JEDDAH, 21 April 2007 — Tomorrow night at the Jeddah Literary Club, academics and other participants will discuss two recently published novels by Saudi authors — novels that aren’t necessarily banned locally, but not available in any bookstore in the Kingdom.

Layla Al-Jehani’s second novel “Jahelya” (which roughly translates as “the period before Islam”) and “Above the African Sky” by Ali Al-Shadawi will be discussed by academics, members of the book club and attendees beginning at 9 p.m.

The event is open to men and women, though they will be segregated in separate halls where they will listen to debates about the two books that were only available briefly inside the Kingdom at the Riyadh International Book Fair earlier this year.

Al-Jehani’s second book in 10 years is likely to receive special scrutiny by club member and English literature professor at King Abdul Aziz University Lamia Baeshen, who quite vocally panned the 38-year-old author’s first novel during a book club event two years ago.

“To begin with, it’s not even a novel,” said Baeshen of “Al-Ferdous Alyabab” (“Dead Paradise”), Al-Jehani’s debut book about a man who betrays a woman and leaves her to face a pregnancy alone. “I don’t know how they could say it’s a landmark among Saudi novels written by women. The only landmark I think this novel made is that it has become a scar on Saudi literature.”

Local critics had praised the book after it was published, which caused Baeshen to lash out at her colleagues.

“For God’s sake, don’t you people know how to interpret (a book) at all?” said Baeshen at the time.

Now spectators will see Sunday night what the well-known literary critic has to say about “Jahelya”, a book about a love affair between a fair-skinned Saudi woman and a black Saudi man.

The title refers to the concept that Islam ostensibly eliminated racial inequality, but in reality racism persists in Muslim society in spite of noble values of racial harmony.

Al-Jehani, who lives nearby Madinah, isn’t expected to attend the event.

While the two books being discussed were available at the International Book Fair, the Ministry of Culture and Information has never approved them for distribution in bookstores.

Will Baeshen find Al-Jehani’s second novel more satisfying than her debut work 10 years ago? Has Al-Jehani become a more mature writer in this time? Local residents are encouraged to come to the Jeddah Literary Club’s Corniche headquarters to find out.