I know that Jean Sasson writes books that makes people think. I read all of her previous books after a friend forced me to read PRINCESS, which is one of my all time favorite reads.

Importantly, Ms. Sasson is on the cutting edge of so many issues that are now affecting all Americans. Her PRINCESS books were one of the first that told the plight of women in restrictive Muslim cultures. Now everyone in the media is repeating what Ms. Sasson said years ago about women who are forced to veil and unable to enjoy the simple pleasures of making one's own decisions.

Now with her latest book, ESTER'S CHILD, this writer gives the reader a look into the world of Arab/Jewish hatred that has been building for a hundred years. Sadly, the pot is now boiling over, hurting so many innocent people, including Americans who are guilty of nothing but going off to work in a effort to support their young families.

I was pleasantly surprised at how Ms. Sasson handled the telling of this very compelling story. Anytime in the past I have read a book about the Arab/Jewish conflict, the writer took one side or another. If a writer in sympathy with the Arabs took pen in hand, every Jew ended being thoroughly unlikable. On the flip side, if a writer wrote in sympathy with the Jewish side of this issue, they made every Arab a throat cutting fanatic. That sort of writing does nothing but hurt the cause of peace.

Now, Ms. Sasson takes the side of humanity, weaving a beautiful story featuring a Jewish family and an Arab family. I learned so many details of the daily lives of both groups--I learned that the world is not good or bad, but somewhere inbetween, and that most people in that region are simply trying to make the best of a terrible situation.

I get the feeling that Ms. Sasson is trying to tell us what we all should know--that most people are good--that few people are evil--and that we must keep fanatics from determining our ideas.

Admittedly, the book ended too soon for me. Now I want to know what happens to the characters and I only hope that Ms. Sasson sees fit to write a sequel to this very compelling book.

I recommend this book to every American--you will learn so much in the most enjoyable manner. The world needs more writers that do not use their writing ability to make us hate--Ms. Sasson makes us see both sides of an issue and I admire her for this.

Ester's Child, Jean Sasson's latest book and first attempt at fiction is a must read for anybody who is interested, baffled, and confused with the on-going and never-ending conflict between the people of Israel and Palestine. I have read most of Ms. Sasson's other books, all of which are nonfiction. How she was able to make the switch from writing nonfiction to fiction leaves me in awe of this incredibly talented author. Ester's Child can only be described as an epic, but unlike other sweeping historical novels, Ms. Sasson is economical in her use of words. There is not so much as a wasted sentence in the entire novel. And in spite of a large cast of characters, each one is memorable. Joseph and Ester Gale, Demetrius Antoun, Christine Kleist, and Jordan Gale evolve in Ester's Child as believably real people, living real life dramas. I will always think of them whenever I pick up a newspaper and read of the latest human tragedy in that dark and bloody ground. Likewise, there must be real people in both the Israeli and Palestinian camps who will recognize themselves and others in these characters.
If it is true that the pen is mightier than the sword, then Ms. Sasson wields one of unusual power. And if ever there was a book that should be made into a movie it is Ester's Child. I hope Stephen Spielberg reads it. I hope Ariel Sharon and Yasser Arafat read it, too.

I am an avid reader, reading at least one book a week, along with numerous magazines and newspapers. After 9/11, I wanted to know EVERYTHING about every reason listed telling us why certain Muslims feel they have a valid reason to attack America and Americans. I searched to find various books on the issue of Jews/Arabs and this book caught my attention. The current violence in Israel led me to buy ESTER'S CHILD by Jean Sasson. As I read this book, I was astonished at how little I really knew about the Jews & Palestinians who live in Israel. Why is this not taught in school? It creates such understanding to know the history of this age-old conflict, yet Jean Sasson teaches history in the most interesting manner--in the pages of a well-written and wonderfully compassionate book--without even trying.

Honestly, I cannot believe that this book is not required reading in high schools and universities. This is the kind of book that gets young people to reading!!! Young people are going to be running governments in just a few years and they need to know how people FEEL who live these events...

Wake up world! We must understand the history of these conflicts before we can stop them!!!

After reading this book, I felt compelled to buy everything by this author and I am starting PRINCESS when I finish this review.

I now have a new "favorite" author, JEAN SASSON.

Thank you Jean for this extremely compelling book... I encourage every one who reads this review to buy this book, absorb this book. You will be glad that you did...

