This is the story of a woman growing up in Iragui society and the sadistic treatment under Saddam Hussein regime. The book is well written and American should read it the better understand the life we are attempting to free these people from.

I haven't read this book, BUT I need to tell you all to read "Princess" by Jean P. Sasson, same author. I did not find "Princess" on goodread, just the study guide.

I advice you to read it. You will get a good insight on how life for women is and how they manage to make it a great living.

Thank you

Lots of Iraq history told through a story which I need to keep me interested! It would be an extremely scary place to live where even the higher ups are not exempt from torture. Saddam and other leaders were awful cruel men and deserve all that they got.

A real eye opener to the horrors that happened in Iraq under Saddam Husein's power. This book is not recommended for the light hearted, I would cringe at some of the scenes and tortures innocent people would go through. With this book you learn that even in the most unideal circumstances there's always a chance of hope. As Samara and the other shadow women taught Mayada.

For some reason, I could not put this book down. It was an easy read and I was fascinated by the story and the authors writing style. Not too much detail but enough to help you realize the gravity of what happened.

very emotional for me, in some parts I felt I want to cry. But certain parts were repetitive but overall its a great book to read for those who have no idea about the Iraq's history and the terrible experience its people went through during the days of saddam.

Why did so many Iraqis risk their lives by putting their finger on the ink pad, to vote for a new government? Read this memoir of this lady's life, prior to the war and you will soon understand the hideous events that were taking place under Saddam Hussein. Well written and very interesting.

Memoirs don't need ratings. They're beautifully expressed in ways the author wants.

This is a harrowing tale of a woman who, although she descends from Iraqi "nobility," is still wrongfully imprisoned (along with almost the entire population of Iraq, it seems). She tells the author of her experiences in the horrible prison with her "Shadow Women," recounts their individual stories, and throws in some Iraqi history, too.
It's very eye-opening, and a little depressing, since it is obvious that so many people are still suffering in Iraq.

I had mixed feelings about this book. Based on a true account, this book handles some difficult topics, such as the hardships of being a woman in Iraq and the terrible, excessive and unnecessary torture going on in the prisons of that country. While the importance of these themes should not be belittled, I feel the style of writing does not do the story justice.

The book attempts to be a personal memoir, based on real events from the life of an actual Iraqi woman that the author met in Iraq. But it never truly achieves that goal. The story chugs along rather slowly, recycling a cookie-cutter format throughout the book:
(1)A description of the current condition of the jail cell and its inhabitants.
(2)Mayada worries about her children or reminisces about her family.
(3)Mayada somehow "finds the strength" to tell everyone a story about her past.

Possibly the most frustrating part of this format, was that many topics or characters were introduced in her reminiscing and then re-introduced in her storytimes, as if we had never heard of the people she is talking about. There is so much redundant information that shows up in the book, and it makes reading the book rather tedious and boring.

Again, I think the content of the book is extremely interesting and definitely worth reading. It is very interesting to get a lot of personal details, particularly about Saddam and his inner circle. It really just is the format that ruins the flow of the book. I would recommend it to someone with a dedicated interest in Iraq or the Middle East, but there are better books that deal with the topics of women in the Middle East or accounts of torture that are much more rewarding for the casual reader.

Wow. This book has truly opened my eyes to see how much women suffered in the Middle East, especially in Iraq. Mayada is the granddaughter of the most famous and respected leaders in Iraq; Jafar Pasha Al-Askari, who was the Defence Minister and Prime Minister of Iraq, and Sati Al-Husri, who was one of the first Arab Nationalists and also a government minister. Her family is treated like royalty and so Mayada had lived a privileged life. Her world crumbles when she is taken to Baladiyat prison for a crime that she has not commit. She was said to print leaflets at her printing shop against Saddam Hussein. Under the cruel and agonizing reign of Saddam Hussein, Iraq had suffered a great deal, and most people were taken to prison for no reason and were tortured brutally.

I was truly appalled at how Iraqis were treated in prison. I was so shocked at how the guards acted like animals and beat the prisoners. I cannot even begin to describe how the poor “shadow women” in cell 52, where Mayada stayed, were tortured. The women were hit continuously with a whip, beaten up, burned, electrocuted, raped...the list goes on. I could hardly believe that these women survived! I know if I was in Baladiyat, I could never have survived that kind of torment! I really admire these women’s’ will and struggle to survive just so they can see their beloved families again. They were truly brave. I recoiled in horror at the descriptions of their wounds; their backs would look like a mess of freshly cut flesh with blood oozing out. But what really touched my heart was the love these women had for each other. They would encourage each other to stay alive and keep praying so that they can see their families once again. Samara was the one of the “shadow women” who gave all the others the will to survive. If it was not for the friendship of Samara, I think Mayada would never have survived. Not only did the women, along with other prisoners, bear the physical scars of their torture sessions, but their minds can never rid the memories either. They are mentally scarred for life! Mayada will never forget her time in Baladiyat, even though she was only there for a month, while the other women had been there for years. I was torn by the stories of the Iraqis during Saddam’s reign. The sudden disappearance of a husband, wife, son, daughter, mother or father would cause a loved one to swirl into a nightmare. They would not know if their loved one was dead, imprisoned, or kidnapped, and they would not know why. They would get no notification whatsoever. I was completely heartbroken by their suffering and desperation to find their loved one or just know if they were alive. Iraqis lived in constant threat of imprisonment or death if they said or did anything opposing to Saddam. My heart really went out to these innocent people. This book has opened my eyes to the misery and distress people felt under the reign of this vindictive, evil dictator.

When I finished the book, I could not believe that Mayada did not know what happened to the other “shadow women” of cell 52. Who died? Who survived? I will never know, and that is what deeply saddens me.

I recommend this book to everyone because it truly opens your eyes and mind to what our world is. It can be a vicious place for many innocent people who just want to be with family and friends and have a good time. All they want to do is be educated and be happy. Is that too much to ask for? I will never know how these innocent people of Iraq during Saddam Hussein’s rule survived because of how much they suffered physically and mentally. All I can say to this book is “wow.” I am speechless. I am really astounded by how the magnificent women of cell 52 struggled to survive physically and mentally just so they could see their children and family. My heart goes out to these extraordinary women.

It was a really good book, but only 3 stars because it was so hard for me to read. Knowing it was a true story made the horrible torture accounts and opression a bit too real. I guess that's the point, but I won't be reading this one again any time soon. Good book though.