Yasmin Fatollahy is a talented writer and author from Ashgabat, Yemen who enjoys a life that combines humor, sarcasm, and reflections on human follies. Her novels concentrate on life in the rapidly changing Middle East and are focused on human foibles and vices that often get lost along the way. Her writings are at once familiar yet exotic, and the reader can almost feel the characters as though they are old friends. These books also touch on themes such as faith, family, honor, romance, war, honor, family and identity. The main characters in her novels are very realistic and provide much insight into the daily lives of Yemenis, as well as their sometimes desperate need for a sense of closure or to put things right in their lives after all of the turmoil that goes on.
At first glance, one might think that Age of Nation, which was released in Saudi Arabia in 2021, would be geared more towards the perspective of an individual who has spent years living in the country, speaking the language and adapting to its lifestyle. In reality, however, the novel takes place in the midst of much human drama, between those who have been educated and trained in their national language, and those who have left the country to find work in the many sectors of the Saudi economy. This multi-faceted character study is an engrossing and thought provoking read as it covers many topics including the politics of national identity, the ongoing struggle with the Islamic fundamentalists, corruption in the bureaucracy and between various tribes and clans.
While it does take place in Saudi Arabia, it is written in a language that would not be easily understood by someone who had never visited the place. This is especially true of the many cultural references that are included as the book is translated into Arabic. The writing style is light and enjoyable, and the characters believable. For anyone who appreciates light fiction with a strong dose of social commentary, as well as a great deal of humor, this is a good choice. For anyone who enjoys history, for whom national identity, corruption and conflict are just as interesting topics, this is an excellent read.