Book Review: Princess: A True Story of the Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia

LET'S NOT CONFUSE THE TITLE IT'S "A TRUE STORY" AND NOT "A STORY OF TRUTH"

A co-worker leant me a book the read titled: Princess: A True Story of the Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia, and began to explain the horrors "Muslim women" faced in KSA.  In that moment, I thought of the importance of education and how I feel blessed for actually being a Muslim!  I dreaded reading this book thinking that I would begin to hate Muslims. So I read it from an objective point of view, as a counsellor, and not taking anything personal. I tried to read it in the point of view of the people that wrote the book (even though secularly educated individuals) as though they were extremely ignorant people trying to deface Islam completely disregarding the disclaimer at the beginning of the book because it also included that this was, in fact, a true story.  So clearly I was on the defence.

My initial thoughts before reading:

1. This book is about men that pertain to the Islamic faith mistreating women and manipulating religion to do so.
2. This book is to spew hate.

What the book was actually about:

1. The corruption that is found within the royal family in KSA at the time of the Princess from her point of view
2. How hypocrisy runs ramped with some individual within circle of  "Religious Police"
3. A love story of how the princess tries to save her marriage
4. The extremes of family feuds
5. The way some servants are ill-treated (which is a problem that still occurs till this day)
6. How actually IGNORANT muslims are... yes even in KSA
7. THAT EVERYONE IS HUMAN AND MAKES MISTAKES (men and women)
8. That no one is perfect and you have to be strong to survive...
9. Money buys you freedom
10. How women are treated based on culture and not Islam
11. This is a story of a princess, some of her experiences in life, and only Allah Knows if this book is truth or fiction.

My thoughts after reading this book:

1. Totally loving the love story of the princess
2. People are corrupt everywhere not just in KSA not only in Royal families either
3. Education is key to success
4. Honour Killings are HARAM (prohibited in Islam)
5. There are good and bad people everywhere not exclusively in KSA. 
6. I feel that the author and narrator generalized a lot about the people in KSA and that it's not a true reflection of the people nor their culture. 

Honestly speaking, this is the type of book people like my parents, CNN, Fox News would rant and rave about! Anything and everything to frighten people from Islam completely disregarding the love story of the narrator.  This book is captivating & exciting and it keeps you wanting more! The author wrote this book so delightfully that I actually want to read her other books.

I had to explain to my co-workers certain facts about women's rights in Islam, facts about how FGM is Prohibited in Islam, etc... Just to defend myself because they know that I had made the executive decision to become Muslim on my own.  I know that when people ask about my reasons for being Muslim, its only out of concern (like an untold love for a sister in humanity) but then I tell them my decision was based on the ample amount of women's Rights in Islam that lead me to where I am today actually grasped their attention and I then begin to explain all the pros that outweigh the bad they here in the news and that it's really culture that most people follow.  That some 'men' try to keep women uneducated in order to manipulate the religion in their favour when in fact it favours women.


All in all, I recommend this book!

Take Care & InshaAllah Khair

Duni