JEDDAH, 10 October 2007 — The Hewar Group at the Jeddah Literary Club announced details of its fifth season of discussion groups that begin after the Eid break with the first event that addresses the portrayal of foreigners in Saudi novels.
Hasan Al-Naami, literary critic and head of the Hewar Group, said they will discuss this theme in relation to six Saudi novels: “East of the Valley” by Turki Al-Hamad; “Barking” by Abdu Khal; “Sidi Wahdana” by Rajaa Aalem; “After Rain There Is Always a Smell” by Fatima bint Al-Sarat; “Wolves of a Crescent Moon” by Yousif Al-Mohaimeed; and “Women of the Sea” by Omima Al-Khamis.
In 2006 the group held six sessions monthly basis to discuss Arabic literature in the context of their portrayal of Saudi society. Most of the sessions have seen both participants and the audience furiously attacking authors and their books, for having a bias against and a stereotype of Saudi society.
The Hewar Group was founded four years ago by Hasan Al-Naami, a member of the Jeddah Literary Club and professor of Arabic literature at King Abdul Aziz University. Al-Naami set up the group with the aim of connecting literature to social issues raised in the Kingdom.
Literary clubs, which are found in Saudi Arabia’s larger cities, play a key role in the Kingdom’s literary circuit and events.
The group will announce the set schedule for the coming meeting that is also open for the public on their website: http://www.adabijeddah.com/index.html.
