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Princess: Secrets to Share
In the international bestseller Princess: The True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia Princess Al-Saud and author Jean Sasson began a compelling series which focused not only on the life of the Princess and the Royal family, but on the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia – many of whom were denied the most basic human rights.
After the recent success of the latest in this powerful series, Princess: More Tears to Cry, Jean Sasson and the much-loved Princess collaborate once again to bring readers up to date on the secret work undertaken by the Princess and those who help her to rescue women who are the enslaved victims of brutal physical and psychological abuse. For example, we follow the work of Dr Meena, the young woman who helps abused women to heal and to fight for their rights, the abandoned mother of twin daughters who was rescued by the Princess and who now lives and works in safety and peace with her family; and we hear from other innocent victims – women from Pakistan, Syria and Northern Lebanon – who suffer the terrible consequences of the ongoing war in the region.
Princess: Secrets to Share will undoubtedly attract the Princess’s and Jean Sasson's many loyal readers. It will also appeal to new audiences who are eager to learn more about not only how the Saudi Royal family live, but how the courageous and determined fight for equal rights for women continues in the Middle East.
After the recent success of the latest in this powerful series, Princess: More Tears to Cry, Jean Sasson and the much-loved Princess collaborate once again to bring readers up to date on the secret work undertaken by the Princess and those who help her to rescue women who are the enslaved victims of brutal physical and psychological abuse. For example, we follow the work of Dr Meena, the young woman who helps abused women to heal and to fight for their rights, the abandoned mother of twin daughters who was rescued by the Princess and who now lives and works in safety and peace with her family; and we hear from other innocent victims – women from Pakistan, Syria and Northern Lebanon – who suffer the terrible consequences of the ongoing war in the region.
Princess: Secrets to Share will undoubtedly attract the Princess’s and Jean Sasson's many loyal readers. It will also appeal to new audiences who are eager to learn more about not only how the Saudi Royal family live, but how the courageous and determined fight for equal rights for women continues in the Middle East.
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 22, 2015
204 people are currently reading
840 people want to read
About the author
Jean Sasson
42 books1,606 followersJean Sasson was born in a small town in Alabama. An avid reader from an early age, she had read all the books in her school library by the time she was 15 years old. She also began her book collection at age 15. When given the chance to travel, Sasson accepted a position at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh, and lived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for 12 years. She traveled extensively, visiting 66 countries over the course of 30 years.
Jean started her writing career in 1991 when she wrote the book, THE RAPE OF KUWAIT. The book was an instant best-seller, reaching #2 on the New York Times bestseller list. When the Kuwaiti Embassy in Washington heard that soldiers sent to free Kuwait did not know why they were there, the Embassy sent 200,000 copies to the region. Later Sasson wrote PRINCESS: A TRUE STORY OF LIFE BEHIND THE VEIL IN SAUDI ARABIA, which is the story of a princess in the royal house of al-Sa'ud. The book was an international bestseller published in 68 different editions (also staying on the NYTIMES bestseller list for 13 weeks). Later Sasson wrote two sequels (DAUGHTERS AND CIRCLE). Please visit this link to read an interview with the author about her book "Princess": http://reith-jerevinan.blogspot.com/2....
Other groundbreaking books followed: MAYADA, DAUGHTER OF IRAQ; ESTER'S CHILD; LOVE IN A TORN LAND; GROWING UP BIN LADEN (please visit this page to read an in-depth interview with Jean Sasson about "Growing Up bin Laden" http://www.thedailybeast.com/contribu... and FOR THE LOVE OF A SON.
In March 2012, an e-book short was released: AMERICAN CHICK IN SAUDI ARABIA, which consists of the first three chapters of Sasson's autobiography. On the second day of release, the book reached #1 on Barnes & Noble biography bestseller list. Jean's latest release is YASMEENA'S CHOICE, a heartbreaker of a story about two women (one Kuwaiti and the other Lebanese) kidnapped to be raped & tortured by the Iraqi special forces in occupied Kuwait. (Please visit this link to see an itnerview with Jean Sasson about her newest book "Yasmeena's Choice: http://gulfnews.com/arts-entertainmen...).
