The Spirit of a City

The Spirit of a City

"The Spirit of a City" is an extension to "Head of Mule". However,it adds up more complex problems to the teaching issue the writer has raised in his first novel. The story features the manhunt of a young talented Gnawa musician who is suspected of having links with Alqaida network.
Again Mr Qabbal makes use of his imagination to bring into play both terrorism and counter-terrorism,concepts which he has redefined to suit the cultural context, and set the scene for the local values of Jihad and resistance. When the story ends, Mouh, the assumed terrorist 'wearing a gown, growing a beard and resembling everybody else looked like a needle in a stack of straw, safe and inaccessible.'Here, Mr Qabbbal mocks the view politicians have formed about terrorists and unsuccessful methods they are using to track them down.
"The Spirit of A city", is more serious as a message than "Head of mule". The reason, however, is not far to fetch. This novel is closely-tied to the city as the title suggests it aspires to demystify the city and open up its soul Which takes shape in front of us in the form of a spirit: 'Mouh felt the spirit's presence in the wind, in the ripples of the great blue water, in the whir of the seagull wings...etc'