Rate this book

Desfigurada (2000)

by Rania Al-Baz(Favorite Author)

3.54 of 5 Votes: 5

languge

English

genre

review 1: An outstanding autobiography written by the first young female Saudi Arabian television journalist about her recovery from a severe battering by her husband that left her with a permanently changed face. I admire this woman's courage, and especially her determination to use her experience to speak out against wife abuse, not just in Saudi Arabia, but all over the world. In this, she is identifying herself not only as a Saudi Arabian woman, but also as a member of world womankind. She is an excellent writer, and her story is one that I just couldn't put down. The details of how she grew up and of the customs of her country were fascinating. I learned a lot about Saudi society (women aren't allowed to drive!), and hope things have changed for the better for women since ... morethis book was written. By the way, the book contains no illustrations except for a picture on the cover of her as she looked before being beaten. A Google search quickly brought up pictures of her battered face and her appearance after her reconstructive surgery. I highly recommend this book to women everywhere, and to male batterers as well, who should feel what it's like to be helpless and abused as this woman was.
review 2: This book was very well written and translated (from French to English). It became difficult for me to read around pg 50 because I was having a hard time identifying with the author's statements. She kept talking about how she forgave her husband right after he beat her into a coma. Maybe if she had waited until the end, after explaining the story, this would have been easier to grasp. Overall the book was hard to put down and very good. It gives an interesting account of Saudi Arabia from a woman who still believes that her culture and religion are the right way to live and are not the cause of the violence in her life. She is aware that her life is not representative of all women and reiterates that often. I liked reading her side of the story as I came to understand her reactions in a different way than one may expect coming from a western country. She is very strong and has a lot to teach. If you start getting turned off part way in don't give up! Keep reading because it's worth it. Keep and open mind and you'll start to understand her as you go on. You may not agree but you will learn a lot about her culture and that is what matters (to me at least). less

Download links for: Desfigurada

Advertising