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Woziłam arabskie księżniczki. Opowieść szoferki o najbogatszych księżniczkach świata
Wynajęty za kilkadziesiąt tysięcy dolarów pokój dla serwisu do herbaty, walizki pełne pieniędzy, niekończące się zakupy w najdroższych butikach i serie operacji plastycznych traktowanych równie lekko, co wizyta u fryzjera – to wszystko zobaczyła autorka tej książki, zatrudniona jako szoferka dla saudyjskich księżniczek i ich świty podczas ich wizyty w Ameryce.
Za granicą Allah nie patrzy. Poza swoim krajem Saudyjki mogą się ubierać jak chcą. W dalekiej Ameryce zrzucają hidżaby i ubierają się w minispódniczki z najnowszych kolekcji od drogich projektantów.
Mają wszystko, co można kupić za pieniądze, ale żyją w złotej klatce.
Czy ubrane w kreacje od Diora i Chanel, ale traktowane jak własność swoich mężów, arabskie księżniczki są szczęśliwe?
Za granicą Allah nie patrzy. Poza swoim krajem Saudyjki mogą się ubierać jak chcą. W dalekiej Ameryce zrzucają hidżaby i ubierają się w minispódniczki z najnowszych kolekcji od drogich projektantów.
Mają wszystko, co można kupić za pieniądze, ale żyją w złotej klatce.
Czy ubrane w kreacje od Diora i Chanel, ale traktowane jak własność swoich mężów, arabskie księżniczki są szczęśliwe?
302 pages, Paperback
First published October 16, 2012
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October 14, 2023
Not For Me!
Jayne Larson shares her unhappy experience with being a chauffeur, for the Saudi royal family, during a summer trip to Los Angeles. She is immediately impressed by their style, wealth and importance.
Of course, the more she gets to know them, the less impressive they seem.
Reading her first hand account of the selfishness of the princesses she worked for and learning of the abuse towards their desperate servants is just confirmation of the many, other stories l have read about.
Already knowing what I know about the Saudi royalty in particular and about some people in the country in general, l could only marvel how she was able to hang around as long as she did.
Very interesting book.
Four stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jayne Larson shares her unhappy experience with being a chauffeur, for the Saudi royal family, during a summer trip to Los Angeles. She is immediately impressed by their style, wealth and importance.
Of course, the more she gets to know them, the less impressive they seem.
Reading her first hand account of the selfishness of the princesses she worked for and learning of the abuse towards their desperate servants is just confirmation of the many, other stories l have read about.
Already knowing what I know about the Saudi royalty in particular and about some people in the country in general, l could only marvel how she was able to hang around as long as she did.
Very interesting book.
Four stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 23, 2015
This is a rather light and ironically funny book (schadenfreude variety of humour) by a Hollywood denizen, ex-Harvard, who'd like to be famous for something in films but finds herself between jobs. So she goes in for chauffering the mega rich Saudi royal family who have no idea either of the value of money or people. The Saudis require few qualifications apart from a clean licence and guaranteeing absolutely not being a Jew.
She is promised the earth, or at least loads of dosh, for which she will be a slave at the complete and utter disposal of a couple of spoiled princesses who expect Hollywood to fulfil their every desire no matter how ridiculous and it is up to her to make it happen.
They do not care if she has family, if she needs to eat, sleep or even have quiet time on the pot. They own her and everyone else they employ, including a nanny who runs away the moment she is handed her passport at the airport. Their preoccupations are with how they look, from the right bra (find it and every single one in Hollywood and that size must be brought to Princess, no matter how many stores might have it) to excessive and extreme plastic surgery. Ironic really for women who once they return home to Saudi Arabia must shroud themselves in black and wear veils and masks that hide them from the world. The only people who see them are their family and friends and who cares much how your intimates look?
The author gamely puts up with all this, thinking of the money. She complains to us, but not to her employers and she works her ass off. But at the end
they stiff her.
She gets fuck all.
These are some nasty people, these Saudis.
I was really, really sorry for the author.
Read 30/31 December 2015
She is promised the earth, or at least loads of dosh, for which she will be a slave at the complete and utter disposal of a couple of spoiled princesses who expect Hollywood to fulfil their every desire no matter how ridiculous and it is up to her to make it happen.
