Kafka in Tangier is a contemporary Moroccan novel that masterfully weaves magical realism, absurdity, and postmodernism to provide a fresh take on Kafka's Metamorphosis. Delving into themes of transformation, alienation, and control, this captivating tale follows Jawad Al-Idrisi, a disillusioned teacher whose unrealized dreams of becoming a literary critic take an unexpected turn when he awakens as a monstrous creature. As he grapples with his new reality, Jawad is forced to confront his family's hidden truths and the oppressive structures of modern society.
Jawad Al-Idrisi relinquishes his literary aspirations to become a teacher, burdened by a callous father who shows no remorse for his neglect. Despite Jawad's tireless efforts to support his family, his life takes a surreal twist when he awakens as a grotesque, odorous creature, sparking chaos in their home and community. His transformation leads to his dismissal, plunging the family into hardship. Hind, Jawad's devoted sister, bears the brunt of their misfortune, caring for her brother and their home while being forced by her father to abandon her education and work at a café to make ends meet. Tragically, her resilience begins to wane.
Jawad's compelling story unfolds through multiple perspectives: first, from his own viewpoint as a hideous monster; second, from his mother's perspective as she seeks to free her son from his "curse"; third, from his father's viewpoint; and finally, from his younger sister's perspective, captured through intimate diary entries. By devoting narrative space to each character involved in this series of unfortunate events, the novel invites readers to contemplate the situation from diverse angles. Each character's chapter delves into their background and provides insights into their lives – their identity, origins, and the circumstances that have shaped them – lending the characters a vivid, three-dimensional quality.
Mohammed Said Hjiouij has accomplished a remarkable feat by reiterating Frank Kafka's masterpiece novel Metamorphosis, and what sets his rendition apart is his unique approach of adapting it to his own style. His portrayal of the protagonist, who is both insignificant and the crux of the story, is impressive. The author's method of introducing each character individually and assigning them suitable names is admirable.
The characters are very well-written and equally well-constructed. I loved how the characters interacted with each other. Every single character had its own struggles, way of thinking, set of principles, and unique contribution to the plot...
- "Brilliant writing." — Luwi Nyakansaila.
- "Purely literary. The author is very good." — Matt McAvoy.
- "The most enjoyable thing is the way and the language in which the story unfolds." — Asma Akbar.
- "A unique story." — Cathy Castling.
- "It was unlike anything else I've read and a glimpse at a different culture than my own." — Audrey.
- "A delicious, dark escape from my usual reading. Will certainly be seeking out the author's other writing." — Khalida.
- "A humorous and absurd Moroccan spin on Kafka. It was a fun read." — Stuart Ahn Sones.
- "I would highly recommend reading this after reading Kafka." — Dawn Michelle.
- "The Primary narrative voice is both writerly and amusing. A very good homage to The Metamorphosis." — Joy.
Mohammed Said Hjiouij has pulled off a tour de force here: starting with Kafka's short story, he engages the reader from the very start and reels one in by the end of the first of under 90 packed pages. His storytelling is constantly surprising and engaging, and his characters develop one line at a time until the reader is invested in each and every one of them. Stylistically this is a gem... It is truly a model of concision and a thing of beauty.
I liked this book for being something different from anything I've read recently and also for the way it played with Metamorphosis and other literary materials.
The unnamed speaker is conversational and engaging. They drop hints here and there during their narration about what’s to come and what we’ll learn about each of the characters. I enjoy this style of writing as it gives the story almost a feeling of life – I could see this story being produced for the theatre.
I hugely enjoyed this novella. I hope that it catches on because it really deserves more attention. Superb writing style by Mr. Hjiouij. It is both amusing and profound!
Kafka in Tangier by Mohammed Said Hjiouij is a modern retelling of Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis. Jawad Al-Idrisi forsakes his dream of becoming a literary critic to become a teacher. His thoughtless father showed no remorse for his neglect and watched his son work tirelessly to provide for the entire family. One day, Jawad wakes up from a nightmare and discovers he has transformed into a hideous and smelly furry creature. This causes a commotion in their home and community. It also leads to his dismissal and the family falling on hard times. His loving sister Hind bears the brunt of it all. She takes care of her brother and the house, and to make things worse, her father forces her to drop out of school to work at a café and provide for the family. Unfortunately, her will is not strong enough, and she begins to crack.
If you are a fan of Kafka’s work, then you will enjoy reading Kafka in Tangier. The story has crazy twists and turns. Despite its bizarre nature, it covers life-changing lessons and themes of family love and sacrifice, discrimination, and societal standards. The story was flawlessly translated from Arabic to English. What I loved the most about this book is Mohammed Said Hjiouij’s narrative skills. He did not write the story chronologically. Instead, he provides a tiny glimpse into Jawad's life and each of his family members. He gradually builds on the mystery of what led to his transformation and fills the reader with intrigue. The ending left me in shock but I was impressed by how the author concluded the story. Brilliant writing.
It's a bold writer who takes on a classic work of fiction and reworks it for their own purposes. That Mohammed Said Hjiouij's Kafka in Tangier succeeds down to three elements: Firstly, the relocation of the story to Morocco. Secondly, the distinctive voice in which it is told. The final element that makes this repurposing of Kafka's story work is the bold way in which this is acknowledged head-on.
This is certainly a clever tale, and though it follows Kafka, there are enough differences to make it interesting.
