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.

Shortlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction

Reviews

“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

“Compelling . . . well-timed, humorous observations . . . [the narrator’s] story progresses toward deeper understanding of the human condition.”―Foreword Review