Single in Saudi Paperback – December 3, 2002

REVIEW of Jan Stowe’s BookSINGLE IN SAUDI,by “ nom de plume” GeniaI just finished reading your fascinating book. Wow, what a good job! I thought it was a very well organized and although, not the main narrative, the historical facts were so well blended that it made the book educational as well as a great story. After reading Single in Saudi, I took the trip with you, felt the history, saw the sights in addition to having all the delicious experiences too!I am so glad you took the time to keep notes on your trip so that I got to vicariously experience through you this phenomenal adventure and learn about this unique and kind and cruel culture as thought I was there.I so agree with you about the “too well organized” trips that you had to Bali and Thailand “in and out of busses” is an intolerable way to experience a country; however, seeing “the world on your own terms” and then picking………Saudi Arabia and the remote village of Kamis Mushayt…wow, now that’s daring and courageous choice of location for your “own terms” experience!I am laughing when you said in New York when you were “overdoing it” with your lover Quote from the book“…For all I know, I would have no sex for t he next two years since I was headed to the land of four D’s -...no driving, dating, drinking and no dope.” Little did you know at that time! LOLCan’t believe you were allowed the bottle of Scotch on the plane. Oh, the good ole days!So interesting the plight of the woman of that country – from the Obayas; to the poor English woman you encountered in the country who had been “put out” by her husband; the accepted infidelity of the men; the terror the woman must have lived with who could by her husband saying “I divorce you” three times be ousted; worst of all, the brutal and unsanitary clitoris removals with its accompanying infections, camel dung….really??I am glad you found the woman who opened the bank with all her jewelry! YOU GO JEWERLY GIRL she could be an honorary member of TISFA!Just mentioned above, were my stand out shocking and hard realities in the book of how the woman of Saudi were treated. The additional information about their common everyday realities you also included and effortlessly wove seamlessly throughout the novel. Good job and great reading. For anyone that needs to understand this culture, your book is a must READ.I was astonished with your trip to Africa and the murder right in the middle of your camp. Oh my Gosh, Jan…..that’s all I can say about that except I am glad you made it home alive!The Blue Grotto, you contraband chances, your accommodations at Kamis Mushayt and its water problems, your homemade wine jerry cans brewing needs, the massive bottles of “wet label” liquor you found when you were scuba diving…the lecherous men on every corner, the anti fornication guards, so unique and interesting!The endless countries you visited: Italy, Vienna, Africa, Austria, Finland, Germany, France, and more and more and more etc. and for me the stand out was your explanation of your visit to the Egyptian pyramids –I so loved you description of a place that I long to go to so much. I had no idea that you could “look down through the narrow little vortex of light that is visible from the top of the pyramid to the bottom.” How could they do that with that massive structure?I loved that you smuggled your marijuana in seeds in a pepper grinder; how Mohammed and Ali hid your shoes; that God put you where your extraordinary skills were needed for the burn victims and their fortune that you were there where you great ability and courage to care for them was needed so badly. I loved it when you hid under you Obaya for your forbidden meetings and; I loved your nutmeg experiences lol and all the wonderful and not so wonderful men you met along the way - Flavio and his father, Al, Aziz, Stefan, Sir John “Menage A Trois” Hullbert.The Arab man that for a kiss on the cheek bought you $4,000 of so many beautiful things – and, of course, unforgettable Prince of Lechery Mohammad and let’s not forget Ole Jim! And all the other great gentlemen and lovers you met along the way too numerous for me to mention. lol I loved how sweet Albert was to you in London but certainly didn’t like the reason that you were there. My gosh, Jan, you survived the tubal pregnancy and then if that was not enough your second loss, my heart goes out to you.The book is beyond wonderful Jan, I am so glad you wrote it. My final note and praise to you Jan was the “letter” you wrote to all your friends explaining what they might be encountering in your strange behavior upon your returning. After reading your book, I felt every word of the explanation of what your, slow journey back to “normal”, you anticipated would look like to your friends as you re-acclimated to the states!! That was so clever, hilarious and inspired prose!Single in Saudi a must read!

