Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia

by Jean P. Sasson | Biographies & Memoirs |
ISBN: 0380719185 Global Overview for this book
Registered by jcm of Lisle, Illinois USA on 4/24/2004
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This book is in the wild! This Book is Currently in the Wild!
19 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by jcm from Lisle, Illinois USA on Saturday, April 24, 2004
I've read this before, different copy though. I'd seen this on a bunch of people's wish lists and I saw it at a rummage sale this morning so I picked it up for $.50 and thought I would try my first bookray with it.

*** This bookray is now closed!

Here is the list:
Hwy18 (MN)
Czersk (MN)
Fifthelement (MO)
Babykittysmama (CA)
Goygirrl (CA)
Senorag (MS)
Jamieh2003 (WV)
Luv2sewtjr (PA)
Narfinmagic (NJ)
Ilios (FL)
Lauraloo29 (CAN)
Secretariat (CA)
Brujula (France)
Spiderchic (UK)
Tantan (Aus) <--

Please make a journal entry when you receive the book and also indicate when it leaves you either with a journal entry or release notes, whatever you prefer. Please keep the book moving as quickly as possible. It is just a little paperback so be gentle!

Journal Entry 2 by jcm at -- By Hand Or Post, Ray/Ring, RABCK in Evanston, Illinois USA on Thursday, April 29, 2004
Released on Thursday, April 29, 2004 at Fellow BookCrosser in Evanston, Illinois USA.

Woohoo! My first bookray on its way to hwy18! Hope you all enjoy!

Journal Entry 3 by hwy18 from Brainerd, Minnesota USA on Monday, May 3, 2004
I recieved book today will read and journal and pass it on in a couple of days.
thanks for sending it,
Be always Blessed.

Journal Entry 4 by hwy18 from Brainerd, Minnesota USA on Wednesday, May 5, 2004
Rarley do I give a book a 10 that does not have some sort of scripture in it from the Bible,however I cannot say enough about how this gave me a strong desire to continue praying for women around the world suffering such as this princess was & still is in this present day.
Jean Sasson, does an excellent job in telling the truth of what women in countries such as in Saudi Arabia are enduring even in this present age.
How blessed we are to live in the USA and have the freedoms that we women do.
Living under the constant contol of men that where cruel and deplorable is something we women here are blessed not to have to endure.
I shudder at the thought that men of Saudi feel that all women in the western world are whores and challenge the women of the USA to stand up for the Godly ways of the Word of God and not the ways of the world, We have become numb as a society to what is truely right in the eyes of God.
It is no wonder these men in Saudi feel contempt for us.
The television, radio , advertising and so much more portrays us as little more than cheap trash to be used and portrayed as sexual objects rather than the plan God has for us, If women in the western countries continue to allow this sort of cheapening as a model to generations to come how will our future daughters ever be able to take pride in themselves as women of God and not of the world.
The compassion I feel for the women of Saudi and their plight is strong, stronger yet is my desire to pray for women of our own dear counrty who need prayer to lead them to the path of rightousness through Jesus Christ so that we may be a light to others who live in darkness.
Be always Blessed.


Journal Entry 5 by Czersk from Roscoe, Minnesota USA on Tuesday, May 11, 2004
I just got this in the mail today. Thank you HWY18- may you always be blessed too:) I will read this as soon as possible- it looks great.

Journal Entry 6 by Czersk from Roscoe, Minnesota USA on Monday, May 24, 2004
Once I got into this book, there was no going back. All I can say is Thank you GOD that I was born in America. Had I been born in Saudi Arabia, I'd have been just like Sultana, and who knows how I would have ended up. I'd be joining her in her efforts to knock Ali swiftly upside the head, I'd be throwing off veils and driving anywhere I can. I'd probably be locked inside a padded room just like Sameera. So I am very grateful to the country of my birth for giving me my rights that we take for granted WAY too much. Those males though, I was absolutely disgusted, with Ali, Sultana's brother, in particular. I quote "He (Ali) had made a great point of telling us of his escapades with American women and announced that, yes, it was true, just as he had been told, they were all whores!" WHAT???? Who's going around telling lies like that?? It's an outrage! Jaws were dropped, many times as I read this book. Page in and page out, something happened that was absolutely unbelievable, but at the same time all too believeable that it was just horrifying. I had no idea things were like that. This book was very VERY enlightening, and I thank all who were involved for giving me the chance to read it. Excuse me, while I go out and buy my own copy.

Off to fifthelement . . .

Journal Entry 7 by Czersk from Roscoe, Minnesota USA on Saturday, May 29, 2004
Sent off today-May 29, 2004- to fifthelement in Missouri.

