I enjoyed the first book from Jean Sasson titled 'Princess' that detailed the childhood and adulthood of Princess Sultana in Saudi Arabia. Sasson's second book 'Princess Sultana's Daughters' while still an interesting and quick read, was not as impressive but if the reader is wanting to know more about the shameful treatment of women in Islamic culture and/or enjoys reading about life in the Kingdom's royal family, then this book is for you.

The endless and inordinate wealth from oil production has led to the spoiling and pampering of the Saudi Arabian elite . To hear Sultana describe so casually the uncontrolled spending and outrageous lifestyle of her family was almost sickening (and not from a jealousy standpoint!) Imagine multiple private jets for each family; huge palaces all over the world with silly features like solid silver doorknobs and silver coated stairways. Or how about having multiple servants at your beck and call who are treated and viewed as slaves. Imagine having a million dollars cash kept in the house for "just-in-case money" and each family members room safe for all their jewels (small children included!) It is just too much to take in one sitting.
You will be amazed at the arrogant and condescending attitudes and the sense of entitlement felt by members of the royal family-people who have contributed absolutely nothing positive to society but merely born into wealth.

Alas, even with all that money, one must never forget that Saudi Arabia is home to Islam and adheres to the strict interpretation of the Koran and Shari'a Law. Human rights for women, including the royal women, are non-existent. This book explains just a few of the ways women are not treated equally, for example: women must cover entirely; never be without a male family member; cannot travel without written permission and then only with an escort; cannot drive; cannot choose their marriage partner; can not divorce (but can easily be divorced); always at the mercy of the morals police who are constantly on the lookout with red spray paint and whips in hand to punish women for not being modest enough.

Throughout the book Sultana maintains Islam is NOT the cause of all the suffering and backwardness in her country. Even as she describes her fear of one daughters obsession with and literal application of Islam; or the death of a childhood friend, locked away as a young woman without any human contact for 15 yrs for allegdedly bringing "shame" on her family she asserts Islam is NOT the reason for the cruel oppressive treatment. The author defends her religion and puts the fault on Islamic men who interpret it incorrectly. It doesn't take much to see the irony of that statement. (see all other Middle Eastern countries!)
In no other culture/religion in the world do women suffer as much as Muslim women. I cannot agree with the political correct versions of Islam as peaceful and giving of equal rights, in fact it would be laughable if it weren't so sad.
Overall this was good book and should satisfy the readers curiousity of the wealthy lifestyle in Saudi Arabia.

I enjoyed the first book from Jean Sasson titled 'Princess' that detailed the childhood and adulthood of Princess Sultana in Saudi Arabia. As for 'Princess Sultana's Daughters' while still an interesting and quick read, I was not as impressed and several topics in the book just didn't sit well with me.
If the reader is wanting to know more about the shameful treatment of women in Islamic culture and/or enjoys reading about life in the Kingdom's royal family, then this book is for you.
The endless and inordinate wealth from oil production has led to the spoiling and pampering of Saudi Arabias elite. To hear Sultana describe so casually the outrageous lifestyle of her family was almost sickening (and not from a jealousy standpoint!) From the multiple private jets for each family to huge palaces all over the world with solid silver doorknobs and silver coated stairways to the multiple servants that are routinely mistreated to the million dollars cash kept in the house for "just-in-case money" is just too much to take in one sitting.
You will be amazed at the arrogant and condescending attitudes and the sense of entitlement felt by members of the royal family who have contributed absolutely nothing positive to society but were merely born into their wealth.

