Customer Reviews

Princess Sultana's Circle

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Having now finished the trilogy, I highly recommend all three, including the last installment. It's not the best writing always, but it is a valuable glimpse into the mysteries of female life on the peninsula. As a man, much of this world is forbidden to me. I enjoy studying Islamic culture, but I am naturally restricted in observation to the world of men, whereas Western women can at times be with women, and be "honorary men" in the world of men. So I am indebted to depictions such as this, getting into the mind, heart, and life of a woman.

Sultana isn't always the most likable character- but, at least in the version written by Sasson, she freely admits this. And there are times when it is difficult to believe that this actually comes from a true Saudi woman, because of the great awareness the protagonist has of Western points of view.

I appreciate the insights the book gives into one particular worldview- that of a wealthy, royal, Saudi woman. She effectively communicates the oppression she faces as a woman, and yet the extreme privilege she has obtained by being born into the House of Saud. But there are a number of times when Sultana's unquestioned assumptions are more revealing than her message. The quickness of husbands to buy something to soothe their wives only serves to placate the women and buy them off from truly grappling with reality- it dismisses their genuine concerns by encouraging them to find answer in wealth rather than God. Likewise, Sultana and Sasson do a very effective job of showing the great discrimination by women faced on the peninsula, but bend over backwards to praise the religion of Islam and separate it from what Sultana faces on a daily basis. Sadly, while the Wahhabi sect in Saudi Arabia has certainly gone much further than the Qur'an in it's treatment of women, there are strong seeds of second-class status in the Qur'an and hadith themselves. This is seen in places where women are considered as less equal to a man in inheritance, the argument by Muslim theologians being that women need to be protected by men, and therefore men should have more money. Likewise in hadith (stories of Mohammed) that Sultana herself quotes about Mohammed having to redo prayer if a woman walked in front of him, and in the story that Sultana relates, again relying on Hadith, that a woman's silence means agreement to a marriage. This of course is based on a premise that women should be silent, not expressing themselves, and men should be doing the talking and thinking.

These books are valuable, I believe, primarily because they reveal a world that needs such healing. Not simply a change in the actions of the Saudi government and religious police, but a change in the very nature and core of Islamic belief systems. Again and again Sultana shows us a world where the concept of gender reconciliation is completely foreign. Even when she has problems with a comparatively loving husband, she turns to scheming and gossip for answers; others turn to magic to control their husbands. These are the only answers they know. There is no call from either gender to try to understand the opposite, in order to fully love them. Understandably, for there is no call in Islam itself for this. Sultana's Circles shows us the fully surmountable obstacles to love.

I have read all 3 books about Princess Sultana and this one is my favorite. CIRCLE is not quite as sad as the first 2 books, it gives hope and encouragement. The Princess and her sisters form a circle against all the wicked men who take advantage of women. In the future I hope there will be more books about the Princess because her stories are truly amazing and encouraging. And I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in equality.

I found this third book in the Princess Trilogy to be even more riveting than the first two. Again, Jean Sasson is able to tell not only the story of an incredibly wealthy yet enslaved royal princess, but to weave into her factual, historical account the atrocities committed against other women throughout Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. Princess Sultana's Circle also nicely wraps up the three stages of life of this bold and courageous princess. We've already been introduced to her youth and young adulthood. This time we get a much more reflective look at her life as a mature adult and how she continues to cope with a lesser degree of conferred human dignity, but the resolve to fight on.

This latest book in the Princess trilogy kept me up all night, and I missed my stop on the subway...I was that absorbed!

If you loved Princess, you must read the third book in Jean Sasson's Princess trilogy. With Circle, Sultana achieves a welcome level of maturity. She balances the contraints of her life in Saudi Arabia with her desire to improve the lives of all women there and enlists the cooperation of her family.

A fast and exciting read, though the faint of heart beware: the stories of the needless suffering of women in Saudi Arabia is NOT a fairy tale, nor is it easy to read.

Sultana's Circle illuminates a culture that is all but hidden from the views of most people. Jean Sasson does a service to all women to reveal how difficult and at times, desperate, the lives of the royal women, and all Saudi woman, are in many cases. Jean Sasson very skillfully tells the tales of Sultana and her two, very different daughters and the experiences they have within and outside of the Kingdom.

