Rating: 
Summary: Behind the Hype
Review: I give this book three stars solely for its entertainment value. It reeks of yellow journalism, thinly "veiled" racism, and schlock. If you really want to know about Arab Muslim women, take a trip to your local mosque and ask around. Most Arab women are treated royaly. I should know....I am one.
Rating:
Summary: Umm, shocking, but can we see some references please?
Review: The otherwise shocking and gripping depiction of the ugly situations described in the book was continuously undermined by suspicions that there was some creative writing at work here. How can every single negative stereotype of the Arab world be played out in a few short years in one woman's life? I have lived in a Muslim country for 3 1/2 years, one of those in the countryside, and have not encountered even one verifiable story that comes close to the stories here.I do not doubt that such things happen, but the manner of telling without balance or context makes the events seem routine. In the book, we must believe that these are not the types of random abuses that can and do occur in any country as the result of individuals gone bad, but a whole society rotten to the core. Perhaps it is "true," and I hope not, but the presentation remains unconvincing and the need to "protect the source" provides a good cover for possible abuse.
Rating: 
Summary: The truth hurts alas
Review: I bought this book in London and read it straight through without stopping. I don't think anyone can say that the book is badly written because not many books are so interesting that I can't put them down (and I read hundreds a year), but of course there is no accounting for taste. I have some contact with the Arab world and in the main I am attracted by their devoutness, openness and generosity. I am certainly not anti-Arab, and would dearly love to learn Arabic so I can understand them better. I suspect that this book is truthful because there have long been dark rumours coming out of Saudi Arabia about human rights abuses, and I remember that in the late 70's there was a diplomatic incident between Saudi Arabia and Britain prompted by a TV program called 'Death of a Princess' reporting and commenting on the public execution of a royal princess who had loved in a way not permitted by the patriarchy. The British ended up apologising, but that is only because we stood to lose so much MONEY by being kicked out of their building sites and hospitals (THE SHAME!). Also our newspapers regularly feature stories of beheadings and stonings of Saudis: I had built up a composite picture of this mediaeval kingdom long before I read 'Princess', and in the main the book confirms my worst fears. I can see how the regime of the Saudis has nothing to do with Islam: before enlightenment most societies had similar views on women and sex. Our very own Henry VIII conveniently divorced one wife and had another wife executed because they could not bear him a son. Also, from 1535 onwards homosexuality was punishable by death. Such punishments are unimaginable nowadays, but they did indeed happen in Christian England. Thank God we have progressed since then. I think most societies have learnt from their worst errors of the centuries but the tragedy of Saudi Arabia is that it cannot and will not learn. They represent the illogical conclusion of the 'the old ways are best' argument. As with many sects, the Saudis have merely made the Koran fit their needs, instead of being guided by it. I can only hope more poor birds in gilded cages speak out about that barbaric regime. From what I can see the tragedy of women's lives there cannot be overdramatised or overtold.
Rating:
Summary: Just Plain WOW!
Review: I know it's probably the corniest title I could find, but no other word can describe this book. I did a term paper on Middle Eastern women this year and, as I was browsing for books on the subject, I stumbled upon this one. The heart-wrenching story of this Saudi Arabian princess enabled me to see and understand the lives of these women who are prisoners of the veil. It really made me aware of the reality and harshness of the way women are still treated in these countries. If you are ready to open your eyes and your heart to these women, then I strongly recommend this wonderful, and yet horrible, book.
Rating: 
Summary: One Women Story
Review: This book is full of contradictions and mistakes. Prince Sultana tried to express herself and her story but failed to notice the contradictions in the story. I beleive part of the story is true but parts are not. This mislead the outsider of Saudi Arabia on what realy went.
Rating:
Summary: Voice from within the Kingdom
Review: The book is a fascinating tale of a natural-born feminist who struggles with her family and culture, not her religion. Many of the stories that she tells will be shocking to Western readers, but they are all too familiar to people who know the Gulf well. Because it has a Western author's name on the cover, I was initially dubious whether the book truly represents the view of a Saudi princess. I thought perhaps this was a Western feminist author railing against Islam by pretending to tell the story of a Saudi princess. However, certain views expressed in the book could only come from a woman raised in the Saudi culture- -they would be incomprehensible or trivial to Western feminists, yet they express the core of the princess' character. Warning: once you open the cover, you will not be able to put it down.
Rating:
Summary: Ruthie's Review
Review: Shocking, mystifing and sometimes disturbing, Sasoon tells a story of brutal lifes in a brutal regeime. Women in Saudi Arabia, under strict Islamic rule are forced to be subordinate to men, who exploit the situation using mindless abject cruelty to get their own way. In "Princess", Sasoon tells the tale of Sultana, who watched her sisters and friends suffer at the hands of male religious fanatics, before realising that her own fate is sealed by the men around her, from father to husband, her masters.
Rating:
Summary: Are you sure, Ms. Sasson?
Review: I'm not sure I understand. You want to write a book about the strengths AND weaknesses about Saudi Arabia. You want to make sure your readers see the good AND the bad. That they realize that, yes, women are being abused, used, bought, stolen, raped, killed, and are the victims of countless other atrocities, BUT, that there is also good in that country. At least that's what you stated not only in the book jacket, but also here on-line. But, I don't understand. Maybe I only got part 1 of the book: the part that describes the bad on-goings in Saudi. What happened to the strengths you promised? Don't get me wrong. I lived in Saudi, as well. I saw and heard many stories of unfairness and complete control of the female body, mind and spirit. I know it exists, and I, too, know that it needs to be appreciated and understood before it can be acted upon. This book is a step in the right direction to achieve that goal, but don't sugar coat it. Tell it like it is. This book DOES NOT in any way describe the good qualities of Saudi Arabia, so don't say it does. Sultana's pranks on her brother, Ali, are NOT an example of a good quality of Saudi, as you stated. Yes, these pranks made me laugh (out loud, at times), but come on, let's not make it more than it really is. If your goal was to to educate the public regarding the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia, well, you somewhat succeeded. I say "somewhat" because the way in which this book was written forces a person to generalize and "generalizing" or "stereotyping" is the antithesis, at worst, or obstacle, at best, of true cross-cultural understanding. However, if your goal was to educate the public of the good AND the bad of Saudi Arabia, you emphatically failed. I should get 50% of the purchase price back.
Rating:
Summary: The inside and real story - My rating to this book is zero
Review: Instead of wasting your time about Saudi women who are in much better than the slavery condition of women in the western world, read about The Chechen tragedy resulted from the Russian crusades. Women in Arabia are respected in general. It is only some mishaps due to poor understanding and misuse of power. If counted raped women in USA are far more in percentage than in any parts of Saudi.
Rating: 
Summary: shocking
Review: I was riveted to the book however general phrases about topics which were not part of the main theme detracted greatly from the story. I do not think that Sultana had the authority to speak about Islam, Mecca or Medina, and I was most distracted by her comment about Jerusalem ~ something to the effect that that city is not free, being under Israeli control. Over the past twenty five years I have seen hundreds of Arabs from many countries that have no diplomatic relations with Israel visit Israeli hospitals for treatment. I am sure that many of them took the time to visit their Holy places as well. I rather think that Jerusalem is much freer than Sultana and her sisters are. I believe that the heart of Sultana's problems does indeed lie with her religion though she is adamant that this is not the case. I ask you to look at other Islamic countries where Islam has taken over. Look also at how hard and with how much effort secular Islamic countries guard their freedom and keep Islamic movements at bay. They do it with a gun. So Sultana I wish you luck with your struggle, you certainly have my sympathy.
|