They do not care if she has family, if she needs to eat, sleep or even have quiet time on the pot. They own her and everyone else they employ, including a nanny who runs away the moment she is handed her passport at the airport. Their preoccupations are with how they look, from the right bra (find it and every single one in Hollywood and that size must be brought to Princess, no matter how many stores might have it) to excessive and extreme plastic surgery. Ironic really for women who once they return home to Saudi Arabia must shroud themselves in black and wear veils and masks that hide them from the world. The only people who see them are their family and friends and who cares much how your intimates look?
The author gamely puts up with all this, thinking of the money. She complains to us, but not to her employers and she works her ass off. But at the end
they stiff her.
She gets fuck all.
These are some nasty people, these Saudis.
I was really, really sorry for the author.
Read 30/31 December 2015
February 10, 2013
Interesting premise, but the resulting narrative is uneven, shallow, and unsatisfying. I did not care for the author's voice; I found her self-righteous. Yes, we get it: the Saudi royal family is excessive to the extreme and archaic (in American views) in their customs regarding division of the sexes, marriage, female rights, and household hierarchy. No one made you take this job, one you find so demeaning and beneath you, as you remind us often - almost as much as you remind us of your ivy league education. What could have been a fascinating look behind the scenes, with the level of access and exposure afforded the author, was instead jumbled and rather awkward to follow. I thought early on that it would have benefited from better editing, but then I realized I also just did not care for the author. What really got me was the scene with the author's persistent attempt to convince one young servant girl of the error of her religious beliefs. I don't sympathize with the religious beliefs in question whatsoever, but after much author criticism regarding the Saudi's culture and the restrictions placed on the younger royal girls as well as on the servant girls, it seemed ironic and oppressive that she would presume to judge so harshly. Luckily this was only 200 pages. Sorry Ms. Larson, but I can see why you've yet to break through in the screenwriting profession.
July 25, 2019
Jayne Amelia Larson had the experience of driving the women of one of the Saudi royal families around LA for 7 weeks. There are precision logistics to organize the fleets of limos carrying luggage and the Saudi entourage from the airport to set up camp in the best hotels and estates of the city. The "customer" is demanding and an established pecking order means that almost any member of the entourage can point a finger and have the temporary, unwitting, non-Arabic speaking drivers fired. This book is light and fun, but presents a lot to be learned and thought through.
Her portraits ring true. I had had the experience of teaching in Egypt where, a bit down the wealth chain, upper middle class women still ignored basic needs (sleep, regular meals, family) and abused their "dadas" (female servants) and to a lesser extent their "boabs" (male handymen). The people I met had drivers, but not limos. The women might have cosmetic surgery in Europe once or twice in their lifetime. I met an extraordinary Makikah type, who lived her faith and did an exemplary job.
I saw the serving workers, mostly local or from other African countries, not so young, but sleeping together "like mice" and equally bonded in sisterhood.
I liked that Larson brought her own life in to show the contrast. She had spent time as a limo rider and ate at the best restaurants. She did not want her former colleagues to be seeing her. She opines on the educational and sexual limitations and the extraordinary wealth of these princesses. She compares them to her own life: while her financial circumstances are depressing, she is free.
Her descriptions show a classic American point of view. This might be best expressed in her knee-jerk response to unfairness best shown in "Go. Nanny, Go! Run for Your Life!" In "How Many Bras are Too Many?" there is no envy for the person who buys them but a focus on getting the ridiculous shopping assignment done. There is compassion for the teenaged girls who wear hip designer clothes, but are not free to choose any piece of the lifestyle implied.
The book ends with a quintessential portrayal of the American vs. Saudi perspective... and it comes right out to the Midwestern earth as when Larson, by chance, has an "as directed by client" pick up... a surprise I will not spoil for readers.
Highly recommended.
Her portraits ring true. I had had the experience of teaching in Egypt where, a bit down the wealth chain, upper middle class women still ignored basic needs (sleep, regular meals, family) and abused their "dadas" (female servants) and to a lesser extent their "boabs" (male handymen). The people I met had drivers, but not limos. The women might have cosmetic surgery in Europe once or twice in their lifetime. I met an extraordinary Makikah type, who lived her faith and did an exemplary job.
I saw the serving workers, mostly local or from other African countries, not so young, but sleeping together "like mice" and equally bonded in sisterhood.
I liked that Larson brought her own life in to show the contrast. She had spent time as a limo rider and ate at the best restaurants. She did not want her former colleagues to be seeing her. She opines on the educational and sexual limitations and the extraordinary wealth of these princesses. She compares them to her own life: while her financial circumstances are depressing, she is free.
