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fbroom's review against another edition
4.0
i read this back in 2005/2006, the novel was something new, smart and fresh! I really had a blast reading it.
If i would re-evaluate this in 2011 i may change my rating :) but I won't :)
If i would re-evaluate this in 2011 i may change my rating :) but I won't :)
alicebme's review against another edition
3.0
Book club book with mom. I appreciate this book, but I was frustrated reading it, probably because I am a white American atheist woman.
madame_medusa's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 rounded up to 4 for good measure.
I loved it. I'm sure if I could have read it in its original language, and been able to read Arabic, I would have loved it even more. Every character's heartbreak and reservations to any potential new relationship was all too familiar and I appreciated it.
I loved it. I'm sure if I could have read it in its original language, and been able to read Arabic, I would have loved it even more. Every character's heartbreak and reservations to any potential new relationship was all too familiar and I appreciated it.
cat_book_lady's review against another edition
3.0
When published, this banned book was scandalous and shocking about the secret lives of 4 women living in Saudi Arabia, and we are privileged to receive an intimate view that apparently embarasses and shames their culture for the world to see. Yet, I was the one who was "shocked", only because it was all so - normal, at least through a Western lens. "Shocking" to Americans and "shocking" to Saudi Arabians are very different types of "shocking".These were regular women with regular passions and desires for education, a good marriage, and to just have a loving family. They are no different than American women who love, feel grief and loss, who want to be their own person, and who want to figure out their own identity apart from and within all their friends and families. I was utterly surprised at how this was banned in Saudi Arabia because I simply - naively - do not regard these women's thoughts, feelings, and actions as somehow wrong or immoral. I find it interesting that the women as well as the men both deride Western culture with one hand, and then embrace it with the other. They love our music, our movies, clothing, TV, hairstyles, and makeup. They supposedly hate Western culture, but are irresistibly drawn to it, even sending their sons and daughters to America for a college education. The hypocrisy was clearly evident, and perhaps therein lies the scandal because the women not only had private lives, but the author exposes their desire for the blasphemous style of Western living. I received quite an education, and kudos to this brave, courageous writer who had the audacity to show the world the intimate lives of women in the Kingdom. I wasn't much of a fan of the style in which it was written through a series of emails, and at times sounded gossipy and whiny.
cooliuscaesar451's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
oblatecordon's review
emotional
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.0
ophelia's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
billie_visible's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Sexism
Minor: Racism, Homophobia, and Domestic abuse
lsparrow's review against another edition
4.0
Listening to this audiobook - made me wish that I knew Arabic - as it seemed that there were many things that knowing the original language would have added to the humor and understanding of the book. I loved the different stories of women and love in Saudi Arabia.