Book · 2004 · Fiction
Zabiba and the King
- mentions
- 9
- person
- 1
- podcast
- 1
- episode
- 1
- recommendations
- 0
So, the basic plot uh is that a king who represents Saddam Hussein. Okay. Um falls in love with a beautiful local woman named Zabiba who represents collectively all of Iraq. I wonder if she's much younger than him. Yes.
What they say about it
- Discusses plot and characters3
The best things said about it
Saddam Hussein publishes his first novel, Zabiba and the King, in 2000. It's an instant bestseller in Iraq and sells millions upon millions of copies.
It's not good. It may lose something in translation from Arabic, but it is not a good book structurally.
It has a really strange structure. So, it's framed as a story being told to a group of young children by an old grandmotherly woman.
There's also a lot of points in the book that make it clear he's kind of tired of being a dictator.
Zabiba is raped by her husband, America, when she tries to leave him and America and an evil prince who represents Israel raise up an army to try to invade the kingdom.
Why people recommend it
Every mention
Robert Evans So, the basic plot uh is that a king who represents Saddam Hussein. Okay. Um falls in love with a beautiful… 9
Discussed
“So, uh, Saddam Hussein publishes his first novel, Zabiba and the King, in 2000. It's an instant bestseller in Iraq and sells millions upon millions of copies under his regular name. Uh, no. Under the name that it was published under is basically he who wrote the book.”
Critiqued
“Wait, what's it about? Well, [laughter] okay. First off, uh short review. It's not good. It's not good. It it may lose something in translation from Arabic, but it is not a a good book structurally. I think we're okay to not give Saddam Hussein the [laughter] benefit of the doubt.”
Discussed
“So, the basic plot uh is that a king who represents Saddam Hussein. Okay. Um falls in love with a beautiful local woman named Zabiba who represents collectively all of Iraq. I wonder if she's much younger than him. Yes.”
Discussed
“And it has a really strange structure. So, it's framed as a story being told to a group of young children by an old grandmotherly woman. Like a princess bride kind of setup. Yeah, it's exactly that.”
Discussed
“Um so yeah, we've gotten through the bear sex, the weird mouth rant. book is to allow Saddam to throw shade at his enemies. Uh kind of like Michael Kiteon in that regard. Yes.”
Discussed
“Um there's also a lot of points in the book that make it clear he's kind of tired of being a dictator. Mhm. Um, did not the soul of the one who had surrounded himself with a multitude of useless things become burdened by the intricate maze of his palaces, their furniture, and thick walls?”
Discussed
“But it's complicated. Um, so at one point Zabiba asks Saddam, "Does a common woman like me need freedom?" And Saddam's like, "Yes, I want my people to be free. It's good for people to be free." It's like you say, you say one thing.”
Critiqued
“complain. The book is a bastion of progressive thought. Um and and just so I'm being totally fair here, here's another paragraph that Saddam wrote about women that's significantly less woke.”
Discussed
“Um, so yeah, the the Zabiba is raped by her husband, America, uh, when she tries to leave him and America and an evil prince who represents Israel raise up an army to try to invade the kingdom. Um, again, a surprising part, the king does basically nothing in the defense of the kingdom.”
