American Chick in Saudi Arabia Paperback – April 26, 2013

I have been a devoted fan of Jean Sasson's for over ten years. Her books about Middle Eastern women have always fascinated me because of my lifelong love of anthropology, and she has never stinted on details about how her characters dress, eat, interact and live.Written in a clear, concise and conversational prose, American Chick in Saudi Arabia is an important book because we, the readers and fans, get to see exactly HOW Ms. Sasson's passion for her topic developed and grew and how she was so horrified by the conditions around her that she made it her life's work to draw attention to the issues of women's rights and overall human rights in a part of the world that has never valued said rights. While radically different in topic, I would compare this book to Stephen King's "On Writing, A Memoir of the Craft," which I so loved because I got to experience the incidents in his childhood that shaped his books. And just like that, American Chick in Saudi Arabia is both a sobering and entertaining peek into the mind of Ms. Sasson, a great writer and humanitarian who has dedicated her talent to providing a voice for women who have spent their lives in forced seclusion.

I was interested in this book because I am a medical professional who, pre 9/11, was giving serious consideration to taking a long term temp assignment in Saudi Arabia. I felt the story was easy to follow and chronicled the author's time in Saudi very well. Some of it was interesting and it gave readers a good glimpse into the ups & downs of being an American woman working in a Muslim country. I admire Jean's courage for taking an assignment in Saudi Arabia but overall the book failed to hold my interest and for me, was difficult to finish.

Another good read from Jean Sasson and a great explanation of her time in Saudi Arabia. As the other Sasson books, this is very well written with wonderful details of her experience and the people she brought to life in this book.I did not like this as well as some of her other books, a little slower reading, not quite as much of a story as a diary. If you do read this book, and like her writing, I would recommend the Sultana trilogy - that was outstanding! Sasson is a terrific writer.

This is a new book by Jean Sasson, who has written a number of books on Saudi Arabia and the plight of women in many other countries. Jean presents a unique pespective of life as an American living in Saudi Arabia in the late 70's and 80's because of her ability to befriend women in another culture and relate their stories to us.Like many western women, Jean is surprised, as I am sure others will be, that in spite of being fully covered in a black dress (abaya) and lacking some of the most basic freedoms that western women (and many of those in the rest of the world), many of the Saudi women feel that their way of life is just fine, thank you. Many of them are very content to be taken care of by their husbands and other male relatives. Perhaps their lack of real experience in other countries is to blame; perhaps not. It is a very different culture than what we are exposed to in the west.Jean recounts numerous anecdotes about her early days in Riyadh which make this "Firstr Chapter" of her memoirs both memorable and very readable. It is certainly well worth the Kindle price of $2.99. I'll look forward to future chapters!

The first thing I simply have to put on record is that it made me sad to see that $2.99 was all it was priced at! A sample of such a beautiful panoramic piece that put down Jean's life in words should be worth MUCH more! That said, no matter what I say below, I am not doing justice to her fantastic work, because words aren't enough. Jean's rendition of her story in Saudi Arabia is splendid, to say the least. Each of her characters are beautifully nuanced, so wonderfully portrayed and come alive when you read her work. She offers no room for prejudice. Jean's words ensure that there is nothing that makes you cringe or wonder why she chose to say something a certain way. The whole preview is riveting, fantastic, and an inspiring read.

I had already ordered this book after reading the Princess Trilogy before I came across some research on the web that Ms. Samson and her editor have been accused of using material authored by a women who wrote a biography of her experience as a Saudi wife. This manuscript was alleged to then have been used by Ms. Sasson to write the first book in the Princess series changing the individual from a commoner to a Princess. As I don't have all the facts, I cannot know for sure but this has cast doubt for me as a reader as I don't know if those allegations are true and what I have been reading is fact or fiction. I did the research as I begin to question how a Princess who would be more easily identified would allow this information to be disclosed as, if this society is that awful to women, she would surely be risking the lives of her children, family members and friends. That would be pure suicide which makes the books less plausible. Finding this information made it difficult for me to complete this book as I had so many doubts now about what I was reading and it was so much like the other books as I've found Ms. Sasson's books to be repeats. The abuse, slavery, rape, and murder of women in the Muslim culture. Certainly shocking, if true but her point was easily made in one book.

Really enjoyed this book. Definitely recommend reading. Hard to put down.Can’t wait to read the rest of Jean’s books

Just finished reading the second book by Jean Sasson and a third is on order. A vivid account of what it is like to live in Saudi Arabia for those who accept the culture and those who don't. Can't wait to read all her books.

Luckily only 100 odd pages long but still; what a waste of time. Teenage drivel written by self-absorbed drama queen. Avoid...

J'ai lu tous les livres du série Princess du Jean Sasson et je les ai adorés.En ce qui concerne ce livre, j'ai bien aimé le fait que l'auteur parle de son propre expérience enArabie Saoudite Je le recommande vivement..

Non ho ancora terminato di leggere questo libro , anzi , sono agli inizi , ma sembra molto bello !