A recent Maltese novel that people are talking about at the moment, due to its explosively controversial content, is Ossessjoni by Carmel Scicluna and published by Merlin Publishers.  The novel is no shocker, though – it’s high quality Maltese literature that won the last edition of the Teenage Literature Award (organised by the National Book Council and Agenzija Zghazagh).

Ossessjoni comes with a warning of explicit scenes and situations, since the novel deals with the complex theme of paedophilia.  Some readers might feel uncomfortable reading it, but never offended, as the subject is tackled very maturely and with obvious intelligent insight.  The story of Uncle Charlie, a 40 year old unmarried man, and Amira, the child of ten upon who Charlie is obsessed, is related with plenty of objectivity, realism and sincerity. 

Amira is and will always remain the victim.  However she is not totally submissive and a slave to Uncle Charlie, as she learns to manipulate and skew the situation to her own advantage – a coping mechanism, perhaps. Whilst Scicluna portrays the reality and pains of paedophilia, he also depicts two characters who often swap roles – the victim sometimes becomes the aggressor.  We notice the obsession of the paedophile increase and strengthen as the girl manipulates him and gives him what he desires, so that she in turn gets what she wants – love and attention, and help in finding her way out of her hellish family situation.

Together with the central theme of paedophilia, Scicluna plays with other difficult themes, such as religious terrorism in Malta, child abuse in schools and at home, bullying with a strong element of racism. Scicluna’s book is an in-depth analysis of the protagonists without ever judging them or falling into cheap rhetoric.  However it is always clear to the audience what is good and what is evil.  Child abuse in whatever form is always condemnable, and there is no attempt to justify the unjustifiable.

Ossessjoni is out now, and can be purchased from all leading bookshops or directly online from www.merlinpublishers.com.  On the website one can also find the first chapter of the novel, available free of charge to get a taste of the book before buying.