cover image The Burning Veil

The Burning Veil

Jean Grant. Mishmish (www.mishmishpress.com), $18.95 paper (362p) ISBN 978-0-9825074-0-7

Sarah and Ibrahim are in love, but their troubles are just starting. When Ibrahim proposes, Sarah balks because she doesn't want to move to Saudi Arabia. This girl-meets-boy story is wrapped in a provocative tale of how a liberal American woman adjusts to living in one of the most restrictive nations on earth. After Sarah agrees to move, she must deal with both her parents' bigotry and the restrictive rules that govern where she goes, to whom she talks, and what she wears. The romance itself suffers because Grant fails to show the reader Sarah's motivations, particularly why she falls in love with Ibrahim in the first place. Nonetheless, it's touching to see how they rely on each other for strength. And the author clearly highlights the difficulties Americans have understanding Arab Muslims and provides an illuminating%E2%80%94if imperfect%E2%80%94view into what life is like in Saudi Arabia in the post%E2%80%939/11 world.