The Arabic literary scene continued to thrive in 2024. It told a diverse range of inspiring stories and channelled the unique experiences of writers to engage its readers. New authors arrived, encouraged by the increasing number of awards dedicated to the art of the novel, helping keep it vibrant and fresh throughout the year. Alongside the numerous debut voices came a variety of contributions from well-established names.
The year’s books spanned a wide range of themes. Some revisited history, exploring the lives of historical figures whose significance or influence still resonates. Others tackled the realities of the present day, exploring social themes and global issues. The ongoing wars and conflicts of our world left a marked presence.
One of them led to a controversy that reminded writers and readers alike of the power of the written word. Meanwhile, some authors ventured into realms of imagination and transported readers to entirely different worlds and imagined futures.
Al Majalla now looks back at 20 of the year’s standout books that caught our attention in 2024 and reveals the breadth, depth and reach of Arab literature.
Cairo of the Lost Day by Ibrahim Abdel Meguid
Al-Mutawassit Publishing House
In a style that blends the fantastic with a measure of realism, the Egyptian novelist took us to Cairo in 2022. The story unfolds during renewed calls for protest, only to reveal the shocking reality that no one answers the call. What has happened to Cairo? What has changed in its people?
Abdel Meguid explores themes of revolution and defeat, tracing what has transpired in Egypt and among Egyptians more than a decade after a revolution that reshaped the country and toppled the old regime.
What might happen if people were to reignite that revolution? Did the revolution truly succeed in its aspirations, or has it become merely a page in history and a collection of anecdotes for the young?
The author brings himself into the narrative. He writes about a novel he is crafting, meets a beautiful young woman, and takes her on a tour of an imagined Cairo emptied of its residents. Through this journey, he introduces her to several significant locations in Cairo, starting from Heliopolis to Tahrir Square, where the January 2011 revolution unfolded, passing through iconic cafés and historically unique landmarks, each of which holds a story worthy of its own novel.
The narrative moves fluidly across time and space, looking at traditions, cultural heritage, and the Egyptians' relationship with monarchs, colonisers, and, ultimately, authoritarian regimes. Throughout, Abdel Meguid remains dedicated to extracting art and beauty from the layers of history, piecing together their remnants from the fabric of reality.
The Secret Lover of Frau Merkel by Reem Najmi
The Egyptian Lebanese Publishing House
From Morocco, Reem Najmi presents a fictional story that intertwines the struggles of expatriates in Europe with the obsession surrounding celebrity admiration. Her protagonist, Younes Al-Khatib, is a young Syrian refugee in Germany who becomes infatuated with Angela Merkel, Germany’s long-serving chancellor. He writes her love letters and goes as far as breaking into her house.
Through this tale, the novel outlines the complex relationships among expatriates in Germany while also revisiting stories from Syria, highlighting the oppression and suffering that drove them to seek a better life abroad. Najmi successfully portrays the realities of migrants' lives and the challenges they face, weaving in a layer of suspense, not least in terms of to what extent migrants are accepted and how they behave and are treated.
The novel also sheds light on European attitudes toward ideals like freedom, justice, and equality, questioning how these principles are applied in practice. It was longlisted for the Golden Pen award this year.
The Forgotten Between Two Waters by Laila Al-Mutawa
Dar Rashm
Laila Al-Mutawa takes readers on a captivating journey set in Bahrain and its rich heritage, weaving a narrative that moves between the past and present of the nation.
It explores the historical relationship of Bahrain’s people with the sea, showing how progress and technology turned this bond into a peculiar conflict with nature, marked by the rise of artificial islands and the burial of many natural springs.
Salima, the book’s first protagonist, escapes the oppression she faces in her village by fleeing to the coast. Her journey is a means to revisit ancient myths surrounding the sea in Bahraini and Arab folklore. It offers a vision that bridges the mythical and the realistic, the past and the present.
Nadia, the second protagonist, seeks to piece together these tales and uncover the fates of her ancestors, striving to understand how they navigated the challenges of their time.
Through interconnected chapters, the novel vividly portrays Bahrain’s history and unique relationship with the sea, where there was a dual bond between salty seawater and fresh spring water, defining life in Bahrain for centuries.
