Book Review: When the Haboob Sings by Nejoud Al-Yagout

My Rating: 4.5⭐

“All my articles had been safe, but it was that day in a room filled with men that things changed. Perhaps you are wondering what is unsafe in terms of writing? Well, in my country, it is best to stay away from two topics: politics and religion. Unless, of course, you are showering politicians and religion with praise. To be fair, my first foray into unsafe writing was neither about politics nor religion, but about gender equality. Still, in a patriarchy, anything regarding women is teetering on the domain of politics and religion.”

Thirty-two-year-old freelance journalist Dunya Khair is jailed after her controversial article on apostasy is published. This is not the first time Dunya’s writing has landed her in trouble. Before her article on apostasy, she received much criticism and threats (and “silent support”) after the publication her article criticizing the archaic beliefs and opinions about women that are shared by men in the patriarchy even though women have progressed considerably in terms of their contribution to society and even hold seats in the Parliament.

“ ‘Do you know what you are? You are a haboob, a dust storm. A destructive haboob that obscures vision. But even the most powerful haboob has no chance but to disappear in time. Even the most powerful haboob is forgotten.’ ”

However, the backlash from her most recent article on apostasy has been brutal resulting not only in her incarceration but also has a far-reaching impact on her family and personal relationships. The novel opens with her in jail, counting the days with no contact with her loved ones but her imprisonment is just the beginning and as the narrative progresses we see how Dunya’s life is upended in more ways than she had bargained for. She is eventually granted an Amiri pardon after a few month in jail and she becomes aware of the international attention her case had garnered. Dunya uses this to her advantage and remains committed to highlighting the ills in her society – the patriarchy, the hypocrisy, the discrimination and the censorship that is a part of her world- despite the backlash and the threats to her life. But Dunya’s world is gradually falling apart – her familial relationships have suffered and her marriage is on the brink of collapse. As her mental health deteriorates and she requires professional help, the author turns the narrative towards the stigma attached to mental illness and how difficult it is to ask for and receive help. We witness how she is willing to sacrifice everything she has for her convictions and while her road to recovery is filled with fear and trauma, she remains committed to her cause.

“But wait a minute… I was better off when I was self-engrossed. Or maybe I was not? Was I ever normal? And what is normal? Is Earth not just one big mental asylum? Are we not just on varying ends of the insanity spectrum?”

Overall, When the Haboob Sings by Nejoud Al-Yagout is an intense and compelling read. Narrated in the first person, Dunya’s pain is palpable and the author is unflinching as she describes Dunya’s mental state as she falls into deep depression and struggles as she grapples with all that is going on in her life. The author tackles many sensitive topics in this novel - women’s rights, faith and religious freedom, misogyny and patriarchal social norms and mental health to name a few. The novel starts slow and Dunya’s description of her life in prison initially might come across as a bit rambling but is justified as it gives us a hint of her mental state and foreshadows the downward spiral that would follow. The writing becomes even more powerful as the narrative progresses. The novel has some very dark and disturbing moments and at times felt a little too heavy. Given the subject matter, this was not unexpected. Overall, this is a thought-provoking read- the kind of story that stays with you long after you finish the book.

“This aggression I am facing from society is cult-like. The treatment of those who leave the fold is cult-like. These are grown men threatening a defenseless woman because she has chosen to live by her own set of beliefs. All I want is the freedom to believe or disbelieve. Is that too much to ask?”