Mirage

From the stoning of a young mother convicted of adultery to the desperate wife whose husband has brought a second wife into their home, "Mirage" tells the stories of the enduring strength and courage of women who defy the yoke of male dominance.

"Mirage" lifts the veil of secrecy to expose the real lives of women in today's harems. Amira has only oppression to look to as a woman sold into marriage, swathed in black veils, and permanently accompanied by an escort. Even her depressed expectations fail to prepare her for the savagery of her husband on their wedding night or the increasingly oppressive control he is allowed to exert over her. In a daring attempt to save her own life and sanity, she escapes with her baby to disappear in America. Despite her escape, her past - and her powerful husband - won't give up easily.

Soheir Khashoggi is a Saudi Arabian writer. As a member of one of Saudi Arabia's most prominent families (her brother is the illustrious millionaire Adnan Khashoggi and her father was the royal physician), she was born in Alexandria, Egypt and attended university in Beirut, Lebanon. She now resides in New York City. She has published three novels, "Mirage," "Mosaic," and "Nadia's Song."