There was nothing spectacular about either the content or the style. A rather simple expression of emotions that were supposedly evoked by the author's life in Saudi Arabia. A well written piece of literature makes one sympathize with even the villians in the story; this book was overshadowed by a hatred and contempt for Saudi life without "true" sympathy for those who suffered under a fundamentalistic, patriarchal society.

As with all her books, Divakaruni has written this book in a style that's worth reading. The imagery and subtle symbolisms are striking. The topic is not a very realistic one, but the book is strewn with truths to which every human can relate. Reading about the mother-daughter relationship pulls at one's heartstrings as the daughter yearns to understand her mother and to establish a bond that is wanting in many ways. It is a book one will find hard to put down.