Saudi intellectuals have praised Arabic Booker prize winner Abdo Khal's work for reflecting the richness of the Saudi cultural scene and for his use of myth and folklore in his novels. His novels have always been able to accurately reflect what was happening on the streets, they said. Exciting the imagination Dr. Asim Hamdan, a prominent Saudi intellectual, who is professor of Arabic Language at King Abdul aziz University in Jeddah, said he has watched Khal's progress since his novel “The Death Passes from Here.” Although he did not read his prize-winning work “Spewing Sparks as Big as Castles,” he knows from experience of Khal's ability to excite the imagination of readers. Social sensitivity Dr. Ali Al-Qureshi, another Saudi thinker, also praised Khal's work which he said has now given the Saudi novel worldwide exposure. He said Khal has shown a great deal of patience and professionalism throughout his writing career, starting from his first novel “The Death Passes from Here.” What distinguishes Khal, he added, is that he uses different tools and techniques in each novel, which demonstrate his mastery of the modern novel. Al-Qureshi said Khal has managed to present myth and traditional tales in a modern way. This was already evident in previous works, “The Death Passes from Here” and “The Mud” which are among his most important novels, distinguished by their objectivity and humanity. “Spewing Sparks as Big as Castles” and before that, “The Corruption,” were both distinguished by their social dimension, depicting the relationship of authority with corruption and its impact on people, added Al-Qureshi. Literary structure Dr. Hassan Al-Naimi, head of the Dialogue Group at the Jeddah Literary Club, said Khal's work stood out because of his rhetorical style and for his focus on the most sensitive social issues. He said Khal has laid down the “principles of the modern novel in the Kingdom.” Social surgeon Ahmad Al-Dewahi, a novelist, said that Kahl is “distinguished for being a pragmatic, transparent” writer who “diagnoses and dissects the wounds and ordeals of our society.” Khal uses symbolism and dialogue to tackle sensitive social issues, and his win is likely to inspire new generations to write serious literature, he added. “By definition, he is an artist from head to toe,” he remarked.
