At the Drop of a Veil

Rating:
Summary: Lecture by Marianne Alireza 1983 in Ras Tanura Saudi Arabia
Review: During my tenure working for The Arabian American Oil company (ARAMCO), now the Saudi American Oil company, I had the opportunity, along with a staff member of the Ras Tanura hospital, to hear her speak about her book and her experience in the Kingdom. She autographed my copy of her book which has since been lost. How did she get back into the Kingdom after what she wrote in her book and how was she able to speak so freely at these lecture? For several reason this was possible for only her. She was very friendly with the old King and he apparently liked her a good deal and was more than willing to allow her to travel to the kingdome several times. Each time she wanted to travel to the kingdom she contacted the king direct.

She was also speaking at a movie theater in an ARAMCO facility, and in fact I belive she spoke at three or four ARAMCO facilities,where the Kingom allowed westerners to act like westerners, for the most part etc. She would never have been able to speak at any other location in Saudi Arabia.

She told of here infatuation with this young dark and handsome suitor and, to the dismay of her family decided to marry him and move to Saudi Arabis. (I recommended this book to a young lady who had a child by a Saudi student while he was going to college in the US and was thinking about doing the same thing. Her family,after reading this book went ballistic and she decied not to go.) While in Saudi Arabia I met several American women who had decided to marry and live in Saudi Arabia, most seemed satisfied, at least on the surface. In any event, back to her book.

I recall her tale of her being introduced to his second wife and how embarrassed he was at the meeting. She spoke of her son who is a successful businessman and that he was well ajusted to that society etc. I don't recall but I think her other children were in the states and planned to stay there etc.

I can only say after working in the Kingdom for over ten years that this is a very old culture, and it's all to easy to completely misunderstand it when viewed from a westerners point of view.

Rating:
Summary: Priceless
Review: Fascinating reality, better than fiction. Phenomenal use of language, portraying a gentling, human touch to an alien culture, and a heart that stayed warm even after that culture played against her. The author did this beautifully, with love rather than bitterness. When I finished reading 'At the Drop of a Veil' I did two things I had never done before: reopened the book to the first page and started reading all over again (ah, wait, first I reread the scene about her oldest daughter's marriage - that was one powerful paragraph!); then I called the publisher to try and find the author. These were real people and you can't help wondering whatever happened to her, and to her children?

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I am a granddaughter of Marianne Alireza, and I am very proud of her accomplishments. Through reading the book, I found out things about Saudi that are no longer seen today and felt that it was her strength and perseverence which enabled her to do what she did. She was warned of some of the hardships she might encounter in giving up her western life and moving to the unknown, however she did not let that get in her way and I find this to be inspirational to not only women but anyone who may face similar circumstances of marrying into a different culture. I will admit however that it does take a certain type of person with a strong mind and good heart to be able to embrace a mentality and life that is so different to that of their own.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I am currently residing here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and read an article on this lady in my "Arabian Woman" magazine a wee while ago. Saudi Arabia is a country which many are mesmorised by and are interested in and I can assure everyone it is certainly a country which most people will never forget if they have ever lived there. Sure it is has it's bad points (but doesn't every country) and yes it has some good things about it as well. The best advice I can offer is to go there with an Open mind and respect that yes these people are different to my own culture but hey it is interesting to be living amongst them in their "world". I, myself have enjoyed the hospitality of many Arabs here and are grateful to them all for their kindness. As a woman I thought that it would be hard but I have been fortunate and have made some lovely friends from the Middle East. I am just saddened by all the recent problems that we have had from the Muslim world too but many of them worry about this as much as we do. My philosophy:
"Treat those how you would like be treated yourself".

Rating:
Summary: I wish that this book was in Saudi!
Review: I am currently residing here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and read an article on this lady in my "Arabian Woman" magazine a wee while ago. Saudi Arabia is a country which many are mesmorised by and are interested in and I can assure everyone it is certainly a country which most people will never forget if they have ever lived there. Sure it is has it's bad points (but doesn't every country) and yes it has some good things about it as well. The best advice I can offer is to go there with an Open mind and respect that yes these people are different to my own culture but hey it is interesting to be living amongst them in their "world". I, myself have enjoyed the hospitality of many Arabs here and are grateful to them all for their kindness. As a woman I thought that it would be hard but I have been fortunate and have made some lovely friends from the Middle East. I am just saddened by all the recent problems that we have had from the Muslim world too but many of them worry about this as much as we do. My philosophy:
"Treat those how you would like be treated yourself".

Rating:
Summary: Remarkable
Review: I would love to read a sequel to this wonderful story. How did she and her children fair after the book ended? This is a fascinating true story of an American woman's life in Saudi Arabia before oil wealth arrived. The dynamics of family and life in general are personally and historically interesting. Part 'Not Without My Daughter', part travel and life documentary. Her sense of humor that persevered throughout was remarkable. Highly, highly recommended....but I want more....wish she, or her children would write a sequel!