20 novels in 2024 that reflected Arabic literature's rich diversity

 

The Arabic literary scene continued to thrive in 2024. It told a diverse range of inspiring stories and channelled the unique experiences of writers to engage its readers. New authors arrived, encouraged by the increasing number of awards dedicated to the art of the novel, helping keep it vibrant and fresh throughout the year. Alongside the numerous debut voices came a variety of contributions from well-established names.

The year’s books spanned a wide range of themes. Some revisited history, exploring the lives of historical figures whose significance or influence still resonates. Others tackled the realities of the present day, exploring social themes and global issues. The ongoing wars and conflicts of our world left a marked presence.

One of them led to a controversy that reminded writers and readers alike of the power of the written word. Meanwhile, some authors ventured into realms of imagination and transported readers to entirely different worlds and imagined futures.

Al Majalla now looks back at 20 of the year’s standout books that caught our attention in 2024 and reveals the breadth, depth and reach of Arab literature.

The Forgotten Between Two Waters by Laila Al-Mutawa

Dar Rashm

Laila Al-Mutawa takes readers on a captivating journey set in Bahrain and its rich heritage, weaving a narrative that moves between the past and present of the nation.

It explores the historical relationship of Bahrain’s people with the sea, showing how progress and technology turned this bond into a peculiar conflict with nature, marked by the rise of artificial islands and the burial of many natural springs.

Salima, the book’s first protagonist, escapes the oppression she faces in her village by fleeing to the coast. Her journey is a means to revisit ancient myths surrounding the sea in Bahraini and Arab folklore. It offers a vision that bridges the mythical and the realistic, the past and the present.

Nadia, the second protagonist, seeks to piece together these tales and uncover the fates of her ancestors, striving to understand how they navigated the challenges of their time.

Through interconnected chapters, the novel vividly portrays Bahrain’s history and unique relationship with the sea, where there was a dual bond between salty seawater and fresh spring water, defining life in Bahrain for centuries.

Al-Mutawa examines how industrialisation threatens this relationship, replacing the rich natural landscape with lifeless concrete. And so, the novel poses critical questions: Can the sea rebel against the relentless industrial encroachment, or will advanced technology ultimately prevail, dominating both the souls and lives of people as time marches on?

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