Desert Royal

All three books in Princess Sequel are shocking, thought provoking and fascinating. However, Desert Royal is the weakest one. The proverb the appetite grows with what it feeds on describes so well my experience with Jean Sasson’s work. I expected Desert Royal to be at least as good as Princess and Daughters of Arabia, but what the author offered was disappointing melting pot of various stories…Jean Sasson did not satisfy my booklover’s appetite this time.       

Despite my feelings about the quality of the third book, I deeply appreciate the author for revealing cases of appalling brutality against women in Saudi Arabia. She broke salience on unbelievable suffering that still so many women experience in their lives. In Desert Royal, through Jean Sasson, Sultana tells about another case of forced marriage. This time, her heartless brother Ali, married his own daughter to…Hadi!!!!! Yes, yes, the same obnoxious Hadi, who raped eight-year-old girl in Egypt in first book of the sequel.  Although he was trained to become mutawwa, according to Sultana he “had absorbed none of the goodness called for in Holy Koran”. Young and shy Munira, who decided to become a social worker and assist the handicapped, was forced by Ali to marry an evil man, a hater of the female gender. There are no words to describe how I feel about men like Ali, who do not deserve to be considered human being.

I also truly appreciate that Jean Sasson raised the subject of intermarriages between non- Muslim women and Saudi men and situation of kidnapped children. Another important issue discussed in this book was using women and children as sex slaves.

The author had interesting ideas for Princess and Daughters of Arabia. The first described childhood and the beginning of Sultana’s adult life, and the later focused on her three children. Desert Royal lacks any focus. It is a melting pot of various stories, as though the author did not have any specific idea for third book. I would even say that Jean Sasson forced herself to write it. Frankly speaking, I expected third book to be about Sultana’s actual “fight for woman’s rights”. In fact, only at the end of the third book we read about creating “Sultana’s circle” for the reason that her own nephew brought sex slave from Pakistan and brutally raped her during family trip.

The most pathetic thing about Sultana is that she actually wasted whole her life on complaining, crying and buying expensive clothes. It was not Sultana but her son Abdullah who took the matters into his own hands and started to support poor families in Pakistan. Sultana would not be herself if she did not put herself in the centre of the universe: “my legacy of assisting women will shine through my son.” What kind of legacy she was talking about? I am waiting somebody to explain me what was Sultana’s legacy of fighting for women’s rights.

There was one scene that engraved in my memory… Sultana travelled with her husband and her sisters to New York, where she “could take pleasure in the freedom for women that she saw all around her”, and where Saudi religious police would not appear with their sticks to strike any woman wearing in “immoral” way. So they took off their vails, dressed up and then they were walking through Manhattan. I immediately reminded scenes from Sex and the City, in which Carrie Bradshaw and her friends were getting-together on the streets of New York.  In Sultana case, it was Sex and the City a la Arabia.

Although Desert Royal disappointed me deeply, I still think that Princess Sequel is very much worth reading. Especially now when whole world has watched historic elections in Saudi Arabia with great curiosity.

Booklover's favourite places in Dubai

There are several places where readers can buy new and second- hand books in Dubai. In my opinion, some of those places are particularly noteworthy because of offered collections and great atmosphere.

Book World by Kinokuniya at Dubai Mall        

                                         

This marvellous and the biggest bookshop in UAE is located at Dubai Mall. Although the Mall is like a jungle and I always get lost, it is a booklover’s instinct that leads me straight to the Kinokuniya. Ever since I bought my first book there, I feel nostalgic about this place. Honestly, this is heaven on Earth for every bibliophile! Kinokuniya is so spacious that when you enter you cannot see the end of it. Place is also sophisticated, bright and very well- organized.

You can find any genre you like and extremely nice staff is always helpful and courteous. You can always ask whether particular book is in the stock; they even order books which are not available at the moment. Over half a million books are offered in several languages. In other words, Kinokuniya provides excellent selection of books of all sorts. In addition, you can purchase gifts vouchers, comics, magazines, action figures, stationary, and games.

