Geraldine Brooks spent two years as a Middle East news correspondent, covering the death of Khomeini and the like. She also learned a lot about what its like for Islamic women today. Brooks book is exceedingly well-done–she knows her Islamic lore and traces the origins of todays practices back to Mohammeds time. Personable and very readable, Brooks takes us through the womens back door entrance of the Middle East for an unusual and provocative view.