Emirati writer channels folklore and faith in debut fictional novel – By Tessa Koshy
The Red Island: A Haunting Tale of Identity, Myth, and Emirati Heritage
A Journey Through Time and Identity
Listen to Dr Adil’s story exclusively on the show with Sara Mousa!
In this episode of #KarishmaKonnect, meet Dr. Adil Alzarooni, a serial entrepreneur, academic, and Emirati author. He recently launched his debut novel The Red Island: The Gatekeeper at the Sharjah International Book Fair 2024. This literary romance offers an authentic Emirati narrative, exploring love, loss, and cultural identity, set in the UAE’s transformative 90s and early 2000s.
An electrifying mix of real-world and fantasy, The Red Island: The Gatekeeper is the coming-of-age story of a young Emirati man, Badr, who finds himself in the uncharted territories of Al Jazirah Al Hamra, an abandoned town in Ras Al Khaimah.
The year is 2001: terrible things have happened. Badr is harbouring many secrets and disappointments. On his quest to rescue a friend and reunite with the girl he loves, Badr seeks answers in a vivid, surreal world of jinns, dark magic and spiritual healing.
The Red Island tells stories of love, family, and friendships; of trauma, betrayal and loss; and of identity and fear of the other, as shaped by culture and politics. The novel has been written with the desire to build a brand new fantasy world, doused in Arabic and Islamic culture. It is also one of the few English novels that paint an honest, intimate picture of Emirati culture and community, and provides a local’s perspective on life in the United Arab Emirates.
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