Shifting Sands

Rating:
Summary: A spellbinding must-read
Review: Shifting Sands is a spellbinding must-read for anyone who wants to understand the culture of Saudi Arabia (and who doesn't, after the events of Sept. 11?) This book resonated with me personally since my husband lives and works in Saudi Arabia. The author provided vivid descriptions of what it would be like to live on a company compound in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia (one chapter is called "Extreme Boredom" - say no more!) The book allowed me to relive the joys and frustrations of visiting Saudi Arabia. The joys: sunshine, extremely hospitable people, beautiful architecture, exotic shopping, mouthwatering foods. The frustrations: The list is long. Women have no rights there. Women cannot drive, and they face harassment from religious police if they do not cover themselves with the black abaya. (The author had several frightening run-ins with religious police regarding her failure to cover her hair with a headscarf.) I was thrilled to learn that the author, risking her own safety, had advanced the cause of women's rights there by opening a clandestine school for women. T.L. McCown's writing also reminded me of the utter frustration of trying to visit shops and restaurants when they close multiple times a day for prayer time. Frustration, however, turns to fear with the growing threat of terrorism. McCown lived in Saudi Arabia during the June 26, 1996 bombing of Khobar Towers, a place where she had taught public speaking to military personnel just two months previous. She describes in vivid detail how she fought to keep her family safe with the prospect of terrorism looming right outside her doors.
In conclusion, this book has one major flaw. For 354 pages, the author successfully foreshadows the demise of her extraordinary relationship with a Saudi princess and the need for the author's family to eventually leave Saudi Arabia. In the end, the author never explains precisely why any of this happened! The last sentence seems to imply that the author is working on a sequel. Still, to come to the end of a book and have it drop off the end of a cliff with no proper conclusion is extremely irritating.


Rating:
Summary: Interesting
Review: T.L. McCown did a great job of revealing life in Saudi to the reader. It amazes me the life the royal lead. I still can't get over the camping trip they took! I reccomend this to anyone!

Rating:
Summary: Interesting
Review: T.L. McCown did a great job of revealing life in Saudi to the reader. It amazes me the life the royal lead. I still can't get over the camping trip they took! I reccomend this to anyone!