Jean's 12th book, PRINCESS, MORE TEARS to CRY has just been released and is available in the English language in most countries. Foreign editions will be available throughout the next year. Jean Sasson's official website is: www.jeansasson.com.
Jean started her writing career in 1991 when she wrote the book, THE RAPE OF KUWAIT. The book was an instant best-seller, reaching #2 on the New York Times bestseller list. When the Kuwaiti Embassy in Washington heard that soldiers sent to free Kuwait did not know why they were there, the Embassy sent 200,000 copies to the region. Later Sasson wrote PRINCESS: A TRUE STORY OF LIFE BEHIND THE VEIL IN SAUDI ARABIA, which is the story of a princess in the royal house of al-Sa'ud. The book was an international bestseller published in 68 different editions (also staying on the NYTIMES bestseller list for 13 weeks). Later Sasson wrote two sequels (DAUGHTERS AND CIRCLE). Please visit this link to read an interview with the author about her book "Princess": http://reith-jerevinan.blogspot.com/2....
Other groundbreaking books followed: MAYADA, DAUGHTER OF IRAQ; ESTER'S CHILD; LOVE IN A TORN LAND; GROWING UP BIN LADEN (please visit this page to read an in-depth interview with Jean Sasson about "Growing Up bin Laden" http://www.thedailybeast.com/contribu... and FOR THE LOVE OF A SON.
In March 2012, an e-book short was released: AMERICAN CHICK IN SAUDI ARABIA, which consists of the first three chapters of Sasson's autobiography. On the second day of release, the book reached #1 on Barnes & Noble biography bestseller list. Jean's latest release is YASMEENA'S CHOICE, a heartbreaker of a story about two women (one Kuwaiti and the other Lebanese) kidnapped to be raped & tortured by the Iraqi special forces in occupied Kuwait. (Please visit this link to see an itnerview with Jean Sasson about her newest book "Yasmeena's Choice: http://gulfnews.com/arts-entertainmen...).
Jean's 12th book, PRINCESS, MORE TEARS to CRY has just been released and is available in the English language in most countries. Foreign editions will be available throughout the next year. Jean Sasson's official website is: www.jeansasson.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
March 1, 2021
There is an ironic moment at the very start when Princess Sultana says that a good Muslim keeps secrets. This,after divulging the secrets of the Saudi royals for six books in a row !
As usual,Jean Sasson goes into lecture mode about how to improve the lot of Saudi women.
This book also talks about the Saudi war in Yemen.Sympathy for the plight of the Yemenis is shown and a couple of female characters from Yemen helping the war victims are introduced.
One of these women is so beautiful however,that Sultana's own father in law takes one look at her and marries her ! Later,he pays millions of dollars to divorce her,and with that money the woman goes back to help the people in her country !
Once more,Sasson's book looks like fiction as she describes this woman as having been born very ugly.But she suddenly became so beautiful that nobody could take their eyes off her.Sasson's books do have quite a bit of such fanciful stuff.
There is also mention of Pakistan and the plight of the female survivors of acid attacks.Sultana's daughter is very concerned about such Pakistani women.
Princess Sultana's daughter also goes off to Turkey to help female victims of ISIS and is prepared to spend millions of dollars of her own inheritance to help them ! Once more,it feels like fiction.
But it is another one of Sasson's books I skimmed.It is the sixth book in a series which has gone on for too long.There is fair bit of padding from media reports to fill up the pages alongwith numerous appendices.
1.5 stars rounded up.
As usual,Jean Sasson goes into lecture mode about how to improve the lot of Saudi women.
This book also talks about the Saudi war in Yemen.Sympathy for the plight of the Yemenis is shown and a couple of female characters from Yemen helping the war victims are introduced.
One of these women is so beautiful however,that Sultana's own father in law takes one look at her and marries her ! Later,he pays millions of dollars to divorce her,and with that money the woman goes back to help the people in her country !
Once more,Sasson's book looks like fiction as she describes this woman as having been born very ugly.But she suddenly became so beautiful that nobody could take their eyes off her.Sasson's books do have quite a bit of such fanciful stuff.
