Girls of Riyadh

This was okay. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. Personally, I felt the pseudo e-mail intros at the beginning of each chapter were unnecessary at best, but overall, I thought GIRLS OF RIYADH was interesting enough. Lukewarm read, for me.

I've had a hard time reading this book without being judgemental. The writer does shed light on some idiocracies that exist in the society but of course, like every controversial book, it doesn't portray the entire picture. I liked the many poetical lines she's used and the writing style, with the narrator taking a sort've gossip girl's position and spilling all the beans through emails. However, these emails do present a certain perspective and certain realities that are often overlooked so it isn't entirely superficial and that's what led me to actually complete the book.

The love adventures of 4 young upper-class Saudi women in a very strict and traditional culture that favors men in every aspect. The four girls still honor their religion, they are not rebels, they feel like good representations on the scale of traditional to more open-minded. The story follows their various flirtations and relationships over the course of a few years.

Any book that gets banned in its home country, it's worth a look. Even if the writing isn't especially good, the plot is engaging, and the novel is very insightful into a world and culture so far from mine. It was definitely interesting to learn about all customs that feel so antiquated in how they separate the genders and suppress the women, while also embracing the allure of Western movies, shopping addictions and Burger King whopper meals. Women are meant to marry young, the more naive and less educated they are the better their chances. Young guys “number” girls by basically stalking them and forcing their phone numbers on them. And should you fall in love, love is no guarantee that tradition won't break.

Its a good chick lit read if you're into that kind of thing. Not good if you want to know about what it means to be a woman in a Muslim society.

This reminded me a bit of Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians without the brand name dropping. Just a sort of gossipy glimpse into a world that while very different from Western life still very much the same. Romance, betrayal, family and friendship. It was a quick, amusing read. Not quite what I expected, but I liked it.