Emirati writer Salha Ubaid presented her novel 'Except Your Grandmother Used to Sing'. The book is a significant part of reality, with some of its characters based on real figures with elements of fiction. The novel tells the story of life in the UAE in the 1970s and 1980s and beyond, moving the reader between the past and the present. The central figure is the grandmother, Aziza, who sings at weddings according to a family and folk tradition. Her voice is passed down through generations, even though this type of singing is sometimes seen as going against tradition. The novel documents the history of folk music in the UAE and some Gulf countries, including traditional melodies like yamal, khafra, and haddi. It also describes places: cities, villages, homes, and the sea. The novel explores a conflict between heritage and modernity through the new generation—Shahin and Marwan. They carry their grandmother's voice but also try to express themselves in a contemporary way, facing traditions that stifle or confine the voice. This conflict manifests in tension with society, family, and the self. Ali Hamali, Vice Chairman of the Culture Council, emphasized that the novel shows that art is a compass for life, not a luxury, but a means of survival and memory revitalization. He described the grandmother's voice as the cornerstone, representing resistance and defiance. The novel asserts that art does not die even after the body dies; it remains in memory. The book also presents the UAE from the inside, not just as a modern state, but as a fabric of memory filled with joy and sorrow, art and death, heritage and modernity. Salha Ubaid confirmed that the novel contains a large part of reality, and some of its characters exist in society. Marwan, with a changed name, was based on a real person. Her fascination with this family prompted her to write the book, adding the narrator's imagination. Emirati writer Fatima Nimr commented on the poetic language of the novel, which differed in some ways from the language that her chosen type of character might have used for simpler expression. During the discussion, attendees debated the novel's characters and their connection to reality, and expressed admiration for how it documents events, music, and songs.
