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A review by cbollinger43
The Tyrant's Daughter by J.C. Carleson
5.0
EVERY SINGLE PERSON SHOULD READ THIS, ESPECIALLY ALL YOU AMERICANS!!
Seriously, though, I'm not exaggerating. This book is beautiful. It is a definite must-read.
Discovery. Laila is a "princess" from the Middle East who fled to the US with her mother and little brother when her father was killed in a coup staged by her uncle. What a nice family she has. Anyway, the book is told through her eyes, and it shows her discovering so much about her life There and her life Here (as she puts it). She finds out that no one is exactly what they seem and that their is a huge difference between public and private lives. Perfect example: her father. To the world, he was a dictator, tyrant, terrible person. To Laila, he was a loving father, caring husband, king, the one who named her when everyone else thought she would die. I really connected with her over this, because who hasn't had someone be nice to your face and go and stab you in the back, showing their true colors.
Perspective. This book gives you such a great perspective on what we Americans take for granted in America. Laila moves here and the smallest things are amazing to her. She goes shopping at the grocery store and can't believe that there is an entire aisle devoted to CEREAL. Back home, that was a luxury for her. Same with peanut butter and mustard. Aisles full of them; they're not a luxury in America, they're an everyday food. Even just the idea of women walking around alone in tank tops and stuff. That doesn't happen in the Middle East.
Laila says:
Reality. Now, this book isn't based on a true story, in so many words. As the author writes "this book is pure fiction that is inspired by real events." (284). It's an interesting take on all the violence and unrest in the Middle East. Everyone has families, even dictators and tyrants, so what do they think of what's going on? If you read the author's note, she explains how there were many parallels between her book and real life events that happened as she was writing. Part of this book's appeal is the reality-check it gives you.
The Commentary by Dr. Cheryl Benard is a must-read. It's hard to sum up exactly what it discusses. I guess it's about actual women who were thrust into the Middle Eastern political scene because of who their families were. It's definitely insightful.
So, like I said earlier, JUST GO READ THIS BOOK! You'll be glad you did.
Seriously, though, I'm not exaggerating. This book is beautiful. It is a definite must-read.
Discovery. Laila is a "princess" from the Middle East who fled to the US with her mother and little brother when her father was killed in a coup staged by her uncle. What a nice family she has. Anyway, the book is told through her eyes, and it shows her discovering so much about her life There and her life Here (as she puts it). She finds out that no one is exactly what they seem and that their is a huge difference between public and private lives. Perfect example: her father. To the world, he was a dictator, tyrant, terrible person. To Laila, he was a loving father, caring husband, king, the one who named her when everyone else thought she would die. I really connected with her over this, because who hasn't had someone be nice to your face and go and stab you in the back, showing their true colors.
Perspective. This book gives you such a great perspective on what we Americans take for granted in America. Laila moves here and the smallest things are amazing to her. She goes shopping at the grocery store and can't believe that there is an entire aisle devoted to CEREAL. Back home, that was a luxury for her. Same with peanut butter and mustard. Aisles full of them; they're not a luxury in America, they're an everyday food. Even just the idea of women walking around alone in tank tops and stuff. That doesn't happen in the Middle East.
Laila says:
But how to explain the lack of choices-the sheer absence of options-to people who make more decisions before breakfast than I mad in a palace-bound month?
Reality. Now, this book isn't based on a true story, in so many words. As the author writes "this book is pure fiction that is inspired by real events." (284). It's an interesting take on all the violence and unrest in the Middle East. Everyone has families, even dictators and tyrants, so what do they think of what's going on? If you read the author's note, she explains how there were many parallels between her book and real life events that happened as she was writing. Part of this book's appeal is the reality-check it gives you.
The Commentary by Dr. Cheryl Benard is a must-read. It's hard to sum up exactly what it discusses. I guess it's about actual women who were thrust into the Middle Eastern political scene because of who their families were. It's definitely insightful.
So, like I said earlier, JUST GO READ THIS BOOK! You'll be glad you did.