Story Statement:
In 1973, in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, sixteen-year-old Alia Ezz Eldeen is a studious girl who dreams of a world beyond the restrictions of her culture and her loving but dogmatic father, Mohammad. A friendship with an Australian classmate, Kylie, opens her eyes to new possibilities, but a forbidden photograph leads to a brutal punishment that shatters Alia's trust. The traumatic event, followed by a transformative trip to Egypt and the sudden death of her father, forces Alia to confront the true meaning of freedom, family, and her own inner strength as she battles her oppressive uncle for control of her future and her father's legacy, his beloved bookstore, and to choose her own spouse.
Antagonist:
1. Her father, Mohammad, is a conflicted patriarch whose deep love for his daughter is expressed through suffocating control, representing the central tension between tradition and individual freedom. Mohammad is not a simple villan; he is the emotional core of the novel's conflict. He is a complex and tragic figure- a man who wants to protect his daughter from a world he fears by building her a cage. His internal struggle and eventual glimpse of understanding make him a deeply compelling character whose arc will resonate with readers who know firsthand the complexity of family love.
2. Her uncle Essam, a tyrant who believes a woman's place is in the kitchen as a mother and wife. This antagonist is the more dangerous one. He is opposing Alia's every dream and drowning her in suitors until she gives him verbal consent.
Core Wound:
An arranged marriage is looming in Alia's world, an unwed pregnant girl needs her help to give birth, and a picture says a thousand words about a world Alia knows nothing about. Stacked against all this newness is a determined young girl, Alia, whose quiet rebellion against tradition escalates into a courageous fight for her very soul. She refuses to be defined by the limitations placed upon her. Her journey from dutiful daughter to self-determined woman shapes her. Her rebellion is not just against her family but for her identity, making her deeply relatable to any reader who has ever felt torn between duty and desire.
Other matters of conflict:
After her father passes unexpectedly, Alia finds herself and her future in the ruthless hands of her uncle. He has wanted to marry her off since she turned sixteen years old. This fight for autonomy is unlike her fights with her father; it is menacing, and if she falters, it proves to end all her dreams.
Alia is measured by societal expectations, and reputation is her currency. Everyone scrutinizes everything. When Alia goes out at night to help a pregnant girl give birth to an illegitimate child, she trembles with fear. Her only armor is doing what is right even in the face of losing her reputation and thus future marriage prospects as a wife.
1. Titles:
Rosewater
What the Wind Knows
The Bookstore on Al-Anbariyah Street
The Luminous City's Daughter
2. Comps
A Woman is No Man — Etaf Rum-
This comp highlights the raw, unflinching exploration of patriarchal constraints within a conservative Arab American family. Like my manuscript, it delves into the painful realities of domestic control and the secret dreams of women.
The Pearl That Broke Its Shell — Nadia Hashimi
For women to gain freedom and provide for their families in patriarchal Afghanistan, exploring themes of resilience, identity, oppression, and the enduring strength needed for women to control their own fates across generations.
The Henna Artist — Alka Joshi-
This is a strong comp for its historical setting (1950s India) and its focus on a female protagonist navigating the complex rules of her society to build a life on her own terms. All three books explore themes of reputation, female enterprise, and tradition.
Setting:
The story takes place in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, where the sand is dry and the heat is scorching. Sandstorms are around the corner, making a blanket on all furniture, cars, shops, and windows. The parallel of the setting and the weather coincides with Alia's inner fears and tribulations. The oppressive heat and the fragrant scent of oud and spices are a stark contrast between the private world of women and the public world of men.
Cairo
The loud noise of the chaos that rules the city of Cairo, with the honks of the cars and chatter of the people, makes it vibrant in contrast to Madinah and its soft presence.
