It is fair to say that, upon opening any kind of news channel—whether social media, TV news, or a physical newspaper—the political crisis of today’s world is hard to ignore. As I write this in the week beginning the 22nd of March, headlines reflect the increasing rise of regional instability, the resurgence of far-right extremism we thought we had left behind in the 20th century, and the continual attacks on identity politics. In this article, I hope to give you a range of fiction recommendations that explore the very complicated political dynamics of the world we inhabit—which can often lead to a sense of overwhelming powerlessness.
Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa
Considered a classic of modern Palestinian writing, this historical novel is a multigeneration tale that explores the impact of the forced displacement of Palestinians from their homeland in 1948 on the Abulheja family. Relocating to the Jenin refugee camp, this novel gives a heartbreaking insight into the innumerable incidents of suffering witnessed in camps like these, while also celebrating the resilience and endurance of the human spirit through the female protagonist, Amal. Undoubtedly influenced by Abulhawa’s experience of being born to Palestinian refugees of the 1967 war, this novel is an intimate insight into the personal struggles faced by Palestinians in exile, which is commonly erased from global journalism.
1984 by George Orwell
A cult classic, which most readers will be to some extent familiar with. Though written in 1948, this novel by Orwell has by no means fallen by the sidelines. Even if you have never read this book, you may be familiar with terminology such as “Orwellian” or “Big Brother is watching you,” which is associated with totalitarianism, fascism and surveillance. Needless to say, this dystopian novel is extremely resonant today through its discussion of the link between power, knowledge and truth, emphasising the need to critically engage with the media we interact with.
Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi
Freshwater is an autobiographical novel that follows the life of the protagonist Ada. Narrated by her ogbanje, deities from the Igbo religion, this novel centres on the marginalised Igbo ontology, challenging the dominating view of individualism. Ultimately, the novel grapples with the question of identity and the entities that construct one’s own self, challenging the reader about how we should perceive our own selfhood and identity in the modern world.
It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis
Though written nearly one hundred years ago, this novel explores a proleptic look into the rise of fascism and far-right ideologies in America between the World Wars. Following an American Politician Berzelius “Buzz” Windrip’s road to power, it explores the extent to which individuals have autonomy to fight against an all-powerful state. A Guardian reviewer comments that it is an “eerily prescient foreshadowing of current affairs.”
Through these recommendations—and through politicised fiction—as readers, we can regain a sense of autonomy, engaging with democratic free speech, which is hauntingly in decline.
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash