A fascinating story, Fowler' s memoir takes us deep into her marriage and life over seas. She reveals and hides the world of women in Saudi Arabia as she describes twenty years as an ex-pat. Her experiences as a working woman were infuriating to me, and yet nothing compared to her life at home, which is still difficult to grasp. A home with windows deep enough that the person standing in front of them can't be seen from the outside. A home in which she is simultaneously blamed for not speaking Arabic, and not taught how to speak it. There are flashes of her wit and fire, but make no mistake, this is not a scintillating tell all. Rather, it is the quiet telling of her life and it is remarkable.
What an impressive read. I am impressed by Sylvia's determination and resilience. Sylvia has a way of merging my thoughts with hers. Her sarcastic remarks and smart responses make me agree and sympathize with her thoughts. That makes for an excellent read. It was a well- designed work of art. I thank Sylvia for taking the time to write and for being an exceptional person. It was an enjoyable read. We need good people to write good books. This world needs examples of resilience and people who are willing to stand up for human dignity.
Jan 19, 2020 Lorelei Lee rated it it was amazing
I don't really know where to start, this book is a favorite of mine and has been on my mind ever since I first read it over two years ago. I've re-read it since then I love it each time I read it. This is a story of a woman from California who meets and falls in love with a man from Saudi Arabia. She moves to Saudi Arabia to be with him and more than anything, I found this to be such a beautiful love story. I love that she put her heart and soul and complete trust in her husband and I really wish that it would have turned out well in the end for them. Sometimes things don't, as we all know. But I love that she gave it her all --- It really shows how genuine a person she is and how much she loved her husband and her family. She was treated so unfairly and so were her children and that was heartbreaking but the book was not a downer at all -- the writer is so funny at times that even though some things were difficult to read, she wrote the book so honestly and with such wit that it was an enjoyable read. I also loved the supernatural aspect of the book and it was interesting to read about the Jinn, which I've heard of but don't know much about. The setting was mystical and magical as well. I found this book to be very open and honest. I know it had to be hard to write but I think it's a very important book and I'm glad it was recommended to me. Fantastic.