You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. Examples: the backward kingdom is dubbed “Wasabia” and its rival Arab country is “Matar” (pronounced “mutter” and used as a joke throughout the novel). When pulled over by police, she desperately phones her friend Florence Farfaletti, the "Deputy to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs," begging for asylum to avoid a harsh punishment. The novel is set in the fictional state of Matar, a somewhat liberal Middle Eastern sheikdom, similar to the real world Qatar. Also clever word play that makes one laugh despite the serious nature of the true subject. Added to this is the poignancy of his journey, so masterfully rendered in David Lean’s 1962 film, Lawrence of Arabia, of a man trapped by divided loyalties, torn between serving the … Fleming, Michael. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less Variety announced on July 28, 2009 that Charlize Theron would produce and star as Florence in a film adaptation of the book. Random House. Back in the United States, Florence discovers that her operation was not funded by the U.S. government at all, but rather by the Waldorf Group, a private equity firm which wanted to prevent extremism in Wasabia to help secure the flow of profits. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. They succeed all too well, and the fundamentalists in neighbouring Wasabia are none too pleased. The state department rejects the proposal, and reassigns Florence to an obscure posting outside the country. On March 9, 2004, Holland was murdered for her work involving women's rights. The heart of all this is of course, oil, and the need - or should that be want - of the developed world to get as much, as cheaply, of it as possible. Florence is unable to arrange asylum. Look out for camels. "Charlize Theron ready for 'Arabia'", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Florence_of_Arabia&oldid=996422631, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 26 December 2020, at 14:37. A real page turner with strong women finally getting starring role. The Washington Post reviewer wrote, tongue in cheek, of the fictional country of Wasabia : "Its oppressive power is guaranteed by optimum connections to the American establishment greased by a suave prince as its longtime ambassador in Washington. Something went wrong. Florence of Arabia: My Mother’s Journey Into Parkinson’s Dementia. Like why are we in Afghanistan? Florence of Arabia is a strip joint in Springfield, next to the Ye Olde Off-Ramp Inn. Names changed to protect the author, but v. clear he's insulting religious power-trippers wherever they may reign. A merciless dismantling of both American ineptitude and Arabic intolerance, Florence of Arabia is Christopher Buckley’s funniest and most serious novel yet, a biting satire of how U.S. good intentions can cause the Shiite to hit the fan. Stated First Edition. Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2019. Holland was a 33-year-old lawyer who went to work for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. Of course this is a wholly fictional land, too absurd to resemble any in the real family of nations. Torture scenes by the Wasabi's remind the reader that some real bastards willingly kill anyone they disagree with. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Flo (POLLY HOLLIDAY) gets swept off her feet, and almost into a Middle Eastern potentate's harem. The register tells them that they must mean April Flowers, who is at the Girlesque. [6], "Yesterday's Shocker Is Today's Must Read". Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. The neighboring country Wasabia refers to Saudi Arabia, with Wasabia being a play on Wahhabism, one of the most conservative forms of Islam, which is criticized throughout the book for its treatment of women. Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought No Way to Treat a First Lady A merciless dismantling of both American ineptitude and Arabic intolerance, Florence of Arabia is Christopher Buckley’s funniest and most serious novel yet, a biting satire of how U.S. good intentions can cause the Shiite to hit the fan. The bestselling author who made mincemeat of political correctness in, Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood, Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace - One School at a Time. The Nightingales were well-to-do British landowners, and her father associated with the Whig party … Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2010. In the spirit of Lawrence of Arabia who freed the Arabs, so also Florence of Arabia bravely set out to free the women of the Middle East from gender injustice in an oppressive theocracy. There hasn't been much of anything to laugh at in the Middle East since Saddam Hussein's propaganda minister was proclaiming the defeat of the Allied invaders while Allied tanks were rolling down the streets outside his Baghdad television studio. I would certainly purchase other books by this author. Laughed my way through this book. The title of the novel is a play on "Lawrence of Arabia", a popular name for the British Army officer T. E. Lawrence, who became famous for his exploits in the Middle East, particularly as a liaison during the Arab Revolt of 1916-1918. Florence and her associates must scuttle the operation when word of an impending palace coup reaches them. The book also portrays U.S. foreign policy as contributing to those problems.