Still, with all that money, one must not forget that Saudi Arabia is home to Islam and adheres to the strict interpretation of the Koran and Shari'a Law. Human rights for women are non-existent-including the royal women. This book details some of the ways women are not treated equally for example: women must cover entirely, never be without a male family member, can not travel without written permission, can not drive, can not choose their marrage partner, can not divorce but can easily be divorced, and is always at the mercy of the morals police who are constantly on the lookout with their red spray paint and whips to punish women for not being modest enough. Even as Sultana describes her own daughters rigid and literal application of Islam and how it scared her or a childhood friend that was locked away without any human contact for 15 yrs before dying because she was considered "shameful" by her Islamic family, she asserts Islam is NOT the reason for the cruel oppressive treatment. The author defends her religion and puts the fault on Islamic men who interpret it incorrectly. It doesn't take much to see the irony of that statement.
In no other culture/religion in the world do women suffer as much as Muslim women. I can not agree with the political correct versions of Islam as peaceful and giving of equal rights, in fact it's laughable if it weren't so sad.
Overall this was good book and should satisfy the readers curiousity of the wealthy lifestyle in Saudi Arabia.

I re-read this book after recently finishing a book titled 'Girls of Riyadh' that focussed on four young privileged women in Saudi society, their lives, loves and disappointments. In my opinion, Daughters of Arabia is still a better read as it gives one a more in-depth look at Saudi society, in particular the oppressed lives of its women.

For readers new to the series, I would recommend reading "Princess' first as its a more gripping account of the life on one Princess Sultana in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, whose life of untold wealth and privilege doesn't make up for the extreme strictures placed upon her and her female counterparts in the kingdom. In Daughters of Arabia, Sultana's story continues, and do do her problems - her husband Kareem decides he wnats to remarry, and in Saudi society it is hard for a woman to say no, esp with the Islamic ruling that men may have up to four wives [though Sultana does stand her ground and refuse him]. It is mostly the story about Sultana and Kareem's two daughters, Maha and Amani, who react to their strict life and oppressive customs in opposing ways - one becomes a full-blown fanatic and the other suffers a mental breakdown.

This is an insightful read for those curious to know more about the lives of women in Saudi Arabia, especially the women in the upper crust of society [though there is some coverage of the abuses suffered by the poor].

I read Princess years ago and purchased Daughters in the airport in Oman. I found it a quick read and finished it by the time I had returned to the U.S. While I enjoyed hearing more about Princess Sultana and her family, I found this book seemed to lack the continuity and narrative flow of Princess. I have since read Princess Sultana's Circle (aka Desert Royal) and found it also possesses a stronger sense of narrative than Daughters does. Daughters felt disjointed and incomplete to me. Subsequent chapters did not necessarily have much relation to previous chapters, whereas in Princess and Circle the book felt more continuous. I found the description on the back cover innacurate as each of Sultana's daughters only receives a single chapter (and Sultana's son receives one as well, so you can hardly say the book is only about daughters.) Other chapters focus on the lives of other women in Sultana's family of of her aquaintance. I also found it frustrating that there was little follow-up as far as how Maha and Amani (Sultana's daughters) were progressing with their struggles, even in Desert Royal. But if you enjoy learning about Sultana, her family, and her life this book will give you some more information. It just isn't of the same quality as the other two in the series. For those interested in the lives of women in the Middle East, I would also recommend reading about the lives of women in some less conservative countries, such as Oman, Kuwait, and the UAE. Sasson states that she isn't interested in Arab bashing and that she met many lovely Saudis in KSA, but in the U.S. people often have a very misguided sense of what Arabs are like and it is important to remember that the Princess series depicts the extremes.

I have read all the books in this series and I would recommmend that they all should be read. I think that these books should be required reading for all high school students. They are an eye opener to the way that part of world thinks and their beliefs. The books are very well written and a fast read.

I have read all the books in this series and I would recommmend that they all should be read. I think that these books should be required reading for all high school students. They are an eye opener to the way that part of world thinks and their beliefs. The books are very well written and a fast read.

Still a good continuation and interesting to learn about the princess's daughters. This book was very short and the stories were an extenion of what went on in the first book. The story was generally based on the prnicess's daughters and thier characters and personalities. How they develop and become different people. One is quite similar to her mother and the other takes after her aunty. It nice to see how the daughters develop into adults after reading about thier mother developing from a child into an adult.

The mother herself changes and swings from one mood to the next and the effect is shown on her as the books pogress and she realises what her weaknesses and tries to deal with them as best she can.

