Ali is afraid

Author's name: Ali Saif Al-Rawahy

I was shocked by what I saw inside my mind, so I opened my eyes. The gentleman sitting in front of me smiled with his handsome brown face. Excuse me, sir, your face looks familiar. I am Ziryab, the greatest singer in Andalusia. Ziryab! Yes, now tell me why do you mutter words that aren’t yours? Your tongue stutters with them, your soul gets lost and you lose your creativity? I don’t know, this is how I feel I can express myself. Everyone mocked my identity. I lost confidence in myself. Foreign words rescued me from my loss. I wanted to break free from the shackles and revolt against the reality that denied me. I wanted to scream because society is deaf. I wanted to show them that they don’t possess the absolute truth. Do you want my advice? Okay, Mr. Ziryab. I say you stand with yourself, let yourself take the lead, and spare no effort in perfecting your art. Don’t rush things and ignore the darkness inside you in order to find the light.

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We accompany the protagonist of "Ali Khayef" on his journey of self-discovery and realizing his dream of becoming a rock star. We delve into his thoughts as he struggles with identity. He takes us into the labyrinth of his subconscious mind, traveling to the farthest reaches of the universe, right within our grasp. We see the world not only through his eyes but also through his imagination. Ali Khayef questions everything, trying to cling to his dream as if he were clinging to life itself.

This novel is far from ordinary and familiar, whether in its narrative style, language, or the transformation of ideas into words and images. The author blends realism with fantasy and dresses them in a contemporary guise, taking the free association of ideas to another dimension, where thoughts and self-talk take the reins of the narrative.