Excellent author, important story.

posted Nov 7, 2011 at 11:28AM

Interesting and educational read of the author’s triumph over adversity.

posted Sep 20, 2011 at 3:38PM

An adult book for a reason. Leaves you with a greater understanding of Islam and the culture surrounding it.

posted Jan 22, 2010 at 9:55PM

Wow. I learned so much from reading this book. The author does a wonderful job of explaining in a matter-of-fact tone what life is like as a girl and a woman in the Islamic culture. How the belief & values have a completely different base than Christianity, Judaism, or any western countries. How actions have consequences and affects on people's lives that we in the western world might not expect.

posted Nov 9, 2009 at 6:59PM

Exceptional; disturbing. Leaves me wanting additional information. How much of her story is related to the culture of her country, her clan, or her religion? Islam seems to be practiced quite differently from place to place and so I want to be careful about generalizing too much from her personal experience. Carole Rydberg

posted Apr 2, 2009 at 7:34AM

I am almost finished listening to this fascinating and eye-opening memoir (Ayaan is also the reader and she does a wonderful job). Very gripping, often shocking, Ayann’s story of growing up in Somalia and other African countries reaffirms how fortunate we are to live with personal freedoms.

posted Nov 11, 2008 at 1:41PM

Beginning with her childhood in her native Somalia, she candidly recounts her life and relationship with her family as they flee their war-torn country for Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and finally Kenya, where she spent many of her teenage years. Ayaan escaped an arranged marriage by fleeing to Holland, and eventually became a Dutch citizen and member of Parliament.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s autobiography is amazing and difficult to put down, and learning about Somali culture through her eyes was intensely fascinating.

posted Jul 21, 2008 at 5:47PM

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