The Armchair Traveler's Club discussion

What do you think of our fiction selection so far?

I have only read the first chapter but I am surprised by the familiar and gently humorous voice of the narrator. Smile as they bow felt so foreign. I had to go back and check the author to ensure that they were Sudanese rather than the fellow down the road. Perhaps the familiarity maybe a function of the translation? I was reminded the author was not the guy down the road when he discussed a 'morals' crime and the destruction of books considered immoral. this felt foreign but how foreign is it? a person in the US can be branded a sex criminal for peeing outside - and certainly we do have our own censorship. Thoughts?

Monica- I noticed that the translator is American and I wonder how much this contributes to that 'guy next door' feeling. I suppose the translation is into American rather than English.

I'm about 1/2 way now. There are certainly some interesting themes introduced. Although the author pokes fun at the security services, he also pities the main character. It's fascinating to see Farfar's mind open as he transitions like a butterfly from a nonthinking government employee to a thinking writer.

There are some very racist comments in the first novel that Farfar reads. This is coming from an Arab writer of North Sudan, one wonders if these attitudes are endemic in view of the recent genocide in Darfur.

This is a book that definitely gets better towards the end. The last few chapters I didn't want to put it down and I loved the ending although poor Farfar!

The book gives us a view of what it might be like to work in the security agency scrutinizing citizens for signs of dissent. Farfar is trained not to have emotions and not to think too much. Writers, as in most dictatorships, are independent thinkers and therefore suspect. Farfar works to awaken his imagination so that he can write his own book and doing so changes the way that he sees the world.

I am delighted with this book. It is a unique perspective into a life that many people would classify as less than human and it helps us to understand how people can do the things that they do when placed into certain situations. It was interesting to the contrast of how Farfar was treated when he was with the agency as opposed to the time after he left. Though he acknowledges that he has commited sins during his service, he was taught to repress his emotions, so he did not feel guilt for sending people to prison. The author enjoys a wry humor at the incompetence of government and government officials, without making Farfar into a total villian.

Evidence of the fine work of the Sudanese security services:
https://english.alarabiya.net/article...

Perhaps the gravedigger who was also a cheerleader may have looked something like this (if perhaps a bit more mad around the eyes...)



I was interested to learn that Sudan has one of the largest Sufi populations:
https://osmianannya.wordpress.com/201...

Texted joke received by one of the officers in the security forces:

An Iraqi woman's husband was absent from home for an entire day. She had no idea where he was so she wept nonstop thinking that he had left her for another woman.

Her mother comforted her: 'Be optimistic, girl. Perhaps there was an explosion either in the market or where he works, and he died.'

Sudanese music featuring the tambour drum

https://youtu.be/1f_uP7IwsIA?list=PL5...

Shares some jazz flavor with Ethiopian music