Mona Bashlam: language is key

Algerian writer Mona Bashlam released her first fiction book called “Tawasheeh al-Ward” (The Horrors of a Rose). The book is 200 pages long in three chapters. In an exclusive interview with Arabstoday she said she found her literary space and is very excited to contribute to this field. She previously wrote books of short stories, but this is her first novel. The book’s foreward was written by the acclaimed Moroccan writer Dr. Shoaib Haleefy. In his section he wrote: “Perhaps this novel reflects many aspects of humanity: the self, the other, social and cultural issues and she expresses with meticulous language. For this reason it is one story with many questions with the ability to disguise and adapt… giving the writer the ability to build this imaginative piece with eloquent writing skills.” The book tells the story of protagonist Shahad who after the death of both her parents reconnects with a man from her past. They eventually fall in love and get married. But their blissful happy-ending is ruined with the arrival of Shahad’s friend Radiyah. Radiyah grew up in a broken home. Her father turned his children into prostitutes for money. Driven by jealousy, Radiyah sets out to tear Shahad’s life apart. The writer used poetic language throughout the book as an artistic choice. “It’s not just enough for a book to have a creative plot. Language is important and it must be beautiful,” she said. The book will be presented at the international book fair in Tunisia in a couple of days. Bashlam will fly to Morocco soon after for a book tour.