The Arab world has a vibrant and rich literary scene. At Al Majalla, we highlight some of our favourite picks—from philosophy and history to science, politics, and culture. Our fortnightly round-up of the latest Arabic books aims to highlight some trends and thinking in the Arab world.
Éden, Éden, Éden
Author: Pierre Guyotat
Translator: Mohammad Nasser Al-Din
Publisher: Al-Jamal Publications – Iraq
Eden, Eden, Eden is a unique novel penned by French author Pierre Guyotat in 1970 that transcends conventional storytelling. There is no plot, chronological sequence, or familiar interplay of timelines. Instead, the book unfolds through fragmented texts, vignettes, and scattered reflections. Yet, beneath this disjointed structure lies a cohesive thread: violence, brutality, and repulsive characters.
"Set in the Algerian desert where colonial soldiers arrive to a world teeming with women, young boys, eroticism, ornaments, clothing, pastures, livestock, animals, dunes, and a sun so searing that it pierces the skin down to the blood, the reader gets trapped in a paralysing hallucination—one that only a select few literary figures have ever managed to achieve," translator Mohammad Nasser Al-Din says.
At the time of its release, Éden, Éden, Éden sparked widespread controversy, ultimately prompting France to ban it. Afterwards, a group of prominent French writers, artists, and philosophers signed a petition calling for the ban to be reversed and brought it to François Mitterrand, a politician at the time. He read it aloud in the National Assembly, prompting then-President Georges Pompidou to write to his Minister of the Interior, Raymond Marcellin, requesting to lift the ban on the 'cursed book.' Despite his request, the ban remained in place until a decade later when it was finally lifted.
The novel is more of an experience than a story. It is a philosophical exploration of violence, sexuality, death, and life, all infused with deep philosophical contemplation.
The Conversation of Books and Echoes of Life
Author: Mamdouh Mohammed Melbari
Publisher: Madarek Publishing – Saudi Arabia
In The Conversation of Books and Echoes of Life, Saudi writer Mamdouh Mohammed Melbari lays out a rich tapestry of quotes, insights, and reflections drawn from an eclectic selection of books—ranging from memoirs and novels to academic studies and other forms of writing.
"This book is an attempt to extract meanings and capture lessons from every line and book, from every life experience. It is a journey that takes you through the world of books, delves into the depths of the self, and distills the meaning of life for the reader," Melbari writes in the preface.
Following in the footsteps of other writers who cultivated profound relationships with books and learning, Melbari draws inspiration from Walid Seif’s memoir The Witness and the Witnessed. Seif notes: "The life story of any person, no matter who they are, provides rich material for writing—even if its events seem simple and ordinary—so long as there is someone capable of extracting its essence and transforming it into a literary text of human value."
He continues: "The essence of the matter lies more in the act of writing than in the event itself, in one’s ability to reflect, perceive, and uncover deeper meaning."
Melbari also references Galal Amin’s Written on the Forehead, who explains that "while a writer assigns meaning to every action, life’s depths remain a mystery except to those who engage in profound contemplation. Every day presents a turning point in life, and every moment carries a lesson—but only those with keen perception can grasp them."
Melbari also recalls a story from Abdel Wahab Motawe’s Give Life a Chance, in which he recounts attending a journalism training course in Cardiff, UK where conversations with fellow trainees "were as fleeting and superficial as the exchanges between passengers on a train."
Longing for meaningful dialogue, he called a friend in London and asked him to come quickly to Cardiff. When the friend arrived, worried about the urgency of his friend's request, simply responded, "I just wanted to talk." From this, Melbari concludes that conversation is a fundamental human need that fosters companionship and a sense of vitality, especially with "kindred spirits."
The Organised Mind: Clear Thinking in the Age of Information Overload
Author: Daniel J. Levitin
Translator: Ahmed El-Shimi
Reviewer: Fouad Mohamed Abu El-Makarem
Publisher: National Center for Translation – Egypt
In an era of information overload, people find themselves struggling with mental exhaustion and even psychological distress. In his book, Canadian author Daniel J. Levitin offers useful strategies to help individuals navigate the chaos of excessive information and maintain clarity in their daily lives.
"The book teaches how to manage your affairs, structure your thoughts, and manage your workspace. It also highlights some common mistakes we make that cost people much time, effort, and money," Levitin writes.
Young adults in their early careers or even seasoned scholars can learn a lot from this book, which provides a historical overview of humanity’s relationship with information. It explains how myriad civilisations—as far back as ancient times—have long sought to categorise and structure information," he continues.
The Ancient Greeks were the first to think of ways to preserve information—a practice later advanced by the ancient Egyptians with the invention of libraries. This marked a pivotal moment in human history, as it enabled civilisations to record, store, and pass down knowledge systematically rather than relying solely on human memory.
Levitin also traces the origins of human cognitive development, exploring how significant changes in neural systems allowed early humans to adapt to their evolving environments. Before the written word, people primarily relied on memory, expressed through drawings and engravings; and sound, particularly music, as a means of communication and record-keeping. Over time, humans came up with different ways to record information, although preserving vast amounts was always a challenge.
Today—despite the advent of computers, smart devices, and electronic chips designed to help store information—humans still find it difficult to manage its sheer volume.
According to Levitin, to be successful, you must master two key skills: 1) effectively absorbing and organising information, and 2) accessing that information when needed. He emphasises that knowledge alone is not enough—it also matters how it is stored and retrieved.
Levitin also has pointers on how we can help children cope with the overwhelming flow of information by teaching them ways to effectively organise their thoughts.
War and Conflict Narratives: Transformations in Vision and Technique
Author: Dr. Amani Fouad
Publisher: The Egyptian Lebanese House
In her critical thesis, Dr. Amani Fouad examines what is commonly referred to as "war literature" from the classical era—through figures like Homer and Virgil—up to the present day, analysing more than 50 novels that fall under this genre. Through her extensive research, she delves into how war literature has evolved in terms of both definition and technique across various historical periods.
Fouad explains how the term "war literature" first emerged in World War II, but literary critics didn't explicitly define the term until much later. In her view, war literature doesn't only deal with recounting battlefield events but also concerns itself with the actors of war, the people affected by it, and its political, economic and social impact.
In the book’s introduction, Fouad explores the myriad approaches to war literature: some write factual or fictional works on wars, while others write about nationalistic causes through a deeply human artistic lens. This latter approach prioritises imagination over historical accuracy.
Fouad disagrees with all these approaches, which, in her view, fail to capture the essence of war. In her view, the first approach confines war literature to military events although its scope is much broader; and the second approach—which recounts war through a revolutionary lens—also falls short, because while revolutions often precede wars, they are not necessarily a prerequisite.
She concludes her thesis with an existential question: will we ever witness a world free from war? A question many readers are surely wondering as well.
The Other Woman
Author: Karima Ahdad
Publisher: Al-Mutawassit Publications – Italy
In this novel, the protagonist, Scheherazade, feels like a failure: she never became the writer she hoped to be and among other setbacks she faced, her marriage also fell apart. She explains how she got to this point, not only to recount her story but also as a way to reclaim agency over her life which had been marred by disappointment.
Moroccan author Karima Ahdad perhaps chose the protagonist's name as a nod to the legendary Scheherazade from One Thousand and One Nights—a woman who told stories not just to survive but to postpone her inevitable fate, night after night.
Through her husband's stories about his past lover, Najwa, Scheherazade discovers many admirable qualities in her apart from her captivating beauty. She embarks on an exhaustive whirlwind journey to learn more about Najwa, to the point where the reader might feel Scheherazade has developed a deep, almost romantic, infatuation with her.
She reaches out to Najwa on social media, creates fake profiles—both male and female—to get closer to her, and embarks on reckless, almost adolescent-like adventures in pursuit of her. She obsesses over her and even dreams of her in intimate ways. Her relentless quest keeps the reader on pins and needles—eager to follow her down her strange and arduous path and find out where it ultimately leads.
A passage that captures the thrill of the pursuit goes as follows: "I thought of Najwa as I stared at the desolate streetlights, and I felt an even stronger desire for Saad—I wanted to cling to him forever. I didn’t know if it was because I wanted him or because I longed to touch Najwa’s skin through his."
"My obsession with her had become so overwhelming that I could no longer tell whether thinking about her brought me closer to him or pushed me away. Sometimes, I would bury myself in his embrace while thinking of her, longing to stay there forever, afraid my madness for her might drive him away."
"Sometimes, I would see her reflection in his eyes and keep staring, reliving every conversation they had, every message they exchanged, with a strange pleasure. Other times, I would paint my lips with her shade of lipstick and kiss him, staining his lips—not to remind him of her, but because, in those fleeting moments, I wanted to be her."
At times, Ahdad slightly deviates from the novel's genre as a psychological thriller to highlight the stark realities many women in Arab societies face, such as oppression and injustice.
But what makes the story particularly compelling is Ahdad’s fluid and engaging writing style, as well as her masterful narrative structure. She skillfully maintains clarity, ensuring that readers don't get lost. Each character speaks in a distinct voice, shaped by their unique cultural and social background, allowing for an authentic and immersive reading experience.