Her descriptions show a classic American point of view. This might be best expressed in her knee-jerk response to unfairness best shown in "Go. Nanny, Go! Run for Your Life!" In "How Many Bras are Too Many?" there is no envy for the person who buys them but a focus on getting the ridiculous shopping assignment done. There is compassion for the teenaged girls who wear hip designer clothes, but are not free to choose any piece of the lifestyle implied.
The book ends with a quintessential portrayal of the American vs. Saudi perspective... and it comes right out to the Midwestern earth as when Larson, by chance, has an "as directed by client" pick up... a surprise I will not spoil for readers.
Highly recommended.
April 18, 2013
My expectations for this book were not high. I expected something fluffy and escapist, with maybe a little inkling into what makes these people tick. Also, I thought this book would be set in the Middle East, not California. The book started slow, too, as the author synopsized her not-particularly-notable life.
But after a few short table-setting chapters, Ms. Larson begins to deliver the goods. About halfway through I realized, this book is actually pretty insightful. The Saudis and their entourage are complicated people, sometimes nasty, sometimes nice, sometimes clueless, sometimes wise. And you do get a good read on what makes these people tick.
There are a lot of things you can take away from this book. One thing I get from it is to realize that these super-rich Saudis didn't create their society any more than you and I created the society WE live in. They live and work within the framework of their culture just as we do in ours. Sure, some aspects of their culture are dysfunctional and worse. The same can be said of ours.
The Saudis as a group aren't particularly sympathetic. At times, there are individual exceptions. The entourage -- some of them are essentially slaves -- is more often sympathetic. Overall, this is a really interesting peek into a very different world. It makes me appreciate again how unique and special our society is as it honors the rights and worth of each individual.
As usual, I had a tough time assigning stars. I'd prefer to give it 3 1/2. I decided to round up to 4 instead of down to 3, based largely on the fact that as of this writing the book's composite score is 3.09 which seems a little low. Most of my other 4 star books I like better than this one. I rounded up because the author really did make a number of thoughtful observations and treated her subjects evenhandedly. She easily could have trashed them, but then the readers wouldn't have learned anything worthwhile.
But after a few short table-setting chapters, Ms. Larson begins to deliver the goods. About halfway through I realized, this book is actually pretty insightful. The Saudis and their entourage are complicated people, sometimes nasty, sometimes nice, sometimes clueless, sometimes wise. And you do get a good read on what makes these people tick.
There are a lot of things you can take away from this book. One thing I get from it is to realize that these super-rich Saudis didn't create their society any more than you and I created the society WE live in. They live and work within the framework of their culture just as we do in ours. Sure, some aspects of their culture are dysfunctional and worse. The same can be said of ours.
The Saudis as a group aren't particularly sympathetic. At times, there are individual exceptions. The entourage -- some of them are essentially slaves -- is more often sympathetic. Overall, this is a really interesting peek into a very different world. It makes me appreciate again how unique and special our society is as it honors the rights and worth of each individual.
As usual, I had a tough time assigning stars. I'd prefer to give it 3 1/2. I decided to round up to 4 instead of down to 3, based largely on the fact that as of this writing the book's composite score is 3.09 which seems a little low. Most of my other 4 star books I like better than this one. I rounded up because the author really did make a number of thoughtful observations and treated her subjects evenhandedly. She easily could have trashed them, but then the readers wouldn't have learned anything worthwhile.
January 31, 2013
If you want a book to confirm what you already think about members of the Saudi Royal family - they're selfish, egotistical, spoiled, mean-spirited and wealthy beyond belief - then read this one. They are every horrible thing you think, and then some. Truly awful people.
The interesting people in this book are the ones who have to bend over backwards to service these brats while they are spending oil money like there's no tomorrow at boutiques, hair salons and plastic surgery centers in and around Beverly Hills. After reading this book I can't imagine having to spend one minute with any of the Royals, let alone drive them around - or worse yet, be tasked with meeting their every whim 24 hours a day. I believe that might meet the definition of "purgatory".
I recommend this book if you've got nothing else to read on your horizon and you don't mind getting your blood pressure rising as you read about how the $3.69 a gallon you pay at the local gas station is being spent.
The interesting people in this book are the ones who have to bend over backwards to service these brats while they are spending oil money like there's no tomorrow at boutiques, hair salons and plastic surgery centers in and around Beverly Hills. After reading this book I can't imagine having to spend one minute with any of the Royals, let alone drive them around - or worse yet, be tasked with meeting their every whim 24 hours a day. I believe that might meet the definition of "purgatory".
