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In the Land of Invisible Women

A Female Doctor's Journey in the Saudi Kingdom

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In the Land of Invisible Women

By: Qanta A. Ahmed MD
Narrated by: Nicola Barber
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About this listen

The decisions that change your life are often the most impulsive ones. Unexpectedly denied a visa to remain in the United States, Qanta Ahmed, a young British Muslim doctor, becomes an outcast in motion. On a whim, she accepts an exciting position in Saudi Arabia. This is not just a new job; this is a chance at adventure in an exotic land she thinks she understands, a place she hopes she will belong. What she discovers is vastly different.

The Kingdom is a world apart, a land of unparalleled contrast. She finds rejection and scorn in the places she believed would most embrace her, but also humor, honesty, loyalty, and love. And for Qanta, more than anything, it is a land of opportunity. It is a place where she discovers what it takes for one woman to recreate herself in the land of invisible women.

©2008 Qanta Ahmed (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc. Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Cultural & Regional Islam Medical Professionals & Academics Women Middle East Royalty Saudi Arabia Witty Iran Africa
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Really enjoyed this book about women and the medical world and Saudi Arabia and progression of women Qanta has shown such an amazing overview of people from the West going to Saudi Arabia and the changes that have come over time. Some part of me was sad that nothing happened between Qanta and Imad I wish they had met again it’s a fact of life that sometimes people don’t get together. The experience of Hajj and umrah was very nice and great to read about. Being Pakistani and British I could understand the authors feelings and was great to read about

Land of invisible women great book

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Great book which reveals do much about The Kingdom and its treatment of women. Hopefully books like these may help to bring about change!!

Excellent a real eye opener

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it is nice to read a book by a Muslim doctor about living on a Muslim world from a westerners perspective. a very interesting book that made me challenge my own views on the who establishment from highest to lowest level.

very informative and enjoyable

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I'm enjoying this story and I'm on chapter 27 feeling as though I don't want the story to end. The account of the story is just so vivid and gripping I can't stop listening with intrigue as I want to know what happens next. The story whilst it is non-fiction has such a novel worthy feel to it that I am just loving it every step of the way. The life is Saudi is truly fascinated for me a westernised non-muslim to read about I couldn't imagine it until this story brought it to life for me. Thank you Quanta, may more women have the courage to share their stories as beautifully as you did!

Brilliant Storytelling

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If you could sum up In the Land of Invisible Women in three words, what would they be?

Interesting; accurate; observant

Who was your favorite character and why?

This is a memoir, so no favourite character.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Events when she went on the Hajj pilgrimage. However, scenes that I found most interesting were the Saudi reactions to 9/11.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Sometimes amusing, sometimes made me angry.

The narrator mispronounced the word "thobe" incorrectly throughout the book by sounding the "e" at the end. The "e" is silent, as in "robe".

Any additional comments?

I have lived in Saudi Arabia for 30 years so was very interested in reading this memoir. Although the author occasionally got carried away with her descriptions, overall I think she conjured up the atmosphere of Saudi Arabia extremely well. Her understanding of Saudis, both men & women, was very sympathetic. From everything that we have learnt about them in our years here, she came up with very similar conclusions in a very short space of time. She was observant of everything going on around her and swung from being impressed to dismayed at various things that happened - for instance, extreme prejudice coming from men & women who until that point had seemed highly educated and intellectual; parents wishing to install hatred & prejudice in their children for Jews; on the other hand, the great warmth and hospitality that Saudis extended to her. The reaction of Saudis to the events of 9/11 were shocking, and then a few years later they too were on the receiving end of Al Qaeda bombing. Her understanding of the Wahabi version of Islam in Saudi Arabia was also very accurate and she became quite disillusioned seeing how this religion is frequently distorted here. I would recommend this audiobook - or book - to anyone who is interested in learning about Saudi Arabia, especially if they are considering coming to work here in the medical field.At the end of the audio book, there is an interesting interview with the author about her subsequent experiences in Saudi Arabia and observations about the progress of women in the Kingdom.

The narrator mispronounced the word "thobe" incorrectly throughout the book by sounding the "e" at the end. The "e" is silent, as in "robe".

Excellent account of life in Riyadh

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