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Product Description
Product Description
This fascinating story of body care and the creation of sensual ambiance focuses on customs practised in the Middle East, Africa and India and takes a humorous look at the often converse attitudes towards the body prevailing in the West. Elaborate rituals of beauty and the creation of a sensual environment are by no means a thing of the past. Today, in the most modest homes, incense is still burned to create a soothing atmosphere and guests' hands are sprinkled with rosewater as a sign of welcome. Other similar attentions continue to mark out the countries of the East for their legendary hospitality. The book also includes anecdotes by Western women who were initiated into the secrets of the steam baths and descriptions by contemporary women of customs handed down by their mothers and grandmothers. Some of these customs are now known in the West, especially henna for the hair, kohl for the eyes, and the therapeutic use of essential oils. Yet there are many other body care methods using natural substances which have great appeal today, when many women are abandoning synthetic and expensive products in favour of effective alternatives which do not harm the environment. A pot pourri of practical information and delightful stories, the book includes extracts from poetry and literature and is illustrated throughout with original sketches and drawings.
About the Author
Wendy Buonaventura is a dancer and writer. Her last book, on the history of Arab women's dance, Serpent of the Nile, was chosen as The Observer Book of the Year. She has also written and presented programmes for the BBC World Service. She has pioneered the development of Arabic dance as a theatre art in the West and her work has been featured at festivals throughout Europe and in the United States.
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First Sentence
I have a small block of amber which I keep in a pot by the side of my bed. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
I have a small block of amber which I keep in a pot by the side of my bed. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is (almost)unspeakably lovely. The contents match the title perfectly. A combination of social commentary, aesthetic wallowing and 'how to look gorgeous - top tips', the author has addressed the heartfelt yearnings inspired by reading the title. Pretty much every romantic image conjured up by the Middle East is here; presented in a fresh, wholesome and well researched way.
The book opens with an in depth look at the experience of steam baths and the Islamic perspective and then moves on to the nitty gritty of the body beautiful. The chapters cover cleansing, fragrance, massage, 'the protective mask' (cosmetics), hair and 'ambience and celebration'. Periodically throughout the book, the benefits of a particular plant or natural product are highlighted: pages covering the beautifying properties of lemons, olives, roses and oranges. Other items covered include: baby massage, kohl, dead sea mud, remedies for minor ailments, sandalwood and frankincense, dance, perfuming and dressing the hair .. and the erotic arts. Persian and Arab methods of depilation - sugaring as a social event - and you can eat the lemon/sugar mixture that you don't use. I tried it and it's not bad at all. Cedarwood and myrrh; body designs; Persian New Year (Norouz).
If there is one criticism of the book it is perhaps that it is too unctuously flowery to leave lying about before the sensually profane and macho. But as a celebration of femininity, the book is rock solid and I love it.
The book opens with an in depth look at the experience of steam baths and the Islamic perspective and then moves on to the nitty gritty of the body beautiful. The chapters cover cleansing, fragrance, massage, 'the protective mask' (cosmetics), hair and 'ambience and celebration'. Periodically throughout the book, the benefits of a particular plant or natural product are highlighted: pages covering the beautifying properties of lemons, olives, roses and oranges. Other items covered include: baby massage, kohl, dead sea mud, remedies for minor ailments, sandalwood and frankincense, dance, perfuming and dressing the hair .. and the erotic arts. Persian and Arab methods of depilation - sugaring as a social event - and you can eat the lemon/sugar mixture that you don't use. I tried it and it's not bad at all. Cedarwood and myrrh; body designs; Persian New Year (Norouz).
If there is one criticism of the book it is perhaps that it is too unctuously flowery to leave lying about before the sensually profane and macho. But as a celebration of femininity, the book is rock solid and I love it.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I really liked this book! very interesting facts and very inspirational..it's nice to get lost in a bit of indulgence once in a while and i liked the natural approach, using ingredients for treatments that are easy to get hold of and generally inexpensive.Really nice book.
Format:Paperback
This book was increadably dissappointing. The book cover is ugly, and the inside drawing seem like they were just stuck there because they had to be made pretty. The infomation given is very out dated now considering it was published in the late 90's. We know olive oil is good for the skin, we know that lemon is good for the hair and we know about lavender. There are hardly any recpies for Middle Eastern beauty. Add two drops of lavender to your pillow for insomnia, that doesn't seem very Middle Eastern and we know already! Also for someone like myself who have lived in the Middle East this book is almost useless. I know about henna, and I know about Turkish baths and kohl. I was thinking this book would be filled of beauty tips from the Middle East from a Middle Eastern womans point of view, not random bits of things she picked up from places she had visited. The book seems like its just bits and pieces and stuck all together with things most people already knew. The infomation seems to be only half researched or not at all, and increadably bias! I almost threw the book across the room when she started going on about how the veil was a sexist controlling thing. It certainly is not, and almost all women I knew NEVER slept with the thing on. Thats absolutly reidiculus. If your someone who has NO idea about the Middle East, this book is useful. But there are better books out there. Much better books. Don't buy it!!
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