Resistance: My Life for Lebanon

This scathing memoir of a Christian and communist Lebanese woman is devoted not only to the author's as-yet short but eventful life, but also to a fierce indictment of Israeli military involvement in Lebanon and beyond. Bechara relates the childhood experience of war that formed her later persona as a strong and fearless crusader against Israeli occupation, her 1988 attempt to kill a militia leader in Israeli-occupied southern Lebanon, and her capture and brutal incarceration. She reiterates throughout her memoir her abhorrence of violence and her view that her action was nevertheless acceptable and necessary.""After thirteen years of civil war and all kinds of horror, I realized that I was still just as resistant to brutality and force, still just as disturbed by violence, even the fictional violence shown on television...And I knew that I would have to overcome this repulsion."" Her relentless denunciations of Israeli actions in Lebanon may lead some readers to question her objectivity regarding exceedingly complicated and painful events, but her story is a riveting and impassioned one that will keep the reader fascinated.