This harrowing book recounts the stories of individual Kuwaitis who suffered horribly in the days just after the Iraqi invasion in 1990. The focus on individuals makes the book all the more moving; the author's knowledge of and sympathy for the subject country comes through clearly. One can't knock the stories of the Kuwaitis; I was a little disappointed in the author (mention is made of the Kuwaiti government's lack of democracy, which she rationalizes by resorting to the old "a nation's internal policies are no one else's business" excuse, also used by none other than Saddam Hussein). For this, I was forced to deduct a star from the rating.

I know this author, Jean Sasson, from her PRINCESS Trilogy, and from her last book, ESTER'S CHILD. I had a difficult time finding this book, but was not disappointed with a second-hand copy. Although the book is obviously written in a hurry due to the situation at the time, and certainly not up to the quality writing of her last 4 books, you can tell that Jean Sasson cares passionately about these human beings and wants their stories to be told. I was surprised at her ability to interview so many high-ranking government officials but after reading her bio and seeing that she lived for 12 years in Arabia, I realized that she probably knows the "ins and outs" of the area. For certain, she is one brave lady and does not seem to concern herself with her own safety. Admittedly, she does seem to try and please everyone just a tad much, but I wonder if that is her Southern background--friendly and warm.
At any rate, I do admire this author and I think it was a story that needing telling by someone who obviously liked the Arabs being interviewed. The author seems to have a knack to not judge, and to try and get to the heart of the matter.
I recommend this book in light of the ongoing situation with Iraq. Who knows when Saddam will decide to go back to Kuwait? This author tells the truth of that invasion straight from the mouths of the people who survived a very brutal day. Let's just hope a second book about a second invasion is not in our future!

I have read all three books and have not been disappointed. Well, I guess I was disappointed that the book had to end! The plight of women is very sad. Even though this book is very sad, I think this is an easy read, very entertaining, and by far one of my favorite books! I feel as if I know Princess Sultana personally. While reading all of the Princess books I have felt as if I were in Saudi Arabia. I recommend this book to all my friends! This book was so interesting that I read it in three days and I have a 14 month old. I just couldn't put it down! You WILL NOT be disappointed if you read this book. I encourage you to write to Jean after you read this book to convince her to write a fourth book. Tell all your friends this book is worth reading!

While PRINCESS is my favorite of the PRINCESS TRILOGY, this is my second favorite--not that DAUGHTERS is not a wonderful read. But CIRCLE does bring the reader full circle, following Sultana's changes into a mature woman who has left many of her childhood actions behind.

I heard the author speak last year and I was distressed to hear that this is the last book she will write about Princess Sultana. I was not the only one as I saw two or three women actually weep and implore the author not to stop writing about Sultana.

I disagree strongly with the author's decision and implore her to reconsider. The world needs such books: they tell us about countries few people will have the opportunity to visit (Saudi Arabia) about lives we can only imagine (royal & rich) and situations unknown to most (multiple wives and wealth beyond imagination). On top of that, we have a strong woman to admire.

Aside from the fact these 3 books are highly readable; they change lives. Why would an author stop writing about such a successful topic when she has scores of faithful readers?
I hope the author sees this and responds with a 4th book about the women of Saudi Arabia. Ms. Sasson: Let us hear more about Sultana and her family! (I commend the author for her lively accounts of tragic situations--such skill is very rare.)

EVERYONE WHO READS THIS: If you don't buy these books, you are missing out on one of the best reads of your life.

When Jean Sasson wrote her first in the trilogy, PRINCESS, little was known about women in Saudi Arabia, or behind the veil. Since that time there have been many books that came out but nothing has touched Jean Sasson's titles. They are simply the best.

The Western world had little knowledge of Saudi Arabia, but Sasson lived and worked in the Kingdom for over 10 years, and during that time, she became involved with the women who had to live behind the veil.

I like the way she makes you feel you are living the story yourself. Although this Princess Sultana has moments where she is spoiled and less than admirable, that's part of the charm. Sasson has not tried to make these women perfect, but she has given them LIFE.

I've heard there is a lot of protest from readers who do not believe all these horror stories that took place in Saudi Arabia, but all a person has to do is read the news these days and know that Sasson told a lot of truths. If she embellished a bit to get our attention, then I don't mind.

CIRCLE is my favorite of the three as Sultana has matured, but every one of the TRILOGY should be read by every person who cares about human rights.

Having lived in Saudi Arabia for five years, I applaud Ms. Sasson for having written about the position of women in that society. In my work, I had contact with Saudis - both men and women - together and separately. There are few western women there and even fewer that have contact with Saudi women and families. This is the only explanation I can give for the reviewers that claim to 'know better'. In Saudi Arabia women have very little freedom and are often abused. Princess is well written and very enlightening for Westerners. I have recommended the book to friends, who always express disbelief. This book is sad, scary, and unbelievable. But it surely is the true story of one woman's life and should be read by one and all. The world needs to know!