Although I truly admire this place, books cost arm and leg there! Some books can be found cheaper in other stores around Dubai. I am particularly interested in history and social sciences books but horrendous prices make be dizzy sometimes. Too bad that Kinokuniya does not make any special offers and sales. Actually, I have never seen any book on sale. I would expect bookstore like Kinokuniya to make nice deals from time to time.

Personally, I do not buy books online because I could not miss the pleasure of exploring all the shelves filled with thousands of beautiful books, but for those who do not have time or do not like crowded shopping malls Kinokuniya offers online store.

In overall, it is heaven for booklovers, 4- 5 hours is not enough to explore everything what Kinokuniya offers.

House of Prose at Jumeirah Plaza Shopping Centre and House of Prose at Garden Centre

The House of Prose first started in Muscat, Oman 23 years ago. Then Mr. Mike McGinley, in 1997 established a shop at Jumeirah Plaza Shopping Centre on the Beach Road  in Dubai. This tiny and lovely second- hand shop offers variety of books at very affordable prices. Furthermore, if you return book in good condition you will get 50 per cent refund. Since each of book is stamped with House of Prose stamp you can return to either of their locations. With loyalty card, after buying nine books you can claim a complimentary book, or coffee. When I first visited that store I was amazed with variety of books; some of them really good tittles in perfect condition, and still at a fair price. In my opinion, it is senseless to spend a fortune on the same books in stores in the shopping malls. But, what I really like about House of Prose is that you can find interesting old books, which new book stores do not offer.

Second store is located in Garden Centre, Al Quoz, on Sheik Zayed Road. Although tiny in size, it is really charming corner where you can sit on little chairs and look through the collection. Both places have souls and characters. I have been visiting them regularly ever since I arrived to Dubai almost two years ago.

You can follow House of Prose on Facebook to check out new arrivals and you can book by phone those items you are interested in. I recommend to visit the store’s website and watch short book reviews by Mr. Mike McGinley.

I think that House of Prose is a great project and I hope to see more place like this around Dubai in the future.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Finally I have started my adventure with Stieg Larsson’s series. I must admit, the beginning of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is so slow and boring that I almost gave up on it. However, usually I do not abandon books so easily and after day or two I picked it up again. Soon I got so caught up with the book that I could not put it down. Shame on me! It was such a great read, I should have read this years ago!

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the first part of Millennium Trilogy, starts slowly with quiet boring description of illegal practices of one of the Swedish companies. The book gets really interesting when financial journalist Michael Blomkvist, convicted of libelling, is offered a job by one of the richest man in the country. The elderly Henrik Vanger wants Blomkvist to investigate what happened to his beloved niece Harriet, who dissolved into thin air 36 years ago. The journalist very soon gets to know the complicated relations between family members and realizes that magnates are hiding dark secrets. Lisbeth Salander, a 24- year- old computer hacker, joins the investigation and together with Blomkvist solves the mystery of Harriet’s disappearance.

The most gripping subject of this book is appalling sexual violence against women. The author shows crimes of sadist and misogynist men, who use their positions and power to make women fully submissive. So the question arises…why women are targeted? We find out an explanations of one of the oppressors: “Because it is easy. Woman disappear all the time. Nobody misses them”. What I really like is that Larsson included statistics on violence against women in Sweden, which makes you realize that stories of abuses in this book symbolize tragedies of many real women.

Although Blomkvist is a positive protagonist- a journalist with strong work ethics, he is a womanizer that cannot resist to sleep with every woman that enters his life. However, a memorable character is not Blomkvist but Lizbeth Salander, who got all of my attention. Damaged girl, with tattoos and piercing all over her body; a social outcast that does not follow any rules. She always solves problems on her own and never shares the details of her life with others because ‘every time she tried to make someone aware of something in her life, the situation just got worse’. Although regarded as weirdo by those around her, Salander is extremely brilliant young woman.

I really enjoyed reading and I found Larsson’s writing very clear. The book is extensive but I did not get confused with multiple plots. Some descriptions were needless though. I did not understand why the author put so much attention, for instance, to what the protagonists were eating.

