Saud Alsanousi; Trans. Sawad Hussain
Mama Hissa’s Mice by Saud Alsanousi, translated by Sawad Hussain, is set in Kuwait and covers a period of about 30 years. It unfolds through two parallel threads.
The first thread opens with the narrator, Katkout, now in his early forties, regaining consciousness as the result of a terrible explosion. Entitled “The Present Day,” this thread occurs in the year 2020 and follows Katkout throughout the day as he searches for his friends through the streets of a Kuwait ravaged by sectarian violence. He flashes back in time recalling fragmented images of his childhood, his friends, and what his life was once like in the now virtually abandoned neighborhood of his youth.
The second thread takes the form of the narrator’s novel which has been accepted for publication. In it, the narrator/author fleshes out the details of his life, beginning with his childhood. He chronicles the rising sectarian tensions in Kuwait, as well as recent events in the Arab world, including the Iran/Iraq war; Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and its impact; and 9/11. His childhood friends, coming from different ethnic backgrounds and varying sectarian affiliations, form Fuada’s kids, a clandestine group protesting sectarian divides and warning of impending disaster if sectarianism is allowed to fester unchecked. Their radio broadcast garners popular support, making them vulnerable to attacks from extremists of all sides. Their warnings go unheeded as evidenced by the cataclysmic opening of the novel in which the narrator/author is injured as a result of the explosion.
The novel is rich in detail. Alsanousi captures the fabric of the life and characters that populate Katkout’s neighborhood. He traces the disintegration of Kuwaiti society as it slowly descends into sectarian violence. The impact of the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait is long-lasting and further fuels sectarian divides. Decades old grudges between neighbors don’t wane with time. Bodies litter the streets; family members disappear; friends are killed. The outlook is horrifying. Throughout it all, Katkout tries to build bridges between opposing factions and hungers for the vestiges of how life used to be.
The content is compelling and intense with an intricate, multi-layered plot. The writing is clear and accessible. The intertwining of the two narrative threads creates complexity and adds depth. But the frequency of the narrative shifts in time generates some confusion. And the references to political leaders in the Arab world as well as to popular musicians and movie stars may be lost on an audience unfamiliar with Arab politics and culture.
The strength of the novel lies in its ability to act as a cautionary tale. It illustrates the principle that we are our own worst enemies. Unless we see beyond what separates us, unless we are tolerant of difference, and unless we recognize that what we have in common binds us together, we may be hurtling toward a cataclysm of our own making.
Recommended.