{"id":39917,"date":"2025-07-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\/"},"modified":"2025-07-04T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T22:00:00","slug":"the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\/","title":{"rendered":"The Book Censor\u2019s Library<\/em> by Bothayna Al-Essa\u2014a Review"},"content":{"rendered":"
A tale set in the near-future exploring the world of banned books, repressed imaginations, dreams, and desires.<\/h5>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Book Censor’s Library<\/em> by Bothayna Al-Essa
\nTranslated from the Arabic by Ranya Abdelrahman and Sawad Hussain
\nRestless Books<\/a>\u00a02024
\nISBN 9781632063342<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rana Asfour<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bothayna Al-Essa is a self-described \u201cbookworm\u201d from Kuwait. Her novel, <\/span>The Book Censor\u2019s Library<\/span><\/i> is an exploration of the world of banned books; ones that stir up trouble, threaten public order, offend society\u2019s morals, and rattle the world\u2019s confidence, as the author mentions in the novel. An award-winning novelist, Al-Essa is also the founder of the Takween bookstore and publishing house in Kuwait City, which since 2017 has introduced a range of celebrated Arabic titles. As a bookseller and author she is no stranger to the warped mindset of the censor. She was a vociferous advocate in the campaign against outlawing books in Kuwait, where in seven years\u2019 time some 5,000 books were banned. Al-Essa and others lobbied the Kuwaiti National Assembly to amend the country\u2019s publications and press laws. In 2020 the country <\/span>lifted restrictions<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Book Censor’s Library<\/em> is published by Restless Books<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Her 13th novel, which won the Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity in 2021 and was translated by Ranya Abdelrahman and Sawad Hussain into English, was longlisted for the 2024 National Book Award for Translated Literature. <\/span>The Book Censor\u2019s Library<\/span><\/i> is set in an unspecified country, in an unspecified time. As Al-Essa warns readers from the outset: \u201cThe events of this story happen sometime in the future, in a place that would be pointless to name, since it resembles every other place.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

An unnamed narrator enlisted by an oppressive government serves as its new book censor. He reviews novels to determine whether they should be approved or banned, particularly if they include forbidden themes related to the government, sexuality, and the internet. Additionally, any remnants of \u201cOld World\u201d religious beliefs, such as concepts of God, heaven, hell, and various rumors, also come under close scrutiny.<\/span><\/p>\n

By portraying the struggles of the book censor and his associates as they navigate this terse landscape, the novel underscores the transformative power of literature in inspiring change, finding one\u2019s voice, and ultimately fostering personal freedom. The novel\u2019s protagonist, the book censor, comes face to face with questions at the heart of the process of banning books and thereby forbidding ideas: Do oppressive regimes fully understand the power of imagination? In their fear of creative expression and independent thinking, they impose strict measures to stifle creativity, worried that a vibrant and free spirit could ultimately challenge their control, as Bothayna Al-Essa\u2019s narrator aptly observes:<\/span><\/p>\n

Imagination had truly begun to shrivel and fade away, proving that if you control a human being\u2019s circumstances, you can drive their development in a certain direction. You can encourage the existence of New Humans with no imagination and extremely limited desires, and without any pesky existential musings \u2026 the world was much simpler the way it was now.<\/span><\/p>\n

The book censor and his seven colleagues, tasked with shutting down all avenues of literary interpretation, focus solely on the surface of language. In isolating words and phrases, they ensure that only the books that serve the government’s agenda are published in their country. Over time, the book censor reaches a profound realization: that the Censorship Authority \u201cweren\u2019t waging a war against books so much as against reading. Reading was a bad habit, but you couldn\u2019t keep people from doing it, just as you couldn\u2019t keep them from smoking or having sex. All you could do was limit their options, give them the illusion of choice. Then all on their own, they would turn away. In the future, he and the other censors wouldn\u2019t need to ban any books \u2014 no one would read them anyway.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When he\u2019s given a new edition of <\/span>Zorba the Greek<\/span><\/i> destined for censorship, he unexpectedly finds himself captivated by its ideas. As he immerses himself deeper into the story, his view of reality begins to shift, leaving him ill-prepared to navigate his world where citizens are allowed only three fundamental desires: to belong, to procreate, and to work. Beyond these ideals of the state everything else is deemed toxic, unnecessary, and punishable by law. His awakening propels him from one book to another, until one morning he has a final epiphany: \u201cfilled with others\u2019 words\u2026 [he is] transformed into a reader.