This novel tells the story of an Englishwoman, Frances Shore, who moves to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia to join her husband, Andrew, who is working as an engineer there.
The book is based on the author’s own experience of living in Saudi Arabia for 4 years.
Our comments included:
- I was glad to re-read this book, 30 years on.
- I found it gripping, though at the end felt I was left with more questions than answers.
- A brilliant book, perhaps a bit slow at the beginning.
- The book took me outside my own experience to a place where it’s normal for women to be treated as second-class citizens and for non-Saudis to be ignored.
- Frances’ sense of isolation really comes through.
- I couldn’t put it down.
- It’s not a comfortable read.
- I loved the sense of humour.
- The ex-pat community seems to revolve around trying to get around alcohol restrictions and ignoring injustices they see happening. Financial rewards make this worthwhile for most.
- We weren’t sure that “psychological thriller” is an apt description of the genre of this book.
Marks out of ten: 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10.