In the Land of Invisible Women

A Female Doctor's Journey in the Saudi Kingdom

By: Qanta A. Ahmed MD

Narrated by: Nicola Barber

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.

just loved this story

Would you listen to In the Land of Invisible Women again? Why?

I really enjoyed listening to Quanta's story because liked her as person, it was very easy to see her experiences through her eyes.

What did you like best about this story?

I originally had purchased this book out of cultural interest, but as I read this shifted more to be interested in who Quanta is and how she feels as a person about the daily life in Saudi-Arabia

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved that she met this doctor, I can not remember his name, she fell in love with. For some reason I kept hoping for a happy end ..........

Any additional comments?

The storyline is well structured and well narrated

incomplete insight into the life in Saudi Arabia

I like how the book narrates outsider insight from the eyes of a doctor. However, I can tell as a Saudi citizen that many issues raised by the author lack deep understanding of other dimensions and perspectives. Also, one issue I noticed about the author is her prejudice towards the Saudi culture and quick judgement, sometimes generalisation from one incident she faced or even heard from colleagues. overall, the book is interesting and may worth listening to.

Unveiling Islam

Dr. Ahmed uses the veil as physical and metaphorical illustration by which to delve into the beliefs and practices of Islam. The story is deeply personal from the personal, medical practice, social, religious, and political facets of life in Riyadh for an expatriot physician, Pakistani Muslim who grew up in Britain and trained in the United States. Disturbing as well as beautiful episodes are relayed. the book is timely in an era of disclosure to foster understanding among disparate people. A very ready entry point for answering some foundational questions about this belief.

worth the investment in time to complete

so eye opening. listening to the chalenges of modern women is hart breaking. the side romance makes the book even more intreging.

Was hoping for so much more.

What promised to be a fascinating cultural journey quickly deteriorated into an uneven, inconsistent, cliche-riddled train of thought -- replete with girlish giggles and catty observations. From one chapter to the next I had no idea what made this author tick or how she truly felt about things (unless she was gushing over a blue-eyed doctor or lavishly trashing fat or gaudy Saudi women). Though there were some truly fascinating anecdotes and observations, they quickly dissolved into a sea of random ramblings; there was little flow or growth in this narrative. She interrupts her tale of being a wide-eyed newcomer with Western sensibilities with a sudden eternity of endless chapters detailing her Haj and her trip to Mecca -- but no clue as to what made her decide to go. It doesn't help that the narrator--though skilled--gushes out this tale like a giddy preschool teacher breathily reading a fairy tale to an audience of toddlers. I'm sure this could have been salvaged by a good editor, but I'm left having little idea who this woman is... and, at the end, I'm hard pressed to care.

This is a fantastic read!

This book covers pretty much everything I ever wanted to know about life in Saudi Arabia. And the fact that it was told by an American muslim made all the difference because although it was critical of some things it also gave credit where credit was due - to a society cloaked (no pun intended) to outsiders.
I learned a lot about the differences between Islam and Wahabism. I cannot say enough about how great this book was! And the question and answer at the end was very eye opening. Thank you, thank you for this terrific read!

Don't listen to the negative reviews!

I read the negative reviews and wasn't sure about getting this book. So glad I didn't listen to them! This book is a real treasure and definitely worth the credit. I loved the narrator and the author both. The author takes you by the hand and leads you through her experience so you feel like you're learning right along with her! I would love to meet this author in person, she's really impressive and wonderful!

In the Kingdom

Wonderful and seemingly honest depiction of Islam as practiced in Saudi Arabia before and during 9/11. I enjoyed the frank insights into her life as a single female physician. Worth the listen. Wi recommend to others.

WOW!

I was constantly amazed at the life of a female in Saudi. Her perspective as an American Muslim Doctor who was essentially "invisble" to the male doctors in the hospital was sad. She has a spunky personality so it was difficult for her to conform to the life in Saudi. She performs "Hatch" which is the Muslim journey to Mecca, this was very interesting.I enjoyed the entire book, although I was outraged by the treatment of women and wives.

A Western Snapshot of Saudi Arabia

I was fascinated by the stories of the privileged class of women seeking professions in medicine.
25 years ago I traveled to the Dominican Republic from Michigan. Although I refreshed my Spanish language skills by retaking an intermediate Spanish class, once I arrived at an orphanage in a small village, I might as well have landed on Mars by my ability to communicate. So listening to the account very much reminded me of being the foreigner.
If you have lived where religious constraints are the norm you might resent the author’s observations as snobbish and insensitive. Since I am an American who long since abandoned her Catholic dogmatic adherence, I enjoyed her perspective.