As Living Stones: My Five Years in Saudi Arabia by Marjory Henderson is a personal and emotionally charged recollection of completely foreign circumstances. With great humility, Marjory Henderson has written a short, intimate memoir that is a tribute to the five years spent in Saudi Arabia, 45 years ago. Marjory Henderson and her two preschool-age sons moved from Colorado to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after her husband received a job offer in agriculture. Marjory tells how it was for her family to settle in a very different culture than their own, with people who lived by ancient traditions. She relates the contrasts to the United States, the language barriers she faced, and how she broke down the cultural walls to make Saudi Arabia her second home. As Living Stones by Marjory Henderson is an incredible picture of a new beginning in a difficult place of an American woman living five transformative years in Muslim culture. Marjory writes with great honesty about a Saudi Arabia that wouldn’t allow women to drive a car or ride in a taxi unaccompanied; a Saudi Arabia that still differs from the United States in every area of life, from spiritual practices to severe punishments for both men and women who did not respect the cultural norms. This unexpected memoir contains valuable information about Saudi Arabia’s living conditions, religion, holidays, dress code, marriage customs, royal culture, and more. It’s a unique and challenging read filled with adventures and moments of hope, humor, spirituality, and clear-eyed observation.
