Majd Kayyal, winner of AMQF’s Young Writer of the Year Award for the year 2016, has launched his novel The Tragedy of Mr. Matar during a ceremony held at the Mahmoud Darwish Museum.
Kayyal said that he had a first-time chance to meet with a number of writers, novelists and critics thanks to the launch of his novel. “The discussion [at the launch ceremony] was positive,” he added. “It gave the public a chance to ask questions on a variety of aspects – not just literary ones, but also political and social, among other things. That’s very important, in my opinion”.
The Tragedy of Mr. Matar is Majd Kayyal’s first novel, which he wrote over a period of approximately five years. The plot takes place in the city of Haifa and deals with a number of issues. It is published by Al-Dar Al-Ahlia for Publishing & Distribution in Amman, Jordan.
The jury of the 2016 Young Writer of the Year Award described the novel as exceptional, “not just on the competition’s level, but also the wider Arab narrative’s, because of its violent and fierce approach to historical events, as well as its use – then deconstruction – of a gnostic, philosophical and religious language.”
For author Khaled Jumaa, the novel carries several perspectives and levels of narrative. “I believe it is a successful novel by all standards,” said Jumaa. “For a young author, writing his first novel, it is clear that Kayyal is a savvy writer, who courageously tackles often disregarded subjects.”
On the same occasion, author Abbad Yahya noted that the novel introduced new style and narration techniques. “The novel bravely talks about the Palestinian society in the lands of 1948, as well as a number of Israeli figures,” he added.
Commenting on the Young Writer Award, the Director of AMQF’s Culture and Arts Programme, Mahmoud Abu Hashhash, said, “The competition became an integral and uninterrupted part of the Palestinian cultural tradition. It always seeks novelty, by constantly changing its jury members, and contributes to enriching the literary scene in Palestine, the Arab region and even the world.”
The Culture and Arts Programme launched the Young Writer of the Year Award in the year 2000. The competition offers a first prize in fiction and playwriting, or poetry and short story writing, every year. The prize value is 4000 US dollars and is granted to Palestinian writers from everywhere around the world, and to writers from the Occupied Syrian Golan Heights, whose ages range between 22 and 35. The award also offers the possibility to publish the winning works, as well as other works recommended for publication by the jury.