Bread on Uncle Milad's Table

"Alnaas's beautifully textured novel tells the story of a man whose choices trigger turbulence in his community, all while political uncertainty agitates his country. A gorgeous, complex story that spotlights patriarchy and postcolonialism is one sweeping narrative." — Susan Muaddi Darraj, author of PEN/Faulkner finalist Behind You Is the Sea "There is so much to admire in first-time novelist Alnaas’ subtle and complete depiction of a society built on contradictory impulses, one of supposed liberation and dictatorial control, as Milad shares his experiences of infertility, outsiderness, masculinity, and love . . . [he] is an engaging, tragic, and complex figure whose unique perspective captivates in this wonderfully thoughtful tale." — Booklist "[Bread on Uncle Milad's Table] contributes to a relatively underexamined theme in Arabic literature: how men negotiate the tensions among traditional gender norms, modern values, and personal vulnerabilities. Through its fragmented narration, the protagonist, Milad, comes to embody this conflict as a sensitive son, supportive brother, and devoted husband whose behavior is challenged by the expectations of masculine ideals and the competing values of modern urban and rural life." — Los Angeles Review of Books "Mohammed Alnaas captures Milad’s fragile spirit with deep empathy. . . . Like a spatula in batter, each scene incorporates another layer of complexity into Milad’s increasingly contradictory character. It is easy to see why this novel—originally published in 2021 in Arabic—made Alnaas the youngest-ever winner of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction. A masterful and beautifully told warning against society’s rejection of individuality. While it is in many ways a eulogy of a sensitive young man’s spirit that he was told to squash, it is also an indictment of that same man." — Washington Report on Middle East Affairs “Set in Gaddafi's Libya, [Bread on Uncle Milad's Table is] the tragicomic story of a man who is not man enough in the eyes of others. An excellent debut novel.” — Le Monde “The winning novel is written in the form of confessions of personal experience. Its plethora of detail is deftly unified by a gripping narrative. This offers a deep and meticulous critique of prevailing concepts of masculinity and femininity and the division of work between men and women, and the effect of these on both a psychological and social level. It falls into the category of novels which question cultural norms about gender. However, it is embedded in its local Arab context and steers away from any ideological treatment of the issues, as such a treatment would be contrary to the way in which fiction can present multiple points of view.” — Shukri Mabkhout, Chair of the 2022 International Prize for Arabic Fiction “[Bread on Uncle Milad's Table] stands out for its subtle portrayal of an aspect of this patriarchal society that is rarely discussed.” — Le Journal de Quebec