Girls of Riyadh

Girls of Riyadh, Rajaa Alsanea, 2007, Penguin. Genre: Fiction. Finished 7/15/12.

LesOpinion: In 2005, this book was released in its original Arabic to both great scandal and great acclaim. The tale of four female friends navigating contemporary Saudi high society, Girls of Riyadh is interesting, if not artful (or at least not artful in this translation). Love won and love lost under a patriarchy more restrictive than the one under which I live. Meh.

Circumstances under which I recommend this book: You think your society is repressive, and you are looking for a reality check.