Originally released in Arabic in 2005, the novel Girls of Riyadh or Banat al-Riyadh, was immediately banned in Saudi Arabia due to controversial and inflammatory content. Black-market copies of the novel circulated and the daring originality of Girls of Riyadh continues to create a firestorm all over the Arab world and has been a bestseller across much of the Middle East.
It is no surprise that this novel caused an uproar. This is the story of women who negotiate their love lives, professional successes, and rebellions large and small against the strict traditions of their society. This novel represents the mongrel culture of a globalized world, reflecting the way in which the Arab world is being changed by new economic and political realities. Even though the story is set in Riyadh, the characters travel all over the world shedding traditional garb as they cross over into Western society.
Girls of Riyadh narrates the love stories of four young Saudi girls, Lamees, Michelle (half-Saudi, half-American), Gamrah, and Sadeem in the form of emails. This novel reveals the social, romantic, sexual adventures and tribulations of these four young women from the elite classes of Riyadh. Every week, after Friday prayers, an anonymous female narrator sends an email to the subscribers of her online chat group. The novel unfolds in 50 such emails spanning over a year.
These are women who have embraced modern culture and way of thought, as did the story’s author. First-time novelist Rajaa Alsanea, 25, grew up in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the daughter of a family of doctors and is a dental graduate student, living in Chicago. Similarly, the world that her four women characters inhabit is a modern one that contains flirting with boys at the mall, and this affluent contemporary existence causes the girls to collide endlessly with the customs of a culture rooted firmly in an ancient way of life.
–written by Visi Tilak
Beliefnet
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posted January 16, 2008 at 1:31 am
Does flirting with boys,having sexual encounters,donning away
the tradational dress and Hijab makes a person modern and enlighten?.
The West is flooded with this kind of independence with the result that
there is no family or family life,divorce is rampant recent example is
Sarkozy.Gordon Brown and George Bush are crying hoarse emphasizing family
life and holding parents responsible for misconduct by their childern.
Tradational family life,respect for accepted norms and parents can bring
contentment and peace as examples of Nicole Smith,Britney Spears etc
are in front of everybody.
Dr.Salim
posted January 16, 2008 at 8:09 pm
WHY ALWAYS BLAME ISLAM WHY DO NOT YOU WRITE A NOVEL ON THE DEVIL DAUGHTERS WHO ARE BEING SCREWED BY THE WHOLE CHRISTIAN WORLD INCLUDING THE BASTARD POPE
posted January 17, 2008 at 7:55 am
This nice to know how the woman live in a close socity, They have
Have the fredom to live, 2008 may bring open take or this kind of
book will make a good chang.
May God will anwser their paryer
with regards,
Eng. Ranjan
posted January 17, 2008 at 11:41 am
Wow..the comment about why blame Islam..I never blame Islam for why some Muslims distort Islam. Islam is perfect but people are not. Just because one is from a Muslim country, doesn’t mean that they pratice Islam the way intended. I am a Muslim (revert)and I have no problem with wear hijab etc etc…the problem that this book may portray that all Muslim women are oppressed or do not have choices.
posted January 23, 2008 at 5:53 pm
There is no such a thing as a perfect (as in morality ) nation, BUT there are cultures that try and discourage imoral freedom which leads to so many iligitamet children that is also against jewish amd christian religion,drunkiness which can lead to murder and pregnancy,also disrespect to parents…etc.So ofcourse there are saudi girls who can break the rules, they are human after all.Just watch shows like the jerry springer.
As a free woman but with morals i see no reason why can`t countreis force morality to a DEGREE.
posted July 23, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Slam alikum wrhmat Allah wbrkatoh
Im 22 Arab, I want good wife to practice islam with in riyadh, this is my contact good muslima voice_prof@yahoo.com Iam serious sisters..
thank you
posted August 17, 2008 at 8:38 am
Dear Brothers & Sisters:
Just a simple word to say. If you like to practice islam, practice it else dont bother taurnishing the image of islam. It is the duty of muslim umma to guide each other. However, do not forget the hell fire is thirsty for those mis-guided.
May allah guide us in the right path.
posted September 7, 2008 at 11:13 am
Dear Brothers & Sisters:
Just a simple word to say. If you like to practice islam, practice it else dont bother taurnishing the image of islam. It is the duty of muslim umma to guide each other. However, do not forget the hell fire is thirsty for those mis-guided.
May allah guide us in the right path.
posted December 25, 2008 at 2:59 am
this novel tell us the truth about wat normal gerls went thru.. be it, in riyadh or anywhr else in the werll.. Kudos to the writer..
posted January 10, 2010 at 2:01 pm
well iam reaing this book finishe chaters already borrow from my aunt its quite interesting know about arab esp saudi banat b/c i just heard rmore about this but not this much i ve spent my child here brought up here but didnt see much of it……well bit surprised ..wish and pray MAY ALLAH KEEP ALL OF US MUSLIMS GIRLS BOYS MEN WOMEN AT RIGHTEOUS PATH (amin)but thnks to the writer to everyone aware of our surrounding riyadh
posted January 12, 2010 at 11:00 pm
This novel was amazing! I love it, i recommended it to the girls in my womens studies classes at university for a summer read. Although it is 100 percent realistic, i read it as a fiction. It took me away to how women feel around the world.
Also i grew up catholic, and i study religion. By far Islam is the most interesting and amazing religion of all.