Unveiling

Woffington%E2%80%99s novel follows 20-year-old Sara Al%E2%80%99Khutban, a contemporary Saudi Arabian woman loyal to her family heritage but interested in pursuing an art career. When Sara removes her veil in public to allow her to see what she%E2%80%99s sketching more clearly, her horrified father, Abdullah, has her American art teacher, Lulu Castalia, deported and pressures Sara to marry. Sara responds by escaping to America%E2%80%94a decision that only compounds her troubles. As Sara and Abdullah wrestle with the results of their choices, Sara comes to realize that her artistic leanings and religious faith are not mutually exclusive. Although Woffington offers up well-developed characters, her narrative drags at times, while the novel%E2%80%99s resolution descends into melodrama. Additionally, the somewhat saccharine ending and superficial comparisons of Western and Saudi cultures will not resonate with readers.