Middle East/North African Lit discussion

Can you remember the first time you left home to travel somewhere alone? The protagonist of our book is only 16 when he boards a plane to travel alone from Bahrain to Cairo to begin his studies in a new place. No one meets him at the airport. The year is 1956 and he doesn't even have a phone number to call. The misadventures that ensue are hilarious, thoughtful, engaging, and educational. The book ends in 1961, and the protagonist's situation develops throughout the book. His routine changes when he starts attending college, but his friends are a constant. This is a book about two subjects: Cairo and this historical period on the one hand, and a group of young men growing up together, exchanging and debating ideas, on the other hand. There is also a wide range of characters with whom they come into contact.

This book was made into a successful MBC TV series in 1995. The story is easy to read and relatable, and it provides an intimate experience of life in Cairo and "Nasser's Egypt." It explores a wide range of topics, from religion and politics to relationships and dating.

The English translation is available on Amazon for rental starting from about $10:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HFTV90O/...

The Arabic original is available at many booksellers (such as Neelwafurat.com), as well as many places online in PDF.

Thanks Melanie, hopefully I will start reading it soon :)

I started reading it, I traveled to different Egypt, and interestingly seeing it through unusual lenses .

Good for you! It’s a sort of revisit to Cairo for me too, from a different time and a different set of characters and perspectives.

Did you finish it ?
I am reading slowly as my hands are full now. I am about to start chapter 3, when the group was entering collage. I loved how the politics, war and literature was highlighted to portray how those young men were exploring life in Egypt.

I'm in Ch. 9 (p. 191, only about 1/3 through the book - it's pretty long!). Today my favorite line was something along the lines of: If only the Nile could talk, what things it would tell us that have happened through the centuries! I'll probably include it in my review at the end :)

Melanie wrote: "I'm in Ch. 9 (p. 191, only about 1/3 through the book - it's pretty long!). Today my favorite line was something along the lines of: If only the Nile could talk, what things it would tell us that h..."

I think the author is fascinated by the Nile, it is present almost in every chapter I read so far.

I am about to start Ch. 5

Yes, you're right! I'm in Ch. 11. It seems like these young men came to Cairo looking for love and a way to make a living (in that order, in terms of enthusiasm). They're also interested in "making a difference," but conflicted about what that might mean. Anyway, there have been ups and downs in their love lives in the past few chapters, with other social and historical factors/events showing up...

Their enthusiasm, search, and confusion, all are very well portrayed covering the richness in movements and ideologies that shaped that era. Passing through nationalism, socialism, communism, capitalism, existentialism. There was a lot to take in. It was interesting to read about Baʽath Party, as I did not read about it before. I do not think this active and charged atmosphere exists today, it did not even exist when I was in collage, while my parents lived it!

I am wondering when the novel was originally published, it seems to be in the 90s? and was banned in Saudi Arabia. talking about Nasser that way was different from authors wrote in his time .

I have not read the book, but a general comment.

Societies evolve, go through periods, and either grow or collapse.

The US is going through a similar period of banning ideas which do not conform... to the academic community and the political 'left'. When the free exchange of ideas is challenged, violence and insurrection follow... which is what is happening now.

These historic novels are very instructive... whether the prevailing party of the moment which condemns speech is a right wing dictatorship or left wing socialism

Thank you to everyone who has commented so far. I just finished reading this book. It has been on my list for years, ever since my husband (also a non-native Arabic speaker) said that it was the first Arabic novel he really enjoyed reading. My review is available here:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Anyone else is reading the novel?

Charles wrote: "I have not read the book, but a general comment.

Societies evolve, go through periods, and either grow or collapse.

The US is going through a similar period of banning ideas which do not conform..."

That is interesting to read, I need to think more about how to relate that old struggle to toady . Thanks for sharing!

Melanie wrote: "Thank you to everyone who has commented so far. I just finished reading this book. It has been on my list for years, ever since my husband (also a non-native Arabic speaker) said that it was the fi..."

Thanks for sharing!
I enjoyed reading the novel, it was a surprise for me! I did not realize before the depth of how much Cairo was in the center in that era, how it was a melting pot for so much ideologies and ideas.
The author was fascinated with the Nile, but it was blurred or mentioned less moving on, more and more the confusion of the protagonists deepen. I am also wondering about the author insisting on quoting poetry only by Al-Mutanabbi.

Yes, I wonder about that too. I watched one interview with the author on YouTube, but he didn't mention Al-Mutanabbi. Maybe he has a special affinity for him. Certainly Al-Mutanabbi is among the best-known poets for all Arabic-speaking countries. Thanks for joining this read!

Melanie wrote: "Yes, I wonder about that too. I watched one interview with the author on YouTube, but he didn't mention Al-Mutanabbi. Maybe he has a special affinity for him. Certainly Al-Mutanabbi is among the be..."

Yes, he was one of the best, if not the best. Sadly, I did not understand most of the verses that were included in the novel.

I see no one mentioned reading the novel, so I see there no problem with discussing some detailed issues.

Warning ...Spoilers ahead!

There were so many female characters in the novel. I want to discuss the last one, the kuwaiti poet Laila, she was the most troubling figure for me, I had a feeling she was not a real woman, specially with the rape scene and the small story that was written by Foad. Was she a manifestation for the confusion? the chaos? I am not sure about her.

Yes, that is possible. None of the characters are supposed to be completely accurate. The most historical are the famous people and the protagonist, who is based on the author. But in general, the characters and plot are fictional. It’s also so common in literature for a female to be symbolic, of a nation especially. So you could be right!