Buried Alive: Kidnapped and Entombed in the Deserts of Iraq
by Roy Hallums

Thomas Nelson Publisher, Nashville, Tennessee (2009)

Roy Hallums, a Man, was kidnapped by Iraqi insurgents and this book tells the story of his ten months of captivity. The journey of Roy from one 'safe' house to another until the last and worst place, a house with an underground where he has been buried alive. Roy tells his story from distance and bravery: survive day by day with the help of his memories (about friends, relatives and an imaginary road trip coast to coast).

This book reminds me another one by Oriana Fallaci (A Man) where she tells the story of Alexandros Panagoulis, arrested and tortured because they thought he was against the dictatorship in Greece.
Both books teach us the value of small things when our life is full of everything (e.i. a cockroach becomes an important event during the imprisonement of Alexandros) and Roy "Because (he) could not see or do anything, (he) listened to every little sound ..." p. 92 and survive.

Roy doesn't grab a 'sound strategy' to survive, apart from Hope.

Sometimes the book is even funny: when the kidnappers, after stuffing toilet paper in Roy's ears (to prevent him from hearing), they said "No talking" and Roy responded "Yes, yes" and the guard: "Good" p. 100

I recommend this book to everybody who wants to learn more about the middle-east history, and I expecially recommend to read this story about a Man.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publisher as part of their Booksneeze.com book review blogger program. ( )

Synopsis:

Roy Hallums was a 56 year old retired Navel Commander who was working for a food supply contractor in Iraq. On November 1, 2004, Roy was abducted and held hostage for 311 days. During his first few months, Roy was beaten and mentally tortured while he was moved from place to place. Then, he came to his last prison, a 4 foot high basement that he was kept in, blindfolded and bound, until he was finally rescued.

My comments:

I was eager to read Roy's story, as I remember when Roy was abducted, and the video that was sent to the media, as well as the interviews with his family. Roy's book held me in it's grips from beginning to end. I am amazed at his resilience and bravery not only to go back over his time in captivity, but to how he told his story so eloquently. I cannot imagine one surviving what Roy had, let alone staying sane and in control all throughout the ordeal.

I cannot speak highly enough about this book, nor highly enough of how Roy is helping others to get a grasp of what happens to someone who is abducted in Iraq. This book was an excellent read and very well written and should be put on everyone's to-read list for this year!

This book was supplied through Thomas Nelson's Book Sneeze program in exchange for a review. ( )

Buried Alive is a true story written by Roy Hallum about his 311 days as a captive of the Iraquis. Roy is working as a contractor in Iraq when he is snatched and transported from place to place in secret until he reaches his final destination. This is not only his story but it's a harrowing journey through the hell of being held hostage and captive in a concrete hole beneath the floor of a house in Iraq. The author also recounts what his family went through knowing he was being held hostage in Iraq at a time when the United States did not pay ransom for hostages.

Throughout the book, Roy maintains a composure that I cannot even imagine being able to come close to. If the beatings were not enough to break him, the lack decent food, the bugs and filth and the stark terror of never knowing if you'll live or die certainly would be. Throughout this all, Roy knows he will not convert to Islam if offered the chance for freedom and his faith sustains him. Although he doesn't write in depth about his faith, you can feel it through the strength he maintains when faced with this terror.

While Buried Alive isn't the type of book I normally read, I had a hard time putting it down as each page drew me deeper into his struggle. I was afraid the book would be overly graphic as the author explained the torture and beatings he endured and was very thankful to find that wasn't the case at all. This book made extremely thankful for the men and women who risk their lives every day in Iraq and countries like it. They must live in constant fear of ending up the way Roy Hallums did or worse.

I highly recomend read this book if for no other reason than to remind you of what you have to be thankful for. ( )