Girls of Riyadh Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics); Reprint edition Unknown Binding – 2008

Girls of RiyadhBy:Rajaa Alsanea A book I couldn’t help but continuously read until every last word had been enjoyed. The people, the stories, the new understanding that comes from a new book is delightful throughout, ‘Girls of Riyadh.’ Set in both Saudi Arabia and the United States, at present day, so many intriguing and circling stories which just begin to touch the surface of what life may be like for a non-native English speaker, in America and the girls who grow up in Saudi Arabia. With a soap opera air and young adult flair, Rajaa Alsanae keeps you interested and once you become comfortable in one story, she brings your attention back again with another drama. I had not heard of her e-mails and the controversy surrounding the gossip of Riyadh, but I am so glad I opened this book to find out. I am a big fan of journal keeping and journal reading. This book opened each chapter with what seemed like a confessional and I quite enjoyed that. I have also found a new fondness for the poetry of Nizar Qabbani. Worthy of several mentions and footnotes, I grew to enjoy the author’s references sometimes more than the drama of Riyadh. With this book I’ve discovered the difference of Saudi culture from other parts of the Arab world as well as the obvious notion that culture, what is expected of the individual and their families, their religion, their attire, are all separate, but also intertwined in a beautiful and unique way. Because of these interesting intersectionalities, I enjoyed this book very much. This book was not originally published in the western world, but growing popularity in the Middle East created a hunger for the story in America. This book does an important job here in America, and that is to show how truly similar our day to day lives, love lives, school lives, and lives as women are related. Several hypocrisy’s within Saudi culture, which affect these women profoundly and differently are expelled within these chapters. These seemingly elusive constraints and pressures, which are shown through Saudi women’s lives, certainly reflect on American women’s lives within our culture today. Certain expectations for women, for marriage, appearance, religion, and more, are echoed throughout the pages of ‘Girls of Riyadh.’ The stories and relationships in ‘Girls of Riyadh’ which tend to be seen as shallow or a bit silly and awkward, rather than momentous or serious, show us a side rarely discussed today- the women’s side. What it must be like, look like, feel like, to live in Riyadh, to be a woman in Saudi, to be a woman in Islam. You may purchase here: www.amazon.com or [...]

'Girls of Riyadh' tells a story about a group of four university friends as they try to understand what happiness is about and how it's found. The girls are not 'typical Saudis': they're from upper middle class families (each with its own history) and of varied backgrounds. They all suffer from the curse of 'dreaming', dreaming about love, about romance, about professional success. In their daily, rather trivial lives concerned with make up, hair style, dress, they can be off-putting. They are, nonetheless, very real, trapped in a society that spreads quicksand to thwart the least deviation from 'the way things are done'.The book is not the best example of Arabic literature, perhaps, but it is a very readable story about the mine field that young Saudis--men as well as women--must negotiate if they are to be considered part of Saudi society. None is a particular hell-raiser; all want to conform and be accepted. But life has a way of making dreams come not-quite-true, as in all cultures.If you're looking for titillating sex scenes, don't bother looking in this book. While sex--both hetero- an homosexual--makes an appearance, it is as chaste as in a Jane Austen novel.I do recommend the book for those who would try to understand how Saudi culture and society put limits on the acceptable and the way young Saudis try to navigate those currents while heading for their own fulfillment.

Each chapter is written as an email containing a story about the narrator's girlfriends. She manages to pack so much information about love and life with regards to this group of young women into this book that it's impressive. Each chapter also starts with an interesting poem, quote or Koranic verse and that was a nice touch. The book is however not preachy. It draws you in and keeps you engaged.

This is a very captivating book, although it often makes one feel like a voyeur. It gives a fascinating yet troubling inside view of the lives of young women in the incredibly oppressive, misogynistic society of Saudi Arabia. But these young women find ways of living their lives within the restrictive rules, or ofttimes in spite of them. This is a real eye-opener for anyone living in the luxury of a free society. I doubt many copies of this book have been sold in Riyadh, at least on the open market.

The fact that this book is titled "Girls of Riyadh" is a bit misleading, as I think it really can represent a group of girls anywhere, as the heroines face heartbreak and tough decisions like anyone from any country. At first reading the book I disliked it, as it was a bit too much of a grim reality. I mean why read something when you can just call a girlfriend and listen to her sob story; often literature is an escape so you can go and read about a happy ending or "perfect life". But as the story went on with the many twists and turns, the rainbow did in fact happen to come out after the rain shower and lead to the bigger picture in life that we often choose to ignore.Its a very easy read, and a combo of Gossip Girl meets the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants but in Saudi Arabia to sum it up for you.

It could have been another typical list of nasty things that happen in an unequal society, but the style is bright and engaging and it never felt like just another carbon copy. The characters, including the narrator, all seem like real people and while their problems may be devastating the characters themselves never felt like pieces in a soap opera, the drama was always on a believable human scale.

Overall a fascinating collection of emails. Would like to have read it in Arabic as the translator professed that the author and publisher made changes to the detriment of the book. Never knowing the identity of the narrator was frustrating. The lofty ideal the girls set out to achieve ultimately failed, it was a naive ideal. The dominance of the male in Saudi society, the power of family, religion and traditions within theirculture led to casing the girls hopes that had been fired by their experiences and understanding of Western society, culture and expectations of western women. Love does not conquer all in Saudi and love maybe has not the same meaning. I found the book left me with feelings of sadness and frustration at the plight of these educated girls, who set out in life with quite ordinary goals by western standards

I loved how the characters lives were interwoven so delicately and cleverly. The emotional highs and lows were almost felt physically and I loved the real ness and humanness that the story brings of people in the East who are struggling with day to day culture and life. I especially love the way Islam (religion) was not disrespected but rather used respectfully to make the point that women can be liberated through islam rather than culture. And the characters held close their religion despite the turmoil and issues. Very insightful and well handled stories.

Short chapters. Easy reading.Great perspective of what life is like for women in Saudi Arabia. Some things have changed since the writing of this book however it is important to note that those changes are very small. It will take time as their culture has been well established. It is also important to note that more and more girls have access to education within the kingdom. Many also have access to Western education in international schools or abroad due to more open minded parents. I have lived in Saudi Arabia for 14 years, keeping an open mind and non judgmental attitude is important even when it sounds so unreal and incredible to someone coming from a very different culture.

The book uses a series of emails to detail the complex variety of gender relationships in Saudi Arabia. The clear message that comes out is that the patriarch nature of the society subjugates the role and worth of women in a number of ways. But it is clear that many women collude and support this status quo. A more structured approach to the subject, although perhaps missing some of the humour, would have made it a better read. The email format becomes tedious after a while.

Set in Saudi Arabi, this book unfolds the story of a group of young women that are bounded in the culture of an Islamic world. Despite the rigidness of conformity that I had previously imagined exists in an Islamic country, this book sheds a new light on the responses of people...especially the youth...when faced with such restraints. Although still conforming to the strong rules that govern Saudi, the girls find their own ways of self-expression that is fun, saucy and absolutely delightful to read.I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone, especially those who wish to glimpse an insight into a cultural background that remains unknown to many, and to those that love a good chic-flick but want something a little deeper and a little more real.

i quite enjoyed this book. you get criticism about whether this book accurately reflects the private lives of people in Saudi. But if you take it simply as fiction, it has great characters, a great story line, and is written in a very interesting narrative. i really enjoyed this book. it was an easy read and i breezed through it.

Good read

This book is exactly what I needed for bedtime reading. However, I found myself carrying it around to read everywhere, not just before bed. The story offers what seems like a very honest insight into the life of Saudi girls. I loved all the characters and, unexpectedly enough, I could identify with many (if not most) of them.

I bought this because it had been feted in the press as a version of Sex and the City in the Middle East. It isn't. But it's still an interesting take on relationships for the modern woman who lives under the veil.

like it, on time and excellent quality

Brilliant must read book. Challenges perceptions of women in Saudi and really highlights some of the socio-economic issues that are prevalent in kingdom

Love this book! Defo a must read

Very insightful

This book showed a very different and I suppose, a very real perspective on dealing with balancing two worlds at one time. I loved the book as it's set in a very different light and it emphasises how women in Saudi Arabia deal with their problems in a very 'real' way.