bookishwendy's review against another edition
4.0
The irreverent Mr. Buckley, having already thoroughly mocked lobbyists supporting cigarettes, guns and alcohol in Thank You for Smoking, turns to a subject somewhat less tapped for slapstick and satire: the Middle East.
Assistant to the assistant to the deputy of Middle Eastern Affairs, Florence Farfaletti accidentally gets mixed up in the execution of the wife of a (fictional) Middle Eastern diplomat. She is then volunteered for subsequent covert operation to bring woman's rights to the most misogynistic corner of the planet via a woman's Arabic TV station. This is a station where anchorwomen in abayas trip over things on screen because they can't see past a one degree angle of incident. The true life consequences of what will happen to the aforementioned abaya'd women who urge their audiences to mail-order books on woman's rights "packaged for your privacy and protection" are not particularly humorous, and Buckley is realistic enough to recognize this. Actually, "Wasabi" regime's reaction to the woman's movement is pretty bloody, and soon Florence is watching the outspoken women around her get arrested, stoned and beaten to death...
This book surprised me in both its hilarity and its brutality, reminding me that even though it is satire, it still rings plausible with respect to the state of woman's rights in the Middle East today. I did enjoy Buckley's faux-political history lessons (like "Let's Put Iraq Here and Jordan Over Here: Drawing Borders in the Middle East"), but the "love story" element did not quite work for me--gratuitous, unemotional sex. Overall, worthwhile for the snappy commentary, but not without its flaws.
Assistant to the assistant to the deputy of Middle Eastern Affairs, Florence Farfaletti accidentally gets mixed up in the execution of the wife of a (fictional) Middle Eastern diplomat. She is then volunteered for subsequent covert operation to bring woman's rights to the most misogynistic corner of the planet via a woman's Arabic TV station. This is a station where anchorwomen in abayas trip over things on screen because they can't see past a one degree angle of incident. The true life consequences of what will happen to the aforementioned abaya'd women who urge their audiences to mail-order books on woman's rights "packaged for your privacy and protection" are not particularly humorous, and Buckley is realistic enough to recognize this. Actually, "Wasabi" regime's reaction to the woman's movement is pretty bloody, and soon Florence is watching the outspoken women around her get arrested, stoned and beaten to death...
This book surprised me in both its hilarity and its brutality, reminding me that even though it is satire, it still rings plausible with respect to the state of woman's rights in the Middle East today. I did enjoy Buckley's faux-political history lessons (like "Let's Put Iraq Here and Jordan Over Here: Drawing Borders in the Middle East"), but the "love story" element did not quite work for me--gratuitous, unemotional sex. Overall, worthwhile for the snappy commentary, but not without its flaws.
blevins's review against another edition
3.0
It's been awhile since I've read anything by Christopher Buckley, but this novel is pretty much what you'd expect from him--fast-paced satire involving politics and various related subjects connected to the government. Buckley has made a literary career of mocking Washington types of every stripe and in this zippy novel, he adds some zingers toward the Middle East. The story follows a fetching female government employee sent to a fictitious Arabic country with the idea to rouse up the female population enough to overturn repressive dictatorships. They attempt this by creating a TV channel catered to women. It's extremely doubtful this would work in the real world, but it does provide Buckley with all kinds of opportunities to satirize Arabic culture. While not earth shattering or new [that is if you're familiar with Buckley], FLORENCE OF ARABIA is entertaining and will provide a chuckle here and there.
ecole's review against another edition
5.0
I don't think that I could ever say anything bad about Christopher Buckley. Anyone that can take women's rights in the middle east, public executions, and secret government organizations and make it funny is definately a keeper.
ptaradactyl's review against another edition
2.0
Not my favorite Christopher Buckley book. It had some very funny lines and some biting satire, sure. Overall, though, it was outside the realm of maneuvering and spin that he creates so well.
Usually, the sides face off over high stakes, not life-or-death ones, and they battle it out in the arena of public opinion. Florence had too many deaux ex machina machine guns showing up.
It makes me want to reread Boomsday to watch Buckley spin and outmaneuver his heart out.
Usually, the sides face off over high stakes, not life-or-death ones, and they battle it out in the arena of public opinion. Florence had too many deaux ex machina machine guns showing up.
It makes me want to reread Boomsday to watch Buckley spin and outmaneuver his heart out.
dogearedtales's review against another edition
3.0
Eh. not my favorite of his. While there are always multiple plotlines that end up pulling together this one felt a bit trite and didn't flow as smoothly as the others.
devilsangel360live's review against another edition
4.0
Taking such a sensitive topic like Middle East affairs, Chris Buckley creates another gem. Although, this book lacks the subtlety of his previous masterpiece - "Thank you for Smoking", likable characters, gripping plot and satirical ending makes up for all its deficiencies. Uncle Sam is unique - wonder who will be playing this role if ever this book is made into a movie. The ending motto - we all work for investment bankers :)
jakekilroy's review against another edition
4.0
This book was so enjoyable. A solid satire, somehow simultaneously subtle and aggressive, it called attention the poisons of men gone unchecked. When it was soft, it was what made it so accessible. America's bureaucracy is an old joke, but a good one. This didn't come down hard enough on Islamic Fundamentalists, but that's what Buckley gets. To get the point across, or bring in the audience, you have to charm them sometimes. It can't just be brutal, given your crowd. Satire is a weird thing. You may be outraged and livid, but you have to sell it as a joke.
abookishtype's review against another edition
Christopher Buckley has some guts. Florence of Arabia seems tailor made to piss off all sorts of people: Arabs, politically correct people, women’s rights advocates, etc. etc. Let me back up. Florence of Arabia is a political comedy about one woman’s attempt to “become the godmother of the Arab women’s movement.” And, of course, things go to hell from there...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type.