Review: 'Throwing Sparks' by Abdo Khal

Last week, at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, I attended two sessions that featured Abdo Khal: one in which he was part of a panel that hosted IPAF winners, and the other in which he was the main speaker discussing his highly explosive novel 'Throwing Sparks'.

Winner of the IPAF for 2012, 'Throwing Sparks' has been controversial from the word go. Beginning with the choice of title: a partial Qur'anic verse from Surah Al-Mursalat, Aya 32, that describes the fires of Hell as large as castles, and then broaching a tough, eyebrow-raising subject matter: corrupt 'delinquent' characters controlled by a depraved 'Master' of a castle in the Saudi city of Jeddah, Khal ensured that this novel was never going to go unnoticed and it came as no surprise to anyone when it was banned in Saudi Arabia.

I believe that Abdo Khal knew exactly what he was doing when he set about writing his novel and in my opinion, the novel matter is proof that old habits die hard. A former preacher, it could be argued that the castle of Hell that he conjures up in his novel could be an elaborate form of sermon to warn people of the consequences of sin and vice and their detrimental effects on individuals and societies; a Hell on Earth and damnation in the afterlife. And yet, and in spite of all that the reader comes to know, Khal through his character Ibrahim, reminds us that God is ultimately The Gracious and Most Merciful, that forgiveness is truly holy. The perfect ending to a perfect sermon if there ever was one.

The jaw-dropping first paragraph ensnares the reader, and the first few lines are as a noose that wraps itself firmly around the reader's neck tightening and restricting the passageway of air with every turn of the page. I found myself offering very little resistance to the experience, courtesy of human curiosity possibly but most likely because I found the style of writing beautiful, poetic, mesmerising, and gripping (well done translators) albeit claustrophobic at times. I did have to force myself to put the book down, take gulps of air before re-immersing myself in the events of 'Throwing Sparks'. This is a book that is not for the faint-hearted and there are scenes that are revolting to the senses and render the reader livid with indignation and disbelief at the cruelty and the injustice meted out so nonchalantly by the characters. The writer shows no mercy, and only a few pages into the novel, the reader quickly learns to expect none.

The novel follows the story of 51-year-old Tariq who we meet reminiscing about his life and lamenting his 31 years lost in the service of the 'Master'; the cruel, immoral owner of the magnificent castle that sprang up one day on the shores of Jeddah,  changing the lives of the city's dwellers forever. Those on the outside looked to the castle as a 'paradise' that they longed to enter, unknowing that those who had preceded inside long for a chance to escape its walls. Their lives as slaves to the 'Master' is unbearable; They are maimed, scarred, and tainted by the 'Hell' that descended on them from the higher echelons of the palace's dwellers and everyone associated with it.

Tariq's job is an appalling one. He is hand-picked by the 'Master' to serve as a most particular torturer; one to dishonour and humiliate the enemies, and anyone who disobeys the Master, in the vilest, most terrible of ways. In between these 'tasks' he falls in love with the Master's mistress 'Maram', which 'was like touching a live wire... untold misery awaited anyone caught glancing her way when she was in the Master's company or when she stepped out onto the dance floor'. With each new 'task' and every passing year, Tariq grows increasingly richer and more powerful eventually exacting his own vengeance on those he blames for his moral detriment and sullied existence.

This painful, dark satirical novel throws light on the excesses of the rich and wealthy. Their jaded demeanour regarding all worldly pleasures. Tariq labels them as deviants and perverts who are 'basically motivated by boredom: tired of what is socially acceptable, they seek whatever is novel or uncommon to break the monotony of routine pleasures".

Why write the book? it is a question I have asked myself many times and when I posed it to Abdo Khal at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in Dubai, he answered that he writes out of love. Love for humanity in all its layers: the good, the bad and the extremely ugly. He believes, as any writer does, that writers are possessed and later become obsessed with the story that takes hold inside of them. He went on to explain that he would stop several times during the writing of 'Throwing Sparks', feeling ill at the words and ideas spewing out onto the page yet helpless and unable to stop them from flowing nonetheless. He was eventually hospitalised and it was the encouragement of his wife who spurred him to complete his work as he'd faltered many a time unable to go on.

And go on he did, presenting a work that although fiction, will strike a chord particularly with readers of this region. The cases in question are sensitive, often volatile issues particularly when it comes to sexuality, morality and honour. In a scene where Tariq approaches his loathsome aunt and wonders if he was there 'to give the lie to all her dire warnings or to confirm them?' one cannot but pause, reflect and wonder whether such a book, with such a dark horrific message, is actually conducive of expelling the myth that already surrounds a country shrouded in gossip and mystique or whether fuel has been added to an already raging fire.

The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature - My Day One!

