Rating: 
Summary: Astounding and Deeply Moving!!
Review: This book was one of the most heart-wrenching books i have ever read in my life. Although its been almost a year since i read this book, i still feel anguished over the lifestyle of the women there whenever i think about it. It's very obvious to me after reading all the other reviews that the ones who were brought up in the Muslim countries are the ones who're protesting about the lifestyle portrayed in this book...but let me say this, i myself am from a developing country and although my country is not an outwardly suppressive culture, people like me are suffocated by male domination and the lack of power & equality in our homes....but i must add that some of my friends are quite happy with the culture and greatly respect it, but they dont see it the way it is set up. For those of you (women)who think your lives are happy in that sort of culture, look closely at yourself and ask yourself if you're allowed to do anything you want,and if you have a voice in important matters!!! I'm sure some people do have freedom of thought and choice but not everybody does and a person has to keep that in mind.i'm sure there are happy women in those countries like sultana's sister for one, but there are people like the princess who understand and are bothered with the lack of importance women are given in their countries and want to change it.The princess may be filthy rich but she cares, oh yes, she definitely cares about womens rights in her country AND her money does not buy her happiness or equality among the sexes. I know some people believe the book is exaggerated, but i have alot of friends from these countries and i absolutely confirm that this book was quite an accurate version of what my friends told me and although my culture is different there are similiarities in the way women are treated by society, hence i can relate to these women. Although a few scenes were outrageous and un=believable in the book, I completely believe everything the author wrote because as I mentioned, some of my friends had to go through the horrors of quite a few things done to women out there!! I was deeply affected by this book and i sincerely grieve for the women in these circumstances...I just hope, one day, these women get the freedom that they're looking for!!!
Rating: 
Summary: A saudi citizen perspective
Review: Reading the different reviews, I got the sense of generalizations made by the reviewers about the saudi peopole and in some cases this generalization go a step further to include moslem in general. As a moslem and a citizen of Saudi Arabia studying in the states, I can propagate similar misconceptions and generalizations about the american people, whom I spent great time with and learned from alot, by writing about an american broken family and let the unaware reader to make the inevitable generalizations. If I did, I would ask my self simple questions..did I portray a true picture of all Americans..? Christians..? Had the author asked her self such questions, she would have done an effort to make the reader aware that Islam is not the cavet and the saudi peopele are not the same. It is only ignorance and lack of minimum education that can explain the "story" of the book. This story can be found in any society including the american with some similarities and differences. As a moslem I feel sad that some people get quiet opposite portraits about islam and moslems in general from such a sensanional book. Islam when implemented honesly, made the biggest leap known to history in human rights in general and women in particular. For example, Islam did not only stop killing female infants, a brutal act practiced by some arabic tribes before islam, but also made it possible that a woman held a high rank public office 1400 years ago. I would wonder what was the status of european women at that time? By the way, my saudi wife got a college degree and she did not have to take off her scarf and she is proud to be a moslem coming from SA who spent a great time in America.
Rating: 
Summary: Westerners shouldn't get the wrong image of muslim women
Review: From the other comments, it's obvious that people are getting a VERY warped image of Muslim women and Muslim countries from this sensationalized book. Here are some facts that people who read these reviews, and the book, should know. It IS true that Saudi Arabia is one of the most repressive countries in the world, but it is NOT true that other Muslim countries are as repressive. As an Iranian woman, I can authoritively testify that Iran is in no way as anywhere near as repressive as Saudi Arabia, no matter what you hear in the media. Women there not only can drive and vote, but are members of parliament, have positions of authority over men, are cabinet members, business owners, and even police officers. They also exercise considerable control in all family matters inside homes. Before the revolution of 1979, wearing the veil (or headscarf in Iran) had become somewhat rare, and I'm certain that the majority wait for the day that they can rip them off once again. The authorities are already becoming more relaxed, hair is creaping out, and makeup is common. As for what a few reviewers mentioned regarding middle eastern men viewing western women as whores, this is definately not true for Iranians. There were many many western women married to Iranian men in Iran, especially before the revolution, and were happy (and free) there.I mention all these points to make it clear that a religion is not the repressive factor, it's the culture of a nation; Saudi obviously being an extreme. Even other Arabic countries don't share the extreme Saudi culture.. There is an active nightlife scene in Egypt and Lebanon, and even Iraq..and girls participate too, unveiled! Lumping all "Middle Easterners" together in one boat is a grave mistake, the various nations do NOT share the same cultures and backgrounds. Do we all look to the Amish to understand Christian life? This book is the equivalent.