Having lived in Saudi Arabia for well over a decade, I know how difficult it is to learn what is really going on. Although the press is ostensibly free, it is self-censored. I cannot recall a single instance of reporting in either of the English-language newspapers which questions the actions of the royal family or any high government officials. This applies to any reporting about the abuse of women in the Kingdom as well.

I have no doubt that Saudi men will take offense at Sultana's Circle, because it casts them in a role which is certainly unattractive by western norms. And although some Saudi women will protest that they are really very happy being taken care of by their husbands and other family members, they really have no choice if they want to remain in the good graces of their families, which are of paramount importance in the Kingdom. With no real freedom, women are very limited in whom they can associate with - their immediate family, their extended family and, to some extent, their classmates from school.

I found the book to provide a glimpse into a society that was almost always hidden from the views of even expatriates living in Saudi Arabia. At some point, perhaps later in this new century, the Kingdom will realize that it is in their best interests to allow everyone the freedom to have a say in determining their own future!

I literally inhaled the first book, Princess and am waiting for the second book,Sultana's Daughter. I've just read this one, and I'm telling you, these books are ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!! It's really amazing that such barbaric customs exist!!

However, It worries me a bit that people who read these books are going to confuse the Islam religion with these horrific and barbaric incidents that Sultana has reported.

As a recent student of Islam, I wish to tell you that Islam, while their customs are very different than that of western customs, (wearing of the scarf or veil is to protect their beauty from the stares/advances of strangers,male and female), their Holy Book, the Quran, does NOT CONDONE such barbaric things as harems, and family-killing for punishment,etc!!

What's going on, is a horrifying account of,(and perhaps even misguided,fanatical) supposedly Muslim men who, out of their misunderstanding of what their own religion is about, live life in a very UN-Muslim,indeed, UNHUMAN way!

As a man living in Canada, I can only think when I've read this book and the first two others by Jean Sasson, how lucky and grateful that I am to have the freedoms that I take for granted.
This book, in addition to the first two are the best and most thorough that I've ever read about the grim realities that few people outside Saudi Arabia are even aware of.
After reading some chapters I was almost brought to tears and anger, and others gave me joy as I read about the little victories that could mean so much to women who feel so trapped.
I could feel emotions as real as my own when I read about the helplessness and resentment experienced by the Princess, and I kept reminding myself that the story is a true one, of a real person in a real-life situation.
The story here is as powerful and dramatic as it is real and reading it has changed my life for the better and taught me about my role as a human being and the power that is within me.
Reading the book from cover to cover will make a huge difference to the millions of women who have are faceless and voiceless in the quest for justice and equality.

I ran across this book while living in the Middle East. Always facinated by the secret life of Saudi women, I eagerly devoured the book. Jean Sasson was given privy to the inside life of Princess Sultana and what she faced on a daily basis. The princess comes off as a woman who strives for justice and equality for her countrywomen but is silenced by the harsh rules set forth by the men. She tells many heart breaking stories of brutality by the men, including rape and physical abuse but of course they are not punished. She is completely powerless unless she manipulates males including her husband to get her way. On the other hand, she speaks of such wealth in the families and their extravangant lifestyles which include many vacations in their various homes and of shopping sprees that only one can dream of! in the end, all the money in the world cannot buy freedom and peace of mind.

I've read all three books in the Princess trilogy and "Circle" is my favorite. Princess Sultana's growth as a woman, mother, and wife is evident, and I like the way she is presented with strengths and weaknesses. Some of the worries she faces as a mother and challenges as a wife are common to women throughout the world. But the glimpse into life inside the royal family is rather stunning. Jean Sasson has provided a glimpse inside of a world I find extremely interesting, but haven't had the chance to experience firsthand, as she has. I think it's great that Princess Sultana's voice was put in print by the author and I hope there will be another book, down the road, so that I can learn what happened to Sultana's daughters and the conditions inside the royal harem.

This is a gripping story of a courageous woman and her family. In spite of the wealth they have they are caught in the tragic grip of ancient and brutal customs toward women. A book you can't lay down and a book that points out the complexities of life in Saudi. It has intensified my appreciation for the freedom we, as women have in this country and opened my eyes to the differences in other countries. An inspiring story.