I recommend this book if you've got nothing else to read on your horizon and you don't mind getting your blood pressure rising as you read about how the $3.69 a gallon you pay at the local gas station is being spent.
March 6, 2019
Saudi Arabia is the worst. It is the most patriarchal country in the world; women have no rights, gays and apostates are put to death. They still crucify and flog people in 2019. Medieval. And, they stiffed this lady on her tip. It galls me to no end that we're "allies" with Saudi Arabia. Down with that kingdom. Down with King Salman, down with the entire royal family. Their kingdom is obscene.
December 6, 2012
On the cover of this book is the note “a Chauffeur’s Tale of the World’s Richest Princesses” and that explains the whole book, it was a total waste of time.
I started the book thinking it might just be interesting seeing how the other half lives. It was not interesting for a lot of reasons but one is the writing was so poor, the language was not necessary to get the point across, but used for shock value, and the story wandered all over the map. If you have lots of time on your hands with nothing, and I mean nothing to do, pick up this book, it is better than solitaire, but not by much! I give this book 0 out of 5.
Thanks Eileen for this review.
I started the book thinking it might just be interesting seeing how the other half lives. It was not interesting for a lot of reasons but one is the writing was so poor, the language was not necessary to get the point across, but used for shock value, and the story wandered all over the map. If you have lots of time on your hands with nothing, and I mean nothing to do, pick up this book, it is better than solitaire, but not by much! I give this book 0 out of 5.
Thanks Eileen for this review.
November 8, 2012
This book is not only a delightful romp around the streets of Beverly Hills with the Saudi royal family, but an in-depth examination of consumption, culture, and the complexity of US-Saudi Arabia relations.
Larson writes with stark honesty and humility about her experience as a chauffeur for the Saudis. The lessons she learns, and those she imparts to her readers, are lasting and complex, including:
"The first pillar of Islam is the professor of faith, or shahada, and in keeping with the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, Maysam had to believe that I was going to burn in hell if I wasn't a Muslim. But my belief is that life is hell if one carries around that kind of bigotry and racis inside your head and heart. I didn't want to live my life that way, and I didn't wish that kind of hell on my young friend either, just as she didn't want me to suffer an eternity of damnation."
Larsen provides us with a glimpse into a world beyond the veil, yet does so with compassion and care. Her stories are both humorous and heartfelt, and we are taken for the ride along with her, viewing American culture from the outside, while finally glimpsing Saudi culture from within.
Larson writes with stark honesty and humility about her experience as a chauffeur for the Saudis. The lessons she learns, and those she imparts to her readers, are lasting and complex, including:
"The first pillar of Islam is the professor of faith, or shahada, and in keeping with the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, Maysam had to believe that I was going to burn in hell if I wasn't a Muslim. But my belief is that life is hell if one carries around that kind of bigotry and racis inside your head and heart. I didn't want to live my life that way, and I didn't wish that kind of hell on my young friend either, just as she didn't want me to suffer an eternity of damnation."
Larsen provides us with a glimpse into a world beyond the veil, yet does so with compassion and care. Her stories are both humorous and heartfelt, and we are taken for the ride along with her, viewing American culture from the outside, while finally glimpsing Saudi culture from within.
May 12, 2015
I have mixed feelings about this book--on the one hand, I did learn quite a bit about the Saudis and their culture. That being said, I had very little prior knowledge of the Saudi royal family prior to reading the book, so someone that is more familiar with the matter may find this book shallow and unsatisfying.
Despite learning interesting things about the Saudi royals, I still found this book somewhat boring. It has taken me quite a while to read the book, despite its brevity (it's only about 200 pages), and I suspect it's because the stories all begin to run together and the author introduces several different, yet almost indistinguishable, characters. Perhaps that is the nature of the chauffeur business--lots of different clients to drive about, but it made for a confusing story.
The author does seem a little self-righteous at times and interjects random personal anecdotes in the midst of her stories about the royals.
If you're vaguely interested in other cultures and are looking for a breezy summer read, this is a good book. Otherwise, the book may leave you feeling disappointed and wondering, "what was the point?"
Despite learning interesting things about the Saudi royals, I still found this book somewhat boring. It has taken me quite a while to read the book, despite its brevity (it's only about 200 pages), and I suspect it's because the stories all begin to run together and the author introduces several different, yet almost indistinguishable, characters. Perhaps that is the nature of the chauffeur business--lots of different clients to drive about, but it made for a confusing story.