[3]. Yet somehow, in Florence of Arabia ("FofA") Christopher Buckley manages to produce an overall funny and on occasion hilarious comedy about the political conflicts in the Middle East. The novel follows a fictional State Department employee, Florence Farfaletti, as she attempts to bring equal rights to the fictional Middle Eastern nation of "Matar.". SKU: 1500604445 Category: Fiction 1500604445 Category: Fiction Lawrence of Arabia is a 1962 British epic historical drama film based on the life of T. E. Lawrence. Lawrence of Arabia full movie Documentary Film. A 2004 satire by Christopher Buckley about women's rights in the Middle-East, specifically the extremely conservative (fictional) country of Wassabi (based on Saudi Arabia). Conform-O-Meter: Consumerism +10. When pulled over by police, she desperately phones her friend Florence Farfaletti, the "Deputy to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs," begging for asylum to avoid a harsh punishment. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Like most of Buckley's work the irreverent humor in Florence of Arabia is spread on very thick throughout the fast paced action. "Florence of Arabia" falls flat, not even Sunni side up. In anger over he… Random House Trade Paperbacks; Reprint edition (September 13, 2005). A really good read, intelligent and fast paced satire, or just a rattling good yarn? Arrived quickly and well packaged. Florence is unable to arrange asylum. Your selected delivery location is beyond seller's shipping coverage for this item. Flo has been dating Ben, an Arab sheik. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Please try again. Florence of Arabia quantity. The wife of the ambassador of the fictional Middle Eastern nation of Wasabia gets drunk, steals her husband's car and drives out of the compound. to those with a social conscience. The story was first published in two long excerpts in the September and October issues of The Atlantic Monthly. Every sentence in this story is packed with humor, farce, irony, satire, irreverence, mockery, or exaggerated stereotype. Pros:-Comes with a quest line-Premium character earns 50% more on all cash and xp than a freemium character Florence Of Arabia - 2004 publication. Superb. To Florence's surprise, a mysterious government employee, identified only as "Uncle Sam," representing an unknown agency, notifies Florence that her proposal has been accepted and agrees to fund the mission. It is unlocked for purchase at Level 27. Buckley does not shy away from anyone. I have a tendency to rate books highly as I am an avid reader and choose my books with care. Wasabia's medieval legal system, among other things, subjugates, humiliates and violates women, as well as executing them for such vices as flirting. Middle Eastern conflicts, largely to do with oil, repressive regimes and the mistreatment of women, foment into hilarious hi-jinx when Florence gets involved. The wife is taken back to Wasabia and beheaded for her crime. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 12, 2011. Episode – "Homer's Night Out" Video game – The Simpsons: Tapped Out Florence is thrown in jail, but ultimately is rescued and returns to the United States. added by MikeBriggs | edit Los Angeles Times , Shashi Tharoor (Oct 24, 2004) As a dissector of human folly, the author wields a mean chainsaw,although he isn't quite in the side-splitting form he displayed from thevery first sentence of "Thank You for Smoking" (1994). Florence was born on May 12, 1820in Florence, Italy, while her family was sojourn- ing there, and her mother appropriately named her after the city. In anger over her friend's execution, Florence drafts a proposal to introduce a women's television network in the relatively liberal Matar. Reviewed in Australia on November 17, 2018. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free. Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2018. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. $24.95. A satire with Islamic theocracy at its core is something relevant to the times, and Christopher Buckley spares no one in this novel. The name Florence of Arabia was first suggested by Noel Coward who told the actor Peter O'Toole (who played Lawrence in the film Lawrence of Arabia) that "If you'd been any prettier, it would have been Florence of Arabia." The film stars Peter O'Toole as T.E Lawrence with Alec Guinness playing Prince Faisal. FLORENCE OF ARABIA By Christopher Buckley. The novel is an homage to Fern Holland, whom Buckley describes as a "real-life Florence of Arabia." Lawrence of Arabia full movie Documentary Film. A merciless dismantling of both American ineptitude and Arabic intolerance, Florence of Arabia is Christopher Buckley’s funniest and most serious novel yet, a biting satire of how U.S. good intentions can cause the Shiite to hit the fan. [5] Holland, Robert J. Zangas (another U.S. aid worker) and Salwa Oumashi, were the first civilians working for the occupation authority to be killed. About 2 to 3 quite funny bits but that was all. Provides an underlying perspective of "life" in the Middle East for women. Buckley finished writing the novel on May 19, 2004, the anniversary of Lawrence's death. The book was published in hardcover on September 14, 2004. I found this book very funny especially having experience of the area in question. Dean Craig is slated to write the script. I got such a kick out of the Wasabi/Matar based novel. This book is great fun if a little long. Plot Summary | Add Synopsis It's so difficult for a Westerner and non-religious person to know & understand the goals & snafus of foreign policy in the Mideast and adjoining areas. The bestselling author who made mincemeat of political correctness in "Thank You for Smoking, conspiracy theories in "Little Green Men, and Presidential indiscretions "No Way to Treat a First Lady now takes on the hottest topic in the entire world-Arab-American relations-in a blistering comic novel sure to offend the few it doesn't delight. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. Highly recommend this book, esp. The book moves along at a good pace and makes valid comments about the area and has a good storey as the basis of the tale. A merciless dismantling of both American ineptitude and Arabic intolerance, Florence of Arabia is Christopher Buckley's funniest and most serious novel yet, a biting satire of how U.S. good intentions can cause the Shiite to hit the fan. The sheik is deposed, and his dumb car-racing brother is advised to get religion and take over. Homer and Bart go there to look for Princess Kashmir. The wife is taken back to Wasabia and beheaded for her crime. Add to cart. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 24, 2013. by Missing dust jacket; Pages can have notes/highlighting. The network airs shows like "One Thousand and One Mornings," which feature empowered female characters who nettle their oppressors and make fun of men. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. Yet somehow, in Florence of Arabia ("FofA") Christopher Buckley manages to produce an overall funny and on occasion hilarious comedy about the political conflicts in the Middle East. D.C. insider talk felt authentic. Please try your request again later. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. The author's sense of humour came through and I found the book entertaining and amusing. A modern day Jonathan Swift. Florence Farfallati finds herself starting a TV station in a fictional Arabic kingdom with its European-educated Sheika with the aim of boosting women’s rights. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! A merciless dismantling of both American ineptitude and Arabic intolerance, Florence of Arabia is Christopher Buckley’s funniest and most serious novel yet, a biting satire of how U.S. good intentions can cause the Shiite to hit the fan. Lawrence, also known as Lawrence of Arabia, British archaeological scholar, military strategist, and author best known for his legendary war activities in the Middle East during World War I and for his account of those activities in The Seven Pillars of Wisdom (1926). Building/Decoration: Florence of Arabia Character: Princess Kashmir Donut Price: 175 donuts Dimensions: 6×10 Earns: $135, 15xp/4hrs. When he proposes marriage and gives her a diamond, he forgets to tell her that he already has three wives. Exciting action, laugh out loud observations, all seemingly based on current events. "[1], The firm "the Waldorf Group" is a reference to the Carlyle Group. The biting wit will not be to everyone's taste but I enjoyed it and laughed out loud a lot. Florence of Arabia is a satirical novel written by Christopher Buckley and first published in 2004 by Random House. It's left to Alice to break the news. The Florence of Arabia is a premium building released with the Level 47 content update on November 12, 2014. [4] The pun "Florence of Arabia" was first coined by Noël Coward, who told the actor Peter O'Toole (who played Lawrence in the film Lawrence of Arabia) that "If you'd been any prettier, it would have been Florence of Arabia."[2]. Upon completion Princess Kashmir is unlocked. Florence is exasperated to have been working for bankers all along, but glad that her work improved the status of women's rights in Wasabia. The wife of the ambassador of the fictional Middle Eastern nation of Wasabia gets drunk, steals her husband's car and drives out of the compound. Random … Very middle of the road and certainly not a page turner. [2], The novel was among the first to lampoon terrorism and Islamist extremism, which in the post-9/11 era were not considered laughing matters. One evening, Nezrah, the fourth wife of Prince Bawad, nephew to the Sheik of Wassabia, crashes her car drunk and asks for asylum. They succeed all too well, and the fundamentalists in neighbouring Wasabia are none too pleased. Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2017. T.E. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. There's a problem loading this menu right now. It was directed by David Lean and produced by Sam Spiegel, through his British company Horizon Pictures, and distributed by Columbia Pictures. Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2018. Should be a movie, except would probaby ignite WW3 - or at least another major conflict in the mid-east. In an all-too-real version of how geo-politics works, the French become involved, eager to score over the Americans, and things quickly degenerate in the “Switzerland of the Middle East”. An ex-president, who is on the board of the Waldorf Group, tells her, "One way or the other, Florence, we're all working for investment bankers.". The main object of Buckley's sharp wit is indeed religious piety and hypocrisy (and how refreshing to see a writer mock a religion other than Christianity, they all deserve a few potshots now and then) but he also mocks the history that shaped the modern Middle East, the disastrous efforts of the United States to intervene in Middle Eastern affairs, and the CIA, just to name a few. Spine may show signs of wear. FLORENCE OF ARABIA. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. An easy Way to navigate back to Wasabia and beheaded for her involving..., `` Yesterday 's Shocker is Today 's must read '' loud observations, all seemingly based on the of! Eventually causing the women of Matar to stage an uprising her father associated with the Whig party … T.E also! 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