Frankenstein in Baghdad
To say the least, I had very high expectations for "Frankenstein in Baghdad," and once I got my hands on an English copy of the book (originally written in Arabic), author Ahmed Saadawi did not disappoint.
The premise of the story revolves round Hadi, a junk dealer whose hobbies include binge drinking and sleeping with local prostitutes. He oftens pokes around in the rubble following explosions characteristic of early-2000s Baghdad, finding random belongings to peddle and sell. One day, however, he begins bringing home body parts from the rubble-- arms, legs, fingers. He feels that the people killed deserve a proper burial, and if he makes a whole person of them, he reasons, he can bury the complete body as the next best option.
One night, following a suicide attack, a hotel guard is killed. His soul wanders the streets of Baghdad, eventually finding an empty vessel to settle into-- Hadi's creation. This new being, however, has an agenda that is equally dedicated to justice and bloodshed.
I won't give any more away, because doing so would put me in spoiler territory. Instead, I will say that even if the premise borders on too strange for you, the writing will draw you in. As with many books translated into English from Arabic, there is a clarity and honestly in the tone of the novel that is striking. The language is never flowery or intricate, but it would also be inaccurate to call it simplistic. The strength of this story is the story itself, and Saadawi knows that.
"Frankenstein in Baghdad" is one of my favorite novels that I have read in years. It makes you think deeply about the nature of morality and justice. The characters, events, and dialogue of the novel is never exaggerated, but carefully measured. When your heart races, Saadawi stays calm. So the next time you are in the mood for a vaguely political ghost story (because who doesn't need one of those?) but can't stomach the usual haunted mansion narratives told time and time again, give this book a try. It is dark, twisted, and profound. "Frankenstein in Baghdad" gets under your skin and stays there.
