Ladies of the Five Senses

Author's name: Jalal Barjas

The novel, Ladies of the Five Senses, consists of six chapters, each based on the story of a woman the protagonist knows through one of the human senses. It tells the story of Seraj Ezz El-Din, a visual artist born with six senses beyond their normal limits, and how he was harmed by the corruption practiced by a class of politicians. Seraj takes a stand against Suleiman Al-Tali', the model of corruption in this novel, who plundered his homeland. Seraj immigrates to America, arriving on the morning of September 11, and leaves on the day he witnesses the Tunisian Bouazizi set himself on fire. Over the years, he became a wealthy man and in Amman, built a strange palace parallel to Al-Tali's palace. Since Seraj's return, Amman has witnessed the mysterious disappearance of a number of women, spreading fear among the people, and women emptying the streets. Through the character of Seraj, the novel documents the transformations that have occurred in Arab people and places in recent times.