Customer Reviews

Shadowing Thunder: Beneath the Abaya in Saudi Arabia

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

this is NOT a novel about poor oppressed women in Saudi Arabia, but the very antithesis.

Funny how we get these ideas.

The author shows little understanding of Saudi women and culture, relying on Orientalist stereotypes for his story. This book is based solely on the author's imagination - after all, as a man it would have been impossible for him to gain access to women's social circles. We don't need yet another fantasy about the plight of 'poor, oppressed, invisible' Saudi women.

A fresh voice full of hypnotic charm: you are almost instantly pulled into this strange-yet-somehow-familiar world that shimmers both on the page and in your mind. The book's motion, its play of words and strange deeds, bears digging into, focused exploration. The rewards are well worth the price of admission.

Anyone can criticize difference, but it takes real courage to see through the 'veil' so to speak, which is what Raymond has done - directly into the center. Jungians must be pleased, and feminists I would think battling one another over various readings. On one hand I am inclined to feel a certain sense of gratitude to the author for his providing delicate substance, and on the other for stressing the conventional mold. Bashing it, rather.

Life, I would agree, consists of memorable segments and reflection upon them. Everything between is lost in the 'Gulf' as he so subtlely suggests. These moments contribute to an overall impression, in this case plummetting to the essence of the main character. The essential Raife exists, as much as in dreams as in reality, both real and unreal, here and there, flying away at the end. Skyward. Free.

The complex yet accessible architecture was clear after the second read, provding a very different sense from what was derived from the first run through. What initially appeared as almost random events later aligned themselves into one continuous, tightly woven 'becoming'. Little by little the pieces of Raife's former mental architecture dissovle into his own shadow, and he sees himself for what we all are:

I bought this because of the 'rave' over it, and like so many things being raved about, I'm not quite sure I got it. It was quite creative, sure, and nicely written, but like, what was the point? Especially all those repeated behadings. What was all that about? I do like the vagina is god part, however, and would have liked even more of that. About time.

Definitely not your standard read, but then who wants standard reads. you got to be a post-modern type to enjoy this, or maybe one of those post-quantum, relativistic chaos types (or maybe too much dope). not sure really, but certainly takes you on a trip. makes me want to go to that hideous desert place and live for a while, see if i start having the same kind of dreams. don't think i'd mind that one bit. but buy it? only if you're sick of Grisham and Brown types and understand things like collapse of the wave function. i don't know, but refreshing.