In overall, Larsson deserves all the praise he gets for his work. I cannot wait to read second book of Millennium Trilogy.

Purge- an outstanding novel

Without any shadow of doubt, Purge by Sofi Oksanen is an extraordinary ambitious work that deserves to be given the highest consideration. In very sophisticated manner, the author combined complicated family issues with difficult political history of Estonia.

The novel is set is 1992. Aliide Truu, is an elderly widow who lives in countryside in Western Estonia, where people despise her due to her communist past. One day, bruised and terrified girl appears in Aliide’s garden and looks for a shelter. Zara, a prostitute and murderer, is on the run from her inhuman captors. From the very beginning of the book, you feel that both protagonists have deep dark secrets and try to hide their shame. Suspicion and fear characterize relationship between two women.

The book moves back and forth in time and steadily unveils stories of both women. When communists took power in Estonia, Aliide did everything to save her sister’s husband. Consequently, Aliide experienced sexual abuse during interrogation by the communist militia and the shame became inseparable part of her life. By marrying local communist, she got a chance to live relatively normal life. Her sister Ingel was less fortunate, she was sent with her daughter to Siberia. The story of sexual violence and shame repeats with young Zara, who became a victim of human trafficking. Her oppressors, the Russian mafia, made her believe she was nothing more than ‘a stupid girl, a hopeless idiot’. In very realistic way, the author describes what Zara went through and what she did in order to survive. Finally, it is revealed that Zara did not choose Aliide’s house by accident. In fact, she was a granddaughter of Ingel.

Both women experienced sexual abuse but from hands of different oppressors. Aliide was a victim of the communists who possessed unlimited power over people’s lives, while Zara became a sex slave of mafia in post- Soviet period. Those men tried to dehumanize and deprive women of dignity. Aliide and Zara symbolize millions of women around the world- the victims of sexual violence.

Purge is also about great desire to live. The choices that Aliide and Zara made show what people in order to survive are capable of.

Equally important, Purge tells about Estonia’s complicated history. In this book Estonia can be a symbol of every post- soviet state. Description of life in Estonia under communist rule and problems that young independent country had to cope with, might refer to all Central and Eastern European countries. I think that nowadays, many atrocities of communist regime are conveniently forgotten. Purge is a masterpiece of presenting difficult political history through lives of the people. Sofi Oksanen exposed those aspects of life during and after communist era that many people are not aware of, or they forget about. I would recommend this book to everyone who is interested in history of the region.

The only thing that undermines the book is a very unfortunate cover. When I saw it, I assumed Purge was a typical criminal novel, but then, I realized it was much more than that.

This is the best book that I have read in the last few year. There are lots of good books, but there are just a few outstanding books that truly impact people. It has been a great reading experience.

Daughters of Arabia

Here we are again in the world of Princess Sultana. In Daughters of Arabia Sultana shifted the focus from brutal treatment of women to the lives of her children: Abdullah, Maha and Amani. Through their lives we understand how the atrocities on women determine choices and preferences of girls in Saudi Arabia.                                                                                                         

Although Maha was loved by her parents, she experienced discrimination in the world outside the wall. In consequence of restrictions on women and lack of freedom of speech, Maha suffered mental breakdown. She could not accept the inferior position of women and brutality of men. Sultana and Kareem decided that Maha should undergo treatment at mental institution in London, where other Saudi women used to seek help. Apparently there were more women who were unable to bear their lives in Saudi Arabia. Eventually, Maha revealed to her doctor that “men were her enemies, and that women were her friends”. In other words, Maha and her best friend, Aisha, were lovers. The question Maha asked Sultana illustrates what was bothering that young girl: “how can I ever love a man, knowing all that I know of their nature?”

Amani had been perfect child till she started to expose fanatical behaviours. Sultana and Kareem were terrified with Amani’s fanatism but in fact they did nothing to stop it. Their daughter continued to meet with her religious friends and discuss overthrowing the King. Amani’s preferences show that she went from one extreme to another. She loved animals very much so her parents organized small zoo in their garden to make her happy. Then during Haj to Makkah, religious atmosphere changed her perception of faith and she embraced extremist convictions.

