About this title: Frances Shore, a feminist and a liberal, tries to be tolerant of the change in values and customs she experiences when she goes with her husband to a job in Saudi Arabia. But she becomes increasingly appalled by the real evil that she witnesses.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Edition: Marian Wood/Owl Book ed.
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Owl Books (NY)
Date Published: 1997
ISBN-13:9780805052039ISBN:0805052038
Description: Very Good. x-lib w/ markings, laminated cover, pgs clean & tight & white, light scuff to cover Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 288 p. Audience: General/trade. Shipped in bubble mailer unless it is a real expensive item. read more
Description: Fine. 0805052038 Used-Like New. NOT ex library. Cover is almost completely unscuffed. Pages are tight and clean and the binding is tight. No marks. Beautiful! 100% satisfaction guaranteed. Great customer service and a no problem, EZ return policy. Real people, real service, since 1981. read more
Description: Acceptable. 1997-Paperback---Used-Acceptable. Hall Street Books proudly ships from Brooklyn, NY. All orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours, M-F. 100% money back No-Worry guarantee with expedited delivery and delivery confirmation available. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company, New York
Date Published: 1997
ISBN-13:9780805052039ISBN:0805052038
Description: Good/Wraps. Good condition with slightly rubbed, curled wraps. A few reading creases. Ownership signature on first page. Otherwise, unmarked and clean.... read more
Edition: First Edition, Third Printing
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company, New York, New York, U.S.A.
Date Published: 1997
ISBN-13:9780805052039ISBN:0805052038
Description: Very Good. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. Based on her own experiences in Saudi Arabia, Mantel has written a novel about the strains of living in an alien culture. Joyce Carol Oates called it "the most readable, compelling, and politically timely of Mantel's novels. " 278 pages. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This copy is in very good condition. There are no reading creases in the spine. The cover shows only mild wear. The ... read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Picador, New York
Date Published: 2003
ISBN-13:9780312422899ISBN:031242289X
Description: Very Good. No Jacket. Remainder. 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches. 288pp. A Clean and Bright copy. Remainder Mark. Internally Clean. Lang: English. Vols: 1, Wt: 2lbs. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Picador, New York
Date Published: 2003
ISBN-13:9780312422899ISBN:031242289X
Description: Very Good. No Jacket. Remainder. 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches. 288pp. A Clean and Bright copy. Remainder Mark. Internally Clean. Lang: English. Vols: 1, Wt: 2lbs. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Picador, New York
Date Published: 2003
ISBN-13:9780312422899ISBN:031242289X
Description: Very Good. No Jacket. Remainder. 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches. 288pp. A Clean and Bright copy. Remainder Mark. Internally Clean. Lang: English. Vols: 1, Wt: 2lbs. read more
Edition: First Thus
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co
Date Published: 1997
ISBN-13:9780805052039ISBN:0805052038
Description: Very Good. Size: 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall; First Printing of the First Owl Book Trade Paperback Edition. Very Good Condition. Clean, unmarked and tight. Slight edgewear; first few pages have corners ruffled. The blackest of black comedy-a terrifying tale. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Date Published: 1989
ISBN-13:9780140108156ISBN:0140108157
Description: Good. PAPERBACK BOOK-GOOD OVERALL CONDITION-TRUSTED DEVON (UK) BASED SELLER-IN STOCK-SENT WITHIN 1 WORKING DAY-AVAILABLE BY EMAIL FOR QUERIES-NO QUIBBLE REFUND IF NOT COMPLETELY SATISFIED- read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Date Published: 1989
ISBN-13:9780140108156ISBN:0140108157
Description: Acceptable. *** Expect to receive a well read copy-The condition of the book will be readable, perhaps with heavy creasing and some damage. You wouldn't want to give it as a present-Dispatched in padded packaging. ** UK SELLER-Get it in days not weeks ** read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: HarperPerennial
Date Published: 2004
ISBN-13:9780007172917ISBN:0007172915
Description: Good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! read more
"I could not put this down and read it in two days! Frances Shore moves to Saudi Arabia where her husband is working, and they live in a block of 6 flats which have a wall surrounding them. There is a lot of mystery surrounding one of the empty flats; it's thought to be the meeting place for a clandestine affair, which is very dangerous in the Kingdom. Frances gets to know the neighbours who give her the party line about life in Saudi. It's all very mysterious - a cross between the Stepford Wives and Kafka. When I finished I had to go back through the book to try to work out what had happened. I'd love to know what other people thought."
"I couldn't resist and stole this from my friend Beth's bookshelf and am so glad I did! This novel, by the same author who recently won the Man Booker Prize, details the tension-filled life on a British woman who moves to Jeddah, Saudia Arabia with her husband. I was completely drawn in by her story and everything that happens to her as she attempts to adapt to life in Saudia Arabia. The story is modeled after "Turn of the Screw" by Henry James and, as such, leads to a suspenseful ending. Definitely recommended!"
"I must admit that my motives were a bit mixed going into this book - I'm looking forward to reading Wolf Hall, and this book was the only other book by Hilary Mantel that I could get my hands on in the meantime.
That being said, the blurb on the back of this book made the plot seem interesting enough (they even billed it as a Middle Eastern Turn of the Screw).
This book is about an English couple (Andrew and Frances Shore) who move from Africa to Saudi Arabia (the husband is a civil engineer/architect-type, commissioned to construct a new Ministry building). While there, the wife becomes increasingly convinced there is a larger conspiracy behind the seemingly courteous exterior displayed by her neighbors and husband's colleagues.
*Spoiler alert*
While I found the descriptions of settings and minor characters to be well-described (and utterly believable), I found very little to sympathize with in the main character Frances Shore. She comes to Saudi Arabia, already filled to the brim with expectations (and prejudices) about what kind of experience she will have and her obvious distaste for everything she encounters means I spent most of the book thinking, 'Good Lord, can she be any more of a pain? Suck it up, honey!'
I do believe it would be difficult to be a Western woman, used to coming and going as she pleased, to being in a restricted environment, where everything is utterly different. But it's impossible to overlook how Frances refuses to do anything to acclimate to her new environment and codes of behavior. To be honest, it greatly surprised me that the book was originally set in Africa, as I struggle with believing she could cope with living anywhere other than her own UK-based home.
I would've been much more interested to hear more about her husband and many of the expat characters that are briefly mentioned and that we only get glimpses of throughout the text. In addition, it would've been nice to get a more definite ending. As it is, it ends, not with a bang, but with a whimper...
In the end, I can admire Mantel's intentions, but the book just didn't live up to my expectations at all."
We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.
rating
