The American granddaughter

The American granddaughter is the second novel by Iraqi In'am Kajji, first published in 2008 and nominated for the Arabic Booker Prize in 2009. The novel was issued in a new edition by Takween Publications as part of distinguished Arabic novels that include Kajji's literary project. A brief about the novel The American granddaughter: when the loudspeaker began to transmit the statement of the state governor, reading the text that declares loyalty to the new land, men and women stood up, and their voices rose, repeating behind him and with emotion the words of the oath. I heard my mother’s voice choking as if she was suffocating, and I turned to her. I saw her gentle white face turn crimson as if she had a fever. I reached out and caught Mama’s stiff hand, while the crowds placed their hands on their hearts and recited the national anthem: “Oh Lord, protect America... God Bless America,” and the voice of Iraqi Mrs. Batoul Fattouhi, my mother, was the only dissonance wailing in Arabic: “Forgive me, my father... Dad, forgive me.” The American granddaughter, a novel from the heart of the event. It is the story of Zeina Bihnam, granddaughter of a colonel in the Iraqi army, who left her country as a teenager and returned after the American invasion, translating in the ranks of the occupation army, and most likely unaware that she has a half-brother fighting with the Mahdi Army.