The author does seem a little self-righteous at times and interjects random personal anecdotes in the midst of her stories about the royals.
If you're vaguely interested in other cultures and are looking for a breezy summer read, this is a good book. Otherwise, the book may leave you feeling disappointed and wondering, "what was the point?"
February 22, 2013
The author apparently felt faint if a paragraph went by where she didn't refer to herself. The only way she could regain her balance was to follow that barren paragraph with two or three about herself and her memories and her impressions, in detail. This results in the book being incredibly digressive, and not really about the Saudis at all. Since her project in the book is to describe the vanity and egoism of the Royal Family, her obsession with herself can be amusing.
It's readable, and in small doses it is quite charming, but overall this is best read as a self-portrait of a woman of incredible vanity.
It's readable, and in small doses it is quite charming, but overall this is best read as a self-portrait of a woman of incredible vanity.
August 28, 2012
This is more than a page-turning, fun read. It explores deep and tricky issues of our time in a way that is honest, warm and intelligent. A story of survival and culture clash, of self-identity and friendship, the book had me laughing out loud even while it was moving me emotionally. Bravo to Jayne Amelia Larson for writing such an original and smart story!
December 1, 2012
I love reading books about the lives I will never live;good or bad, indulgent or impoverished, it doesn't matter. Reading "Driving the Saudis", reminded me of Alice looking through the key hole; I was completely amazed and enthralled about a day in the life of a Saudi Royal.
After more than a decade of working in Hollywood, actress Jayne Amelia Larson found herself out work, and falling behind on her bills. Without telling her friends or family, she took a job as a limousine driver, never thinking her first job would be to drive for the Saudi royal family vacationing in Beverly Hills for seven weeks.
With awestruck humor and deep compassion, she describes her eye-opening adventures as the only female in a detail of over forty assigned to drive a beautiful Saudi princess, her family, and their extensive entourage.
The Saudis traveled large: they brought furniture, Persian rugs, Limoges china, lustrous silver serving trays, and extraordinary coffees and teas from around the world. The family and their entourage stayed at several luxury hotels, occupying whole floors of each (the women housed separately from the Saudi men, whom Larson barely saw). Each day the royal women spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on plastic surgery and mega-shopping sprees on Rodeo Drive. Even the tea setup had its very own hotel room, while the servants were crammed together on rollaway beds in just a few small rooms down the hall. The Saudis spend an average of TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS PER TRIP. Even Oprah can't touch that. (Amazon)
"Driving the Saudis" is a fascinating book of what Larson witnessed first hand during those seven weeks.
After more than a decade of working in Hollywood, actress Jayne Amelia Larson found herself out work, and falling behind on her bills. Without telling her friends or family, she took a job as a limousine driver, never thinking her first job would be to drive for the Saudi royal family vacationing in Beverly Hills for seven weeks.
With awestruck humor and deep compassion, she describes her eye-opening adventures as the only female in a detail of over forty assigned to drive a beautiful Saudi princess, her family, and their extensive entourage.
The Saudis traveled large: they brought furniture, Persian rugs, Limoges china, lustrous silver serving trays, and extraordinary coffees and teas from around the world. The family and their entourage stayed at several luxury hotels, occupying whole floors of each (the women housed separately from the Saudi men, whom Larson barely saw). Each day the royal women spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on plastic surgery and mega-shopping sprees on Rodeo Drive. Even the tea setup had its very own hotel room, while the servants were crammed together on rollaway beds in just a few small rooms down the hall. The Saudis spend an average of TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS PER TRIP. Even Oprah can't touch that. (Amazon)
"Driving the Saudis" is a fascinating book of what Larson witnessed first hand during those seven weeks.
July 19, 2012
Actress/producer Jayne Amelia Larson takes a temp job as a driver for female members of the Saudi royal family when they visit L.A. Hoping against hope to earn a big tip, she does her utmost to serve the women; sometimes they demand things in the middle of the night, and spend thousands of dollars a day on shopping sprees. She also has to put up with snobby, spoiled younger members of the family. But along with such freedom in the U.S. comes the sad realization that they will have to return home, where they are forbidden to practice self-expression, forced to marry men they don't know, and are covered head-to-toe. Jayne's job is a thankless one (the chapter devoted to driving the Princess' hairdresser is especially enlightening), but she manages to tough it out.
A great read! The next car I purchase will be an electric one.
A great read! The next car I purchase will be an electric one.
