Imagine getting married in 1957 and going immediately to a third-world country. Imagine living for those first two years of your marriage in a mud hut with two (non-connecting) rooms. Now imagine you're the wife and the place is southern Iraq - so you're wearing an abeyah and can speak only to women. Elizabeth Furnea, in her understated way makes this story of small town life a compelling and sympathetic human drama. This should be required reading for anyone spouting beliefs about muslims or Iraqis. It's a small story, true, and poignant.