The son of Sultana, Abdullah, was nothing like most of Saudi boys. He believed in freedom and equality of women. Moreover, he helped his friend to escape with beloved girlfriend. He claimed that he ‘administered justice’ by helping two people who wanted to spend life together.

Sultana’s husband, Kareem, became even more progressive and open- minded than he had been before. He loved his two daughters as much as he loved his son, which is not common among Saudi men. He was also very understanding and patient with Sultana, but when she crossed the line he told her that in some day she would be ‘committed to an institution for the insane’.

I would like to focus more on Sultana, who again proved to be spoiled princess that saw only hub of her nose. She never took responsibility for her actions, arguing that men were to blame for her problems. To be honest, after getting through Daughters of Arabia there was nothing that I liked about Sultana. How somebody could feel sympathy for her? She only cared about expensive jewels and she had no consideration for people around her. Her laughing like insane when two men died in Makkah, and treating her cousin with mace to protect her necklace illustrate what kind of person Sultana was. When daughter of Kareem’s business partner escaped with ‘penniless’ Palestinian refugee, traumatised Sultana asked Kareem: ‘How did this happen?’ Moreover, Sultana got terrified by thought that Amani would sell her jewels and donate all money for the need. Sultana claimed that they were generous enough and she did not see what else she could do. She felt ‘depressed and unappreciated’ and was wondering about Amani: ‘…was her true desire to turn our family into beggars, like those who had benefited from our great wealth?’ Apparently according to Sultana, her life would take a turn for worse because of loss of a few millions. Regardless my feelings about Sultana, I feel compassion for women she described.

Another problem with Sultana was that she continued to talk about herself as an advocate for women’s rights, as somebody who was actively working to change women’s existence. Sultana claimed to fight against atrocities on women: ‘I had struggle diligently against from the moment of understanding’. Neither Princess nor Daughters of Arabia provide evidences of Sultana’s struggle.

Blindness of Sultana on the royal family and the King’s rule was simply ridiculous in this book. Sultana claimed that Saudi King did not have options to advance and change his country, that the King could not do anything without consent of Saudi clerics. She praised men of royal family because they provided substantial lifestyle to ordinary Saudi citizens. Sultana also claimed that:  ‘Many people, Muslims and Christians alike, despise Saudi for their unearned wealth’. In my humble opinion, there is nothing to be jealous of… At some moment, I simply could not stand her unbelievable ignorance.

I noticed a few inconsistencies in this book. First, Sultana said that Kareem was unable to commit violence. However, in Princess she described how Kareem hit her in her face while she was fighting with his mother. Second, when the family found out about her book, Kareem was outraged that Sultana revealed the story of his ‘weekly adventure of sex with strangers’ and venereal disease. In the version of Princess that I have there was not thread like that. Third, while Abdullah was the eldest child, at the end of the book Sultana said that Maha was the eldest one.

 In overall, I must acknowledge that Daughters of Arabia is fascinating book and reading it was a great pleasure. While Princess made me cry and deprived of sleep, Daughters of Arabia made me laugh. The story is written in highly readable and enjoyable manner. For non-native speaker like me, the book is very approachable.

Princess

Nothing makes me happier than buying books for low prices. There are only a few places where you can purchase cheap books in Dubai. One of my favourite places is House of Prose, a second-hand bookstore, where I bought Princess…a book that you can see in every bookstore around the city.

Through Jean Sasson, Sultana, a member of Saudi Arabian royal family, tells about shocking life behind the vail. She speaks about her own life and experiences of other Saudi women… stories of women glittering with jewels, living in luxury palaces with tens of servants. However, unbelievable wealth is just a cover for lack of freedom and total submission to men.  Women are prisoners of their fathers and brothers, and then of their husbands. Women do not have a right to express their opinions, to work, or to leave the country without ‘master’s permission.

