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richp's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
vita_s_west's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The ending was very sad.
phenixsnow's review against another edition
3.0
Mixed feelings. The main character Gin, from small town in Oklahoma finds herself living in the gated compound of an American oil company in Saudia Arabia in the late 1960s. This part was fascinating. The writing was vivid enough that i could picture it and i felt like i really got to know the main character. But i think the description of the book makes it sound like the story revolves around her husband being accused of murder and that is actually a small plot twist that doesn't even happen till near the end of the book. The story is more about a young woman(she's maybe in her late teens when she moves to Saudi Arabia) chafing against societal rules established by men and trying to find her way. I might have given it another start if i'd loved the ending, but the ending was kind of unclear(maybe intentionally) i'm honestly not entirely sure what exactly happened the last 2 hours of the audiobook.
lynnski723's review against another edition
3.0
I think I'm being generous by giving this one 3 stars. There was really nothing I loved about this book. I continued reading it because I kept assuming it would get better based on the opening page. That didn't happen though. At least not for me.
muddypuddle's review against another edition
3.0
I have ups and downs with my reactions to this book. I loved the setting - a mysterious one, for me. Arabia in the 1960's, in the American-based housing commune - certainly nothing I had any prior knowledge about. The Bedouin. The animosity. The "kingdom of men"...... And I was unprepared for the ending, a feeling that left me pleasantly surprised, because it was unexpected and perfect for the story.
carlydbar's review against another edition
2.0
Way too many deaths. The ending was a cliffhanging with no questions answered.
nonna7's review
5.0
The cover for this book shows a woman's hands neatly folded, the neails perfect, the clothing tasteful, but there is no face. The book introduces us to Virginia "Gin" McPhee who only wants to "know." It takes places in 1970, just when women's liberation was getting started. It was a time when an employer could ask when you were planning to get pregnant.
After losing both her grandmother (who left her husband as a young woman and raised Gin's mother alone) and her mother, Gin is sent to live with that same grandfather, a strict Methodist preacher who beats her and constantly calls her a sinner while loving her in his own way. She rebels and falls for Mason, the high school jock. They conceive a child, and he immediately makes the decision to marry her which means losing his basketball scholarship. He takes a job with an oil company in Texas where their child is born prematurely and dies. Gin is also told she can no longer conceive.
They are still very young, but Mason is offered a job with ARAMCO, an oil company in Saudi Arabia. The money is great and includes free housing in a company compound. There's only one catch: there's absolutely no freedom for women and very few places where she can go and satisfy the increasing curiosity about her world. When they arrive in "Arabia" as they call it, they have a completely furnished home with a houseboy and gardener. Gin is bored quickly. She's not interested in drinking and gossip. In addition, Mason soon learns that shortcuts are being taken which causes needless accidents.
I sympathize and understand Gin having grown up at this time. Women were expected to take a back seat when it came to ambition. In fact, if you were curious and driven, you were looked upon with suspicion. To some extent, that's still true for women although it's a lot better than it was.
The language in this book is full of incredibly imagery, some of it romantic, some of it seamy. The end is jolting and incredibly sad, but, once again, the language is so wonderful, I can forgive anything.
After losing both her grandmother (who left her husband as a young woman and raised Gin's mother alone) and her mother, Gin is sent to live with that same grandfather, a strict Methodist preacher who beats her and constantly calls her a sinner while loving her in his own way. She rebels and falls for Mason, the high school jock. They conceive a child, and he immediately makes the decision to marry her which means losing his basketball scholarship. He takes a job with an oil company in Texas where their child is born prematurely and dies. Gin is also told she can no longer conceive.
They are still very young, but Mason is offered a job with ARAMCO, an oil company in Saudi Arabia. The money is great and includes free housing in a company compound. There's only one catch: there's absolutely no freedom for women and very few places where she can go and satisfy the increasing curiosity about her world. When they arrive in "Arabia" as they call it, they have a completely furnished home with a houseboy and gardener. Gin is bored quickly. She's not interested in drinking and gossip. In addition, Mason soon learns that shortcuts are being taken which causes needless accidents.
I sympathize and understand Gin having grown up at this time. Women were expected to take a back seat when it came to ambition. In fact, if you were curious and driven, you were looked upon with suspicion. To some extent, that's still true for women although it's a lot better than it was.
The language in this book is full of incredibly imagery, some of it romantic, some of it seamy. The end is jolting and incredibly sad, but, once again, the language is so wonderful, I can forgive anything.
beththebookdragon's review against another edition
5.0
I don't usually read general fiction but this one pulled me in with its excellent writing style and the exploration of a unique culture--Americans living in Saudi Arabia, particularly in the 1960s. Also, Gin is an true women's protagonist--exploring life beyond her comfort zone and the comfort zone of those around her, to both the improvement of her life and to disastrous consequences. Also, she has a different and life-changing relationship (only one of them actively sexual) with each man she meets--a rarity in the literary world but oh so common in real life.
A compelling story. Highly recommended for readers and for book clubs that aren't afraid to explore women's roles in the 60s and in the past and current Arab cultures, and the variety of relationships a woman and a man can have, depending on social status and level of friendship, enmity, love and romance between them.
A compelling story. Highly recommended for readers and for book clubs that aren't afraid to explore women's roles in the 60s and in the past and current Arab cultures, and the variety of relationships a woman and a man can have, depending on social status and level of friendship, enmity, love and romance between them.
valpogal's review against another edition
5.0
This would be a great book club read! So many angles to discuss! Politics, culture clashes, religion, feminism, parent and peer influences -- all wrapped up in a great story. I look forward to reading more from this author.
ksoanes's review against another edition
3.0
I have really mixed feelings about this book. I loved the idea of the book but the execution of it once they made it to Saudi Arabia completely feel apart. I also don’t like it when books end abruptly with minimal conclusion.