Kafka in Tangier

Jawad Al-Idrisi forsakes his dream of becoming a literary critic to become a teacher. His thoughtless father showed no remorse for his neglect, and watched his son work tirelessly to provide for the entire family. One day, Jawad wakes from a nightmare and discovers that he has transformed into a hideous and smelly, furry creature. This causes a commotion in their home and community. It also leads to his dismissal and the family falling on hard times. His loving sister Hind bears the brunt of it all. She takes care of her brother and the house, and, to make things worse, her father forces her to drop out of school, to work at a caf and provide for the family. Unfortunately, her will is not strong enough, and she begins to crack. Kafka in Tangier, by Moroccan author Mohammed Said Hjiouij, is a masterful reinterpretation of Kafka's Metamorphosis, exploring themes of transformation, alienation and power. At once the story of a family and a chilling portrait of a city, the novella follows Jawad Al-Idrisi, an overworked teacher with disappointed ambitions of becoming a literary critic, after he awakens one morning to find himself transformed into a monster. In this waking nightmare, he is forced to confront his family's secrets and the oppressive systems of contemporary society.