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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Really interesting story from a woman who married into the Bin Laden family. The pace and writing quality left a lot to be desired.
You learn a lot about Saudi culture (if you don't already know anything about it), but not really because she lived it. She had an almost egalitarian relationship with her husband, and could have left Saudi Arabia almost any time she wanted (and eventually did). Her passing mention of her husband trying to convince her to buy a $60k dress, and how she never looked at price tags was unnecessary, but just ended up making her sound annoying. In the end, she mentions that she's struggling to bring up her 3 daughters on alimony that's less than the salary of her ex's private pilot. Welcome to the world of most people. *All* that said, her situation is a sad one, but not as desperate as I think she makes it seem. Still glad I read it, but next time, I think I'll choose one that wasn't written from such a position of privilege to learn more about how the society really operates.
Audiobook. Really enjoyed this autobiography explaining life in Saudi Arabia by a woman with primarily western values. I feel she fairly represented what it is like to live in this different culture. The reader is outstanding.
I absolutely loved this on audio book especially!
This was a quick "read", and had so much information about the culture of Saudi Arabia. Carmen Bin Laden has courage to come out and discuss her years married to Osama's brother (one of many),and to give a first hand review of life in Saudi Arabia. She talks about the customs, and rituals, the good and the bad. I don't think she was trying to say her life in Saudi Arabia was all bad, because there were definitely some good things that happened while she lived there with her husband. The first chapter just captured my heart, and I was completely immersed in her story until the end of the book.
This was a quick "read", and had so much information about the culture of Saudi Arabia. Carmen Bin Laden has courage to come out and discuss her years married to Osama's brother (one of many),and to give a first hand review of life in Saudi Arabia. She talks about the customs, and rituals, the good and the bad. I don't think she was trying to say her life in Saudi Arabia was all bad, because there were definitely some good things that happened while she lived there with her husband. The first chapter just captured my heart, and I was completely immersed in her story until the end of the book.
Although Carmen is not a writer by trade, her story is so interesting. She was married to one of Osama's 54 siblings. (yes - 54!) She was an outsider to the Saudi Arabian world, who married in. She shares her struggles and experiences of a life that is so unfamiliar to me.
I loved reading this. It was fascinating and disturbing. Not the best written things - sometimes repetitive, but overall it's a good story and I learned a lot about Saudi Arabia and the Bid Laden way of life.
Very eye opening to a culture that I didn't know much about! I am definitely more grateful for the freedoms I have as a woman.
Really makes you appreciate life in the US. Better understanding now of "Bin Laden" world. A bit slow at times.