Enlightening book on Saudi Arabian culture and the Bin Ladin family. I would recommend this book to anyone wishing to learn more about lifestyles and culture of Saudis and the Bin Ladins. ( )

So, I'm trying to catologue my books (because what if the house burned down? How would I know what to tell the insurance company???), and I was going through one of the bookcases and found this book. It actually belongs to my mother, and I was supposed to read it and mail it back to her YEARS ago. Which I am now going to do. But I thought I'd better read it fast.

Carmen Bin Ladin is not a talented writer, but she is competent, and her story is sort of fascinating to a western sensibility. (In a completely horrid way, of course). Bottom line is that wearing the veil - and all that goes with it - turns women into ciphers. Scared ones. Since I always pretty much suspected this, it was interesting to see it confirmed. Part of me kept thinking, Hello? You married devout Saudi royalty, and didn't expect this kind of misery? and part of me kept responding, Oh, leave her alone. She was young, she was in love. And I give her full credit for fighting successfully for custody of her daughters. Well done, Carmen! They're beautiful and they sound terrific ( )

2* I wonder if I should just comment on the book, itself or Carmen.
So, first: the book (I did not feel) gave me much insight about life in Saudi. sure, there was the overwhelming theme of the subjection of women -- but what's new. I have read "The promise," by Gusim Majim and I liked it much more.
Carmen was a wealthy woman. She was born half Iranian and she notes the problems that she had on her visit before her wedding. Yet, her naivity kept her from seeing things clearly. Certainly, it did give us a look into the Bin laden clan which I found interesting.
Still, I felt as if it was the story of a scorned divorced woman trying to rival "Not without my daughter." I realize that firsthand accountsare rarely objective, but this left me searching for the truth.

Makes me shudder to think that a woman could be so much at the mercy of a man & to be considered his property. The portrayal of women in the Saudi community is sobering. It was suggested that to understand Bin Laden one had to look at the the whole culture there. This book does a good job of putting one into that life. Carmen was very lucky to be rich enough to escape with her children.
I agree with Marlene who was impressed by Carmens' quote " They will use our tolerance to infiltrate our society with their intolerance." Frightening. ( )

Very interesting ( )