Emirati author breaks ground with novel
Translation gives English-speaking audience an insight into Arab society
Anovel written by an Emirati has been translated from Arabic to English, giving non-Arabic speakers a unique insight into aspects of Arab society.
Written by Asma Al Zarouni, Killing Me Once More centres around Nora, an Emirati college student who follows the wishes of her family by marrying a distant cousin. The story looks at the relationship between traditions and modernity in an age of increasing technology and independent thinking.
“Since childhood, I loved writing, and in the beginning I would draw with my fingers on the sand on the beach, and so the sea was my fantasy. My first title that I published — Whispering of the Beaches — was in 1994, and from then, my writings continued and the topics diversified,” said Al Zarouni.
“As a writer, one of my biggest dreams was to have some of my books translated, and thanks to an initiative by the Sharjah Book Authority, I did have one of my novels translated into seven languages, not including English,” she added. “Then came the novel Killing Me Once More, which was published in 2016.
“I had a signing ceremony for the book at the Sharjah International Book Fair, and Dr Abdallah Al Taiyeb, a Saudi writer and translator, told me he would translate this book for me into English,” she explained.
“Al Taiyeb coordinated between me and several American publishing houses. Eventually, we had the book translated, which I was thrilled about because I believe many non-Arabs are yearning for Arab literature,” she said.