Rating: 
Summary: Very insightful
Review: I am an executive/personal assitant to the head of a firm run by a man of Middle Eastern descent, not a Saudi, however there are many men in the firm that have middle eastern backgrounds. This book really helped me to understand their basis for treatment of others. Though these men are very westernized they still have the core ideas that are brought to light in this book. The autrosities that women suffer in the Saudi culture are amasing to me as a westerner. I have suggested this book to my co workers who must try to find the easiest way to work day in and day out with someone who apperas to be westernized but still has the very basic idea that women are servents and have no opinion. Great book! It has helped me in my every day life.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting!
Review: (1)Some people who have reviewed this book have make somewhat naive generalisations. I am a Finn living in Turkey with a Turkish man and I have never had any problems here ----> not all Western women are considered whores by all Moslems. ALSO, the status of Moslem women is bad only in fundamentalist countries (notice: in Turkey religion does not any official status). I also know many Moslem women who do go to work and do make the money of their own. (2)As I have many contacts to Saudis (relatives that are married with Saudimen and also friends who do business there) I can say that most of the book is definitely based on facts. (3)If a woman has no rights to drive a car, leave home without male companion, to vote, to decide about her sexual life or to decide over her marriage etc. it is no wonder that social life becomes one sided and gets crazy. (4)I personally know a Finnish nurse who got a 'decent' punishment just because she sat unveiled in the same car with her male work mate who was not related to her. This happened in Riyad in 1996 and the punishment was whipping.
Rating:
Summary: a Book! Not a political statement!
Review: This book is fascinating. Judge it by it's content, and not by personal politics. It will make you laugh, and make you feel sad. It's an incredible journey I would highly recommend. (unless you demand evidence be submitted to prove the accuracy of the contents before you read a book, this book is obviously lacking the sworn affadavits some would demand!)
Rating:
Summary: compelling
Review: compelling reading but i dont believe it could be 100% true. even if it is 50% true..it is very shocking still.
Rating:
Summary: Must-read for everyone!
Review: It's too bad some of the Islamic reviewers here are so much in denial about the abuses chronicled in Sasson's book. A quick trip to the Amnesty International & U.S. Travel Advisory web sites, as well as conversations with both natives and Westerners who've been to the Middle East, and my own experiences with some of the sleazy men of Turkey (yes, they really DO think all Western women are whores!) indicate to me that, while Sultana's story seems a bit exaggerated at times, much of what she claims is true. Okay, even *I* had a hard time believing that Saudi men regularly molest pre-pubescent foreign girls, but I found a frightening parallel to stories and customs she describes in this book to the same that I've heard from other Islamic countries, such as Pakistan, Jordan, Algeria and Iran. Sultana turned out to be quite the little feminist, and I did not lose sympathy for her just because she had the ability to jet to Harrods for a three-day shopping spree or buy ! tons of jewels on a whim--I am a middle-class American, and my life is far richer than hers, thank you very much! I would not trade even five minutes of my precious free life for hers. The book is also a classic example of just what's wrong with letting religionists (of *any* flavor!) run a government. How the religious police twisted the words of the Koran and the Prophet Muhammed to suit their own selfish and egotistical needs bears a remarkable parallel to the way Christian fundamentalists in America twist the words of the Bible to further their own ugly agenda. I have read other books on Islam and Islamic women, and I've read the Koran, so I know Islam is a good and holy religion, and that there are a lot of religious pretenders in the world. Thank you, thank you, thank you God for not having made me a Saudi woman, subject to the whims of men and not God!!!
Rating:
Summary: Captivating and heart-wrenching!
Review: "Princess" was an incredible book. I finished it in a day, and immediately began to read the sequel, "Princess Sultana's Daughters". After having read both these books, I was incredibly grateful for the fact that I live in a country where women do not face such oppressions in there everyday life. I had some background information on how women in Saudi Arabia were treated, but I had no idea that it was to this extent. One cannot even imagine what it must feel like to live life in fear and loathing of the men who rule your life. "Princess " and "Princess Sultana's Daughters" are both books which I highly recommend.
Rating:
Summary: Very touching story!
Review: This story reflects the treatment towards women in Saudi and the bold steps taken by Sultana are praise worthy.
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