Islam has nothing to do with the Saudi's treatment of women. This is cultural, not religious, practice. The story of Princess Sultana's children continue to bring the horror of this system into focus for the rest of the world. I hope there will be more! Bravo, Ms. Sasson!

Princess Sultanas daughters is just as sad and heart wrenching as the earlier book Princess. It infuriates me to think about the hypocricy, brutality and insensitivity of Saudi men. I lived in Bahrain for 11 years and am also a Muslim. Jean Sassons books are a very accurate description of Saudi culture and the treatment of women, and it is very important when reading the book to realise that the injustices that are taking place in that country are based on years of tradition and not the Islamic religion. Once again, I think that point has also been stressed on numerous occasions throughout the books.

I admire the princess for her courage and strength and I adore the way she stands up to what is wrong. For those who may think that the "princess who told the story is an activist, but not much of one", it is obvious that the readers have missed a major point in these books. That is to illustrate the absolute helplessness of women in these societies. In a country where a women is raped by a man and then murdered by her father for 'allowing' it to happen, it is clearly difficult for women to voice their opinions. In a country such as the United States where there is freedom of speech it is feasible for people to form large powerful support groups to fight for a cause.....In Saudi Arabia, a group of women fighting for a cause would simply mean......the group of women would suffer! The princess has done the best she can in a country where the penelty for doing so is death. The women in Saudi Arabia are not "the most spineless creatures on earth", but are trapped in a society where no matter where they look they are alone and have no support, and understandably so prefer to live for their children.

After reading PRINCESS ten years ago, I was not aware that the author had written two sequels. When I discovered that fact, I rushed out to buy them. I don't know any reader of these books who do not get addicted.

All I can say is that these books are worth the money and time a person will spend buying and reading them.

My daughter recently turned 14 and I allowed her to read the first book. PRINCESS actually changed her life! She now has purpose and has decided that she will be working in an organization on behalf of women. She has gotten her friends to read the books, and just this past week learned that her school will be using Ms. Sasson's books as required reading. Every school should do the same.

These books on Sultana by Jean Sasson does have that effect: changes people's lives!

I am grateful for such books and recommend them to every reader, highly educated thinkers or working persons--they are for everyone.

Book Review: The Princess -"Jean Sasson"

An excellent book, that really hits on what's missing in the media.....The truth This is a Biography of an anonymous Saudi Arabian Princess - who has risked her life to tell the tale of life behind the veil.... Sultana leaves little to the imagination when describing the male domination of her society and the harsh life style this leads to - particularly among the fanatically religious - to whom child brides (to men as old as their grandfathers), are little more than a way of life - and the killing of a woman who has disobeyed you is ignored and swept under the carpet If you think that your life is hard - read this and think yourself lucky to be alive in this world of a rat race.... Sultana is a wealthy Princess born into the wealth of oil that her country have stumbled upon - She has everything materialistic that she could hope for, or, even imagine - Yet she is still distraught with her social strata - which carries with it a lifestyle of abuse to human rights Men are all that matter in this culture and they make the rules to appease their desires - which are mainly sexual and lead to the abuse of teenage and even child harems - the buying of children for sex from poorer countries such as Egypt ..... These are only a few of the harsh revelations uncovered Sultana is most fortunate to have married a loving and caring man . This along with the forced marriage of her niece to a cruel and depraved older man, and her discovery of the harem of sex slaves kept by a cousin, makes her more determined than ever to fight the oppression of women in Saudi Arabia for herself, her sisters and her daughters.....

This book is not a one off as most Biographies are - but its series emphasises the on going troubles of the country (Others in the series "Desert Royal" and "Daughters of Arabia") Once you read the first of the series you are hooked into Sassons's empathetic style This is a book of life - from the coming of age to marriage and to motherhood - all set against the highly contrasted lifestyle of a Saudi Princess - with the lavish materialistic backdrop of pure elegance and the harsh lifestyle that women must constantly battle against or surrender to and loose all freedom. Although women will find this easier to relate to than men - that is not to say that it is a female only book - far from it - it is a factual book that would appeal to all that have an interest in our world and its societies and the oppression of human rights......

