Daughters of Arabia..

This is a book written by Jean Sasson. It's one of the most touching books I have ever read. This is the real life story of Princess Sultana's children. Princess Sultana is the Saudi princess. Jean Sasson has previously written about Princess Sultana and her siblings in her previous books. Those books are equally good as this as well.

The book makes us ponder about the life behind the veils in Saudi. To the outside world they have money and they belong to the royal family. But do they really have what every woman yearn for? Freedom and respect. Sultana's dad loved only her brother Ali and none of his daughters. The disparity can clearly be seen and according to him only his son existed and not any of his other daughters. Ali grew up seeing how girls are treated in his family and there is no wonder that he became a man for whom woman is only for sex and nothing more. It shows the sad state of men who knows nothing but to insult women. In Daughter's of Arabia Ali's son is seen to be exactly like Ali for whom woman is only a sex object. He meets a white woman in a party and gets friendly with her. He was expecting her to go with him to an apartment for which the woman denied and he got furious over her. He wanted to release his sexual desires and anger over her that he drives like mad that night in search for a white woman and finally ends up in a hospital. There he saw a white woman laying alone in a room. She was in coma due to an accident. He uses her to release his desire and walks out. Can it get any worse than this? Yes, it can! 3 months later the woman was found pregnant. She was in coma for 6months and 3 months pregnant. There was a witness and using their royal power Ali suppress him by giving him money and sends him out of Saudi. Also Ali does not leave any chance to curse that woman saying that she provoked his son and how his son landed in trouble because of her!!

Yes, this was in the 90s and things have improved a lot now to the extent that Saudi women can drive cars. But aren't they still a lot behind the other countries in this 21st century? What can you expect the kids to be if they see their fathers showing least respect to their mother or any woman as a matter of fact.

The book starts by showing how Sultana had landed herself into trouble because of the previous books by Jean Sasson in which she herself had talked to her about the women's problems in Saudi to write in the book. It shows the extreme to which a man can go to disrespect a woman.It also shows the sad state of some pathetic laws where in a man can 'ask for sex' at any time of the day or night and the woman has to agree. If she doesn't then she will be divorced.

Overall it's a very good read and a must read for anyone who loves to read. It brings out all the emotions from someone who can be empathetic towards the women mentioned in the book!