My feelings toward this book are really ambivalent. On the one hand, it is entertaining to read, on the other hand, the author is very unlikeable. You get a glimpse of this in the prologue where she coyly says that only she knows whether or not she really had all those sexual encounters. She admits that she added a lot of sex to spice up the book. If your memoir is so dull that you need to add fictional sex to make it interesting, should you even be writing one?I hoped for an inside look of life in Saudi Arabia and all I got was a glimpse at a hedonestic, self-indulgent, insecure woman who proclaims feminism while allowing many, many men to use her body and treat her like a sex object. Sure she gave as good as she got by using them for free food and jewelry and airline tickets, but is it any wonder that men in other societies consider American women to be whores who can be bought. She judges the characer Johnnie for things that she herself is guilty of. It's really hard not to judge her for her actions, especially when she herself is so judgmental and condescending towards others. I felt that instead of trying to understand and appreciate Saudi culture, she looked down on it and felt like she was better than them. It is entertaining, as someone else put it, like a Jackie Collins novel. Don't expect any epiphanies or revelations.

I had to laugh at some of the previous reviews that found it sounded more fictional than factual. Or inaccurate or even disrespectful of the culture. I too was in the Kingdom during this time in history. Is the book a total and comprehensive view of the nation at that time? Of course not. It wasn't intended to be. It was a very accurate portrayal of some single women at some points in the history of foreigners in the workforce. Read this book ESPECIALLY of you never saw this side of living there. It DID exist. Back in the 70's there were flight attendants (especially blondes) that were paid $300 plus jewelry ONLY to go to dinner with some Saudi men. I applaud the author's bravery and honesty.

It was quite funny to read. She sure had a pretty good time in Saudi Arabia. Some how the saudi come off as a little hypocrite. What one must bear in mind is that the veil in any of it's forms is not in the Koran, but came into use due to the rampants of the Turkish Ottoman troupes searchinf for pretty girls for the Sultan's harem.

Having lived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for eight years, I could relate to this book written by Genia. I think to fully understand what Genia has written about, one has to actually live in Saudi Arabia and experience the life there. I loved every moment of my time there and will always have fond memories of living and working in Riyadh.

Since the author didn't reveal her identity it's difficult to gauge the veracity of this story. There were strange gaps, leaving unanswered questions (for instance: what happened to the painting purchased in Italy. Did she take it back to Saudi? How did she get it there?). Did every man she encountered want to bed her? Too bad she couldn't have collaborated with a talented ghost writer...

I just started this book last night and haven't even made it through the first chapter. I had to check the reviews here to see why I'd even purchased the book in the first place (I buy a lot based on recommendations). I was shocked to see all the positive ratings.The book is loaded with grammar and spelling errors. If this doesn't bother you then you might find the book enjoyable. I'm not an English major, or one to correct anyone's grammar, but I expect a book to be written much better than this. A good proofreader would have easily discovered these mistakes.I don't know if I'll finish the book at this point. Very disappointing.

I personally found this book to be very truthful & a honest recollection of a single women's experiences of life in a very much Male oriented Country!..Has I read, each page it came alive, with her experiences.... Such a well written book, by someone who had been there & most certainly done it!!!.....Highly recommended. 5*****

I so wish I had the opportunities that led to romance and travel as depicted in this book. The author has led a very interesting life and her story has inspired me to be a bit more adventurous. A really good story providing good insight into life as it was in Saudi Arabia.

I found this book easy to follow and interesting. It gives you a feel of how life really was like for the people working in Saudi and also an insight into what makes Arab men tick.

this starts off ok but gets after a while it is just an account of her sex life and how many she jumps into bed with. I would not recommend this book.

Not what was expected but no comment...somehow i could not manage to read the whole lot for no apparent reason...