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If this secret comes to light, he risks being branded an enemy of the future, along with booksellers, book pirates, and readers. In the oppressive regime where he lives, he would be seen as a <\/span>cancer<\/span><\/i> \u2014 a traitor tainted by \u201cthe blood of Old World intellectuals in his veins.\u201d If he gets caught, he would lose his job, face a shattered marriage, have his daughter taken from him, and see his freedom completely crushed because \u201cat the end of the day, everything belonged to them\u201d i.e. the System. As he overcomes his initial fear of stumbling upon an underground library, an unexpected sense of joy washes over him. He finds comfort in the realization that others, just like him, yearn for the solitude that comes with diving into their beloved books. This understanding reassures and reminds him that \u201che wasn\u2019t all alone on the surface of the world, nor by himself beneath it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Life in the book censor\u2019s home presents its own set of challenges. His five-year-old daughter displays concerning signs of an affliction: an overly vivid imagination that makes it hard for her to adjust to the System. She detests school where large murals of the President terrify her. She would much rather spend her day chatting with a make-believe wolf hidden in her wooden cupboard, or imagining tales of fairy dust and the boy who could fly, the wicked witch and magic shoes, and the poisoned apple too. \u201cShe was like a house possessed by spirits, the final doorway to the past,\u201d finding greater joy in conversing with \u201cany kind of creature \u2014 whether real or imaginary \u2014 as long as it wasn\u2019t a human being.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When things appear to be getting better at home, an unexpected visit to the book censor\u2019s office turns everything upside down, raising the concerns of the little girl\u2019s parents and intensifying their fears. The book censor and his wife are fully aware that if their daughter continues to struggle to fit into the System, someone from school or the neighborhood could tip off the authorities. This might lead to her being sent to a rehabilitation center designed to “cure” children like her of \u201cOld World symptoms.\u201d It\u2019s a place from which few children ever return.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

In recent years, book censorship has surged globally, driven by various factors including political oppression, cultural sensitivities, and <\/span>the rise of authoritarian regimes<\/span><\/a>. Many governments have been tightening their grip on literary expression, particularly targeting works that confront political narratives or delve into sensitive social issues. Countries like <\/span>China<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Turkey<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>Hungary<\/span><\/a> exemplify this trend with stringent state-sponsored censorship.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the Middle East and North Africa censorship has been influenced by cultural and religious sensitivities, often resulting in the banning of books that explore themes of sexuality, religion, and personal freedoms. This backlash has led to self-censorship among authors and publishers, hindering the proliferation of progressive ideas.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, the shift to digital platforms has not escaped the reach of censorship. Many governments are <\/span>blocking access to websites<\/span><\/a> and social media that support free expression, limiting independent publishers and literary organizations that engage with controversial works. Over the past decade, in Egypt, for example, censorship has become increasingly pronounced, reflecting a broader trend of tightening control over free expression and dissent. A significant factor in this rise of censorship is the political climate following the 2011 revolution in the country, which saw a brief period of increased freedom that was quickly reversed. Writers and publishers have faced crackdowns for perceived criticism of the government, religion, or the military. Several authors have been investigated or even <\/span>imprisoned<\/span><\/a> for their works, creating a chilling effect on literary expression. Moreover, educational censorship against young adult fiction with gender related themes is on the rise in the US, with various <\/span>books challenged or banned in schools<\/span><\/a>, igniting debates over academic freedom. Despite these developments, grassroots movements and resilient authors continue to fight against censorship. Advocacy organizations like PEN International and the American Library Association play a crucial role in highlighting cases of persecution and supporting the fight for free literary expression.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Book Censor\u2019s Library<\/span><\/i> captures this ongoing global struggle. However, as the novel unfolds, it becomes clear that the literary references are exclusively drawn from the Western canon. This raises some intriguing questions: Why is there an absence of references to Arab, African, or Asian literature? Was the author attempting to familiarize Arab readers with the rich tapestry of Western literary canons, especially considering the novel was originally written in Arabic?<\/span><\/p>\n