Al-Mutawa examines how industrialisation threatens this relationship, replacing the rich natural landscape with lifeless concrete. And so, the novel poses critical questions: Can the sea rebel against the relentless industrial encroachment, or will advanced technology ultimately prevail, dominating both the souls and lives of people as time marches on?
Hind, or the Most Beautiful Woman in the World by Hoda Barakat
Dar Al-Adab
After a five-year hiatus, acclaimed Lebanese novelist Hoda Barakat has returned. She explores a fraught relationship between a mother and her daughter, who suffers from a rare disease that disfigures her once-beautiful features. The mother isolates her daughter from society, beginning a journey of solitude that eventually leads her to France in search of a better life.
There, however, she faces the harsh reality that her condition has no cure, leaving her to live as a vagrant. Barakat depicts a sense of alienation in her protagonist and an ambiguous bond shared with the character’s mother. She vividly recounts the daughter's daily struggles, oscillating between survival and despair, juxtaposing it with her past.
The novel has been longlisted for the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, highlighting its literary significance and Barakat's continued mastery of storytelling.
Khawla's House by Bothayna Al-Essa
Takween Publishing
In her short novella, the Kuwaiti writer returns to the world of fiction. She depicts the struggles of an aristocratic family caught between two worlds: the modernity brought to Kuwait by the United States, particularly after the Iraqi invasion, and the effort to preserve their Kuwaiti Arab identity. The story is about a matriarch, Khawla, and her three sons, each embodying a different facet of this complex inter-relationship.
Intense and concise, the book delves into many issues that could have filled a much longer story. It captures the fraught dynamic between an educated mother, burdened with upholding values, ideas, and her vision of identity, and her sons, who live life on their own terms and see what she does not. Some of them strive to gain her approval, but it is as if she cannot see their efforts.
The story addresses profound themes: home and exile, freedom and independence, modernity and globalisation. Al-Essa raises these major ideas succinctly, leaving a lasting impression on readers and ensuring her narrative lingers in the mind.
The Village of One Hundred by Rihab Louai
Dar Al-Shorouk
The Egyptian village continues to inspire contemporary fiction, offering a rich world for exploration and storytelling. In her debut novel, which won the Khairy Shalaby Prize for Fiction, Louai presents the life of a village shaped by its myths and the unseen forces that govern its people.
The story begins with the myth of a village consisting of exactly 100 inhabitants—a number that never changes. Whenever one person dies, another is born. However, as the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that this myth is not entirely accurate.
Hidden powers are at play, controlling the village and dictating its fate. Louai vividly portrays the setting in intricate, enchanting, and captivating detail. Her short novel captures a world brimming with life and complexity, be it in the relationships among the villagers or their interactions with the ruling political or religious authorities.
Written in poetic language, the book is presented without chapters in one continuous piece. This structure seems designed to deliver a cohesive, powerful experience, drawing readers deeply into its compelling and richly textured world.
The Andalusian Christ by Taysir Khalaf
Al-Mutawassit Publishing House
This Syrian novelist takes us back to Andalusia with a compelling narrative about the harrowing period when the Moriscos in Spain were forced to convert to Christianity to survive.
Many novels have addressed this historical ordeal, but Khalaf crafts a fresh perspective, presenting multifaceted characters and a vivid portrayal of the era. His protagonist, Isa bin Muhammad, is brought to life through extensive research into old Andalusian manuscripts and letters from the 17th century and beyond.
The story begins with Issa’s quest to find his mother’s killer after she was a victim of the infamous Inquisition campaigns. Along this journey, Isa encounters various characters who unveil hidden aspects of his history and world, reflecting the struggles and tragedies of Muslims during that time.
The narrative spans numerous settings, following Issa’s odyssey from Spain to Cairo to Istanbul in Turkey, with each destination revealing a new tale of suffering and survival. The novel unfolds on an epic scale, chronicling Isa’s arduous journey and shedding light on this historical period's immense challenges and turmoil. Through intricate storytelling, Khalaf masterfully portrays the resilience of displaced people and the enduring scars of one of history’s most painful chapters.
Playing with Soldiers by Tareq Asrawi
Dar Takween
In this debut novella, the Palestinian author tells a seemingly simple, everyday story about how children interact with the Israeli soldiers occupying their homeland.
Resistance becomes a game that children play to disrupt the soldiers’ sense of control and routine. Asrawi juxtaposes this light-hearted defiance with the daily lives of ordinary Palestinians, caught between resisting the occupation and coexisting with it.