 Without a doubt, the book is heart- wrenching and those who are very sensitive will find it difficult to process. Description of appalling oppression against women deprives of sleep and makes you wonder how is it possible that there are still places where men are heartless monsters.   Reading about forced marriages, sex slavery, honour killings and other barbarities against women made me appreciate the place that I was born and raised. Unfortunately, there are millions of women out there who are totally at the mercy of the men in their life. For instance, what happened to Sultana’s sister, Sara, is so heart-breaking that you want to scream and shout! Sara was a beautiful and exceptionally bright girl. She dreamt about studying art in Italy and opening art gallery in Jeddah. However, Sara’s dreams never came true because her father, ‘the decision- maker in all matters’, chose rich sixty- two years old prick to marry her. Five weeks after wedding, Sara attempted suicide which was the only escape from her husband’s sexual brutality.

Sultana tells also about her friends, who were severely punished for their actions. Nadia and Wafa decided to ‘taste any aspect of life’ until the day they would be married to old men. Their ‘adventures’ with foreign men had dramatic consequences. Wafa was married to an old Bedouin mutawa, while Nadia was drowned by her father in family’s swimming pool. You will become speechless after reading the chapter on Sameera who was confined to The Woman’ Room- room of darkness.

While many girls in Sultana’s world were sold to old men and suffered physical and psychological violence, she married a man of similar age and was allowed to meet him before the wedding. Indeed, Sultana was the lucky one; she and her husband fell in love with each other and had three kids together. They led a happy life, until Kareem decided to take a second wife. Sultana escaped with her kids and millions of dollars to Europe. Until the end, I thought she would start a new life faraway from Saudi Arabia’s suppression and injustice… but she came back with Kareem who promised not to take second wife. With her own will she came back to the cage… For the first time she could control her life, give her children freedom and dignity, but the only thing she really wanted was to make sure her husband would not take a second wife (!!!). Was she really so naïve to believe that Kareem would be loyal to her because of signed documents? Did she forget about her father and Ali’s trips, for example, to Thailand? Apparently, she could not accept more wives but she would be fine with one night stands of her husband.

Sultana’s struggle for fatherly love was heart-breaking. Suffering due to lack of her father’s attention and love is visible through the whole book. While Ali, the only son, was valuable for her merciless father, ten daughters were simply ignored and treated like a burden. As Sultana put it, she spent her childhood trying to win her father’s affection. The following words illustrate it well: ‘I calculated that if my father looked at me enough time he would recognize my special traits and come to love his daughter, even as he loved Ali. As it turned out, my rowdy ways ensured that he would go from indifference to open dislike’.

There is one basic problem with Sultana, in my opinion. The synopsis says that Sultana was ‘a woman of indomitable spirit and great courage’. Indeed, she always had a courage to get what she wanted. The only person she cared about was herself. From the very beginning of the book Sultana was telling about discrimination, lack of freedom and few possibilities of change for Saudi woman. The question arises, what did wealthy and courageous Sultana do to change other women’s existence? Her palace was full of Filipino maids and Sudanese slaves, who worked seven days a week to make Sultana happy. One of her necklaces would change lives of many Filipina maids. Apparently, Saudi women are worth more than other women.

Nevertheless, I like that author included humours stories in this book too. Without a doubt, Sultana’s endless war with her brother Ali will make you smile.

What I liked the most was very approachable writing style. You need one evening to go through this book.

Many people claim that this is not a true story. I think it does not matter because the book shows the stories that in fact are well known. Sultana does not need to be a real person because the book illustrates perceptions of many Saudi women.

I strongly recommend this book to everyone who is interested in life in Saudi Arabia and violations of human rights. Princess will move you to tears and you will never forget dramatic experiences of Saudi woman.

Chris, Hitch or Christopher Hitchens

I would like to dedicate my first post to the memoir of Christopher Hitchens, one of the most influential public intellectuals known for his wit, style and erudition.

Hitch-22, is a memoir of citizen of both the UK and the USA, a socialist opposed to the war in Vietnam and a supporter of the US war in Iraq, an ardent atheist raised as a Christian, a war correspondent,  a literature lover with thirst for booze, friend of those admired and those disliked… Chris, Hitch or Christopher Hitchens.

