Sonallah Ibrahim鈥檚 2000 masterpiece offers readers a view of twentieth-century world events through the diary pages of his titular character
1950s the intersection of conflicting dreams and political destinies. In this classic novel translated for the first time into English, idealistic reporter Rushdy encounters the enchanting Warda at a clandestine leftist meeting. Their fates would be forever linked. After Warda goes missing, Rushdy immerses himself in her diaries in a quest to uncover her whereabouts. The quest takes him to the hills of Dhofar, Oman, where he discovers Warda鈥檚 guerrilla role in a regional uprising and secret involvement in revolutions with echoes around the globe. Piece by revelatory piece, Rushdy uncovers the truth about Warda鈥攁nd the fiery commitment that drove her to choose the life she lived. 听
Widely acknowledged as a masterpiece by one of Egypt鈥檚 most important novelists, this is an unforgettable story of intrigue, passion, and revolution.
This books is Written in a similar style to 'The Season of Migration to the North', in which our main protagonist seeks to follow the steps of, and uncover the mysterious story of another character. Much more compelling that the season of Migration to the North, Warda tells the little known and even less discussed Communist insurgency/war for liberation in Oman.
Following the tradition of Egyptian authors who write subversive and countercultural 'fiction' that arguably isn't really 'fiction' (I'm looking at you Ibrahim Issa and Nawal Al Saadawi) and Egyptian authors who write books on eras of history that we collectively choose to forget for the sake of the present psyche (think 'The Man from Bashmour), this book focuses on an insurgency most will not even know occurred. The听 Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman听fought against the sultan of Oman and believed in Marxist principles - including nationalisation of property and the liberation of women from 1974 until 1992.听
I read middle eastern and north African history a lot. I had no idea whatsoever about this war. I also had no idea about many of the things covered in the book such as the erratic interaction of Gaddafi with communists and leftists in the middle east, the active role of the west in crushing leftist and communist movements in the middle east, the fact that there were communist parties so close to erasing and consolidating power in Sudan, how Abdel Nasser used socialist language, philosophy and messaging, how active and influential legit sys were in power, the degree of backstabbing in the southern Yemen government and so so so so much more. This book, although ostensibly a fiction book, goes through history from an Arab leftist point of view. One that you really will struggle to find anywhere else - because Arab leftism just isn't too much of a thing anymore in its purest form. We often recreate history in our own image, and in a middle east that is increasingly religiously zealous and theocratic, while also authoritarian and service to western interest - such histories are deeply subversive. This is probably why they are in a fiction book to begin with.听
In the book you also discover so much about the nation of Oman. I didn't even know they had languages other than Arabic or about the deep African influence in their population and culture. The book contains searing critiques of the wealth that has entered the gulf states, the kafala system, the role of women and so much else that still holds true to some degree today.
Our titular character is never encountered in the present. She is mysterious and we hear about her from her own diaries. She is driven, compelling, vulnerable, empathetic, and lovable. She is zealous for her cause but never loses her humanity. She fights for what she believes in and loses. But it makes her move lovable, and I rooted for her throughout the story. It made me consider how far removed from modern reality this character was. The author is aware of this and he intentionally juxtaposes the more Religious听 affluent, capitalist bourgeoisie gulf with the utopia and the ideology of the titular character.听
Discussion of gender in this book was very poignant, especially given that the author is a man.
I loved this book very deeply and highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more and seeing the leftist history of the middle east.听
That said it wasn't perfect. At times it overstayed it's welcome, especially the parts of the book that were concerned with the present day. I also feel that one of the sexual relationships in the book was unnecessary and detracted from the plot.听
The ending was perfect. It was heart breaking. It was intentionally not clear cut at all. It showed two of the characters closest to our titular character use and abuse her, denounce and absolve themselves of her to serve their own interests.
Our titular character was true to the cause, and perhaps that is why she fell to lesser men.听
One of the best novels I read for the author. Wardah would never leave my heart and mind. Wardah was a revolutionary woman from Oman (Thafar). She scarified many of her feminine needs and feelings, and even weaknesses cause of her principles. Unfortunately Wardah started to doubt these principle she fought for in the end. The main character Knew wardah from her time of study in Egypt with her brother. In the book he read her day book or memo he got from her daughter. In the book, Wardah was describing many things, her feelings being like a soldier with other men and women uniting in the mountain against the Sultan (in 1960s-70s). Of course, I was not aware of this revolution which was terminated at that time. I guess, our history books as usual were fabricated highly that I was not aware of this event til I read this book. We dont know what happened to wardah who was pregnant with her child, without marriage, and who was escaping in the desert when their revolution was sabotaged . All what we know, that she left a daughter behind her, and the ironic thing is that this daughter was completely veiled. The main character was really angry , I guess, on the behalf of his Wardah, and what she stood for. He was shouting that he does not like to speak to a person without having eye contact, some thing he could not get with the girl behind the veil. The daughter was the contrast of her mother. It is sad if Wardah come back to life and see how the image of women became the opposite of she was fighting for. The author spoke about the background of many revolutions and a lot of political activities occurring at that time in the Gulf states. This means to me, as a special stage in this region that is getting ignored and may be forgotten. The rulers do their best to erase every thing that put doubts on their strength and legitimacy. While reading, I felt the that the author was so much in love with Wardah, or may be he was obsessed with her. For him she was a rose that was killed too early and too aggressively, not only by the government, but mainly by the ugly mentality of her people. San3 Allah Ebraheem is a magnificent author, and in this novel, he was top. I highly recommend this novel, and especially to the people of Arabia.
Pakkend en goed onderzocht boek dat een licht schijnt op een vrij onbekende revolutie. Ik kon de schrijfstijl als dagboek wel waarderen. Hoewel het af en toe lastig te volgen was (een dagboek schetst niet altijd een coherent verhaal), voegde dit eigenlijk alleen maar toe aan het idee dat je een historisch document aan het teruglezen bent om te achterhalen wat er nu gebeurd is met Warda en de revolutie. Gedurende de verweven hoofdstukken over een Egyptische journalist die de dagboeken terugleest komen we erachter dat - ook voor hem - het dagboek meer vragen dan antwoorden oplevert. Het einde is wat abrupt.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.