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SHORTLISTED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL PRIZE FOR ARABIC FICTION
A sensitive and at times darkly humorous story of a young man’s experience of illness, his contemplation of death, and his determination to maintain his independence through it all
After reading Kafka, K decides to write his own diary, but he is constantly frustrated by his lack of experiences: he is worn down by the drudgery of his corporate job for a faceless corporation and by his incessant family obligations.
When he receives the news that he has leukemia, he finds himself torn between a sense of devastation and a revelation that he has finally found a way out of his writing predicament.
Through Mohammed’s measured but forceful writing, this compelling debut has a universality that reaches across time, place, and culture.
"A fast and enjoyable read, managing to thread a narrative needle between the sardonic youthfulness of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid stories and the dispassionate alienation of The Metamorphosis, all while keeping it grounded in the capitalist nightmare of 21st-century healthcare."—M Lynx Qualey, Middle East Eye
"Aziz Mohammad, a talented Saudi writer, skilfully weaves this introspective narrative, earning his debut novel a spot on the shortlist for the prestigious International Prize for Arabic Fiction." —Harper's Bazaar (Arabia)
“Compelling . . . well-timed, humorous observations . . . [the narrator’s] story progresses toward deeper understanding of the human condition.”—Foreword Review
“Darkly humorous. . . [explores] the tension and love between children and parents, and the fragility of the system when love and tradition don’t always move parallel to one another.”—Manal Shakir, Arab News
“In his first novel, the author managed to create a unique balance between his observations of the community and himself; between sweetness and pain; sadness and irony; the depth of experience and the flow of the narrative. This is a novel that touches the soul.”—Muhammad Abdelnabi, ArabLit
“This engaging novel is written in a diary format, with the protagonist recording his daily battles with life in a sarcastic voice. The narrative flows smoothly . . . his story [is] interesting and touching.”—Ruba Obaid, Arab News