There is also mention of Pakistan and the plight of the female survivors of acid attacks.Sultana's daughter is very concerned about such Pakistani women.
Princess Sultana's daughter also goes off to Turkey to help female victims of ISIS and is prepared to spend millions of dollars of her own inheritance to help them ! Once more,it feels like fiction.
But it is another one of Sasson's books I skimmed.It is the sixth book in a series which has gone on for too long.There is fair bit of padding from media reports to fill up the pages alongwith numerous appendices.
1.5 stars rounded up.
December 7, 2015
First of all let me start by saying this book is not for the faint of heart, it involves a lot of heart wrenching , gut tearing real life happenings that will make the strongest of strong brake down in tears.
Princess Al- Saud teams up with author Jean Sasson and let's the reader in on every single detail of life in Saudi Arabia as a woman. It's a hard life , there are no nice days, no good things, no understanding from the male race at all, only the hope that someone will take pity and help you get out of the everyday hell.
Ladies , take a moment and think about how easy your life is when you get up in the morning, you can wear what you want, eat what you want, drive to work, go to school, become whatever you want to, and there is not such thing as having the fear of giving birth to a girl and then because your husband wants to avoid any embarrassment befalling the family name , he goes out to the desert and buries the child in the sand and you never see her alive again, there simply are no basic human rights for any of the woman in Saudi Arabia.
The author and Princess take you through the lives of the woman who suffer at the hands of men and the absolute disgraceful manner of having to be told to not this and to this and that each day of their lives. Such as the story , which I will tell you will forever remain in my mind- of the abandoned mother of twin girls , alone , desperate and at the end of her rope, she was rescued by the Princess and now has a life of her own , and best of all she lives in safety with her family.
Many innocent woman's stories are discussed and dissected and really puts the reader at the front row, I felt every emotion, cried every single tear with these woman and felt my heart rejoice for those who make it out but my heart also shattered for those that simply are not as lucky.
As I said this book is not for the faint of heart, but if you want to know what life is really like for other woman, or if you feel your life is miserable , then read this book you will find that your life is not half as bad as the lives of these woman , trapped in an endless battle of being ruled but those who they cannot fight.
5/5 star review - Highly recommended read
" Life behind the veil hides more sorrow than the world will ever know"
Princess Al- Saud teams up with author Jean Sasson and let's the reader in on every single detail of life in Saudi Arabia as a woman. It's a hard life , there are no nice days, no good things, no understanding from the male race at all, only the hope that someone will take pity and help you get out of the everyday hell.
Ladies , take a moment and think about how easy your life is when you get up in the morning, you can wear what you want, eat what you want, drive to work, go to school, become whatever you want to, and there is not such thing as having the fear of giving birth to a girl and then because your husband wants to avoid any embarrassment befalling the family name , he goes out to the desert and buries the child in the sand and you never see her alive again, there simply are no basic human rights for any of the woman in Saudi Arabia.
The author and Princess take you through the lives of the woman who suffer at the hands of men and the absolute disgraceful manner of having to be told to not this and to this and that each day of their lives. Such as the story , which I will tell you will forever remain in my mind- of the abandoned mother of twin girls , alone , desperate and at the end of her rope, she was rescued by the Princess and now has a life of her own , and best of all she lives in safety with her family.
Many innocent woman's stories are discussed and dissected and really puts the reader at the front row, I felt every emotion, cried every single tear with these woman and felt my heart rejoice for those who make it out but my heart also shattered for those that simply are not as lucky.
As I said this book is not for the faint of heart, but if you want to know what life is really like for other woman, or if you feel your life is miserable , then read this book you will find that your life is not half as bad as the lives of these woman , trapped in an endless battle of being ruled but those who they cannot fight.
5/5 star review - Highly recommended read
" Life behind the veil hides more sorrow than the world will ever know"
October 30, 2015
I received a free copy of this e-book from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.
I read the original Princess series a few years ago, and I really liked them. I have a deep interest in women's rights, and the books' subject matter appeals to me.