The daughters themselves have an easier life then their mother and one daughter Maha takes this for granted. It was nice to see the love Amani has for animals and the effect shown on her and how she learns to deals with things when she finds her uncles birds are in danger and kept in poor conditions. Also the feelings Maha develops when she witnesses her uncles Herem and the women he is holding there brings an intense and agressive side to Maha who tries her best to help these women out of the place. She is hurt to realise that things like that can happen in Saudia Arabia and in the Royal family. She with her mother try their best to get them out, but are not sucessful and give up.

However, if you take this as a update then you dont be diappointed. If read this thinking you a reading another side to the story or a different theme altogethrethen you may be diappointed.

I am greatly interested in the Middle East. This book helped me to begin that process of understanding. It is horrific what the fundamentilist's section of their religion has done to the women there.

I read the first book in the "Princess" series and read this one soon after. At first, it was a bit less exciting than the first book in the trilogy, as it has far less shocking new stories and startling information about life in Saudi Arabia.

However, by the time I finished the book, I realized how important it was. While the first "Princess" book lights a fire in the reader as they feel Princess Sultana's rage with women's rights, "Princess Sultana's Daughters" demonstrates how difficult it is for anyone in Saudi Arabia to have an impact on the barbaric social norms. It is not merely an update on Princess Sultana's life, as she raises 3 teenagers, but rather it is an update on the fight for women's rights in Saudi Arabia. There are several stories of not only women, but also men, in the royal family who want to change many of the social customs that have been so long accepted; yet when they try to reason with authority, rebel against it, or even flee the country, they are most often met with a force greater than themselves, and horrifying consequences. Thus, they are often driven to accept the ways of the culture and keep their mouths shut as they grow old behind the veil.

In short, "Princess Sultana's Daughters" makes you realize that the battle is much harder and the future more grim than the first book would have you beleive. Sadly, it delivers a large dose of reality and a small amount of hope.

This book was filled with a lot of depressing stories, albeit, they were told well and interesting, but they were depressing. However, if you liked the first Princess book, there is no doubt that you'll enjoy this one too.

It's not as good as the first, but it's a pretty good followup.

I read this book without having read 'Princess: A true story of life behind a veil in Saudi Arabia' and can say without that background I found it exceptional, disturbing, but still exceptional. I find it interesting to know the intricacies of how people from cultures different to mine live. Having an appreciation of Islam myself, it is, in my opinion not the religion that is the 'excuse' for the behaviour of the males in this publication, but simply, I suggest, tradition, and if I can be so crude as to say, 'pig-headed, male arrogance'!
It deeply saddens me to know that women all over the world, not just in Saudi Arabia are treated with less respect than their male counterparts and I am dissappointed in the human race when people behave in this way. I can say proudly and with experience that the middle eastern countries I have visted, the middle eastern families I stayed with, and the middle eastern men I met, (and one I married) would never 'ever' dream of treating women in the way this book details.
Definately worth a read!

....because frankly, that is what I think it is. These books just do not ring true like biographies and autobiographies normally do. I always feel I am reading a trashy novel, not at all the confidences of a woman trying to remain anonymous.

A book plucked from a friend's moving sale, I was intrigued by the title. As many I am curious to the inner workings of the Islam world. Current events have drawn the West and Arab world into greater contact. I had hoped this book would shed more light on my own understanding of the Arab world.

Daughters of Arabia is told from the viewpoint of a immensely rich royal princess. Her side comments and flippant nature to the luxury in which she lives leaves the reader at times wondering if she might be nothing more than a spoiled brat yearning for attention. Certainly one begins to grasp how our demand for oil has taken the nation of Saudi Arabia from absolute poverty to unfathomable wealth in just 30 some years.

The storyteller (the princess) weaves her tale much like a gossip column on her own family. This makes Daughters of Arabia a quick and easy read. Yet it also weakens the princess' main argument for women's rights in these lands by removing much of her creditability and reducing her to an idle and rich housewife. The reader is able to see the plight of some in the periphery of her story. My heart indeed is burdened for those under the burden of such cultural traditions.

