Thura's Diary

Thura's Diary: My Life in Wartime Iraq, by Thura Al-Windawi (2004)

Less than a week before the American invasion of Iraq, 19-year-old Thura Al-Windawi began writing her thoughts about what was happening to herself, her family, and her country. She somehow managed to write almost every day for next two months, at the same time coalition forces swiftly gained control of Baghdad and the rest of Iraq. It was also during this time that her family fled from their home in the heart of Baghdad for the countryside, although they were able to return in the weeks after the defeat of Saddam's Army.

In spite of the Iraqi propaganda machine, Thura is well aware of the political situation within her country. When, after the arrival of coalition forces in the capital the Information Minister claims that the Americans are losing, it is obvious to everyone that they are not. The young woman laments the loss of her people and their homeland.

As is well known now, the American occupation doesn’t lead to a more stable Iraq, and Thura finds her life after Saddam as uncertain as it was before. As time goes on, she finds herself able to go out even less than before the conflict, as emboldened extremists begin to detain women who don’t completely cover their bodies; it is not uncommon women to be captured and even killed. Al-Windawi's anger shifts from the Americans toward her own countrymen in the midst of the looting and destruction of the country’s greatest treasures.

Of course, Thura is most concerned with her own family throughout this tumultuous account. The clan’s situation is especially difficult as her younger sister is diabetic and needs insulin. Much of Thura’s time is spent helping her mother clean the walls of soot left by oil fires that blanket the city. She expresses her desire to go out and help her neighbors, which is now an impossible task. Above all, Thura wants to return to some sense of normalcy.

Al-Windawi’s diary is a poignant firsthand account of life in Iraq during the war. While there are a few descriptions of the horrors of war, there’s nothing here that is too upsetting for the recommended age group of eighth grade and up. Younger readers should be able to deal with the material as well, with some adult supervision.