Alif the Unseen

I don’t do book reviews on this blog. I’m generally not one to review books at all, but I do love talking about them, so if you’ll allow a little digression, I’d love to tell you about the book I just finished. No spoilers, promise.

“Alif the Unseen” came to my attention when it appeared on a list of top ten of debut novels for 2012. If you read along you know I’ve been trying to read more debut fiction to try to get a better sense of how my first novel will fit into the marketplace. The thing I’ve found is that a lot of debut fiction reads like debut fiction. Not to sound like a total snot or anything, but even the debut fiction that is recommend or makes it onto some list somewhere, often strikes me as needing qualification: “it was a great book, for a first novel.” I’m not interested in qualifications.

And so I loved Alif. Partly I loved it because it took me to a world I know little about (the middle east), and partly I loved it because it dances along a line of fantasy without ever (though I suppose this is debatable) crossing over. I also thought it was just beautifully layered with theme and imagery. “Alif” is a code name for the main character who is a hacker, and the lead female wears a full veil covering her face, so you get all these different versions of what it means to be hidden (or unseen). It was just good.

So I get to thinking about my own debut novel. When it comes to my own work I am particularly not interested in qualifications. I want to write a great novel. I understand that I may not get there on my first attempt, but I’m not looking to write something that is “pretty good for a first try.” I’ve even considered putting this book away when I finish it so that I can write the second novel and put it out into the world as my first novel – thereby cheating, kind of. But honestly, I’m far too impatient for that.

So I’m left simply terrified, especially now that I’ve gone and shared how much I don’t want to write a mediocre novel. What if my first novel is “pretty good for a first try.” I mean, the truth is, it is my first try. Is there some shame in that? No. But given the choice I would opt to create something more than that. And really, I am given the choice, every time I sit down to work on it.

I know there’s no such thing as perfection.

I heard someone once say that you should work on a story until it’s as good as you can possibly make it. Honestly, truly. As good as you can possibly make it. Then, if the critics (when the critics) tear it to pieces, you will know you did your best, and you can hold your head up high.

This is all really just to say – “Alif the Unseen” was a great book.