The tale is entertaining and an enjoyable read, yet certainly not one to base your complete understanding of the complex issues of the Arab world.

After having read the first book in the Princess trilogy, I was eagerly waiting for this book. Princess Sultana's Daughter's exceeded my expectations. This book was extremely well written and I felt like I was watching everything unfold in front of me. Some parts of this book are uplifting, others are really funny, and some parts are sad. On the whole, I thought it was wonderful how this book talked about Saudi life and the Muslim religion. I would recommend this book if you desire to learn about Saudi Arabia or their customs and are looking for an entertaining read.

This book presents itself as a credible account of a princess's life in the Royal Family of Saudi Arabia. This is the second book in a three book series; "Princess" is the first and "Princess Sultana's Circle," the third. Through this book the princess discusses the devastating effects of oppression on her daughters. She desrcribes her daughter's extreme actions through their lives as evidence of the effects of inhumanity suffered by women. This is life for an isolated family whose wealth is so extreme it's hard to believe others in the same country experience similar situations.

I recently read the first book in this series and was spellbound. I was transfixed by how unyielding muslim life for women can be in Arab countries so I also read "Honor Lost" which is a book about honor killings of women in Jordan. I wondered how the dialogues could be so script perfect in that book but then I read that the author of that book is having her credibility challenged and the book is being pulled by the publisher. As it turns out she may have spent her entire life just outside Chicago and not in Jordan as she claims.

I also read: "Reading Lolita in Tehran" - and loved how the author described her reading circle in Iran and that story was very believeable; and "The Sewing Circles of Herat" which is another well written book about courageous women in Afghanistan who find ingenius ways to preserve their culture without raising suspicions.

I know that the Taliban in Afghanistan was mercilessly brutal to women. There was no such thing as due process and certainly no mercy for almost anyone. Now what about other muslim and/or Arab countries?

I think so much of this has come to western attention because we still find it so hard to believe that anyone would fly a plane into a building and kill himself and so many innocent people in the name of God. The muslim faith and teachings of the K'oran have become very confusing to me. So are our western sensibilities being exploited by authors and publishers capitalizing on our need to have greater understanding or is life really this suffocating for muslim women or maybe some of both?

I thought Princess was a very well written, and engaging book. I had no idea that some of the things discussed in the book were taking place in other areas of our world, and felt humbled that I have taken my life of freedom so easily for granted.

Sultana often makes mention of her desire to change her country for the better, and I picked up the second book expecting that I might read of ways that she has gone about making these changes. I realize that one person, let alone a woman in Saudi Arabia, cannot make these changes overnight, but I really did not see much evidence of what she is doing... just what it is she wants changed. I didn't find myself doubting any of the events she described in her second book, but I just felt that this book was written for shock value. Chapter after chapter is written of tragic events that have taken place and I finished reading the book feeling thoroughly discouraged. I do think we all need to be educated as to what is happening to women in this country, and maybe Sultana's intent is to bring about change by getting this word out to the world. I just wasn't as impressed with this book as I was the first. It is evident that Sultana is burdened by what is going on around her, and it seems that her husband supports her desire to advance women's rights, but yet they continue to live lives of amazing luxury while often standing aside and taking a hands off approach when tragedy befalls friends and family. This was a good book, but not filled with the info I was hoping to find.

For a different perspective of life as a woman in Saudi Arabia, I recommend you read Single in Saudi by Genia. It is the rollicking and revealing story of a single American nurse working and playing in Saudi Arabia. She got away with all of the things Sultana could not in this very restrictive society.

I was riveted to this book as I worked in Saudi Arabia and had heard many similar stories from the various women I met. Shocking but true stories that are hard for the liberated Western woman to believe. A new book has recently been published called "Single in Saudi" by Genia,it gives a different perspective of life in Arabia, as it is about a woman who broke all of the rules in the Kingdom and got away with many of the things Sultana couldn't.