Or is it an ingenious opportunity to reflect the issue of censorship back onto the west, which has historically viewed the Global South as backward and mired in restrictions on free expression? This perspective acknowledges that many western nations grapple with their own forms of censorship and limitations on discourse. The irony lies in the fact that while the west criticizes the South as being overly restrictive, it, too, is afflicted by similar challenges, revealing a double standard in how free speech is valued and defended, particularly in the current discourse regarding the western media\u2019s (lack of) reporting on the ongoing genocide in Gaza or (its repetition of triumphant Trumpisms on) the recent buster bombing of Iran. The novel\u2019s narrative might have been further enhanced by grounding these elements in the author\u2019s own cultural context. By doing so, a more meaningful cross-cultural exchange could have unfolded, ultimately deepening the appreciation and understanding of both literary canons. In the end, the book censor\u2019s reasoning that \u201cevery story was a retelling of older ones and a harbinger of tales still to come,\u201d will have to suffice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Through her writing, Al Essa not only brings awareness to the issue of censorship but also inspires readers to reflect on the power of literature and the importance of defending diverse voices. Stories, she reminds us, are intricately woven into the very fabric of our being, reflecting the core of our identities. They shape our understanding of the world, bridge the cultural gaps, and serve as a profound means of connection. From timeless oral traditions to the vibrant landscape of modern digital storytelling, the narratives we share captivate not only our imaginations but also our hearts. They educate, inspire, and cultivate empathy, reminding us of our shared humanity.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A tale set in the near-future exploring the world of banned books, repressed imaginations, dreams, and desires.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":39579,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,2656,3185,4538],"tags":[359,3742,2701,4567],"article-category":[],"article-type":[],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-39917","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-book-review","category-books","category-literature","category-tmr-52-freedom-to-read","tag-book-ban","tag-book-club","tag-dystopian-fiction","tag-kuwaiti-writers"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Book Censor\u2019s Library by Bothayna Al-Essa\u2014a Review - The Markaz Review<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Book Censor\u2019s Library by Bothayna Al-Essa\u2014a Review\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A tale set in the near-future exploring the world of banned books, repressed imaginations, dreams, and desires.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Markaz Review\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-07-03T22:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Bothayna-Al-Essa-courtesy-dar-arab.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"934\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Rana Asfour\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Rana Asfour\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Rana Asfour\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/f9e772c05f22de82982aaf34169dec63\"},\"headline\":\"The Book Censor\u2019s Library by Bothayna Al-Essa\u2014a Review\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-07-03T22:00:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1811,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/Bothayna-Al-Essa-courtesy-dar-arab.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"book ban\",\"book club\",\"dystopian fiction\",\"Kuwaiti writers\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Book Reviews\",\"Books\",\"Literature\",\"TMR 52 \u2022 Freedom To Read\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\\\/\",\"name\":\"The Book Censor\u2019s Library by Bothayna Al-Essa\u2014a Review - The Markaz Review\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/Bothayna-Al-Essa-courtesy-dar-arab.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-07-03T22:00:00+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/Bothayna-Al-Essa-courtesy-dar-arab.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/Bothayna-Al-Essa-courtesy-dar-arab.jpg\",\"width\":1400,\"height\":934},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"<em>The Book Censor\u2019s Library<\\\/em> by Bothayna Al-Essa\u2014a Review\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/\",\"name\":\"The Markaz Review\",\"description\":\"Literature and Arts from the Center of the World\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"The Markaz Review\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/cropped-New-2023-TMR-Logo-500-pix.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/cropped-New-2023-TMR-Logo-500-pix.jpg\",\"width\":473,\"height\":191,\"caption\":\"The Markaz Review\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/f9e772c05f22de82982aaf34169dec63\",\"name\":\"Rana Asfour\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f1a396dab7919dd64f6b4f1758cc6404e708c15ffb0f51bdfc47fbe3895fb70f?s=96&d=mm&r=g6daee36d18417fcbb296936c20c0421f\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f1a396dab7919dd64f6b4f1758cc6404e708c15ffb0f51bdfc47fbe3895fb70f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f1a396dab7919dd64f6b4f1758cc6404e708c15ffb0f51bdfc47fbe3895fb70f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Rana Asfour\"},\"knowsLanguage\":[\"English\",\"Arabic\",\"French\"],\"jobTitle\":\"Managing Editor\",\"worksFor\":\"The Markaz Review\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/themarkaz.org\\\/oldmarkaz\\\/author\\\/ranaasfour\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Book Censor\u2019s Library by Bothayna Al-Essa\u2014a Review - The Markaz Review","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The Book Censor\u2019s Library by Bothayna Al-Essa\u2014a Review","og_description":"A tale set in the near-future exploring the world of banned books, repressed imaginations, dreams, and desires.","og_url":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\/","og_site_name":"The Markaz Review","article_published_time":"2025-07-03T22:00:00+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1400,"height":934,"url":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Bothayna-Al-Essa-courtesy-dar-arab.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Rana Asfour","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Rana Asfour","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\/"},"author":{"name":"Rana Asfour","@id":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/#\/schema\/person\/f9e772c05f22de82982aaf34169dec63"},"headline":"The Book Censor\u2019s Library by Bothayna Al-Essa\u2014a Review","datePublished":"2025-07-03T22:00:00+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\/"},"wordCount":1811,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Bothayna-Al-Essa-courtesy-dar-arab.jpg","keywords":["book ban","book club","dystopian fiction","Kuwaiti writers"],"articleSection":["Book Reviews","Books","Literature","TMR 52 \u2022 Freedom To Read"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\/","url":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\/","name":"The Book Censor\u2019s Library by Bothayna Al-Essa\u2014a Review - The Markaz Review","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Bothayna-Al-Essa-courtesy-dar-arab.jpg","datePublished":"2025-07-03T22:00:00+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Bothayna-Al-Essa-courtesy-dar-arab.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Bothayna-Al-Essa-courtesy-dar-arab.jpg","width":1400,"height":934},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/the-book-censors-library-by-bothayna-al-essa-review\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"<em>The Book Censor\u2019s Library<\/em> by Bothayna Al-Essa\u2014a Review"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/#website","url":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/","name":"The Markaz Review","description":"Literature and Arts from the Center of the World","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/#organization","name":"The Markaz Review","url":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/cropped-New-2023-TMR-Logo-500-pix.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/cropped-New-2023-TMR-Logo-500-pix.jpg","width":473,"height":191,"caption":"The Markaz Review"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/#\/schema\/person\/f9e772c05f22de82982aaf34169dec63","name":"Rana Asfour","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f1a396dab7919dd64f6b4f1758cc6404e708c15ffb0f51bdfc47fbe3895fb70f?s=96&d=mm&r=g6daee36d18417fcbb296936c20c0421f","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f1a396dab7919dd64f6b4f1758cc6404e708c15ffb0f51bdfc47fbe3895fb70f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f1a396dab7919dd64f6b4f1758cc6404e708c15ffb0f51bdfc47fbe3895fb70f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Rana Asfour"},"knowsLanguage":["English","Arabic","French"],"jobTitle":"Managing Editor","worksFor":"The Markaz Review","url":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/author\/ranaasfour\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39917","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39917"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39917\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39579"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39917"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39917"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39917"},{"taxonomy":"article-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-category?post=39917"},{"taxonomy":"article-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-type?post=39917"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themarkaz.org\/oldmarkaz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=39917"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}