Another entry in my I Judged This Book By Its Cover And Was Only Partly Wrong list.
Some Girls: My Life in a Harem, by Jillian Lauren
Sounds trashy, right? I thought it would be a guilty pleasure, a fast read. It was a fast read, but there was more to it than I expected. Instead of titillating tell-all or bad romance novel, Lauren’s book is really what it aspires to be: a great memoir. Some Girls is the true story of the time Lauren spent in the harem of the Prince of Brunei, but it’s also a coming of age story about a young, somewhat adrift girl who wandered into some pretty incredible situations. Luckily for readers, the adult Lauren has a fair amount of insight into her younger self, as well as a sharp wit and an engaging storytelling style. I did not expect, given the cover and title, for it to be so well-written and so very gripping. I’m glad I was wrong, and I’d certainly seek out anything else that Jill Lauren writes.
Good for: reading on a plane or a long car trip, or any other time you want a book that will make you forget where you are.
Not good for: if you’re looking for a light read that you won’t have to think much about. This was the kind of book that has stuck with me since I finished it.
Bonus: were you a rebellious teenager? Did you make choices you regret? This book will likely make you feel better about your youthful indiscretions, since probably none of them involved being one of forty girlfriends of a guy who already has four wives.
NB: For a shorter taste of Lauren’s writing (that doesn’t mention the harem thing at all), check out her Modern Love column from earlier this summer, in which she tells the also-true story of her relationship with Weezer bassist Scott Shriner.
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