and making a speech on American/Mid East relations, immigration, women's rights and politics in general. These scenes made the book less credible for me. But the scenes that finally did me in was when they return to Iraq and suddenly Charles Sherman turns into Jason Bourne. He is taking on the Iraqi guards, one man at a time and coming out on top. I am sorry but that was too much to take. If this book set its self up to be an action/adventure thriller with mid east undertones, then that is one thing but the fact that its supposed to be a serious book made it hard for me to understand this detour. I think that my biggest problem with this book is that it cannot decide what it wants to be. One minute we are discussing middle east politics, the next we are in high speed races for our lives. Its all became a bit much after awhile.

The love story between Charles and Fatima was also something that I found hard to understand. I can totally understand a growing respect and growing platonic love between them but this sudden and undying love after a few weeks just seemed to come out of nowhere. And all while Charles has a long time girl friend back home of whose existence Fatima is aware. Men and women can meet and develop a relationship that is devoid of romantic attachment.

Some of the best scenes in the book were the descriptions of Fatima's home life especially as a child before the bad marriage, abuse and later arrests by the police. In those moments we get to know the true heart of this woman and her thirst for freedom and unquenchable hopes for her country. Her individuality and quest for justice in a land ruled by an oppressive dictator make her even more admirable.

All in all, I can't say I came away in love with the book. I respect the author very much for writing the book because its something that is close to his heart. Also the fact that he is donating part of the proceed to the UN High Commission on Refuges is most admirable and inspiring. show less

It is common to assume that the sand in Iraq is the same as beach sand, the gritty, dense sand of the Florida or Texas coastlines. It's not like that at all...the sand of Iraq is like talcum powder. And it covers everything with a filmy veil.

From the moment we meet Fatima Shihabi, an Iraqi journalist hunted by Saddam's henchmen for her socially-conscious reporting, we are swept along on an exhilarating journey of immense courage and hope. Desperate to leave Iraq, Fatima begins her ill-fated show more escape and is swiftly apprehended. Through amazing luck, her case ends up in the hands of New York lawyer Charles Sherman. Charles, consumed with guilt over his near-miss on 9/11, is looking for redemption. The Shihabi case allows him the chance he desperately needs to prove he's more than just an incredible attorney. Through complicated channels of old acquaintances, Charles is able to secure Fatima for a time in Saudi Arabia and then France. A slightly predictable (but admittedly hoped-for) romance blooms between the two as they are relentlessly pursued by the Iraqi secret police. A whirlwind trip back to Iraq to reunite Fatima with her daughter results in a final confrontation that begs to be made into a blockbuster film!

D.J. Murphy has written a very personal novel, crafted with tremendous care. The chase scenes through the streets of Paris are exquisitely authentic and the characters feel whole. The leitmotif of the veil appears throughout in all the obvious incarnations (the traditional Arab headcovering, of course, but also the "veils" or "masks" we all wear to disguise our true selves) and threatens, but never quite manages, to become cliched. I felt the restaurant conversation Charles and Fatima have about why the veil is worn was a particularly genuine moment. I highly recommend this book - and I'm desperately waiting for someone to turn it into a screenplay, so I can also see the film! show less

reviewed for www.teensreadtoo.com

A THOUSAND VEILS by D. J. Murphy
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grade 9+
Release Date: January 24, 2008
Publisher: lulu.com
Reviewed by: JAGLVR
Stars: 5 + Gold Star

A THOUSAND VEILS is not a traditional young adult book. But the story will have appeal for older teens as well as adults. In our post 9/11 days, the cultures of the Middle East and America are extremely separate.

D.J. Murphy writes a compelling and page-turning suspense novel. A note on the show more copyright page alerts the reader that the events are inspired by and in part based on a true story. Having read that notice, I was skeptical on how the story would present itself. I shouldn’t have doubted Mr. Murphy’s ability to craft an amazing tale.

The reader is captured from the first pages. Fatima Shihabi is awakened during the night by a cryptic phone call. She knows immediately that her life is in danger and she must flee within the hour. From that moment on, the story unfolds with heart stopping terror and anticipation.

Fatima has grown up in Iraqi and loves her country and her family with all her heart. What she doesn’t love is the deterioration of her culture under Saddam Hussein’s regime. As a writer, she has been able to publish women and children interest stories in her country. But after subtly injecting a jab at the government in one of her articles, she is imprisoned and tortured. Only by her brother’s connections in the government is she freed.

After her scare, she returns to fluff pieces that will not get her into trouble. But that doesn’t last long, and after the fateful call, she is on a journey for her freedom and her life.

With a call to her brother Omar in the United States, Fatima’s life falls into the hands of an unlikely Wall Street lawyer, Charles Sherman. Charles is known for his big corporate deals, not for pro-bono refugee work. But his boss and mentor Art believes Charles is the right one for the case, having spent many years in Saudi Arabia brokering deals for the Arabs. Unknowingly, Charles is not content with his current life. Taking on Fatima’s case will cause a life altering change.

Charles and Fatima eventually meet on foreign soil and through intellectual conversations, they come to know and love each other. Fatima points out the failings of the United States government, while giving insight into the women and the culture she has lived and loved. Charles returns repeatedly to his fascination with the veils that the women in Fatima’s culture use to cover themselves. Fatima opens Charles’ eyes, revealing that everyone wears a veil of some creation.

Mr. Murphy weaves his story beautifully. It captures the human spirit of survival and perseverance. Each character discovers hidden strengths and abilities that they never knew they had. The persecution and resistance Fatima encounters in every step of her journey will inflame the reader, and the ending will leave the reader amazed at the human spirit. show less