Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arab by Jean Sasson

3 reviews

yazzoreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

2.75

i question the authenticity of this being story being from a saudi senior princess. even tho her name is allegedly changed, i don’t see how her story would be able to exist and her safety guaranteed. also sasson was sued for plagerism on this novel tho settled out of court i believe.  i would say this reads more like sensational fiction then a memoir and being set from the 50s, 60s, 70s some of the events are not hard to believe and do not surprise me but at the same time the writing isn’t groundbreaking and doesn’t serve ‘sultana’ justice. being written by an american author who allegedly befriends a saudi princess leads to many cases of orientalist tropes being employed from a writer in a position of power- from the ability to tell the story to her race and nationality over ‘princess sultana’. 

the stories in this book are traumatising and a tw rly should be noted for its graphic violence and sa. it is a ‘page turner’ and very fast paced and does give an insight into the struggles (or potential struggles if not buying into the authenticity of the novel) of women in sultanas position but i would say is no where near representative of women today in the middle east. i can see the damage this book can do for those reading with no prior knowledge of the region other than sensationalised media and damaging oritentalist thought. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Child death, Death, Islamophobia, Violence, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Suicide attempt and Slavery

loxeletters's review against another edition

challenging inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Xenophobia, Rape, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Murder, Confinement, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Abortion, Trafficking, Cancer, and War

maria_valentine's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexism, and Misogyny

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Infertility, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts