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Sunʻ Allāh Ibrāhīm
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The Committee: A Novel (Middle East Literature In Translation) Kindle Edition

by Sonallah Ibrahim (Author), Mary St. Germain (Translator), Charlene Constable (Translator) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 24 ratings

This wry take on Kafka’s novel The Trial revolves around its narrator’s attempts to petition successfully the elusive ruling body of his country, known simply as "the Committee." Consequences for his actions range from the absurd to the hideous.

Ibrahim offers an unbroken first-person narrative rendered in brief, crisp prose framed by a conspicuous absence of vivid imagery. Furthermore, the petitioner is a man without identity. The ideal antihero, he remains, as does his country, unnamed throughout the intricate plot with a locale suggestive of 1970s Cairo.

The Committee pierces the inflammatory terrain between ordinary men, unbridled displays of power, and other broader concerns of the author’s native Egypt. The novel’s corrosive, shocking conclusion catapults satiric surrealism into a new realm.

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  1. Print length
    176 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Syracuse University Press
  4. Publication date
    1 Sept. 2022
  5. File size
    1.0 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Not Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Not Enabled
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Product description

Review

Possesses both uncanny contemporary relevance and, in its surreal climax and dénouement, tremendous narrative and symbolic force.-- "Kirkus"

This is a wonderful existential novel.-- "Booklist"

This spare, swift and ultimately chilling fantasy of interrogation and persecution in contemporary Egypt suggests that all of us are controlled by forces we often have no inkling of. The novel begins with a frustrating and unexplained interview conducted by a group known simply as the Committee. . . . In keeping with Ibrahim's reputation as the 'Egyptian Kafka, ' the Committee is anonymous, oppressive and symbolic of familiar social forces--though recent world events will prompt readers to associate it with more specific clandestine organizations. Ibrahim . . . creates a highly claustrophobic mood with elegant descriptions and the smooth incorporation of historical detail, bringing global depth to this work. As the dark narrative proceeds, its critique of broader social madness masquerading as civilization becomes clearer and clearer, making this a provocative addition to Ibrahim's respected oeuvre.-- "Publishers Weekly"

This powerful, thought-provoking novel offers a fascinating glimpse of the mechanics of repression worldwide.-- "Library Journal"

About the Author

Sonallah Ibrahim is an Egyptian novelist and a major literary figure in the Arab world. He has written many novels, including the oft-translated The Smell of It.

Mary St. Germain is head of the Near East Section at the University of Washington libraries.

Charlene Constable studied Arabic at the University of Washington and has traveled to Syria, Jordan, and Egypt.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00BKX1LIG
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Syracuse University Press; 1st edition (1 Sept. 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.0 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Not enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
  • Customer reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 24 ratings

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Sunʻ Allāh Ibrāhīm

Sunʻ Allāh Ibrāhīm

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4.5 out of 5 stars
24 global ratings

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Top reviews from other countries

  • Hayli May
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable book
    Reviewed in the United States on 28 November 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This was purchased for a class, but my boyfriend read me excerpts and said he loved it! He likened him to Kafka!
    Report
  • Lgt2744
    3.0 out of 5 stars Best Part? It is short
    Reviewed in the United States on 17 March 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Had to read for a class. Odd story, even stranger plot. Lots of ambiguity if thats your thing. Best Part? It is short.
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    2.0 out of 5 stars Well first of all... I haven't read ...
    Reviewed in the United States on 24 February 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Well first of all... I haven't read this novel yet, but it is an assigned novel for my course so I have to, which is unfortunate because the book I received is both upside down and written from the wrong side, meaning the first page is where the last page is supposed to be. I have no idea how readers go about managing this problem without returning the book, which i don't have time to do since it is an assigned reading.
    Have no idea how it slipped through quality control.
    I looked forward to reading this book, not so much anymore...
    Report

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