About book In The Kingdom Of Men. By Kim Barnes (2012)
I don't know how to rate this novel. I really don't. The writing? 5 out of 5. The author has an exquisite, lyrical style that pulls you into the story from the very first sentence. I couldn't stop reading, even when I became thoroughly frustrated with how things were unfolding (more on that later). The plot, on the other hand, left MUCH to be desired. I'd give the plot a 2 out of 5, and I think I'm being pretty generous there. First of all, the description of the novel found on the book jacket is a big fat lie! Here's a snapshot of what the publishers tell us the story is about - "1967. Gin Mitchell knows a better life awaits her when she marries hometown hero Mason McPhee … nothing can prepare her for the world she and Mason step into when he takes a job with the Arabian American Oil company in Saudi Arabia … Even among the veiled women and strict laws of shariah, Gin’s life has become the stuff of fairy tales … but when a young Bedouin woman is found dead, washed up on the shores of the Persian Gulf, Gin’s world closes in around her, and the one person she trusts is nowhere to be found." Now, here's what actually happens - the Bedouin woman washes up on the shores of the Persian Gulf in the second-to-last chapter, on page 289 (there are 313 pages total). I'm not ruining the ending for you or spoiling the story in any way because that's NOT what the story is actually about. In The Kingdom of Men is about newlyweds, about segregation, about racism, about sexism, about equality, about oil tycoons, about culture clash. The author captures each of these themes perfectly and if those themes interest you then you should seriously consider adding this book to your reading list. Unfortunately, because of the deceiving summary on the book jacket, I began reading with the expectation that there would be mystery and drama, an unsolved murder, plenty of action. There isn't. As mentioned earlier, the drama doesn't come until the very end (as in THE END) and it's all of two chapters and an epilogue long. I got frustrated about halfway through, anxiously awaiting a plot twist that never came. The ending is rushed and I honestly think the author should have omitted the murder entirely. The frantic wrap up of events in the last two chapters doesn't seem to fit with the slow, descriptive way the rest of the novel unfolds. If the ending had been different - or if the publishers had been more accurate in their summary on the jacket - In The Kingdom of Men would likely have gotten a 3.5 or even a 4 star rating from me … but, alas, the ending and overall lack of promised excitement drags the whole book down to a 2 out of 5. I had such high hopes for this book, the heroine had all the making of a true mover and shaker. She had the torrid childhood, mixed with a strict upbringing, had life changing traumas, and the fire and spirit to develop her into somebody who could change things. To my sad disappointment, after moving to Saudi Arabia, she becomes a 1967 version of a housewife of Jersey; a true partying immature spoiled brat than anything off substance. Instead of portraying a strong independent woman, she became what strong independent women fight against. I love thrillers, but the true mystery thriller part only started in the last few chapters of the book. there were some really good parts, that kept me hopeful, but in the end this was a disappointment.
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Great writing. Interesting story. Confusing and unfulfilled ending. It could have been much more.
—DarkxDreamer
I enjoyed this book until the sexual stuff so I actually stopped reading.
—dushman123