He examines the fates of those who resist and those who compromise, tracing their lives over the years as events unfold. It provides a distinctive and nuanced portrait of Palestine in earlier times, going beyond the images often portrayed on television screens despite its brevity.
Asrawi captures the essence of Palestinian life under occupation – the relationships between neighbours, the secrets they keep, and their attempts to navigate the hardships of daily life – via straightforward and evocative storytelling; while the struggles may seem ordinary, the occupation leaves an indelible mark, shaping relationships and stories and influencing even the smallest aspects of everyday lives.
A Whiteness as Far as the Eye Can See by Mohamed Abdel Razek
Dar Al-Ain
A death that might have been dismissed as a fleeting incident in a quiet village instead unravels into a profound psychological and social earthquake, shaking the very core of its community depicted in a book about hidden flaws and secrets.
At the heart of the story is Hala, a downtrodden mother desperately trying to piece together the circumstances of her daughter’s death. Her tragic past, intertwined with her tense relationship with her husband Masaad, who wanted to uproot the family to the city, adds layers of complexity to her grief.
The village itself holds a magnetic power, epitomised by the matriarchal figure of Halima, a domineering grandmother who asserts her authority over everyone.
While these are the central characters, the narrative also branches out to explore the lives of secondary figures, such as the village doctor and the police commissioner. Each carries the burden of unresolved traumas, their haunted pasts re-emerging in the bleakest moments.
Abdel Razek skilfully presents a comprehensive portrayal of Egyptian village life, not merely its internal dynamics and influences but also its connection to the city and the cost of the villagers’ pursuit of a better life. He captures how a single event can suddenly bind these worlds together, shedding light on the shifting relationships between rural and urban dwellers and the profound impact these changes have on their lives and perspectives.
Death: A Daily Habit by Shokry Salama
Dar Al-Hikma
In a world inundated with daily news of death, this is a story with a unique perspective on life. Salama also offers a unique perspective on mortality and the twisting passage of time. The early loss of his father haunts the protagonist, and he embarks on a quest to solve the mystery of his disappearance and to find out if he is still alive.
In a narrative blending reality with mythology, Salama draws inspiration from literary figures who turned death into a myth they could control and intertwines the tangible with the imagined. There are echoes of Gilgamesh, the heroes of Al-Hamadhani’s Maqamat, and other fantastical tales.
The captivating storytelling becomes a remedy for the losses endured by the characters, and the novel invites readers to reflect on the endless stories of death that permeate our world.
The book also explores lost values in today’s world, such as fatherhood and friendship, asking if these bonds can survive the rapid changes shaping the characters’ lives. These are profound questions posed in a smooth and engaging style. Salama leaves readers in a prolonged state of contemplation about their relationships and the world around them.
Barakat, Trapped in Imagination by Abdulaziz Al-Sogheibi
Dar Al-Saqi
The Saudi writer captures how real-life issues can be addressed with imagination and creativity without venturing too far from actual world events. The story follows Barakat, whose life is irrevocably altered by a sudden accident, thrusting him into two parallel existences.
In one, he is a wealthy chief executive of a major corporation, embodying power and success. In the other, he is a man of humble origins, grappling with financial struggles and the daily challenges of survival.
As Barakat navigates these conflicting realities, he becomes increasingly torn, questioning his identity and the nature of his fragmented existence. Is he truly defined by one life or the other, or is he trapped in a reality shaped by imagination and circumstance?
Written in the first person, the story evokes Barakat’s internal struggles, with supporting characters representing reflections of his psyche. It is fast-paced and unpredictable, keeping readers engaged while also evoking a sense of empathy. Throughout its fantastical conceit, the book also manages to stay grounded in a sense of realism and even includes the author in the story, adding another layer of complexity.
Exodus by Habib Abdulrab Sarori
Dar Al-Saqi
The Yemeni novelist takes readers on an imaginative journey into the future and outer space. The narrative follows two spacecraft, each carrying five experts, who embark on a daring mission to establish a new life on the moon. Through a swift and engaging introduction, Sarori unveils each character, delving into their selection for the voyage and the personal aspirations driving them toward this perilous adventure.
Sarori masterfully blends realism with speculative fiction, weaving together the ordinary dreams of individuals with the extraordinary challenges posed by advanced technology and science fiction.
The story raises profound questions: Can love flourish in the immensity of outer space? Can individuals coexist peacefully during such an epic journey and then afterwards, when they settle on the moon?
There are glimpses into the past lives of the characters. Sarori paints a stark and vivid picture of the aftermath of prolonged wars and devastation in the Arab world, presenting a cautionary vision of what could unfold.
Despite its futuristic setting and themes of technological advancement, the novel remains deeply grounded in present realities. Sarori places his faith in human connection and intrinsic goodness, suggesting that love and unity – not machines – will ultimately shape humanity's future.
It is an optimistic outlook, reinforcing the belief that, no matter how advanced technology becomes, it is human intent and creativity that will define the tools of tomorrow and ensure they serve collective human needs.
The Prayer of Anxiety by Mohamed Samir Nada
Dar Meskeliani
The Egyptian writer begins with a seemingly realistic premise rooted in historical events, Egypt’s 1967 setback and its aftermath, but it soon takes a turn to become fantastical and mythic.
It is set in the fictional village of Naja al-Manasi, an isolated community whose residents are led to believe in a fabricated Egyptian victory in 1967 rather than the historic defeat. The villagers remain ensnared in this illusion for ten years, perpetuated by key figures who use it to consolidate their control over the village.
Among them are figures such as Khalil al-Khoja, who assumes the role of the village’s self-styled minister of information. He dictates all the news and information that reaches the people.
Alongside him is Ayoub al-Mansi, the village sheikh, who rationalises and enforces the fabricated reality. Ayoub becomes the mechanism through which the villagers accept their circumstances, fostering a culture of resignation and complacency.
Nada introduces a world steeped in superstition and myth. The villagers find themselves caught in a war whose details they do not understand, yet they resign themselves to fate. Interconnected stories create a dense web of tales, plunging the village into an impenetrable darkness.
To the Right of the Heart by Layali Badr
Dar Al-Ain
The Palestinian writer and filmmaker blends a tale of impossible love with the tragedy of her stolen homeland. Her story revolves around Gharam, a young woman from a family with a unique lineage: a Jewish grandmother and a Palestinian grandfather who shared an extraordinary love story during the British Mandate in Palestine, just as the idea of establishing Israel was taking root.
Badr vividly portrays Palestinian life during that era, when it was a country that once embraced religious and ethnic diversity. She depicts traditional songs, cuisine, and clothing to reveal daily routines and the cultural heritage involved in everyday life.
It is a book with a people-centric perspective on Palestinian history, illustrating how ordinary individuals experienced and were impacted by pivotal events. Gharam wrestles with a profound sense of alienation as she explores her grandparents' story, yearning for a connection to a long-lost past.
The ongoing conflicts serve as a persistent backdrop to the narrative, with the war intensifying and the violence growing more ferocious, but the novel rises above these harrowing events to present a realistic and cohesive account of Palestinian life both within the homeland and in exile, amid the enduring resilience of its people.
A Swiss Summer by Inaam Kachachi
Dar Takween
The Iraqi novelist takes readers to Basel in Switzerland, a global hub of the pharmaceuticals industry, famed for its innovation. There are four Iraqis at the centre of the story, each with unique ideologies and beliefs, who undergo an experimental treatment aimed at erasing their painful memories. The novel poses an intriguing question: Can anyone truly rid themselves of what defines a harrowing past?
Daneshmand by Ahmed Faal Al-Din
Dar Meskeliani
The Mauritanian novelist and journalist takes us back to the life of Imam Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali, whose Persian title Daneshmand means "great teacher." This is an epic novel spanning over 600 pages. It intricately reconstructs the transformative journey of Al-Ghazali during a turbulent era in Islamic history.
The narrative evokes the Islamic world of the time, from Iran to the Levant and Palestine, shedding light on the life and profound changes of Al-Ghazali in the critical period leading up to the Crusades. The novel’s richly woven narrative traces Al-Ghazali's life from birth and childhood in Tabaran through his early education to his transformative move to Baghdad.
There, he evolved from a student into a revered figure. The story vividly captures his pivotal intellectual confrontation with the philosophical schools of his time, a struggle that culminated in his renowned work, The Incoherence of the Philosophers.
It then delves into his profound retreat into mysticism, a turning point that deeply influenced his magnum opus, The Revival of Religious Sciences, a work that resonated widely and became a cornerstone of Islamic thought.
Read more: Imam Al-Ghazali is back in the modern-day spotlight
A House of Ornament by Ibrahim Farghali
Dar Al-Shorouk
The author takes us on a journey between the past and present in his new novel, from Al-Ghazali in the East to Ibn Rushd in the West, depicting the era of the Arab philosopher and scholar Ibn Rushd.
Drawing from his intellectual legacy and life journey, the novel creates an opportunity to reflect on contemporary issues. The story intertwines the life of a modern Egyptian thinker and philosopher who faces accusations of heresy in his society, forcing him to flee persecution.
Parallel to this narrative, the novel follows the philosophical and intellectual journey of Ibn Rushd alongside the struggles of Professor Iskandar, a university academic entangled in a love story with a student.
This relationship pushes him to research, reflect, and write about Ibn Rushd, one of the most significant philosophers of the Islamic world. Ibn Rushd is celebrated for his critical commentaries on Aristotle and his advocacy for rational thinking in opposition to strict literalism and blind adherence to texts.
Farghali does not stop at philosophical exploration; he brings Ibn Rushd into a romantic storyline as well. The philosopher develops a relationship with one of his own students, who becomes enamoured with him, accompanying and loving him deeply. Her character takes centre stage as the titular figure of the novel's subtitle, The Lover of Ibn Rushd.
A Promising Attack by Alwan Al-Suhaimi
Dar Rashm
A fresh and distinct experience is offered by novelist Alwan Al-Suhaimi in his novel A Promising Attack, which follows the life journey of Waleed, a Saudi football player from one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Tabuk, as he rises to become a celebrated player for his favourite club.
The author unveils the behind-the-scenes world of football, highlighting the conflicts and challenges within. The story captures the transformative journey that propels the protagonist into an entirely different reality. Through smooth and fluid narration, the novel explores the stark contrasts between Waleed’s difficult past and the opulent life he experiences after his sudden rise to fame, shedding light on the tensions between these two worlds.
Al-Suhaimi skilfully grips the threads of his story, captivating the reader with its intricate details from the very first lines, beginning with the shocking death of the player's mother. The narrative delves into the lives of football players, shedding light on their world, the dynamics between the club manager and its members, and how some are favoured while others are cast aside.
The novel explores the transformations that befall the protagonist after he believes he has reached the pinnacle of fame and glory. Through the lens of his protagonist, Al-Suhaimi portrays the complex relationships between the late mother and her estranged son, as well as his connection with his siblings. The narrative further examines how the sudden shifts in his life profoundly impact those around him in a remarkably short span of time.
The Mother’s Room by Laila Al-Juhani
Dar Athar
After more than 15 years, Saudi novelist Laila Al-Juhani returns with a short novella. She explores the relationship between the protagonist, Ghada, and her mother. Ghada is compelled to empty her mother’s room after she dies, provoking melancholy and memories.
Al-Johani does not limit herself to themes of death and loss in her portrayal of this relationship. Instead, she delves deeper into the nature of grief, exploring how people perceive and respond to it. Do the departed leave traces of themselves in the objects and places they leave behind, or does their presence vanish entirely with their passing?
Hawariya by Inaam Bioud
Dar Mim
After winning the Assia Djebar Prize this year, this novel sparked widespread controversy in Algeria. The renowned novelist Wassini Al-Araj came to its defence, supporting the author Bioud’s right to the award. The novel delves into the events of religious extremism that plagued Algeria in the 1990s through its protagonist, Hawariya, who finds herself in a psychiatric clinic, struggling to recall her past and understand what led her to this fate.
Through Hawariya's memories and story, the reader is introduced to her difficult life circumstances, which are marked by her upbringing in a poor neighbourhood rife with various social vices. The author vividly describes a range of crimes and the ways the community deals with these issues, particularly its treatment of women and their interactions with authority.
This detailed portrayal provoked criticism from many, with some accusing it of promoting corruption and moral deviation. Inaam, however, serves as a voice for some women in Algeria who have endured and continue to endure oppression and violence, whether verbal or physical.
Despite the smear campaigns that followed her win, she managed to get her novel published and reach a wide readership. The backlash against the book only increased public curiosity, as banned or censored works often attracted attention. The controversy intensified when Dar Mim withdrew it following the public uproar against the novel and its publisher.