September 22, 2012
I don't usually read memoir but I was intrigued by the subject matter and it's timeliness and this ended up being a great read and a real page turner. Jayne Amelia Larson is funny, smart and brings us into a world that is not only fascinating but also seldom depicted, witnessed or observed. The Saudi culture, as we know, is extremely private, and this expose is haunting and illuminating. Highly recommend. And guys don't be put off by the idea of a female chauffeur taking a bunch of rich women shopping, this is not just a chick book.
December 19, 2012
Larson’s memoir is filled with anecdotes of her experience with the royal Saudi family, many hilarious, some poignant, all fascinating insights to one of the wealthiest families in the world and how their lives are such drastically different than the average persons.
February 7, 2013
I try to live by the maxim “It isn’t so much that we are disappointed by people but that we are disappointed by our expectations of people.” Thus if I set realistic expectations, I will be let down less often. Easier said than done of course, as with most pithy mottos, but none the less a truism. “Why,” you ask “am I spouting Zen babble in a book review?” Is is indeed, dear reader, relevant. The reads that most disappoint me are the “you gotta read this” or books that I have high expectations for. I wanted to love the book Driving the Saudis. The subject matter is so timely with the continuing tremors of Arab Spring and the clamoring for women’s rights across the world. An inside look from a Western woman into the closeted world of the immense wealth, leashed women, and sharia, details on the fight for women’s suffrage and education under one of the world’s worst human rights abusers. What I got was how much Prada and La Perla the royals bought and what plastic surgery procedures they had done. Given, I expected the book to be somewhat dishy, the cover photo is palm trees and sexy blue eyes peeking from a veil, but the author is Harvard educated and an independent film maker. I should have thought TMZ, not NPR. The people in her memoir could almost be cardboard cutouts, the royals are spoiled snobs and the servants are longsuffering victims. There were glimpses of real substance there, Larson recounts how a young princess mourned that she would never be able to attend college like her brother but instead she would return to Saudi Arabian to be the third wife of an powerful elderly man or that the American security hired by the Saudis kept the passports of all the help so they could not flee. The book that I read was passable but the book that I wanted to read would have been fascinating. Should have remembered the maxim.
Read
January 19, 2014This was a very interesting book to read, and I learned so much from it.
The Author Jayne talks about her experience when she was hired as a driver for a royal Saudi family, she shared details about their lifestyle, and actions.
There were a lot of surprising details that I had no idea about.
This book was very interesting, that it made me realise that people can do anything for money. I also realised that there are different groups of people, and so if you have something to feed yourself, something to sleep on, and something to wear you are blessed. You don't have to be "royal" to live a happy life. I also realised that there is a lot of money that is being wasted in this world, or that is going in the wrong direction.
Overall it was a really interesting, new, and fun book to read, and I'm glad i read it.
The Author Jayne talks about her experience when she was hired as a driver for a royal Saudi family, she shared details about their lifestyle, and actions.
There were a lot of surprising details that I had no idea about.
This book was very interesting, that it made me realise that people can do anything for money. I also realised that there are different groups of people, and so if you have something to feed yourself, something to sleep on, and something to wear you are blessed. You don't have to be "royal" to live a happy life. I also realised that there is a lot of money that is being wasted in this world, or that is going in the wrong direction.
Overall it was a really interesting, new, and fun book to read, and I'm glad i read it.
June 9, 2013
The author spent way too much talking about herself and complaining about how embarrassing it was for someone with her education (Cornell and Harvard) to be driving people around. At one point she says that there is nothing humiliating in doing an honest day's work, then a page later she talks about how humiliating it is to eat in a fancy restaurant with the other servants. I was interested in reading stories about the people she drove around, not about her...er..."landscaping" practices and the variety of options she sees in the gym locker room. At one point, she spends a paragraph explaining what the 99 Cent store was. Pretty sure we're all clear on that one. She was just to whiny and self-important for my taste.
December 26, 2015
This is an entertaining book about just what the title promises. The actress/producer author had gone long enough "between" projects to need a J-O-B for awhile. She knew LA well and could drive so a stint with a high-end limo service seemed like a good option. Her narrative covers the range of people she drove for an agency in LA, but focuses on a marathon 7 week stint for a branch of the Saudi family and their multitude of servants. In this sexually segregated society, Ms. Larson dealt only with the female family members. Her observations on the power of incredible wealth are not surprising, but the twist of so much money flowing through the hands of women who are not allowed rights we consider basic gets one thinking about what is important.
