Interview with Rajaa Alsanea

The author of "The Girls of Riyadh" is doing the US media circuit to promote the new publication of her book in English. Here's a taste, but make sure to read the whole profile:

Finding love in Saudi Arabia is practically impossible, especially for young Muslim women.

That's the premise 25-year-old author Rajaa Alsanea tackles in her novel, "Girls of Riyadh," which has already created a stir throughout the Arab world.

"In Saudi, there are a lot of restrictions," she said during an interview at the University of Illinois at Chicago's College of Dentistry. Alsanea is pursuing a master's degree in oral sciences before returning to Riyadh to live with her family, practice dentistry and continue writing fiction.

"We're living in the 21st century, and there are still traditions from the 19th century, and that's just insane," she said. "You have the Internet ... and freedom of speech. You have modern schools and modern hospitals. And everything around you is digital. And yet you have to go through all this pain when you want to get married."

..."It's my obligation to try to fix things in Saudi. I'm not trying to fix the government or Islam. What I'm trying to fix is mentality, how people think. It's the traditions," she said. "These traditions either [need to] loosen up, or we should get rid of them."

Comments

[susan]

very good book and very eye opening as towhat women in Saudi Arabia face!

[Gypsy Abide]

I purchased this book today and finished it TODAY. Many applause for this book. I am of Lebanese decent and am always looking for explanations to various cultures. I can not explain the uplifting experience in reading this book. Amazing, truly amazing the courage it took to come about writing this and how inspirational it is. I look forward to many more reads from her.

Very Good book, I could NOT put it down. I read it in one day!

[new muslim]

I am new to islam, well not too knew, a few years, but can relate to this book and most of my friends have similar stories. I hope people see the honesty in the writing of these stories because many women and men marry and live the rest of their lives with people they don't truly love just because of society's expectations/norms which are not islamic, but human-made. I think if feeling love was so wrong, they why did Allah (swt) create that emotion? I think parents should allow their children to choose their own partner and that way kids can grow up in happy households. Society is built on families and if families are unhappy, it shows.

[Zainab]

I'm from South Africa and recently read your book, which was absolutely brilliant!, and I also found things that relate to my life. I live how you include the different facets of a girl's life( hadith, quraan, music, poetry) because that is exactly how i live. thank you for a wonderful book

[another lebanese]

Just finished reading (couldn't put it down after starting it yesterday!)! What an incredible story, so well written, so witty!

Great insight to life of young Saudi women!

[Mary]

Congratulations on great work!
I live in Europe and really like reading about life in the Middle East. I was pleased to find the book on this topic and it's really great. Having in mind all the social restrictions, fear of revealing herself to the public and the implications of it, Rajaa was so brave to step foward and say it outloud.
I read the book 2 days ago and have just read in the papers this morning about the first female rock band in Saudi Arabia "Accolade". Again I read about how girls and young women in the country are banned from performing live, going out without abayas etc.and I really simpathise with them.
I understand Saudio Arabia is a rich country where many young people go to university and travel the world and yet women are basicaly expected not to have right to their own life.
Go girls of Riyadh and fight for your freedom! All the best!

[rami]

hello i'm rami i will too contacteren

[paola]

Hi!
I'm from Italy.I read your book in 4 days in germany.strong topic to discuss about and very easy to read but very difficult to digest!
I wish good luck to you & to all saudi arabian woman and not.
Good luck to all we woman that still nowaday are persecuted from man's stupid mentality.
let's work all together to get us free from all this chains.

[NAE]

I admire you for writing such a controversal piece of art! Sometimes we forget that in the end we are all human,...with basic human needs. We need more Ara women willing to share what really happens in our "conservative" Arab/Middle-Eastern world.

[veronica]

wow this book was so amazing I had to stop everything to read it!

[Estella Rain]

I also share the thoughts written above. I forgot my homework and all the daily tasks just to return to your book. It is truly brilliant and you are amazingly brave and smart! I'm a muslim , but from totally different country and still I can recognize the dilemmas in girls' lives. However I am happy that we (our country) have passed this stage of live and achieve more respect and freedom, even though it is still difficult when it comes to marriage and dependence of traditions.
Anyway I loved your book and the way you rebel with all these old prejudices.
Many aplauds for you and I'm more than willing to read your other books!
Wish you good luck. You are strong and independent woman all shall look up to!

[Juicy Couture Handbags]

Rome wasn't built in a day.

[jordan 10]

Life is ordinary,and everyone are searching for good life,and if we want to take good life,we must try the best to everything.and please have a look at my website,haha.....

[Gainesville dentists]

I hope people see the honesty in the writing of these stories because many women and men marry and live the rest of their lives with people they don't truly love just because of society's expectations/norms which are not islamic, but human-made. I think if feeling love was so wrong, they why did Allah (swt) create that emotion? I think parents should allow their children to choose their own partner and that way kids can grow up in happy households.

[Nike Air Max 95]

After reading you blog I learnt a lot.But I do not like that, And reading you blog make me so sad. We will can not reside in the world. Because the temperature become more and more high, But to that time where can we go, So now we must begin to protect the earth.

[jordan retro 4]

If a person, can confidently in the direction toward his ideal, determined to do what he lives, he'll get unexpected success.Do you think so?

[coach outlet]

So funny, I think.*

[supra skytop]

Genius only means hard-working all one's life.

[Jordan retro 5]

Trouble may test a man's character,Very the plight of the neighbourhood can show very integrity, The calm sea, all the ships can and flooding auction wins. Fate tekken hitting home, wait, only big yong intelligence persons can appetites;

[coach outlet factory]

good advice is beyond all price.

[Michel]

On safari in Africa, you will find this beneficial. When you land you are picked up and taken to your hotel, an itinerary for the next day is presented to you, and places you want to see are where you are taken.

[Designer footwear]

haha � the one who is posting the comments :D

[Feels great]

Great articles & Nice a site�.

[Shirts deals]

Thank you for your help!