In Search Of A Holy Land: A Muslim Memoir

by Lauren Booth

In Search of A Holy Land is a perfectly timed memoir told with brisk honesty and sharp humour. Sweeping from the suburbs of North London to the olive groves of Palestine, it explores a life of excess-to-spirituality impacted by the struggle of a distant people. Paddling the celebrity shallows of the 1990's as *Tony Blair's sister-in-law*, Lauren Booth explored everything city life had on offer; appearing on reality TV shows and at the opening of a paper bag (if it meant freebies).Yet, as a cautious Christian, she was drawn to the Holy Land too. Given the chance to visit Palestine, instead of finding the faith of her Catholic heritage, she became embroiled in the people's struggle, accidentally breaking a deadly siege by land and sea, playing handball with Hamas and witnessing daily acts of patience and courage which would change her forever. Above all In Search of A Holy Land is a witty personal odyssey calling the reader to consider the universal question; `what's this life thing all about?'

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2021

Reviews

[Erika Petkunaite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read

What a great read a journey to Islam. As a revert to Islam myself it’s a great read from many perspectives. I cried so much particularly when reading about Palestine. It truly breaks my heart every time I read about it. It’s an easy and entertaining read. Thank you to Lauren for writing this book.

[Nada Dosti · Rating 5 out of 5]

She paints parallel realities about political and social perspectives related to the UK, Australia, Palestine, Iran while she is eager to show us a new point of view by digging deeper in those realities.
Booth' s journey overpowers travel stories, stories of social injustice, activism, journalism and a conversion story toward Islam. Her storytelling constantly lacks signs of melancholy or self-pity but at the same time from page to page can make us cry and laugh or feel mad. Booth’s memoir relates to a unique journey which can be considered a chronicle of self discovery and the discovery of faith. It’s rich in details which can make us imagine ourselves marching with her and her daughters hand by hand in the streets of London, or racing through the deserts reaching remote places, wandering around the bazar, sitting in the floor and tasting Palestinian food, going from one check point to another, or being constantly checked from airport security.
Meanwhile some chapters feel more smooth, others hit very deep, but at the end when she pulls back the curtains leaves you with a mixed feelings of anger, relief, joy and courage to be better and to fight for justice.

[Zeynep Ilgaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

lauren booth…inşallah o gibi bir müslüman olurum

[Noor Saadeh · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have to listen to this one told by the author.