Journal Entry 8 by FifthElement from Warrensburg, Missouri USA on Wednesday, June 2, 2004
Received today in the mail.

Journal Entry 9 by FifthElement from Warrensburg, Missouri USA on Wednesday, June 9, 2004
Sending this on to babykittysmama today.

Journal Entry 10 by babykittysmama from Redondo Beach, California USA on Thursday, June 17, 2004
Wow... I read this in one sitting. I am SO glad to be a Christian living in America. I cried through some parts and wanted to throw the book across the room in anger in other parts. This was riveting. It got a 10 for my vote.

Off to Goygirrl now!!

Journal Entry 11 by goygirrl from Venice, California USA on Monday, June 28, 2004
Received today, thanks!

Journal Entry 12 by SenoraG from Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania USA on Friday, July 23, 2004
Got this today. I will read it as soon as possible and keep it moving, moving, moving....thanks for sharing,.

7.28.04 Well, I guess I am odd guy out..lol. I found the book a bit boring and Sultana a bit full of herself. Could have been the writing style. My heart goes out to the women in Saudi Arabia. I know they dont alwaya have an easy life. I took this with a grain of salt as I was warned to do by a very good Muslim,, Arabian friend. Will pass along as soon as I get the address. Thanks so much for the chance to read it.
8.7.04 I have PM's Snowmyst three times with no response. I will PM Jamie who is after him/her and get it moving along.

Journal Entry 13 by SenoraG at on Sunday, August 8, 2004
Released on Sunday, August 08, 2004 at BOOKRAY in n/a, n/a Controlled Releases.

Going to Jamie in WV. Happy reading

Journal Entry 14 by jamieh2003 from Wiley Ford, West Virginia USA on Sunday, August 15, 2004
I received this in Friday's mail and started reading it immediately.

It was completely engrossing to me and I thought that in some respects things had actually been toned down. I lived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia near the Al Nasiriyah district for 2 years in the late 1970's and from my personal experiences as a female in that country I wanted to see just how much my experiences while there would jibe with Sultana's story. In the two years my family lived there we were privileged to meet several members of the Royal family and being sixteen at the time I was old enough to be aware of the vast discrepancies between the lip service the men paid the women in their lives and the actual way they treated them. In fact, being an American teen-ager in the capital city was really pretty interesting. I(and other female teens) were shipped off to boarding schools paid for by the Saudi's so we would not be a corrupting influence on their women and young girls and/or a distraction to their young men.
Having the personal experience of the culture and then reading about the way the women of that culture exist made this book all the more interesting to me. I think that a great many of the Patriarch's of that culture choose (as so many do in other cultures) just what part of their religious tenets to enforce. It's unfortunate that they still oppress their women and that girl children are not valued but under the current King I seriously doubt that any changes will be forthcoming as he is busy trying to appease the fundamentalists in order to avert a revolution.


This is going out to grover3d after I get her shipping info.
update 8/16/04:
grover3d has read this so it's on to Luv2sewtjr once I receive her mailing information.

Journal Entry 15 by jamieh2003 at N/A in Controlled Release, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Released on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 at N/A in N/A, A Bookring Controlled Releases.

to lovetosewtjr via media mail

Journal Entry 16 by luv2sewtjr from Greencastle, Pennsylvania USA on Saturday, September 18, 2004
This just came in today's mail. I have one bookring in front of it, but I should be able to start it within a week.

Thanks!

Journal Entry 17 by luv2sewtjr from Greencastle, Pennsylvania USA on Saturday, September 25, 2004
I had mixed feelings reading this book. The book had a little too much of an American voice for me. It was upsetting to read about how women are second-class citizens in Saudi Arabia, but at the same time, I found myself astounded by the wealth and the frivolity of the royals.

I am glad that I read this book--it reinforced the fact that I don't know very much about the Middle East. So I need to seek out some more reading material. This book also reinforce my opinion that religious fundamentalists (of pretty much any religion) can be pretty dangerous people.

I have narfinmagic's address and the book will go out on Monday.

Thanks for including me.

Journal Entry 18 by narfinmagic from Freehold, New Jersey USA on Monday, October 4, 2004
This book and one other bookring arrived safely at my home today! Thanks for passing it along. Plan to read soon and pass it to the next person on the list.

Journal Entry 19 by narfinmagic from Freehold, New Jersey USA on Thursday, October 7, 2004
I read this book pretty quickly. This is the type of book that makes you thank God you are born in America. I felt sorry for the women of Saudi Arabia and the stories shared by this courageous woman.