I made it through my first day at The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature and what a day it was. Simply put, it was a roller coaster of emotions ranging from the exhilarating to the tiring to the emotional. The energy of the festival is quite extraordinary in itself not only for the unbelievable talent on display with speakers, writers and literary professionals pouring their hearts out, sharing their experiences; genuinely happy, slightly humbled, to be a part of this magnificent literary gathering but also for the palpable energy of the army of organisers and volunteers who were professional, helpful and very very nice. 

On a personal level I could not have chosen a more poignant time to attend this festival that runs under the common theme of Metamorphosis. Whoever decided that this was going to be the case deserves a medal for that is exactly what attending this festival, in particular, forces one to do. There is no way but to be affected after listening to the likes of John McCarthy, author of 'You Can't Hide the Sun', talk about compassion, understanding the other, and forgiveness; this from a man who was robbed of five years of his life, held hostage in Beirut, not knowing whether he will be killed or spared. As the likes of Raja Shehadeh, a soft-spoken Palestinian and author of several books, struggling on a daily basis with the indignities of daily life that is forced upon him and his countrymen under Israeli occupation. These two men prove that anger need not only 'metamorphose' to bitterness but that it can be channelled to serve a higher purpose, a greater cause that better serves and builds a resilient, brave and ultimately more humanised existence.

And then there was girl-next-door author Jojo Moyes, best known for her tear-jerker of a book 'Me before You', with her vibrant animated talk about making it back from the brink and sharing the news that only a few hours ago she'd received confirmation that her latest book 'One Plus One' had hit #1 on the Sunday Times bestseller list. She openly discussed how as a writer although you are changing and adapting whether to publisher's demands or needs of the market one has to remain faithful to one's 'true voice', to put onto paper the story 'that is there in the forefront of your mind for no other will work'. Change is inevitable for a writer because audiences change too and she was honest in her account about the miserable days of pre-fame when she struggled to make it into the literary world, succeeding for a while only to be knocked down and then shooting to fame thanks to the Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan's book club. She did offer up a plethora of anecdotes that kept us well entertained and a confession thrown in for good measure about 'missing journalism so much for the first 18 months' that she 'needed counselling'. 

Speaking of Judy Finnigan, let me tell you that sitting in on her session 'From Sofa to Author' was my favourite of the day. There is a certain vulnerability to Judy and yet I have always felt that there is a fierceness of character and more strength and determination than she lets on. It was lovely to see her on the podium, briefly emerging from husband Richard's shadow, who was still present in the audience though, and listen to her talk about her novel 'Eloise' that, according to her, was inspired after the death of her very dear friend, Karen Keiting. There was not a dry eye in the house and not a soul unchanged by Judy's narration of the experience that will cement the memory of her friend in the minds of all. Writing the novel was her way to prove 'that good things can come out of the most tragic of events'. But after the tears came laughter as she regaled us with stories about her children who she said jokingly 'never leave do they?' and how becoming a grandmother has brought out the 'tribal' in her. Oh, ever the bookclub enthusiast, she did slip in a recommendation to read Joseph O'Connor's book 'Star of the Sea'. Judy is currently working on a new thriller that takes place on St. George's Island about a woman who loses her son in a sailing accident.

I did sit in for Arabic sessions as well. My favourite was Mohammed Acchaari, winner of the 2011 International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF), for his novel 'The Arch and the Butterfly'. This fantastic, mild-mannered Moroccan author has a lot to say but unfortunately had little time to say it in being part of a panel of three in a one-hour session moderated by IPAF trustee Professor Yasir Suleiman. His views on the current state of Arabic literature are poignant; In my opinion he is a modernist and a reformer and I look forward to more chances where he is a speaker. Present on the panel with him was author Abdo Khal, winner of the 2010 IPAF for his highly controversial novel 'Throwing Sparks' which is now published in English. The panel was also shared with the 2012 IPAF winner, Saud Sanoussi, author of 'Bamboo Shoots' which has yet to be published in English.

So many more sessions to write about, but for fear of making this post too long, I will mention them in brief here and return to commenting on them in posts along the week. Author Alia Mamdouh's session entitled 'A Life in Writing', moderated by Professor Ibrahim Suleiman stood out for me and is one I will definitely return to next week. Charismatic 'Ibrahim Nasrallah', author of 'Time of White Horses', John Boyne, author who wrote 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' discussed his new novel 'Stay Where You Are and then Leave' aimed at young readers shared a lot of insightful details into the life of authors and their struggle to come up with ideas for their books. A Charlie Chaplin die-hard fan, he was highly entertaining to listen to and he offered up some great advice for the young audience attending the session.

So, that's it for the first day folks, tomorrow there is always more.