Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Nf - Driving the Saudis: A Chauffeur's Tale of the World's Richest Princesses by Jayne Amelia Larson

Sometimes you just want an easy summer "fluff" book and this fits the bill quite nicely.   Armed with an Ivy League education, Jayne Larson moved to Hollywood with the hopes of having a screen-writing career. She struggled several years, networking and taking small acting jobs here and there to make ends meet. But living in Southern California was expensive, and when the opportunity came up to take a job as a chauffeur, she jumped at the chance.

In the male-dominated field, she had run-ins with other drivers, but being educated and having inside knowledge of Hollywood, she did well enough to be called as part of the entourage for the Saudi Royal Family's visit to California.

Allowed to drive only the women, she witnessed firsthand the shopping excesses, the myriad plastic surgery appointments, and the brutal  treatment bestowed on their servants.  Becoming friends with some of the family as well as the servants, and seeing some of the inner workings of royalty, she had an experience few can ever imagine.