In the Land of Invisible Women

A Female Doctor's Journey in the Saudi Kingdom

By: Qanta A. Ahmed MD

Narrated by: Nicola Barber

Length: 14 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

The decisions that change your life are often the most impulsive ones. Unexpectedly denied a visa to remain in the United States, Qanta Ahmed, a young British Muslim doctor, becomes an outcast in motion. On a whim, she accepts an exciting position in Saudi Arabia. This is not just a new job; this is a chance at adventure in an exotic land she thinks she understands, a place she hopes she will belong. What she discovers is vastly different.

The Kingdom is a world apart, a land of unparalleled contrast. She finds rejection and scorn in the places she believed would most embrace her, but also humor, honesty, loyalty, and love. And for Qanta, more than anything, it is a land of opportunity. It is a place where she discovers what it takes for one woman to recreate herself in the land of invisible women.

©2008 Qanta Ahmed (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Could have been so much more

The writing ranges from indifferent to awkward, but that is not the only reason I rate this books as merely "ok". It had the potential to be so much more than it is.

Dr. Qanta A. Ahmed is capable of close observation--no critical care physician can lack this ability--and some of her descriptions are very closely observed, indeed. It is a shame that these are mostly limited to the physical appearance of the people she meets and of their clothing, homes and cars.

Yet we cannot call Ahmed shallow because the religious experience she underwent in the Kingdom was clearly deeply felt. I am disappointed that she did not spend more time exploring it and less time looking for well-worn metaphors to describe it.

The main problem with In the Land of Invisible Women, in my opinion, is that it never quite seems to decide what kind of book it is. Is it the description of the author's religious itinerary? Then why leave that almost exclusively to the section on her Haj (pilgrimage to Mecca)? Is it the story of a Western-trained double-boarded physician who happens to be a woman practicing in the very different and restrictive conditions experienced by female physicians in the Kingdom? Then tell us more about that.

Is this a book about Saudi culture? Then spend less time on describing cars, jewelry and clothing and more time on behavior, attitudes, laws and social expectations. Is it a book about the history of Wahabi extremism in Saudia? Then write it as a history and don't try to squeeze it in as background in artificial-sounding conversations.

The main problem I found with this book is its lack of focus. There is so much potential here for a riveting memoir or a fascinating analysis. Ahmed sold herself short by taking the easy way out.

This book will be particularly interesting to people with little or no knowledge of Islam, people who don't know many Muslims. Think of it as a long, chatty letter from the friend of a friend and you won't be as disappointed as I was.

Not a bad book, just not as good as it might have been.

Women under war

As our newspapers and news inform us there is a war on women in America. While they gloss over the fact the countries such a Saudi Arabia & Pakistan kill their women for being whores.

Enjoyed the book, enjoyed the voice of the narrarator. The thing of it is....

Where are all of the books written by women or for women who were not so lucky?

We can all grab bios on Tina Fey or Suzanne Sommers.

What about Wafta Sultan, Souad and Rana Husseini? What about some audiobooks from women in Saudi Arabia, Jordan or Pakistan?

Just Saying.

Important work, somewhat too ambitious

Where does In the Land of Invisible Women rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I enjoyed this book for the most part. Nicola Barber's performance was spectacular, and Qanta Ahmed's observational skills - crucial for a physician - are on full display. I could feel the oppressive heat, sense the culture shock, and awed by her description of her Haj experience. It is, however, somewhat lost in brand-name-dropping (particularly in the first half). Once you get past that, it is a very important enlightening book, giving faces and names to "invisible" women in an uncomfortable reality of Saudi Arabia.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The description of the Haj. I was blown away by such a mass amount of people, beautiful buildings, stones, waters, prayers... it was incredibly moving.

Any additional comments?

I did enjoy this book. The first half has a lot of brand name dropping - Mercedes, Rolex, etc. - and it gets a little bit grating. However, that aside, I will never forget this book, and will likely read it again.
Qanta is a moderate Muslim who is thrown into a kingdom where women are veiled, and the veiling of Muslims is definitely described as a prison. Through two years, she learns what women - and by extension men - endure in the Saudi kingdom. She is blunt, to the point, observant, giving a realism seldom viewed. Unlike Ayaan Hirsi Ali (Infidel, Nomad), Qanta's Muslim faith remains intact, even though extremism as witnessed in Saudi Arabia does not persuade her to think as many do there, or to become resigned to her fate.

Worth buying on sale, or even for its own cash value; I wouldn't spend a credit on it, but that's just me.

Could not finish... Boring.

She goes to the Saudi Kingdom to work as a doctor. You'd think this would turn into a fascinating look into a closed society but not so. She seems to love all the quirks of "covering" and "being invisible" and gender segregation, discovers her 'Muslim-ness', goes on a Hajj and is orgasmic about being called by Allah. (Allah calls those to Hajj so if you want to go, ipso facto you've been called.)

Think 'Lifetime for Women', Saudi style

Boring ain't in it. I would have happily returned this to audible but as of now you can only return 2 books per 6 months regardless of how many books you buy.

MORE THAN I EXPECTED

Not know anything about this book, I was pleasantly surprised. I just had to know what this was about. I leant a lot about the women of The Kingdom and the menfolk.
I found the discussion with the writer, at the conclusion, to be a surprise and a well received time of listening. Will definitely look for more of Qanta A. Ahmed's book. She writes excelently.

Awesome

Awesome
Eye opening
Surprising
Great narration
Informative
Important to know and be aware of how things are there

Very interesting, though biased...

Would you try another book from Qanta A. Ahmed and/or Nicola Barber?

I don't think that, based on this book, I would read another by the same author.

What was most disappointing about Qanta A. Ahmed’s story?

I was a little bit alarmed by the degree of bias about the hijab. I mean, she wrote about it erasing women, stealing their personhood and their rights. I certainly understand that she was writing from her own experience as a Western woman, but it seemed to project a western interpretation of a foreign practice. The whole book did that, really. I think that was both honest and unfair. It made the book interesting, but also disappointing. I mean, one doesn't need to go to the Saudi Kingdom to get a Westerner's take on women's rights in the Middle East.

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved the chapters about the haj.

Did In the Land of Invisible Women inspire you to do anything?

It inspired me to find books written by women who are actually from the Saudi Kingdom.

Any additional comments?

I appreciated the kind of investigatory nature of the book and the "revelation" of the women's world in the Saudi Kingdom.

Educational

I don’t often write reviews, but this author so transparent in her opinions and so observant has given me a great lesson on the life and difficulties of this fascinating far away land so different to my reality that is had to believe it exists. I appreciate the great writing rich vocabulary and and focus on the message intended. I would highly recommend this book. I look forward to visiting Saudi Arabia one day myself.

Interesting perspective

Good story. Not my favorite memoir but enlightening and honest. I enjoyed the truth in emotions and internal and societal conflicts presented.

good book

thoroughly enjoyed a peek into the lives of the women in Riyadh. It was an eye opening experience to learn about the educated women in the kingdom.