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The Ambassador's Wife
The Ambassador's Wife: A Novel | Jennifer Steil
13 posts | 2 read | 2 reading | 5 to read
From a real-life ambassador's wife comes a harrowing novel about the kidnapping of an American woman in the Middle East and the heartbreaking choices she and her husband each must make in the hope of being reunited. When bohemian artist Miranda falls in love with Finn, the British ambassador to an Arab country, she finds herself thrust into a life for which she has no preparation. The couple and their toddler daughter live in a stately mansion with a staff to meet their every need, but for Miranda even this luxury comes at a price: the loss of freedom. Trailed everywhere by bodyguards to protect her from the dangers of a country wracked by civil war and forced to give up work she loves, she finds her world shattered when she is taken hostage, an act of terror with wide-reaching consequences. Diplomatic life is a far cry from Mirandas first years in Mazrooq, which were spent painting and mentoring a group of young Muslim women, teaching them to draw in ways forbidden in their culture. As the novel weaves together past and present, we come to see how Finn and Mirandas idealism and secrets they have each sought to hide have placed them and those who trust them in peril. And when Miranda grows close to a child who shares her captivity, it is not clear that even being set free would restore the simple happiness that once was hers and Finns. Suspenseful and moving, The Ambassadors Wife is a story of love, marriage, and friendship tested by impossible choices.
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Librarybelle
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It‘s discussion time for this month‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead selection! I have six questions under the spoiler posted - you can find these either on my feed or be searching #LiteraryCrew .

We are taking off next month to regroup for September. I will have the voting options for the rest of the year posted sometime in the next few days. Stay tuned!

Chrissyreadit I have the book but did not get to it. Maybe in August. 3y
Librarybelle @Chrissyreadit I‘m still reading it! 3y
39 likes2 comments
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Librarybelle
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6. Anything else you wish to discuss? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

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Librarybelle
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5. The kidnapping and Miranda‘s experiences as she was held captive…what were your thoughts when reading these passages? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

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Librarybelle
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4. The author is the wife of an ambassador. In interviews, she notes using her experiences as research for the novel. Do you think she captured living the life of an ambassador‘s wife well? In other words, do you think she brought her experiences to life on the page? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

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Librarybelle
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3. Let‘s talk characters. Any standouts for you? What are your thoughts on Miranda? Finn? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

CarolineLovesToRead I didn't feel that I had a connection to any of the characters. I wanted to like Miranda more but I couldn't feel a true connection with her. But, I do like how Miranda is free spirited and an artist.
3y
3 likes1 comment
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Librarybelle
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2. Do you feel that the flashback and present day segments of the narrative complemented each other? What are your impressions of the author‘s choice of this flashback writing style to tell the story? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

CarolineLovesToRead There are so many books out that I've read that have the flashback writing style.
I don't usually mind it but I find that the author did this through most of the book and probably 1/4 at end of the book was present day. Most of the book was going back to the past and not much time spent on the kidnapping.
3y
3 likes1 comment
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Librarybelle
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1. Think about the book‘s setting. How well do you feel the author captured the experience of American and British citizens living in a Middle Eastern country? What were your thoughts on the dangers the citizens faced? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

CarolineLovesToRead Since the author is an Ambassador's wife in reality, I'm assuming a lot of how living under a secure house in a middle eastern country is from her experiences. I like that she added those details. Unfortunately, the dangers that the citizens face in those countries is quite sad and I feel the women are the ones most at risk 3y
3 likes1 comment
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Librarybelle
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Check in post for #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead . Have you started yet? What are your thoughts?

I have not had a chance to start yet but will begin this week!

For next month, I have not taken the time to compile our potential titles for voting, so we will take off August, to allow for voting time to determine our books for the rest of the year! So sorry everyone, but I will tag those interested in voting for upcoming titles.

Chrissyreadit I‘m happy with a break I have past books I May get to read. 3y
Librarybelle Thanks, @Chrissyreadit ! We‘ll come back strong in September! 3y
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CarolineLovesToRead I finished the book. I liked it. Not a story I would have chosen to read. Can‘t wait to vote on the next books. I have a ton of books waiting for me to read myself 3y
JenlovesJT47 Starting it soon! 3y
CoverToCoverGirl Thanks for the update! Can‘t wait to see the list. 😁 3y
catebutler Great idea! Looking forward to reconvening in September!! 🤗 3y
40 likes11 comments
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Librarybelle
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The July #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead begins tomorrow!

We are a low key group who reads throughout the month with a discussion at the end. I post periodic checkins to see how everyone is going, but it is a read at your own pace group.

If you would like to be tagged and join in the discussion, please comment below. Tagging those who have already expressed interest. Everyone is welcome! And, this has a much better rating than the last book we did! ⬇️

Librarybelle @catebutler - are you interested in the July discussion? 3y
Librarybelle And, I‘m still taking suggestions for future readings! I already have a few, thanks to @BethM …I will make a post in a few days for voting! 3y
Chrissyreadit Im working to read faster 🤣 and more often. I think the heat wave will help 3y
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Librarybelle @Chrissyreadit Yes! Stay cool! 3y
JenlovesJT47 Count me in please! 🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️ 3y
JenlovesJT47 Thank you!! 3y
catebutler Sorry! Just saw this!! Yes, please count me in! 3y
47 likes9 comments
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Librarybelle
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This is July‘s selection for #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead , and I sincerely hope it‘s better than the June selection (in my opinion!)! 😂

Tagging those who have joined for June‘s selection, but all are welcome. Please comment below if you wish to join! We‘re a low key buddy read…read at your own pace, with discussion at the end of the month.

This book does not have well defined chapters, so I have no suggested reading marks this month. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Librarybelle It‘s also time to think about our readings for the next several months. Please post any suggestions! We tend to read historical fiction but can go beyond that if there is interest. 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Looks like a good one! 3y
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CoverToCoverGirl I won‘t be joining in for July‘s read but please do tag me for August. 🙂 3y
CoverToCoverGirl Thank you! 3y
BethM I‘m skipping this one and I‘ll come back for august. Just doesn‘t grab me. 3y
Librarybelle Sounds good, @BethM and thanks for the suggestions! 3y
CarolineLovesToRead I bought this one last month! I‘m in! 3y
Chrissyreadit Im interested. 3y
45 likes1 stack add14 comments
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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
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Even though it‘s pretty brisk outside still, I‘m coming for a walk with Orlagh Cassidy and Euan Morton in my ears (he read The Chalk Man and it was great!) I‘m still bothered by this book cover - this is a contemporary story taking place in 2010, so the historical fiction overused cover with the woman and her back is a bothersome book cover design fail for me. 😜

Cinfhen I agree! Never would have pegged this book as contemporary based on the cover...but book sounds good 👌🏽 7y
BlameJennyJane It almost looks like an attempt at capturing the “Anastasia Steele” type of elegance/mystique/intrigue. I just looked it up and there is a new cover design. It sounds stackable! 7y
Penny_LiteraryHoarders @BlameJennyJane @Cinfhen so far so good! Great narrators so that helps! 7y
28 likes3 comments
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SophfroniaScott
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Today's a writing day for me, but before I get started I'll post this for #marchintoreading. Lots of Shreve! The cover of Jennifer Steil's The Ambassador's Wife really doesn't do it justice. Makes it look like a romance but it's the story of an American woman kidnapped in the Middle East. Dramatic, harrowing. #thebacksofwomen

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mrldg

This is a fine read, but I highly recommend reading the author's memoir first --The Woman Who Fell from the Sky.