Memories of Parting (works by Gurna)
by (british) Abdul Razak Gulna
About This Novel
The first novel by Gurna, the 2021 Nobel Prize winner, is about a loveless family, a hopeless future, a fruitless first love, and an endless sea. Every sad young man has to say goodbye to a miserable past life. The protagonist of the story, Hassan Omar, was born into a poor Arab-Muslim family in the seaside town of Kenge. His father, Omar, was bohemian, alcoholic, and cruel; his mother was cowardly and tolerant, accepting the cruel abuse of her husband almost fatally; his elder brother, Saeed, was naughty and unruly, and died unexpectedly in a fire when he was six years old. The country's independence brought social unrest and a betrayal of the promise of freedom. The new government is worried about the brain drain and has delayed announcing the results of the high school graduation examination. Unable to get a scholarship, Hassan came to Nairobi to seek refuge with his wealthy uncle Ahmed, hoping to get back the family inheritance his mother deserved. There he discovers a larger world, but soon peels back the veil of his idyllic life and sees the corruption and hypocrisy that pervades this modern African city. The hazy love with his cousin Salma ignited Hassan's hope for life, but the ugly reality will soon surface along with an unbearable family secret...
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