Gold Dust is Al Koni’s second novel It was first released in 1990 in Arabic as “Al-Tibr”. Its main theme, the hero Ukhayyal’s deep attachment for his Mahri, a thoroughbred camel. The hero of the novel Ukhayyal attachment to his camel Mahri was quite surprising to me specially how the hero often talks about his camel he makes the camel into a human figure with personality, and wisdom. Its like the camel is in some way a mystical being. The novel is mystically poetic. He also brings the desert alive in his description and mystical meaning. Like he did with the camel the author makes the desert into a beautiful and complex being he does it by incorporating God's presence into the desert. Other examples are how the desert cleans the soul in ways that only a desert can. The novel read like a poem not a novel. But while reading the novel I researched a little on its inner poetic meanings and i found this passage which i wish i could take credit for but i thought it describes this novel perfectly, "Gold Dust gives us the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful novel and discover an outstanding writer. Its lyrical prose exudes the unique breath of desert life and a mystical taste of the afterlife. " - Anonymous (i think)
I also enjoyed how poetic the novel felt. In the afterward, the translator discusses how in Arabic, the novel is even more poetic and has "rhythms and resonance that have no correspondence outside the language." I wish I was able to read it in its original context!
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