Girls of Riyadh

A Novel

By: Rajaa Alsanea

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

In her debut novel, Rajaa Alsanea reveals the social, romantic, and sexual tribulations of four young women from the elite classes of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Originally released in Arabic in 2005, the novel was immediately banned in Saudi Arabia because of the controversial and inflammatory content, though black-market copies circulated widely. The daring originality of Girls of Riyadh continues to create a firestorm all over the Arab world, and the excitement has spread far beyond the Middle East.

While this novel offers a distinctly Arab voice, it also represents the mongrel culture and language of a globalized world, reflecting the way the Arab world is being changed by new economic and political realities.

Riyadh is the larger setting of the novel, but the characters travel all over the world shedding traditional garb as they literally and figuratively cross over into Western society. These women understand the Western worldview and experiment with reconciling pieces of it with their own. This groundbreaking novel might be the very first that opens up their world to us - their culture, their struggles, their frustrations, their hopes, and their beliefs.

With Girls of Riyadh, Rajaa Alsanea gives us a rare and unforgettable insight into the complicated lives of these young Saudi women, whose amazing stories are unfolding in a culture so very different from our own.

©2007 Rajaa Alsanea (P)2007 Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA), Inc. and Books on Tape. All rights reserved.

I enjoyed this book like never before.

I recommend this book the most. I really live it. My recommendation is to read it.

I know this is asking a lot

Most of the blame for the disfunction is put on the men, however, the role of the mothers is suscribes but not taken as a serious part of the problem. These yong women will be 'enforcers' in 20 years and hence will propagate the problem.

It would have been interesting to get the men's view of all these relationships.

The insight into Saudi society is interesting and the fact that the book was banned speaks loudly about that society.

beautiful story!

Gorgeously told, and surprisingly endearing. 5 stars in every category! Would definitely recommend this book!

Truth Is Often Stranger Than Fiction

This may be a work of fiction, but it reads like a lot of the non-fiction/memior material that has been written by Arab women in the last 25 years. Enjoy it for the accurate cultural voyeurism it offers, respect it for the truth it tells.

Great Story & Narration

As an American woman living in Riyadh for a year now, this book definitely confirmed a lot of the observations and guesses I had made about what life may be like for a native woman here. The narrator was very easy to understand in English yet clearly also spoke Arabic, as those words sounded even more comfortable. The asides meant to explain some Arabic words and Saudi customs were very helpful (most I knew but I learned a few new ones). The stories were also wholly engrossing, as I found myself listening and listening, hardly able to stop.

ok

Ok ..so this was a bit like a sisterhood of the traveling pants...in Saudi . It was enjoyable but didn't quite cut it. i love books about the "eastern" cultures...I can't put my finger on it ..but this didn't quite cut it.

A colourful cultural journey

What about Kate Reading’s performance did you like?

I've listened to Kate Reading before and always enjoyed her performaces (particularily The Wheel of Time series). She speaks clearly with a certain dryness, cut when applicable by the required emotion.

Any additional comments?

I picked up this book because I've always been fascinated by foreign cultures, and from the preview this appeared to be a venture into the lives of young women in Riyadh. This is exactly what I got. It's full of reasons and situations that are similar and at the same time very different from what I've grown up with, and forms of expression in dialogue that seem to be plucked straight from Arabic, which I find absolutely fascinating (I don't speak Arabic but intend to learn).

I quickly grew to root for the four main characters, and followed them through their ups and downs. At the end of the book I was sad to leave them.

I've already recommended this book to most of my friends. That in itself is n indication of how much I enjoyed it.

Very interesting

Intriguing hidden stories from a time where everything is hushed up, It is of course not a generalised lifestyle as expected but nice to know.

Essential if you work in the KSA

This was amazingly helpful for me to understand the social issues of working with Saudi's.. great examples of the various challenges in this culture.

glimpse into saudi woman's lives

i found it engrossing and fascinating. it did not change my preconceived notions of how woman are 2nd class citizens in Saudi Arabia. it did open my eyes to some beautiful poetry of love of Muslim writers.