Do you Know English Literature?
What is the title of your book?
Girls of Riyadh
Who is the author?
Rajaa Alsanea
When was it published?
Girls of Riyadh was originally published in 2005 and translated to English in 2008
Write a brief (1-2 Paragraphs) plot summary of what you’ve read thus far. What happens in the book?
Girls of Riyadh is about four friends which one of them is getting married at the beginning of chapter one as the book stated, “The wedding planner called out to Sadeem, who was hiding behind the curtain with her friend Gamrah…” (4). The chapter ended with Gamrah being in her honeymoon. Also, the second chapter brings us back before the wedding when the girls made a special preparation for Gamrah as the author described it as “something like the bachelorette party that, in the West, friends of the bride throw for before the nuptials.” (14).
Describe the characters in the book. Who are the main characters? Who is the protagonist? Is there an antagonist? Are there interesting minor characters? Be as detailed as possible. Include direct textual evidence and corresponding citations.
The main characters of the book are Sadeem Al-Horaimli, Gamrah Al-Qusmanji, Mashael Al-Abdulrahman or “Michelle” as her friends call her, and lastly, Lamees Jeddawi. First, Sadeem is the hopeless romantic in the story as the book stated “Sadeem’s eyes welled with tears as she watched her childhood friend, her Gamrah, leave the ballroom with her new husband…” (10). Second, Gamrah was the most conservative in the story because of her family background being from Qasim which the author described as “a city known for its ultraconservative and strict character.” (10) Third, Michelle being raised in America until middle school, she didn’t like her society restrictions. Finally, Lamees is the most liberal as the author implied “her family was originally from Jeddah-a port city with a long tradition of bringing together people from many places and therefore the most liberal city in the kingdom.” (10). I don’t think the story have a protagonist or antagonist as the story is about four girls trying to find love at a restricted society. Finally, an interesting minor character is “Auntie Um Nuwayyir” giving some advices to the girls to get lucky and get married next. Also, giving them strategy in weddings as she tells them “you must follow this strategy to the letter: “you barely walk, you barely talk, you barely smile, you barely dance, be mature and wise, you always think before you act, you measure your words carefully before you speak and do not behave like a child.” (6).
Describe the setting of the book. When does the story take place? Where? What is the social environment like? Be as detailed as possible. Include direct textual evidence and corresponding citations.
The story of the book we know it took place in Riyadh but after reading the book that wasn’t true actually, because the story moved to Italy “IN HER ROOM at the Hotel Giorgione in Venice, Gamrah sat on the edge of the bed.” (11). From the emails the narrator sends at the beginning of every chapter setting the date of the email “Date: February 13, 2004”. Finally, the social environment of the novel was as stated in bookreporter website “blazed a trail for not just openness about sex but about love, religion and the limitations presented by family and society.”.
Describe the point of view in your book. What kind of narrator is used? Be as detailed as possible. Include direct textual evidence and corresponding citations.
Girls of Riyadh was about unnamed narrator who sends emails every week telling about her friends “Sujbect: I shell write of my friends” (1). At the beginning of every chapter the narrator writes an email; For example, she wrote at the beginning of the second chapter responding to emails she has received after the first chapter “First, I have a little message for the following gentlemen: Hassan, Ahmad, Fahad and Mohammed, who made my day with their earnest e-mail inquiries” (13). Also, the narrator at the beginning of chapter three answered some inquiries about her “bright red lipstick” (20), However, she responded with “Get your nose out of my business and get back to reading about things that actually matter” (20) which is reading the story.
Describe your personal response to the book thus far. Do you like it? Is it interesting? Fun to read? Why/why not?
I found the book interesting and good to read but I think she was too aggressive on the male characters of the story. However, the book is fun to read and I would recommended to my friends.
Which literary theory do you think you will use in your essay? Why?
https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/girls-of-riyadh