Whenever I think or hear of Saudi Arabia, I have to say that the first things that come to mind are all the standard clichés---the immense desert, the veiled women and of course all that oil. So it’s always interesting to come across books or articles that talk about the current society. I came across one such book recently--- Zoe Ferraris’ The Night of the Mi’raj. The story opens with the disappearance of 16 year old Nouf ash-Shrawi, daughter of the a wealthy Saudi dynasty. Nayir, an experienced desert guide is brought in by the family to investigate her disappearance. When he later finds her battered body, he feels compelled to find out what really happens to her. In the course of his investigation, he comes into contact with Katya Hijazi, a forensic scientist who takes on the case.
While its supposed to be a murder mystery, the book quickly develops into a much more fascinating psychological portrait of Nayir and of Saudian society. Here is a character who is Palestinian by birth and so is outside of both Berber and Saudi society and yet by virtue of his religion is governed by their social mores and customs. Nayir is deeply conflicted by his natural human urges and the way it goes against behavior imposed by society.
Another fascinating aspect of the book which Ferraris deals with is the deep paranoia towards women. In the character of Katya, we have a thoroughly modern woman whose career as a forensic scientist is hampered by what society dictates women to be. And even the character of Nouf which starts the whole book is a study in how women in such a society long to be free of such constraints and paranoia.
This is a deeply satisfying read that transcends its genre of murder mystery. Certainly well worth picking up to obtain some insights into a culture and country otherwise deeply closed to the outside world.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire