Shadowing Thunder - Beneath the Abaya in Saudi Arabia (Paperback)

Imagine living in a world where the women are shadows. The only thing you see is three-dimensional blackness, and the only thing you hear is "help me ," or "please free me " This is what lies in store for Raife, a gutsy American male who travels to Saudi Arabia for work, only to discover that among the shadowy figures of the surrounding women, is the one he couldn't have known existed, but had always truly longed for. Too bad he's already married. Too bad she's already dead. But then, this is a land of poets and mystics. A work laced with humor, sensitivity and typical Western anxieties about living in a foreign, ostensibly hostile world, Shadowing Thunder opens new perspectives about self- and other acceptance and provides a deeper understanding of an ancient culture often kept "under the abaya" in the U.S. and other predominantly non-Islamic countries. "Mixing breathtaking metaphors with harsh reality, Raymond infuses his story with engaging characters and images that haunt, enlighten, and inspire while delivering a timely message. With incredible panache, he tackles pertinent topics and questions that have plagued humans since time began . beautifully written." --Midwest Book Review