I already have Ilios's address and plan to mail this out tommorrow. Thanks jcm for sharing this book. Looking forward to hearing other people's thoughts on this book.

Journal Entry 20 by narfinmagic at on Thursday, October 7, 2004

Released 19 yrs ago (10/8/2004 UTC) at

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Mailing to Ilios

Journal Entry 21 by Ilios from Tampa, Florida USA on Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Got this today in the mail. I think I am in a Middle Eastern phase, because I am reading "The Blindfold Horse" at the moment. I'll start this one as soon as I am done with my other rings/rays. Thanks for sharing this!

Journal Entry 22 by Ilios from Tampa, Florida USA on Sunday, November 14, 2004
I finished this book last night and was very touched by it. As Czersk well said it, once you start, there's not going back. This is a very powerful book and although I agree with senorag - Sultana is sometimes too frivolous and full of herself - her story nevertheless is worth telling.

Although I don't know everything about muslim/arab culture, I think I know more than the average person, either by my readings or by my personal experiences. I would have to say that the information on the treatment of women in a despotic muslim country did not shock me. What was a surprise, however, was the fact that this horrific treatment knows no class barriers. I always thought that the women in the Royal Family would have it pretty easy compared to middle-class or poor women in Saudi Arabia, and I was obviously wrong. The hope that I take from the book is that although half the population is still enslaved, this state of affairs has not killed women's spirit.

We are indeed very lucky of being born in the West, and being able to enjoy all the freedoms that men enjoy.

Journal Entry 23 by Ilios at post office in BOOKRAY, Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, November 14, 2004
Released on Monday, November 15, 2004 at about 12:00:00 PM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at post office in BOOKRAY, Bookray Controlled Releases.

RELEASE NOTES:

sending to Lauraloo29 today. Happy reading!

Journal Entry 24 by winglauraloo29wing from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Arrived today. It looks like an interesting read. I'll get to it as quickly as I can. Thank you!

Journal Entry 25 by winglauraloo29wing from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Friday, November 26, 2004
Well this book was very enlightening and fascinating. Although I agree with Senorag and Ilios about Sultanta's attitude, I still am very glad I read it. I don't believe all Muslims interpret the Koran this way. It is sad when any religious writings are interpreted to treat people badly. I am glad I live in a society that aims to treat women as humans and not possessions. I also believe that one day there will be more freedom for women in those countries that need it. It never fails to amaze me that some cultures believe women are less. When without either sex we would soon die out.

Thank you for sharing! I'll send it on its way next week.

Journal Entry 26 by Secretariat from Carlsbad, California USA on Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Sent to me on a bookring. It's arrival is perfectly timed because I just this evening finished another. I'll begin this one tomorrow.
___________________________________________________

12/21/04 -- Wow! This book was far better than I expected and was such a page turner that I forced myself to slow down and consider what was going on.

Although I believe that Sultana was certainly spoiled (wouldn't any of us be with that kind of money) and extremely headstrong--nearly self-destructively so--I believe I liked and appreciated her more than many of you. I had great sympathy for Sultana because subjugation for her would be a far greater punishment than it would be for many women--even Western women--because she believed so completely in her own beliefs and felt so strongly that she should be able to exercise them as the Saudi men so easily did. Many of the women around her, even her sister Sara, only gave lip service to women's rights. When Sultana left her husband after his declaration of taking a taking a second wife, Sara advised her to swallow it and let him have another wife in order to keep family peace. At what price to Sultana!

Of all the horrifying things that Sultana showed us, one of the things that amazed me the most was her reaction to Hakeem's hitting her and eventually rendering her unconscious. She saw absolutely nothing wrong with it. She passed it off as him bringing her under control. Clearly, she had seen so much of this kind of thing over the years from her own father, brothers, cousins, and the men in her friends' families that she fully accepted it as normal.

I enjoyed watching Sultana mature from a petulant girl to a woman of education and understanding. She's not perfect, but she's very sympathetic and put herself at great risk so that those in the West and elsewhere could view her world. I fear for her because the book was so specific I think that even given the thousands of Royals it would be easy to finger her as the culprit.

This book, as with other books I have read about the Middle East, have shown me that religious zealotry makes people evil. I will remember the plight of Nadia, Wafa, the 13-year-old child rape victim, and Sameera for years to come.

This is off to the next in line as soon as I get a response to my PM.

Released 19 yrs ago (1/26/2005 UTC) at Fellow Bookcrosser in Libération contrôlée, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- France

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

I apologize. I had this ready to mail weeks ago, but I've been unable to get to the post office. Finally made it today and sent it airmail to make up for my tardiness. My journal entry has my review of the book.

