The author is a journalist who spent considerable time in the Middle East, reporting from various countries. Although this is not a scholarly work, it is well-researched. The book focuses on her own personal experiences in each country, and ancecdotes from various women she met in each country.

For me, the most interesting parts of the book discussed the home and personal life of the Ayatollah Khomeni. After reading this book, my opinion of both him, and of Islamic life in Iran, went up by about 300 percent. The author met and interviewed his wife, and various family members. He was a fairly modern, new-age husband, and playful father, who even got up in the middle of the night and gave his kids their bottles, and changed their diapers. The only thing he was quite strict about was the Islamic religion.

Anyone who is interested in the lives of women in the Middle East should read this book. The book is as accurate today as it was when it was written.


disappointing and judgemental   October 13, 2002
 16 out of 34 found this review helpful

I eagerly bought this book hoping it would be objective and enlightening. Instead I found it catering to exisiting stereotypical views of women in the Middle East. Throughout the book the author continually confuses cultural practices with Islam.
In addition this book contains many personal/emotional views of the author...which is hardly what one expects from a book that is meant to be informative and present the facts. Just who precisely benefits from Brook's belly dance that she triumphantly describes as making a point?


Objective insights into women behind the veil   September 7, 2002
 21 out of 23 found this review helpful

I have spent time in the Middle East and been offered books such as "Princess" and "Not Without My Daughter" by Western friends positive that the Middle East must be a terrible place for Western women ... It was very enlightening, refreshing, interesting and thought provoking to read a book from an author with such a wealth of experience and such a desire to learn, to understand and not just to brandish and judge. She writes of movements happening within the culture and not just of stagnated ways. Koranic verses are used as a backdrop for understanding that what some may interpret as Islamic is mearly that, an interpretation. I highly enjoyed this book. I will read it again. And I will definately recommend it to anyone interested enough to understand some of the different perspectives governing women behind the veil!


Fascinating   September 26, 2001
 29 out of 31 found this review helpful

This is an absolutely fascinating book. Brooks doesn't really bog the reader down with too much "research" - she gives you a good historical and literary background, but she fleshes out that framework with anecdotes from her meetings with Muslim women. Though it is obvious that Brooks abhors the treatment of women under most forms of Islam, she is very careful to show that this is mostly a political issue and NOT actually advocated in the Koran.


A beautiful book , that tells a tragic tale of women.   June 9, 1999
 16 out of 19 found this review helpful

I was lent this book, but had to buy so I could read it again and again.Geraldine Brooks reaally gives you a truthful insight into this hidden world, the reality of having no freedom of choice, and beening forced to do as god and men say. I wonder if I (a outspoken australian women) would have survived had I been born into the situations of many of these women.All my friends get handed this book when they complain about the CHOICES they have made in their lives.