Without a doubt, Hitchens was a prolific and colourful writer. In a candid way, he detailed his childhood and relations with parents. Certainly, the most dramatic and heart- breaking experience in his life was the suicide of his mother, Yvonne, to whom he devoted first chapter. He gave insight into, sometimes very cruel, life in boarding school and reminded first affection to another man. In a beautiful way, he described how his identity, or rather identities, changed over the years. He dedicated some chapters to the people who had special place in his life, such as Martin Amis, Salman Rushdie or Edward Said. Furthermore, he did not disappoint with articulate description of turning point events of the last few decades. Hitchens would not be himself if he did not include his unchangeable views on religion. What is more, at the end of the book he evoked discovering his Jewish identity.

Several elements make this memoir truly interesting and amusing piece. First, it is not a simple memoir; it is a book about modern history describing revolutions and wars. With Hitchens, you go to Cuba, Prague, Poland, 11/9 New York, Iraq under dictatorship of Saddam Hussain and many other places. That is to say, you get a lesson from a person who was a witness of events that changed the history. Next, Hitchens portrayed those who he admired and those who he despised.  In fact, his life was so fascinating and inspiring because of people he had a chance to meet. He interviewed dictators and he was a friend with great authors.  Finally, what stole my heart was his deep admiration for the literature. You need to be really well- read to try to understand Hitchens.

I really appreciate Hitchens for the part that he devoted to Salman Rushdie. Hitchens criticised journalists, scholars and the Left, who instead of attacking Ayatollah attacked Rushdie.  As he put it ‘It seemed that the assassins were winning without a fight, and those who should be defending the citadel were weeping and scattering before they had even heard a shot or felt a wound’. What Hitchens highlighted was the fact that the same multiculturalism that brought Rushdie and other distinguish figures to the West, bases on moral relativism and moral blackmail and is uniculturalism now. He stated it clearly that the modern relativism promoted by some groups, excuses terrorism, violence, and religious fanatism.

A few people would wish to get into argument with Hitchens and not feel foolish at the end of it. I think this memoir shows the biggest debate of Hitchens, a debate with himself. Some critics condemn him for his conversion from the Left to the Right. In my opinion, this book demonstrates fascinating process of transformation of views and believes, which is inseparable part of people’ lives.  What I truly admire is a very open way that Hitchens talked about good and bad choices in his life. He always was a man of multiple identities. In fact, through whole his life he was trying to learn who he really was. Interestingly enough, after so many years he found out about his Jewish roots, which led him to Poland. While he admitted his political change of heart, his atheism never shifted. He had strongly and clearly manifested his unchangeable attitudes to religion even in the last interviews before he passed away. One of the reason for his detest of the religion was a tendency of religious people to believe that the universe is designed with ‘you’ in mind, or that there is a divine plan into which one fits whether one knows it or not.

Nevertheless, Hitchens disappoints with his endless and effortless defense of 2003 Iraq war. Actually, it is quite surprising that such a brilliant man, with very sober and logical approach to any aspect of life and politics was so stubborn in justifying the war.

And that memorable visit in brother house in New York with Martin Amis… What strikes me was his attitude to the women working there. A man who fought against injustice around the world, who promoted empowerment of women, described women in brothel house as ‘cynical little witches’. Frankly speaking, Hitchens disappointed me so much…

Those who expect hot details of his intimate life will be deeply dissatisfied. Hitchens did not want readers to know anything about the relationship with his wife. He never said anything about falling in love, in the first place.

Let me recall messages that Hitchens included in his memoir: Margaret Thatcher was a kind of sexy, while Marxism was good Communism not necessarily, life in boarding school can be brutal, Mother Teresa was not as good person as people believe she was, do not drink alcohol on an empty stomach, we learn whole life who we really are, true friends are always there for you, sometimes you need to be a fox.

The best summary of Hitch-22 would be Christopher Hitchens’s motto: ’Get on with your own work, and behave as if you were immortal’.