Daring to Drive

Lameece Issaq narrates Manal al-Sharif's engaging memoir about her highly publicized arrest and imprisonment for "driving while female" in Saudi Arabia in 2011. Al-Sharif gives listeners the context of her drive by sharing details of her formative years in Mecca as well as her work for a multinational oil company. Issaq recounts emotionally complex memories with sensitivity and adopts a steelier tone when discussing the abuse she endured at home, at school, in her first marriage, and from conservative groups. As she guides listeners through the author's evolution from an Islamic fundamentalist teenager to an advocate for women's rights, Issaq exudes her strength and intelligence with a sure-footed tone. The inspiring story is a stark reminder that women in Saudi Arabia still face arrest for violating social and religious customs. J.R.T. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine