Rajaa Alsanea
Rajaa Alsanea (Arabic: رجاء الصانع; variant spelling Rajaa al-Sanea)is a Saudi writer who became famous through her novel Girls of Riyadh, or Banat al-Riyadh. The book was first published in Lebanon in 2005 and in English in 2007. The book was long-listed for the Dublin Literary Award in 2009. Al-Sanea grew up in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the daughter of a family of doctors. She currently lives in Chicago where she is a dental graduate student. She received her bachelor's degree in Dentistry from King Saud University in 2005. Her novel and lifestyle have caused controversy especially among the conservative sections of the Saudi society, but more liberal-minded individuals consider her a role model.
“Possibile che gli uomini sentano minacciata la propria autorità quando cominciano a rendersi conto che la donna sta sviluppando delle capacità reali in un determinato campo? Temono forse qualsiasi mossa che possa portare a una certa indipendenza delle mogli? Ritengono forse l’indipendenza e la realizzazione della donna un oltraggio nei confronti dell’autorità che Dio ha affidato agli uomini?”
Rajaa Alsanea
“When love has been in your life you see that the only true, real pleasure of life is love. Every other thrill arises from that basic source of pleasure. The most meaningful songs are those your lover hums in your presence, the prettiest blossoms are the ones he offers and the only praise that counts is your beloved's. In a word or two, life only goes Technicolor in the very moment love's fingers caress it.”
Rajaa Alsanea
“Apparently, all men were the same. It was like God had given them different faces just so that women would be able to tell them apart.”
Rajaa Alsanea