October 9, 2013
This book was chosen by my book club and at first I was hesitant to read it. But I am so glad I did. I have read several books on middle east culture and thought I had a working knowledge of women's role. This book taught me a side I hadn't realized: how the women behave when they are out of the "kingdom" and why they behave this way. Extravagant? maybe, but perhaps it's their only chance of enjoying freedom? Excellent book for book club discussion. I highly recommend it.
March 11, 2014
A quick little romp with reference to many places in Los Angeles. I especially enjoyed the author's POV. I would recommend the Audible version as the reader/author's narration was superb, especially the accents of the Saudis.
Jayne has accepted an assignment that sounds exciting and lush, to be a chauffeur for a family of Saudi royalty and their enormous entourage during a 6 week visit to Los Angeles, but things are never the way we anticipate. Lots of fun and a quick read.
April 3, 2017
3 stars because this was a fun read, but in a guilty-pleasure kind of way, like time wasted on flipping through People magazine! Jayne writes an entertaining account of her 7 weeks or so as a chauffeur for an insanely rich Saudi family, detailing the opulence and luxury and overspending and infatuation with Beverly Hills. She also details some of her observations and sympathies about being a Muslim woman, and befriending some of the servants.
November 21, 2012
Repetitive, incoherent structure is right on the money. Interesting story, great characters, in need of some serious, professional editing.
February 15, 2016
I found Driving the Saudis on a Goodreads friend's book list and was intrigued. The memoir, written by the woman who was a chauffeur of some of the female Saudi royals on their trip to Los Angeles, is a compilation of snapshot views into this rarified, indulgent and at the same time, oddly sanitized life.
Jayne Larson is drifting, her career going nowhere after years of academia at very good universities. The promise of a huge tip at the end of the seven week stint nudges her into the position of being the only female driver for the Saudi's male centred society.
As well as dealing with the disrespect from the other drivers, male employees at every level and anyone attached to the Saudi royal household, the women aren't much better in their interactions with those who serve them. Jayne is sent on missions to find a barely stocked hair removal cream, taking hours of driving the LA area to search for twenty seven containers of the elusive product, or to locate one style and size of a brassiere, in every colour and in duplicates of four, travelling hundreds of miles, after a Princess has had breast implants, deciding the day before returning home that she needs them NOW. Jayne's effort is never recognized; in fact, these coddled women likely have no reference. They expect to be served with what they want, and who serves them is more of an object than what they desire to obtain. The time spent in LA consists of shopping, more shopping at the most expensive stores, plastic surgery at the best plastic surgeons and then more shopping, always with a cavalcade of cars and security. Jayne finds as her ward a royal teenaged daughter, and her nanny, who amidst the wealth also reveal the the extreme limitations which the Saudi culture and their version of the Muslim religion puts on their freedoms.
Jayne examines the duality of concepts of "being fortunate", entitlement, of what cultures lead us to expect and in turn become repelled by in another's, without comprehension of values and by what each of us accepts as normal. Driving the Saudis is an interesting little book, in many ways quite a sad one too, because we can join Jayne in determining that there are many ways to determine wealth aside from how much you are able to spend on designer labels.
Jayne Larson is drifting, her career going nowhere after years of academia at very good universities. The promise of a huge tip at the end of the seven week stint nudges her into the position of being the only female driver for the Saudi's male centred society.
As well as dealing with the disrespect from the other drivers, male employees at every level and anyone attached to the Saudi royal household, the women aren't much better in their interactions with those who serve them. Jayne is sent on missions to find a barely stocked hair removal cream, taking hours of driving the LA area to search for twenty seven containers of the elusive product, or to locate one style and size of a brassiere, in every colour and in duplicates of four, travelling hundreds of miles, after a Princess has had breast implants, deciding the day before returning home that she needs them NOW. Jayne's effort is never recognized; in fact, these coddled women likely have no reference. They expect to be served with what they want, and who serves them is more of an object than what they desire to obtain. The time spent in LA consists of shopping, more shopping at the most expensive stores, plastic surgery at the best plastic surgeons and then more shopping, always with a cavalcade of cars and security. Jayne finds as her ward a royal teenaged daughter, and her nanny, who amidst the wealth also reveal the the extreme limitations which the Saudi culture and their version of the Muslim religion puts on their freedoms.
Jayne examines the duality of concepts of "being fortunate", entitlement, of what cultures lead us to expect and in turn become repelled by in another's, without comprehension of values and by what each of us accepts as normal. Driving the Saudis is an interesting little book, in many ways quite a sad one too, because we can join Jayne in determining that there are many ways to determine wealth aside from how much you are able to spend on designer labels.
