The truth of our dreams reveals itself as we get closer to them year after year. We stake our lives on achieving them. Time passes. We grow older, and our dreams remain as they were when they were young. We realize them, achieve them, and then we make them bigger by years. Small dreams that do not deserve the effort of waiting all those years.
Saud Alsanousi, The Bamboo Stalk
Welcome to the Lotus Girl blog. Today, we will review the award-winning novel The Bamboo Stalk by Kuwaiti author Saud Alsanousi, published in 2012.
About the Author
Saud Alsanousi (1981) is a Kuwaiti writer and novelist, a member of the Kuwaiti Writers Association. Alsanousi has written for various Kuwaiti and Gulf newspapers and magazines and joined the editorial team of Zahrat Al Khaleej magazine in 2018, where he publishes a weekly column. He has authored several novels, including The Bamboo Stalk, Mama Hissa’s Mice, The Pure Camel, and The Prisoner of Mirrors, with his works translated into many foreign languages.
About the Novel
The novel’s protagonist, José/Issa, grapples with his identity and heritage. He is the son of a rich Kuwaiti father and a Filipino mother who worked as a maid in his father’s home in Kuwait. When his grandmother refused their marriage to preserve the family’s honor, his mother had to return to the Philippines with him, believing her husband would bring the child back to Kuwait eventually. In the Philippines, José grew up with his impoverished Christian maternal family, facing a life of poverty. His mother insisted that he should not attach himself to his homeland or Christian faith, as he was Muslim and belonged to a wealthy Gulf country. Eventually, José gets the chance to go to Kuwait and live the luxurious life promised to him. However, he faces numerous obstacles related to language, religion, social class, and cultural practices in his new country while trying to gain the approval of his Arab family. The essence of the story lies in José’s journey to find himself, his identity, and his homeland, and to approach God between two names, two families, two languages, two religions, and two different countries that each refuses to embrace him. He wished he were a bamboo stem, adaptable and growing in its environment, thriving in both the Philippines and Kuwait. So, where will José/Issa find himself?
Social, Political, and Cultural Background of The Bamboo Stalk
Saud Alsanousi sheds light on the social issues in both the Philippines and Kuwait. The novel addresses the social problems faced by Filipino families due to poverty and the migration of Filipino workers. It highlights various social ills such as morphine addiction, domestic violence, gambling, and sexual deviations. Additionally, it exposes flaws in the Kuwaiti society, including classism based not only on religion and social and economic status but also on ethnicity. The materialistic and appearance-focused lifestyle in the Gulf is also critiqued. The political background includes references to the Gulf War and the role of women in politics. Lastly, the cultural background is explored through the religions José/Issa encounters in his quest for closeness to God, including Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam.
Conclusion I personally enjoyed the novel and found it impactful. I highly recommend it to you. Thank you for reading the article. Share it with your friends if you liked it and let us know your thoughts in the comments if you have read the novel. In your opinion, what is the core message the author aims to convey through the novel? Do you think this message is relevant to contemporary issues?
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