After reading this one, I was left unfulfilled and disappointed. First off, if you haven't read any of the other Princess books, you'll be lost. None of the characters grow or evolve in this book, so if you don't already know them, you probably won't grow to care for them. This isn't the kind of book that can be picked up and enjoyed without reading all the others in the series.
Secondly, I was most frustrated by the fact that nothing really seems to happen in the book. The narrative mainly consisted of Sultana saying how important "her work" is, and how many millions she gives to women's causes. That, mixed in with conversations she has and very awkward letters she receives, makes this book very unsatisfying. It seems like the characters would talk about several terrible situations women were in, but nothing was done aside to say "I want to help." I would have enjoyed this more to find out how exactly she was helping, or what exactly was being done to help women, but the book was extremely short on details.
I wanted to like this book. I really did. It took me forever to get through it, because the book failed over and over again to catch my attention and engage me. I still think highly of the first three books and will certainly recommend them to interested parties. I do not feel that this book is a worthy successor to the original trilogy.
I read the original Princess series a few years ago, and I really liked them. I have a deep interest in women's rights, and the books' subject matter appeals to me.
After reading this one, I was left unfulfilled and disappointed. First off, if you haven't read any of the other Princess books, you'll be lost. None of the characters grow or evolve in this book, so if you don't already know them, you probably won't grow to care for them. This isn't the kind of book that can be picked up and enjoyed without reading all the others in the series.
Secondly, I was most frustrated by the fact that nothing really seems to happen in the book. The narrative mainly consisted of Sultana saying how important "her work" is, and how many millions she gives to women's causes. That, mixed in with conversations she has and very awkward letters she receives, makes this book very unsatisfying. It seems like the characters would talk about several terrible situations women were in, but nothing was done aside to say "I want to help." I would have enjoyed this more to find out how exactly she was helping, or what exactly was being done to help women, but the book was extremely short on details.
I wanted to like this book. I really did. It took me forever to get through it, because the book failed over and over again to catch my attention and engage me. I still think highly of the first three books and will certainly recommend them to interested parties. I do not feel that this book is a worthy successor to the original trilogy.
May 23, 2018
Já tinha saudades da Princesa Sultana, depois de ter lido os dois primeiros livros há alguns anos atrás, foi com agrado que voltei a acompanhar o seu dia a dia e o crescimento da sua família.
Sultana continua a lutar, da forma que consegue, na divulgação das atrocidades cometidas contra as mulheres no seu país e em países vizinhos e a subsidiar pessoas que de um modo conseguem alterar a condição das mulheres na Arábia Saudita. Pequenos gestos e procedimentos que são realizados por nós todos os dias com uma enorme naturalidade são proibidos para estas mulheres.
Sultana continua a lutar, da forma que consegue, na divulgação das atrocidades cometidas contra as mulheres no seu país e em países vizinhos e a subsidiar pessoas que de um modo conseguem alterar a condição das mulheres na Arábia Saudita. Pequenos gestos e procedimentos que são realizados por nós todos os dias com uma enorme naturalidade são proibidos para estas mulheres.
January 5, 2016
Excellent! I learnt so much about the culture of middle-east, Saudi, Yemen and more...most importantly very touched by what the princesses have done and are doing to help other women in Saudi and other countries (Yemen, Syria, Pakistan..).
A really good read and worth the time!
A really good read and worth the time!
September 7, 2018
I'm not sure of the other volumes of the same series, but this one has nothing to offer you than the ones you already know.
We have a princess here showered in luxury, who is is throbbing for the ordinary people, rebelling in her head yet throwing tantrums when her grand daughter is hospitalized. General doses of extravaganza is showered all through out the book, seven palaces fully staffed, money, cars and what not. The books completely revolves around the so called Princess offering very little space for anything else to make a commendable impression. She mentions doing charity several times but nothing specific is mentioned which leaves us clueless as to what she does apart from meeting other cousin princesses and parties. I dunno if its mentioned in the previous books.
The only saving grace is the mention of Raif Badawi, but it felt almost like drawing on sand. Pointless.
We have a princess here showered in luxury, who is is throbbing for the ordinary people, rebelling in her head yet throwing tantrums when her grand daughter is hospitalized. General doses of extravaganza is showered all through out the book, seven palaces fully staffed, money, cars and what not. The books completely revolves around the so called Princess offering very little space for anything else to make a commendable impression. She mentions doing charity several times but nothing specific is mentioned which leaves us clueless as to what she does apart from meeting other cousin princesses and parties. I dunno if its mentioned in the previous books.
The only saving grace is the mention of Raif Badawi, but it felt almost like drawing on sand. Pointless.
February 27, 2016
This book reveals the harsh reality of the injustices and discrimination against women that somehow still remains in societies today. This book is truly heartbreaking, but it is a must-read!
I have never truly appreciated where I live (in a Western Society) until reading this book. Jean Sasson has done an excellent job at opening my eyes to realise there is still so much inequality in the world, and there is still so much change that needs to take place!
I have never truly appreciated where I live (in a Western Society) until reading this book. Jean Sasson has done an excellent job at opening my eyes to realise there is still so much inequality in the world, and there is still so much change that needs to take place!
July 11, 2021
Loved and hated it. This book first felt like Princess Sultana covering her tracks and appeasing the terrifying system she has been fighting all this time. But once I read to the end and finished Jean Sassons perspective of the SA rulers and their handling of dissent I am back in line behind Princess Sultana in hope that change comes for the womenof SA soon. 🥺
October 26, 2015
I was extremely excited for the new Princess Sultana book and I hope there will be more, but this was not one of my favorites in the series. I love that she continues to bring women's issues and struggles to light, but I was left wanting for more with this one.
January 8, 2017
This Book is the continuation of the story of Sultana, a princess in Saudi Arabia Royal family who is fighting for gender equality in the Arab world. In the previous Book, Sultana mainly talked about her childhood life. In this new Book, Sultana narrates about her marriage life and how Saudi Arabia is during the ruling of King Salman. The Book start with the story of South Arabia bombing Yemen's Shiite Houthi movement. This was after the Houthi had taken over Yemen. The bombings in Yemeni make Sultana worry about her friend, Italia. The Book also talked about the three children of Sultana and their children. This Books shows how women are perceived in the Arab world.
November 29, 2015
I have been a fan of Princess Sultana's stories for a while now, and was very excited to see a new book was out. I was sadly dissapointed with this book. The stories told as big secrets and controversies, was taken exactly from the news and public sources. The whole story seemed to be a shrine to the Princess's dealings with her family, but nothing of any importance happens. If you had to read this book first, instead of the first three, you would see it as a story about a snobbish, self-centered rich Saudi royal. And that, Princess Sultana is definitely not.
September 17, 2017
I loved the book! It was a simple read, easy to follow but it gave the readers an insight in to the life of a Saudi Princess. It broke our perception of a rich, spoilt royal family, and humanized them into a normal family that loved and accepted each other with all their flaws and imperfections.
May 7, 2016
Loved it, as I have loved reading all of the other "Princess" books.
September 12, 2016
I was so excited to start this book, but this book is not as good as other books from the series. Though I admire Princess Sultana's work for women issues.
October 7, 2016
I find this book interesting and some describes events kept me on the edge. However, i find the 4th and the 2bd books being the most heartwretching. Enjoy reading though. It's worth it.
February 24, 2017
Well written!!
Always a pleasure to read a book with Princess Sultana!!! Very well written!! I felt I'm the one talking to the Princess.
Always a pleasure to read a book with Princess Sultana!!! Very well written!! I felt I'm the one talking to the Princess.
December 30, 2019
This book brings out alot of the abuses ,all kinds of women in Saudi Arabia suffer and experience. It really opens your eyes
July 8, 2017
Very disappointed in this. It looks like it was rushed to publish. The story was a bit all over the place. There were even spelling mistakes.
Hmmmm....
Hmmmm....
February 5, 2017
it's hard to read this book and not feel the injustices women/young girls face around the world. it's heartbreaking.
August 15, 2018
An interesting read, gives you a good insight into life in Saudi and royal life. Tough going at times as I found the chapters quite long and long winded at times
April 5, 2016
Being a fan of the writings of Jean Sasson, I eagerly got my nose planted into this book, given to me for Christmas.
