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Summary: Answering the difficult questions.
Review: After reading Jean Sasson's book, Princess, I had my answer to the question of how the 9-11 terrorists could go to a strip club one day and then perform their horrendous act in the name of God the next day. Jean Sasson's books give insights into the minds of people in the Middle East that we read about, but have trouble really understanding. All the scholarly reports one reads about Iraq do not help as much as Mayada, Daughter of Iraq, in understanding Iraq before the fall of Saddam Hussein. She touches on all the key issues -- the Sunni, Shi'i, Kurdish populations of the country, Saddam and Islamic fundamentalism, and how the dictatorship functioned and survived from day to day. Mostly, the book deals with oppression, answering the question of how Saddam was able to oppress his people for so long without there being a popular revolution. Once you get started with this book, don't expect to be able to put it down or put it out of your mind. However, after reading this troubling book giving a deeper understanding of Iraq and detailing horror upon horror, one is left with a new question - why are Iraqis who were so savagely oppressed for so long now turning on their liberators? I look forward to Ms. Sasson helping answer that for us in her next book.
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Summary: I wept for Mayada and her cell mates
Review: Mayada's story is very touching , and I hope the shadow women that shared her cell in prison are still alive , for Saddam killed every one before he went down , prooving to humanity that the coalition forces did the right thing in freeing the Iraqi people.
Excellent reading , filled with information we never would get else where. Sasson is an excellent writer , known and loved for Princess , and now she has given us another Princess , materialized in all the women of Iraq.
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Summary: Sasson does it again
Review: I am a Saudi national , and after Ms. Sassons book Princess , I believed that nothing would surpass it , but after reading Mayada Daughter of Iraq , I find it hard to decide which was better. The feelings submitted in this new book make it hard for any reader to put down the book after starting with the first page.
A must reading if you want to understand what is happening in Iraq.
Thank you Ms. Sasson for your wonderful books
A. Al-Rajih
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Summary: "Powerful Story"
Review: Jean Sasson met Mayada Al-Askari in 1998 and a short time later learned Mayada had been arrested and thrown into Iraq's infamous Baladiyat prison. Mayada is the daughter to one of the most distinguished families in Iraq. Her grandfather fought alongside Lawrence of Arabia, and she had an uncle who was the Prime Minister for almost 40 years. Mayada is a divorced mother of two and never dreamed in a million years that she would become a target of Saddam's police that is until one horrible day in 1999. "Mayada," by compelling writer Jean Sasson is one story you do not want to miss!
Rating: 
Summary: 4.5 Stars given here ~ STOP. MUST BE READ!
Review: READ IT NOW
IMMEDIATELY
PRONTO
STAT I have some pretty big dark circles under my eyes this week and its because of this book.
If you have ANY doubts whatsoever, that we should have gone to Iraq and taken Saddam down , then READ THIS BOOK IMMEDIATELY.
read this book and youll see why he and his cohorts, had to go........
The man is/was/alwayswillbe pure evil.
This story tells the tale of life while saddam is in power, for one woman and her family.
It needs to be read to the entire USA.
Its a very touching and well written story.
its also horrifying, you wont be able to put it down, even when its 3am and you need to be up at 6am.
A very GRIPPING story.
I literally couldnt put it down
and neither will you be able to.
PLEASE. you owe it to yourself to read this one
If you care.........
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Summary: Jean Sasson is an editorial genius
Review: I purchased this book as soon as it was published because I have read the Princess books by Jean Sasson and already knew that she was an editorial genius. The book is about the title-character, Mayada. She came from a prominent Iraqi family. Mayada owned and managed a printing shop. And under the harsh rule of Saddam Hussein she was accused of breaking the law and thrown in jail. Mayada's basic human rights were violated while she was in jail. She met several women in her jail cell, the shadow women as they are called. They shadow women are all so brave and harrowing. Each shadow women has her own story of despair; one worse than the next. The fate of the shadow women is unknown, but if you read this book you will find out what happens to Mayada. Mayada is probably Ms. Sasson's best work to date. It is thought-provoking, intense and written in great detail. I hope that Ms. Sasson will write a follow-up story to Mayada. For more information about Jean Sasson and her books please visit her website: www.jeansasson.com and if you're interested in human rights please visit www.amnesty.org
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Summary: Mourning for the Shadow Women
Review: This fast-paced, excellent book was worth every penny I spent. Sasson, who wrote the Princess Trilogy, meets an extraordinary woman when she goes to Iraq in 1998. (I'm intrigued by Sasson's story and would love to read a book about her life!) The American and the Iraqi become fast friends. Mayada, the Iraqi, is imprisoned and tortured, but gets out of Iraq alive. (Some of the prison scenes read like a thriller and the reader is squirming in fear about the safety of the individuals you meet through Sasson's telling.) After Mayada reaches freedom, and Iraq is liberated, Sasson tells her story, with Mayada's cooperation. What comes out of their efforts is a beautifully written story about a woman living in one of the most tragic times in Iraq's history. I learned so much, and admit, am rethinking my previous anger at the American role in running Saddam aground. The man needed deposing! My only problem came from the fact that I didn't know what happened to the women who shared Mayada's cell 52. The mystery of what happened to them is a special torture to me. Despite this, I think this is the best book I've read in a very long time and I hope all Americans get the chance to read this heartwrenching story. I would think every American soldier, male or female, would gain a lot of prespective regarding their great value to the Iraqi people if they read this book.
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Summary: An absolute MUST read!!!
Review: I was against the war in Iraq in 2003 but after reading Jean Sasson's excellent book, I wrote a letter to President Bush stating that for the liberation of the Iraqi people alone from Saddam Hussein, it was worth it. Jean Sasson does a marvelous job blending Iraqi history with the Hussein regime and the life of Mayada. This book about Mayada's life opened my mind to see how evil Hussein was and how he ruled Iraq with an iron fist. Both Jean Sasson and Mayada are brave women who deserve big kudos for getting the horrible truth out about one of the most despicable dictators in modern times. This book is worth every penny for the eye-opening aspect alone, but the book is written so eloquently that it truly is one of those books that you can't put down. I finished the book in a little over one day. I highly recommend this book for those who were against the war because like me, it made me realize that the liberation of an entire country from true evil is just simply the right thing to do. Jean Sasson and Mayada are true heroes in my book!
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Summary: Riveting - Cover to Cover
Review: I have just finished reading my 1st book by Jean Sasson, Mayada, Daughter of Iraq. Great book..hard to put down. I'm now looking forward to reading her other books. I have heard through the years of Saddam's evilness, however, the book opened my eyes to the true horrors that the Iraqi people were facing each day. Even though we have lived totally different lives, I felt a connection with the "shadow women" who shared a cell with Mayada during her time in prison. I do hope that they were able to survive and that the war has brought them freedom from prison but also many other freedoms that were prviously denied them.
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Summary: Thank you for visiting West Point
Review: I am a cadet that was in the audience when Jean and Mayada spoke at West Point last week. Even though we have precious little time for personal reading, I read the story of Mayada that was signed and given to me after the talk. I inhaled it!
A soldier's job is not to question the wisdom of the use of force, but Mayada definitely made all of us feel quite proud to know that many of our academy forbears partook in such a heroic accomplishment to free a country's people from their cruel leader. The people of Iraq are extremely grateful.
I recommend this book for all soldiers - those who have served in Iraq and those who have not - and all future soldiers who may still be comtemplating their decision to join.
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