Journal Entry 28 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Wednesday, February 2, 2005
Arrived today along with two other books.
Thank you jcm and Secretariat for passing this along!

Journal Entry 29 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Thursday, March 3, 2005
This is a very interesting book.
Since the other readers have already expressed many of the things I felt reading it, I will not repeat them. Somehow the story of Sultana made me think of "the handmaid's tale" I read a few weeks ago, where women are also enslaved in one way or another, and powerful men get away with many things other people will be severely punished for.

Sultana's message is also a message of hope. Slowly things will change. One of the things needed for such a change is that women in Saudi Arabia be aware of the unfairness of the way they are treated, so they can raise their children, boys and girls, to think otherwise. Women can influence their sons so they change their attitude, and their daughters, so they do not resignate.

Thank you very much, jcm, for sharing this book.

I'm sending it to Spiderchic today.

Journal Entry 30 by spiderchic from Droylsden, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Sunday, March 13, 2005
Received this yesterday. Have nearly finished my current book so should be able to start it this week.
Thank you

Journal Entry 31 by spiderchic from Droylsden, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Wow an amazing but quite often horrifying book. My mouth dropped open several times in horror. Makes you realise how lucky we are.
Thank you for sharing. Shall pass on to Ann-718my.
Ann-718my has asked to be skipped am now asking Tantan for her address

Journal Entry 32 by spiderchic from Droylsden, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Sent to Tantan today

Journal Entry 33 by tantan from Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Thursday, March 31, 2005
Received today thanks to spiderchic. I've got a few in front of this, but I'll get to it as soon as I can.

Journal Entry 34 by tantan from Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Saturday, May 14, 2005
What a wonderful book! It really makes you see how good we have it! This book has really opened my eyes to the brutality with which women in Saudi Arabia (and many other countries) are treated. I've always known it wasn't very good, but I didn't realise it was quite this bad. This book has encouraged me to read more about this issue, and I really hope that with small steps life can improve for these women.

I noticed that ann-718my was skipped before me so I'll see if she would now like this. Otherwise I'll set it as available, and see what happens.

Journal Entry 35 by ann-718my from Cyberjaya, Sultanate of Selangor (Shah Alam) Malaysia on Tuesday, June 7, 2005
just received this. i asked to be skipped earlier because of a reason I can't remember now =) anyway thank you tantan!! and thanks jcm for making this book available to us. i see that so many people have read this book and it's still in good condition.

would love to start the book right away.

Journal Entry 36 by ann-718my from Cyberjaya, Sultanate of Selangor (Shah Alam) Malaysia on Wednesday, June 22, 2005
wow how i love this book! being a muslim, it made me feel lucky to have been born here instead of Saudi. malaysia treats the both genders with equal right. i can't imagine being told what to do and what to think and what to react everytime my whole life. it's ridiculous really. islam actually rewards more to muslims who treasure their daughters.

i feel bad for Sultana for having to endure it when accross the continent other women had all the luxury of choosing. on the other hand i feel that the strength she had is inspiring. although what had become of her children is not told in the book, i hope that they've grown to become magnificent individuals who see things differently.

i'm going to pass on this book. offering the book in bookrelay....

Journal Entry 37 by ann-718my from Cyberjaya, Sultanate of Selangor (Shah Alam) Malaysia on Friday, June 24, 2005
will be on its way soon to mskdm20 (accepted in bookrelay) in Texas.

UPDATE (July 21): mailed!

Journal Entry 38 by mskdm20 from Van Alstyne, Texas USA on Friday, August 5, 2005
Received today, many thanks:)

=^..^=

Journal Entry 39 by mskdm20 from Van Alstyne, Texas USA on Sunday, August 7, 2005
Wonderful book.
Sometimes I did feel like the princess was snobby, but then I realized that she didn't know better, that was how she was raised.
Anyway, I loved the parts when she confronted her husband, yelled at her mother-in-law, and flew off to Paris with the children when her husband wanted a second wife.
The saddest part was when her friend was locked in a padded cell for the rest of her life.

RELEASE NOTES:

Sending this book to a friend on Livejournal, who wanted to read it after I told her what the book was about.

Journal Entry 41 by likethat3x from Ludlow, Massachusetts USA on Friday, August 12, 2005
A friend of mine sent it from Texas. I was very excited to recieve it in the mail. That night I read it right away.

CAUGHT IN LUDLOW MA USA

Journal Entry 42 by likethat3x from Ludlow, Massachusetts USA on Friday, August 12, 2005
This is my first time getting a book this is exciting.

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