Job Discussion Forums

bourgoinpierre · Joined: 04 Jan 2008 Posts: 15

Is it easy to get books in Riyadh? Are there any good English Books Stores, libraries, or �take one leave one� places? Is there huge censorship on books? Can ex-pats get books from, say, Amazon in Riyadh? Do I have to bring a supply of reading materials?
Thanks!

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 3:05 pm Post subject:

There is basically only one English language book shop (not to be confused with 'store') in Riyadh. It is called "Jarir" and there are several branches around town. Its stock is limited, unless you enjoy trashy 'romantic' fiction or diet books. There are no public libraries worth mentioning.

Regarding 'censorship', since the range of available books is so limited, its hard to say if that is because of censorship or just indifference. What I can say is that serious books about KSA or the Gulf are almost impossible to find, as are most books on religion which don't have the official stamp of approval. At the same time, the bestselling novels which line the shelves of Jarir very likely contain rather lurid 'romantic' scenes which presumably get lost amidst the pulp.

It's easy to order from Amazon or other online bookshops. Just be aware that anything obviously referring to KSA or to religion, as well as anything with pictures of 'scantily' clad women, is likely to be the cause of suspicion among the customs officers.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 3:24 pm Post subject:

I suppose the confusion arises from the fact that those people who speak of 'book stores' aren't very familiar with the merchandise therein.

007 · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 3:41 pm Post subject:

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

007 · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:20 pm Post subject:

I purchase my books from the online bookstore (US) and online bookshop (UK)!
Both are the same, except in their services! Laughing

johnslat · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 7:23 pm Post subject: Psycho drama

I always used to get an "M" bag from the local post office in the States at the start of each holiday and fill it (it's pretty big, about the size of a seabag or a duffel bag) with about 100 used (purchased from local used book stores) and new books.
It would be shipped (literally - by ship), so it would take about 3 months to get to me. But if I sent it off near the start of my summer holiday, I'd always get it no later than early October (and often sooner.) That would help get me through the other 9 months or so.
Speaking of Jarir, I can still remember my astonishment at seeing copies of "American Psycho" on sale there. Now that's one heck of an obscene (or, if you prefer a less politically incorrect word: dirty) book.
Maybe they bought it under the impression that it was a biography of George W. Bush.
Regards,
John

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

I was surprised to see the Harry Potter books in the Al Jarir bookstore on Olaya. I'd imagined that wizardry and sorcery would really inflame the local sensibilities.
On our compound there was a mini-library created by generous ex-residents dumping their used paperbacks. Everything from John Irving to Chomsky and Plato. Good luck and good reading to the OP.

Cleopatra · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 5:48 am Post subject:

bourgoinpierre · Joined: 04 Jan 2008 Posts: 15

I like to read stuff that goes a bit beyond the realms of what I think Islam would frown upon--none of that romance crap though--so I really hope that they don�t scour my books at customs to find unorthodox passages in the text... I mean, is there a little section at security with a comfortable armchair and a coffee table where learned officials constantly flip through the pages of shady books?

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

People told me that Saudi customs officers literally ''judge the book by its cover''. So if there is anything that might cause offence on the cover- tear it off.

Cleopatra · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 1:58 pm Post subject:

007 · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 4:31 pm Post subject:

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

It's years since anybody ever checked books at Customs, and four or five years since they gave up on passing CDs to the mutttawa for checking.

I doubt if 007 has the least idea what he is talking about regarding the present state of banned books. The customs officer won't know, and if you are a fan of Al-Otaibi or Nabokov just use another cover.