Carmen Bin Ladin

Carmen was educated, westernized, self-confident, not particulary religious; she married into a very rich and powerful family; and in their private life her husband treated her pretty much as an equal. Thus when she reports on her experiences as a woman in Saudi Arabia, you know that she is reporting on the best possible experience any Saudi Arabian woman could ever possibly have. That is what makes her story so shocking. This is as good as it ever gets, and other than an escape to the West, show more there doesn't seem to be any hope for it ever getting any better. show less

Carmen married a Bin Laden - brother to Osama. I am not sure how much "inside" the kingdom this is. However, it is inside the marriage of a non-Saudi to a prominent Saudi and living some years in The Kingdom. Carmen covers being veiled, the harem-like existence of breeder wives for the distracted oligarchy, and day to day existence in a sort of gilded cage where you can't really run your house (can't interact with male workers, etc) or even socialize and explore.

Quite a superficial book, this is about the author's unhappiness with her repressive life in Saudi Arabia. She also showed a lack of sensitivity in constantly questioning the Saudi women's submissiveness to the regime. It's a wasted opportunity as she could have gone more in-depth given the unique perspective she offers as a daughter-in-law of the Bin Ladin family from the West.

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. show more (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 show less