Review (PDF)

Mayada, Daughter Of Iraq: One Woman's Survival Under Saddam Hussein

A member of one of the most distinguished and honored families in Iraq, Mayada grew up surrounded by wealth and royalty. But when Saddam Hussein’s regime took power, she was thrown into cell 52 in the infamous Baladiyat prison with seventeen other nameless, faceless women from all walks of life. To ease their suffering, these “shadow women” passed each day by sharing their life stories. Now, through Jean Sasson, Mayada is finally able to tell her story—and theirs—to the world.

Paperback: 368 pages

Publisher: NAL; Reprint edition (September 7, 2004)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0451212924

ISBN-13: 978-0451212924

Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.8 x 8 inches

Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (124 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #819,266 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #113 in Books > History > Middle East > Saudi Arabia #348 in Books > History > Middle East > Iraq #640 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Historical > Middle East

I felt the need to respond to Alicia for her September 15th review of my book, MAYADA, DAUGHTER OF IRAQ. This book is not anti-Arab, in fact, it is the exact opposite, simply telling the story of female prisoners, and their consequent friendships, who endure a hell in Saddam's prisons. This story makes readers admire and respect Arab women, as they should.I'll respond to the questions raised by Alicia although I will make this brief.1) About the cover: Once the author sells the rights to a book, he/she has little input about the covers or about anything much to do with the book, including publicity. Publishing is a business and publishing houses have large staffs to decide the best way to make their money back on a book. Dutton first had a cover with Mayada on it but when they took the book to market, the big booksellers protested the cover and said they wanted a veiled woman on it. At that time, the cover was changed. This was not the author's decision.2) ANYONE WHO WRITES A REVIEW SHOULD HAVE READ THE BOOK THEY DISCUSS: Reviewer Alicia could not have even looked through this book, forget reading it. If she had only thumbed through the book, she would have seen the photographs of Mayada and of her family inside the book. Since Mayada came to the United States and toured with me on the book, and appeared on a number of national television and radio shows, there's no doubt in anyone's mind that Mayada exists. Add to that, Mayada's family is well known and highly respected throughout the entire world. Winston Churchill even wrote the obit for Mayada's grandfather, Jafar Al-Askari. Where on earth does the reviewer get the idea that Mayada Al-Askari does not exist? Such a statement should not be made by anyone.

My name is Mayada Al-Askari , and I am the subject of the book Ms. Jean Sasson wrote : (Mayada Daughter of Iraq) . I read Ms . Noor Al-Timimi's review of the book , and was surprised about two points in her reasons for not giving the book 5 stars , where she assumes that :1- The existence of : "Conflict in some details like it was mentioned at the beginning of the story that she was caught before her daughter's birthday, then at the end of the book she repeated that she got caught right after her daughter's birthday."There is no conflict about the dates of my daughter Fay's birthday , or the date of my arrest, Fay was born on the 17th of July 1983 , we celebrated her birthday on the 17th of July 1999 in the Alwiya Club , it was a Saturday , and I was arrested two days after , on the 19th of July 1999 , a date I will never forget for the rest of my life , then , in the letter to ( Samara) , there was a mention that I went to the club with both my children , Fay and Ali to use the pay phone there , and that I baked a cake to get all the personnel there to gather around Fay and Ali , for me to be able to make the phone calls without the switchboard person listening to my conversations , it was not Fay's birthday then , but she took the cake as a gift , as she did not offer them her cake on her birthday that she celebrated on the 17th of July in the club . I wish Ms . Noor had read that part in a more thorough manner before passing on that judgment .2- Ms . Noor Al-Timimi says : " Despite that it is purely my assumption, but the author did not convince me that she met Mayada "by coincidence".

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