Mona Aljanahi here.

Suitors For Sheikha

Story by: Nauf Alwan Published by: Kuttab Publishing ISBN: 9789948238416 

Suitors for Sheikha by Emirati author Nauf Alwan is a novel reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice, but with an Emirati flavor. Originally written in English in 2017, the novel was translated into Arabic in 2022 by Kuttab. The author herself oversaw the translation to Arabic to ensure its accuracy.

The novel focuses on Sheikha, a young Emirati woman who dreams of love in a reserved traditional society. She is beautiful and has many suitors but refuses them all because she refuses the idea of a traditional marriage. Even though she is surrounded by many successful couples who were joined by a traditional marriage, Sheikha refuses the idea. How could a stranger really love her based on his female relative’s opinion of her? Sheikha is determined to marry for love. The source of this desire is her colleague from university who proposed to her. However, her father refused him. Her first love reappears in her life six years after his initial proposal. This time, he is about to marry someone else, and Sheikha is forced to accept that he will never be hers. This is where she gives the idea of traditional marriage a chance.

This particular novel was chosen for this curation to showcase how matrimony, a vital part of Emirati culture, is played out in society. As a result of modernity, diversity, and globalization, as well as other societal factors, Emirati society is divided with regard to traditional marriage versus marriage based on love. This novel depicts this struggle, with the author’s voice giving real insight into the culture and illustrating an insider’s view of the situation with all of its complex layers.

During the College of Education’s month-long Reading Festival (see here), I had the opportunity to listen to Nauf Alwan talk about her experience writing this book in our Literary Cafe Session, along with another Emirati female author, Asma Aljilani.

Nauf was generous enough to read passages from her novel to the audience. During the panel discussion, Nauf explained that Arabic novels, or novels on Arabs, tend to depict hefty and sometimes unpleasant themes, such as infidelity and domestic violence. In her search for lighthearted novels, she wrote her own, one in which the main character is relatable to (Arab and Emirati) readers—a character who is intelligent, entertaining, and funny.

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About the Author Nauf Nalwan:

Nauf Alwan is an Emirati writer who enjoys reading and writing about her culture. She has a BA in English Language & Literature and an MA in Translation and Interpreting from the American University of Sharjah. As an avid reader, the writer enjoys reading novels about the “average woman”. This is where she decided to write about this type of character who feels relatable and real. Her love for the UAE and her culture is the main drive behind her writings.

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About the Guest Contributor for #UAEReads:

Dr. Mona Humaid Aljanahi is an Assistant Professor and serves as the Vice Dean at the College of Education in United Arab Emirates University.

She holds a Ph.D in Curriculum & Instruction with a concentration on Language & Literacy. Her research interests include literacy education, pop culture, language learning, language arts, and academic integrity. Her research studies have been published in Q1 Scopus indexed journals.

She is currently an active reviewer for peer-reviewed international journals. Additionally, she presented at numerous national and international conferences on various topics in her field.

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About the Guest Editor/Curator for March 2024 [#UAEReads]:

Myra Garces-Bacsal has served as a teacher educator for 15 years and has led several research projects on reading and social emotional learning, diverse picturebooks and teacher practices, psychology of high creatives and exceptional people, culturally responsive and inclusive education. She is a quintessential lover and creator of booklists (see her Social and Emotional Learning bookshelf here and other publications below). Myra serves as the Assistant Dean for Research and Graduate Studies with the College of Education, UAE University. She is a self-proclaimed nerd who lives and breathes books and enjoys organizing events and festivals where fellow nerds converge and attempt to joyfully change the world.

Publications on booklists:

Garces-Bacsal, R. M., Alhosani, N. M., Elhoweris, H., Tupas, R. (2023). A diverse social and emotional learning booklist for gifted learners and advanced readers. Roeper Review, 45(1), 25-36. https://doi.org/10.1080/02783193.2022.2145397

Garces-Bacsal, R. M., Alhosani, N. M., Elhoweris, H., Al Ghufli, H. T., AlOwais, N. M., Baja, E. S., & Tupas, R. (2022). Using diverse picturebooks for inclusive practices and transformative pedagogies. In M. Efstratopoulou (Ed.), Rethinking Inclusion and Transformation in Special Education (pp. 72-92). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-4680-5.ch005

Garces-Bacsal, R. M. (2021). Of grit and gumption, sass and verve: What gifted students can learn from multicultural picture book biographies. In S. R. Smith’s Handbook of giftedness and talent development in Australasian Pacific (pp. 431-453). Singapore: Springer International Handbooks of Education. https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-981-13-3041-4_18

Garces-Bacsal, R. M. (2020). Diverse books for diverse children: Building an early childhood diverse booklist for social and emotional learning. Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, 22(1), 66-95. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468798420901856