Jean teams up with Princess 'Al-Saud' of Saudi Arabia, in exposing more of the corrupt and abusive ways women are treated in this country. While the Princess and her children do wonderful charity work for women in impoverished countries using their own personal funds, the men of the Saudi royal family, do everything they can to make laws to inhibit any woman from becoming what she may, and doing good work for humanitarian charities and the women of their countries.
Women are not even allowed to drive cars in Saudi Arabia, which is one thing I found horrendously ridiculous. Some of the ideas regarding women are so archaic and stupid, yet they are adhered to through fear.
The Saudi royal males control the country and the people using the age old, and very out dated means, fear. If they do not comply, they are jailed, beaten, raped, abused, murdered, or stoned to death, for simple misdemeanors.
I was horrified that males can revere their women only as breeders of the next lot of heirs, yet are looked upon as the lowest form of humanity at the same time. Even their discussions are appointed it seems. They cannot just have a cup of tea and a conversation with a husband in a normal way, it all has to be by appointment. How stupid is that! Yet the males shower their women with priceless jewelery and clothes and other things such as palaces. To me, there's a whole lot of bigotry going on there....way too many double standards, while their people often live in poverty.
Saudi Arabia bombs their neighbours Yemen, not because they are at war with the neighbours they had always had a peaceful relationship with, but to try and oust the Houthi rebels who were threatening to take over Yemen and run it as a dictatorship. So the Saudi royal males stepped in to help the Yemeni people, but the cost is tragically high.
So when I read how one of the princess's daughters had defied her father by joining an aid agency as a volunteer and working behind the warlines in Turkey to help feed, clothe, and provide medical assistance to the refugees from Syria in the refugee camps there, I thought what an insane place that was; her father being one who assists in sending in soldiers and aircraft to make war and destroy in order to make peace, yet his daughter goes in at the other end to help those who have fled warzones. She used her own personal money to fund what she was doing there. Her mother, Princess Al-Saud, knew but kept it secret from the father, but when her jealous younger sister snooped in her mother's room and found a letter from the older sister about what she was doing, she told the father and all hell broke loose.
How ridiculous are these countries run by men at the expense of the peaceful balance that women provide.
This is a fabulous read for those who enjoy reading about the challenges of life, or wish to find out more about the oppression of women in the archaic, religiously controlled, Middle Eastern countries.
Jean teams up with Princess 'Al-Saud' of Saudi Arabia, in exposing more of the corrupt and abusive ways women are treated in this country. While the Princess and her children do wonderful charity work for women in impoverished countries using their own personal funds, the men of the Saudi royal family, do everything they can to make laws to inhibit any woman from becoming what she may, and doing good work for humanitarian charities and the women of their countries.
Women are not even allowed to drive cars in Saudi Arabia, which is one thing I found horrendously ridiculous. Some of the ideas regarding women are so archaic and stupid, yet they are adhered to through fear.
The Saudi royal males control the country and the people using the age old, and very out dated means, fear. If they do not comply, they are jailed, beaten, raped, abused, murdered, or stoned to death, for simple misdemeanors.
I was horrified that males can revere their women only as breeders of the next lot of heirs, yet are looked upon as the lowest form of humanity at the same time. Even their discussions are appointed it seems. They cannot just have a cup of tea and a conversation with a husband in a normal way, it all has to be by appointment. How stupid is that! Yet the males shower their women with priceless jewelery and clothes and other things such as palaces. To me, there's a whole lot of bigotry going on there....way too many double standards, while their people often live in poverty.
Saudi Arabia bombs their neighbours Yemen, not because they are at war with the neighbours they had always had a peaceful relationship with, but to try and oust the Houthi rebels who were threatening to take over Yemen and run it as a dictatorship. So the Saudi royal males stepped in to help the Yemeni people, but the cost is tragically high.
So when I read how one of the princess's daughters had defied her father by joining an aid agency as a volunteer and working behind the warlines in Turkey to help feed, clothe, and provide medical assistance to the refugees from Syria in the refugee camps there, I thought what an insane place that was; her father being one who assists in sending in soldiers and aircraft to make war and destroy in order to make peace, yet his daughter goes in at the other end to help those who have fled warzones. She used her own personal money to fund what she was doing there. Her mother, Princess Al-Saud, knew but kept it secret from the father, but when her jealous younger sister snooped in her mother's room and found a letter from the older sister about what she was doing, she told the father and all hell broke loose.
How ridiculous are these countries run by men at the expense of the peaceful balance that women provide.
This is a fabulous read for those who enjoy reading about the challenges of life, or wish to find out more about the oppression of women in the archaic, religiously controlled, Middle Eastern countries.
May 18, 2016
This book is just awful. It is one big humble brag-or would be if Sultana actually existed and wasn't made up by Jean Sasson pretending to write non-fiction.
Does anyone actually believe that a Saudi Princess is sending her diaries to Jean Sassoon and Jean is just the messenger?Seriously, does anyone believe that "Princess" is a real live person and that this is a truthful account of a living person's life? It is SO CONTRIVED. And such a blatant agenda! I don't doubt that these situations have happened, to someone, somewhere. Just not to this one person, who doesn't exist
Other thoughts as I was reading: OH WHAT A SURPRISE, Princess's daughter went to Turkey to help the Syrian refugees as a big F-U to ISIS. Along with a girl who's grandfather was an SS officer and so feels guilty of his sins.
Does anyone actually believe that a Saudi Princess is sending her diaries to Jean Sassoon and Jean is just the messenger?Seriously, does anyone believe that "Princess" is a real live person and that this is a truthful account of a living person's life? It is SO CONTRIVED. And such a blatant agenda! I don't doubt that these situations have happened, to someone, somewhere. Just not to this one person, who doesn't exist
Other thoughts as I was reading: OH WHAT A SURPRISE, Princess's daughter went to Turkey to help the Syrian refugees as a big F-U to ISIS. Along with a girl who's grandfather was an SS officer and so feels guilty of his sins.
November 19, 2016
I was utterly disappointed with this book. It did highlight some real issues like the rise of acid attacks in Pakistan and India or the normalcy of Child Marriage in Yemen but I felt like Sultana lost her passion and spirit in fighting for the betterment of women's rights. Maha, her eldest daughter, proved to be able to take her place but as long the Saud Family keeps intervene, she will never fully committed herself in the volunteer works. I long to know about Italia and Fiery, those courageous women who tried their hardest to save other helpless Yemenis women but the book failed to share more about that. If there's a continuation to this book, I don't think I will read it. The first 3 books is so excellent but this one is not.
November 20, 2016
It highlights the harsh reality faced by a world I know not, and it showed SO MUCH potential. But the second half of the book is reduced to the ramblings of petty, everyday life.
However, despite the 3 star rating, I'd still want to find the first trilogy preceding this book. For the first half of this book shows potential for so much more; of which, judging by which the narrative, is in equal parts foreign as it is relatable.
However, despite the 3 star rating, I'd still want to find the first trilogy preceding this book. For the first half of this book shows potential for so much more; of which, judging by which the narrative, is in equal parts foreign as it is relatable.
July 24, 2020
When you start a new book, following four previously, you kind of know what to expect. But the Princess series are really well written, and full of new stories relating life not only in Saudit Arabia, but other neighbouring countries as well! They keep you nailed until the end!
January 9, 2021
Excellent
This true story is one in a series. I have read all to this point, and they are eye-opening. The reader will never walk away disappointed for having taken in such a harrowing account.
This true story is one in a series. I have read all to this point, and they are eye-opening. The reader will never walk away disappointed for having taken in such a harrowing account.
June 18, 2021
Very readable, I finished this book in about 2 days. It was enlightening and tragic and opened my eyes to some of the terrible things women face in Middle Eastern countries. However this book left me asking more questions than it answered.
December 29, 2015
Is you read all Sasson's books...they are getting a little repetitive.
June 25, 2016
Good read. It's like an update on the movement, happenings in the country.
April 27, 2016
Not much substance.
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