This book was one of the most heart-wrenching books i have ever read in my life. Although its been almost a year since i read this book, i still feel anguished over the lifestyle of the women there whenever i think about it. It's very obvious to me after reading all the other reviews that the ones who were brought up in the Muslim countries are the ones who're protesting about the lifestyle portrayed in this book...but let me say this, i myself am from a developing country and although my country is not an outwardly suppressive culture, people like me are suffocated by male domination and the lack of power & equality in our homes....but i must add that some of my friends are quite happy with the culture and greatly respect it, but they dont see it the way it is set up. For those of you (women)who think your lives are happy in that sort of culture, look closely at yourself and ask yourself if you're allowed to do anything you want,and if you have a voice in important matters!!! I'm sure some people do have freedom of thought and choice but not everybody does and a person has to keep that in mind.i'm sure there are happy women in those countries like sultana's sister for one, but there are people like the princess who understand and are bothered with the lack of importance women are given in their countries and want to change it.The princess may be filthy rich but she cares, oh yes, she definitely cares about womens rights in her country AND her money does not buy her happiness or equality among the sexes. I know some people believe the book is exaggerated, but i have alot of friends from these countries and i absolutely confirm that this book was quite an accurate version of what my friends told me and although my culture is different there are similiarities in the way women are treated by society, hence i can relate to these women. Although a few scenes were outrageous and un=believable in the book, I completely believe everything the author wrote because as I mentioned, some of my friends had to go through the horrors of quite a few things done to women out there!! I was deeply affected by this book and i sincerely grieve for the women in these circumstances...I just hope, one day, these women get the freedom that they're looking for!!!

In the course of the true life stories found in the book Princess, by Jean P. Sasson, the reader becomes enveloped in the terrible and heart-wrenching lifestyles of middle-eastern women. Through the course of the narrative, though horrifying stories are related in a truly eye-opening manner, the reader discovers a true slice of Princess Sultana's imaginative and vivacious personality, and weeps as it slowly becomes lost in the process of womanhood in Saudi Arabia. "The history of our women is buried behind the black veil of secrecy. Neither our births or deaths are made official in any public record. The common emotion expressed at the birth of a female is either sorrow or shame." These few sentences, which bring about the whole theme of the non-entity of women, lead us to much more shocking crimes against women which, in that society, are not considered to be crimes whatsoever. The stories of Nadia, who was drowned in the family pool by her father as a way of "protecting her honor", her sister Sara, who attempted suicide after being sold as a wife to a sick and sexually brutal elderly man, and a brave Filipino maid named Madeline, who was raped nightly by all the male members of the family she served under, illustrate how Jean Sasson was able to intertwine other supporting character's stories with the life of Princess Sultana effectively and believably. Some stories, which show how these incredibly courageous women, can survive in this kind of life, bring the reader to cry and cheer simultaneously. Others, which, sadly, lack the happy ending we could hope for, are gut-wrenching due to the fact that they are horribly true. Behind the black veil of the Muslim women lie incredibly diverse personalities, characters, and spirits, which come alive to us through the voice of Sultana. I admired how the life of one woman, who lived a lifestyle vastly different from those of her readers, could showcase such a passion for life that I was able to relate to her and her stories. While listening to her descriptions of daily crimes against others like her and her description of her feelings of powerlessness, causes the reader to have feelings of injustice stir within them. During the episode where Sultana finally uses her ingenuity to it's potential and manages to flee her country and abusive husband, you are able to applaud her efforts and cheer her on. Overall, this book becomes a touching experience for most, if not all, who read it. Through the coldheartedness of males such as Ali, her brother, and her father, it is a miracle that Sultana manages to respect members of the male race when it is entirely obvious that they have little, if any, respect for her. "I waited for my destiny to unfold, a child as helpless as an insect trapped in a wicked web not of it's own making." Although this statement was Sultana's, it translates the general feeling of oppression hidden behind the black veil in the middle east. Indeed, these words could have been spoken by nearly every female character in the book, because they all, at one point in time, are overcome with the feeling of helplessness and realize that there is not one person who can deliver them from whatever circumstance they are in, because they are all suppressed by the male race. The men are nearly all, with the exception of King Faisal, portrayed as the iron fist in the velvet glove. Their views of women, and how they make their opinions clear, is extraordinarily chilling and saddening. The dignity, the souls, and occasionally, the lives of these women are lost throughout the course of the book. The issues that are addressed, such as honor killings, sexual slavery, arranged marriages, and female genital mutilation, all bring to mind the horrors that still exist today. In conclusion, although this is first of all a must-read for anyone with an interest in human rights and women's rights, I would strongly recommend it to anyone. It touches the heart and stirs the soul so that the reader cannot help but be moved by the stories of these women. Hopefully, with this book's publication, the fact that Sultana risked her life to allow her story to be heard will not have gone in vain.