I am always interested in personal accounts of Middle Eastern culture, in whatever century. The author, Rosina-Fawzia Al-Rawi,begins her accounts in Baghdad and eventually lives and travels throughout Lebanon, Syria, Kuwait,Egypt and the Emirates. As an insider, fluent in Arabic, she is able to perceive and comment on the subtle regional differences in the various countries and how women in each society learn to accommodate and seize opportunities. Besides writing, she is a teacher of Middle Eas More...

I didn't want to give up on this book, but the binding broke and now I can't find all the pages. Rather than make myself crazy, I'm letting this book go.

I read about half of this book, and I did enjoy it. The author's voice is strange - her viewpoint is very emotional and many of the stories are more like atmospheric scenes than like actual "tales." In a way, it reminds me of Proust's "A Rememberance of Things Past" but less plot-driven.

It's a lovel More...