HWJN Paperback – January 22, 2014

I really enjoy all things that do with magic, supernatural etc., and this book did not disappoint I have also been drawn towards more books written by Muslim writers as I felt that there are not enough of them out there publishing science fiction or fantasy.Ibraheem Abbas and Yasser Bahjatt has done a great job in HWJN with the depictions of djinn based on historical and probably some anecdotal information found in various books that approach this rather controversial topic (at least where Muslims are concerned).HWJN is also one of the first books that I've read that had a YouTube trailer -- I've never come across that before, so this made the book even more intriguing for me. The other thing that drew me towards this book is the fact that some Muslim countries and "religious" people have condemned the book and the authors as being deviant and promoting polytheistic practices -- that is when you KNOW the books has got to be good if its riled up the establishment!Anyway onto the book...The story revolves around a djinn by the name of Hawjan and a human girl Sawsan, whom he falls in love with almost immediately. Both Hawjan and Sawsan are Muslims however Hawjan's mother and indeed djinns in general do not mix with humans - for one reason they both live in different worlds in that humans cannot see the world of djinns though the djinn can.Hawjan and Sawsan "fall in love" but it's doomed from the start... or is it?As I mentioned this book is science fiction with fantasy in it, but you won't find any hard SF -- for one how do you explain how and where the djinn live? A lot of this is left up to the reader to imagine, but Hawjan tries to explain to Sawsan where he lives:"Life has so many intertwined dimensions and layers on top of each other, the smallest of which is your world. Yes, with everything—all the planets, stars and galaxies! You call it the material world ... but it’s followed by other layers that engulf your world with other worlds you do not feel: our worlds, the world of the Angels, and the worlds of the spirit.... This is called a multidimensional theory. I watched some of your documentaries on that with Sawsan, and you came close to solving the mystery through the membrane theory."This book also interested me because it's not set far in the future or in the past - but "today" so you can relate to the environment and be drawn into it.I found the book a great read, and have read it a couple of times as I really enjoyed the story.

HawjanSet in Jeddah Saudi Arabia, A jinn and his family find that someone is moving into their abandoned house. A family of humans and the house according to humans had been left abandoned. For a moment they think of fleeing away from the humans to a town of Najaf Jinn called Yatmah. Najaf Jinn are Muslim jinn who believe in Allah. But Hawjan has a SLIGHT PROBLEM. He is in love with a human girl called Sawsan. Their contacts start out with the two communicating through a ouija board and then progress to a tablet. All the while Hawjan's mother warns him against getting overly involved with a human lover.Things get complicated when Hawjan's cousin Xanam shows up. Xanam is acting as an agent of the Jinn King Hayaf. THe marids have magical  abilities and they want Hawjan to marry Jumara his cousin sonnthey can give the baby to King Hayaf. Sawsan also has brain cancer which keeps getting worse. Her father Dr. Abdulraheem has been taken in by sorcererors. It is us to Hawjan to save her. What follows are battle in the Jinn world so remote from human understanding. Hawjan learn to harness his powers and get along in our world. There are several confrontation between human and Jinn. Possessions occur as well.While in the main this book may  never become a classic it made for entertaining reading. Thoroughly enjoyable as well as quick.THe book has been under some censure in Saudi Arabia and it may have been banned. But you can get it here.

Not really Sci Fi, more fantasy. Its an update on the common themes of middle eastern spiritualism, as well as a great look into Saudi Arabian society. I lived there in the 70s and I can recognize several of the cultural stereotypes, but presented in a good way. I was fortunate to have a step-father who was Lebbonese and therefore a fellow Arab. We had much more interaction with Saudi Arabian families that most Americans. If you are curious how the Saudis live, this will give you some casual insight. If you are fasinated by the concept of the Jinn and alternative universes, this is a pretty good story. if you want to understand how deeply Islam has penetrated Saudi Arabian society, this is an insightful glimpse. If you just like a good story set in a foreign culture, this is a pretty good read. As you can tell, there is a lot going on here and I liked it.

Nice story and an interesting glimpse to the world of jinns. Seems to be directed to young readers. Some episodes feel more than a little bit clichéed, at least from this reader’s perspective. Would benefit from re-translation.

I found the premise of this pretty interesting at the beginning. I agree with another reviewer that the English translation is clumsy at best.I had to quit at 70% because I just couldn't take the paternalistic attitude towards women. I was annoyed but ok with the narrator's attitude that his own irrational jealousy was a sign of love, but the main woman's jealousy a few chapters later was something to laugh at. But then there's a scene where a woman cries and the narrator says all women are basically children. In fact, I went back and looked it up to make sure I wasn't misremembering:"There is, [IMO], a strong relationship between feminism and childhood. A female, no matter how mature she becomes, does not move far from that child inside her - the one who cannot control her tears. If she ever rebels against her inner child, she loses part of her feminism!"WTF. There are enough good books from middle eastern authors that there's no need to put up with that $#1+.

This clever fantasy novel draws on the lore of djinn, efreets, maridi, and other supernatural beings. Hawjan, a "humanistic djinn," becomes enmeshed with the human family that has "haunted" his home. A dramatic series of events follows on both the earthly and unearthly planes. Charming and fresh, with lots of action.

Omg from where do i start i felt i was there when this story is happening so i can say i love how author uses his world and built a real world around me and my tha last part when he said he might be sitting beside i felt chilled down my spine.This story of jinn and a human girl . But not your love story kind it gives you moment to cry , sad, even mad but most importantly you feel anticipated about what is going to happen next.This is one of the best story I read this year .Also it's new but it chilling to know our culture through such different point of voice.Raw overwhelming and chilling

It is a book to read! Lovely... I have read the Arabic version and it is really nice to read it in the two languages...

Great book, a nice difference from Western writers. More suited to teens than adults.