November 1, 2012
Jayne Larson was an out of work actress and took a job as a chauffeur to make ends meet. She had an amazing opportunity to make some great money but being one of the many drivers for members of the Saudi royal family. Larson wrote about her experience in the book "Driving the Saudis". I felt that this was an unique look into the lives of the Saudi royal family and their staff. It was an amazing look into a group of people who we normally do not get a look into their lives. There were two specific aspects of this book that I really enjoyed. The first was that Larson talks about her own observations and reactions to working with the Saudis. The reason I like it was because she spoke of her own gut visceral reactions to what she saw and experiences with this royal family. I liked that she talked about those positive experiences she had with the family as well as some of those more non flattering aspects of life with the family. The second aspect of the book that I really enjoyed was the relationships that Larson formed with the staff of the royal family. The way in which she describes the staff of the royal family, their life, and how they dealt with their position with the family was amazing. It made me feel connected to those staff members the way that she was when she was driving for the family. There were a few flaws in my opinion with this book, I thought sometimes the structure jumped around a bit and it ended very quickly (which that is how her job ended) but I felt it needed a bit more closure. That Boeing said I really thought it was an exciting look into the royal family and a lifestyle that most people never get to see up close. I think Larson does a nice job of showing us her insight into his unique royal family. Overall I would give the book 4 out 5 stars
May 2, 2013
I thought this was pretty good. In general I like memoirs about jobs, and she writes about not realizing that most chauffeurs are men. She ends up driving the royal family around Hollywood, and the princesses get lots of plastic surgery, and throw money at her demanding that she get them iphones, and bras and other random things. She also drives the servant girls around, and gets to know them pretty well. It's interesting, there's the seventeen year old who really wants to study at UCLA, but is going home to get married, there's the nanny who runs off at the airport once she's given her passport-the servants' passports are kept locked up so they're prevented from running away. The author refers to herself as the overeducated driver, but then finds out that one of the nannies used to be a nurse in her home country before she became a nanny to support her siblings, so maybe she finds out she's not the only educated person with a job below her education. I think there could have been a little more to the book, but overall I liked it a lot.
September 22, 2014
Waste of such a good material! The author had a chance to experience a different culture observing its most prominent members in everyday situations and in a close-up. I hoped the book will give me an insight into the real life of Saudi family members. And it delivers some of it. Some = quite little. The author is more concerned about sharing with us her life story which is totally irrelevant from the perspective of the book's subject and narrative than delivering the observations. Her idea of providing the big picture context is blabbering about quite random and well-known facts about the history and present time of Saudi Arabia. And she is more interested in herself and her own inner and physical states than in her subjects. Not one star thanks to the fact that the subject is so interesting and the women she met were apparently so extraordinary that just glimpses of them included in the book manage to enchant.
November 29, 2012
This book was one that will stand out in my mind as a very interesting, surprising and as well as down to earth.
Memoirs are not really something that I normally would read, but reading author Jayne Amelia Larson's was like nothing I would have even thought about. Her writing style keeps you completely interested all the way through the book.
I am not going to go any further, just know that this book is an awesome, very intriguing read.
This is a must must read book! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this memoir.
So due to the above, I am giving this book a Breath of Life ratings of:
Five Clock Rating!!!
Disclosure: I received this book for my honest opinion and review. Opinions are my own and yours may differ.
Memoirs are not really something that I normally would read, but reading author Jayne Amelia Larson's was like nothing I would have even thought about. Her writing style keeps you completely interested all the way through the book.
I am not going to go any further, just know that this book is an awesome, very intriguing read.
This is a must must read book! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this memoir.
So due to the above, I am giving this book a Breath of Life ratings of:
Five Clock Rating!!!
Disclosure: I received this book for my honest opinion and review. Opinions are my own and yours may differ.
July 31, 2013
Not an especially enlightening book for me, having been to Saudi Arabia twice and knowing well the culture. Had I not had such intimate knowledge firsthand, I probably would have enjoyed more learning from this story about the excessive nature of Saudi richness and beauty obsession of the typically smoking hot women. Makes for a quick read for any American who wants to feel better about the blue collar work ethic that is a natural part of our culture - as anyone who works in the tourism/hospitality industry will ever tell you, opinions about culture/politics aside, rich Americans are far and away the nicest and most polite among the world's rich.
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