InQ Episode 85: "The Blind Owl"

In this masterpiece of Iranian literature by Sadegh Hedayat, the
nameless narrator is slowly falling into madness. The images he
sees are troublesome to say the least. Is he dreaming? Is he
losing touch with reality? Are we dealing with the hallucinations
of an opium user? The text does not provide any answer and the
reader is left to decide on his/her own how to interpret the
maniacal laughter and the various shadows that keep disturbing
the narrator’s peace. And death, ever so present.


A fascinating read but not recommended for a fun novel to bring
on the beach. It will make your mind wonder if you are all sane
yourself and if the murderous tendencies the narrator exhibits
may not be yours just as well.  “The Blind Owl” has been
compared to Poe’s stories, to “One Hundred Years of Solitude” and
to some of Dostoevsky’s novels.


Written from the first person narrative for a more “hands-on”
experience, “The Blind Owl,” short yet dense, will shake you to
the core. Prepare to be moved!