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“Whilst visiting Dubai I read Patricia Holton,Andrea...”

written by nessie1958 on 26/04/2009

Good Points
A must for anyone visiting the Middle East whether for pleasure or business. A very good insight into the Arab way of life and what they really are about.

General Comments
Whilst visiting Dubai I read Patricia Holton,Andrea Jones, "Mother Without a Mask: A Westerner's Story of Her Arab Family" with fascination.

Having been born in Bahrain in 1958 and having spent my childhood (to age 21) throughout the Middle East (Libya, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran) together with working in Saudi Arabia for 12 months, I was very curious to read Patricia Holton ' s book.

I think all Western ' s who are negative to the Arabs and their religion should read this book with an open mind together with businessmen and all who consider travelling to the region or working there.

I thought the book was very well written and from the heart with no hidden agenda. Patricia Holton has truly captured the Arab people, their lives, beliefs, morals and truly shows that there are many things we can all learn from their culture together with the understanding of what the real Arab is all about. They are very civilized, generous in all manners and totally misunderstood by the West. There is so much we can learn from them and if only we did. How very sad that the true history of the Arabs and their way of life is fading with time, becoming more like the West. I am a firm believer that this is not a positive way forward. I feel very at home sitting amongst the people of the Middle East and most importantly, very safe and respected as a woman which is not reality in the West.