Wow, wow, wow is this book fantastic. It's a substantial book, and the first of a trilogy by a Nobel Prize-winning author and it certainly has the reputation as An Important Book, which put me off reading it despite having picked up a very nice copy over a decade ago. This book seemed like it would require effort and somehow I was never up for making the effort. And so when I finally pulled it down off of the shelf, I was astonished at how vibrant and fun this novel was, one of those rare novels where time disappeared while I was reading.

Set in Cairo, in the years before Egyptian independence from Britain, the novel centers on al-Sayyid Ahmad Abd al-Jawad and his family. In public, Sayyid is the life of the party, a fun-loving and generous man who loves nothing more than gathering with his friends, drinking and singing, and sleeping with a series of mistresses. At home, however, he is intent on having a strictly observant religious household, the women who stay home and never show their faces to anyone outside the family, and sons who obey his every order and remain free of all vice. At home, his genial personality transforms into one that is quick to rage. Each family member reacts differently to their circumstances and the novel concerns itself with domestic issues and the crises that pop up in ordinary life, until the dissatisfaction with being an occupied country is expressed in demonstrations and rebellion and the family has to adjust to these new circumstances.

Mahfouz writes so engagingly about ordinary life of a shopkeeper's family that it's impossible not to be drawn into their lives. He's clear about the restrictions placed on women and how onerous and damaging that is, while also showing how a rigid, patriarchal society harms everyone in it, even the ones in charge. He also goes into detail about what life was like in that time and place, in a way that makes me eager to jump into the second book of the trilogy. ( )

Palace walk
I finally finished this first book of the trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz. I read it ahead of my November trip to Egypt. It’s an extremely well written book by a Nobel winning prize author.
The story takes place in Cairo, 1917-1919. The main character is Ahmad Abd al-Jawal, a wealthy local businessman and very devout Muslim who is married to Amina and has 5 children Yasin, Aisha, Khadijah, Fahmy and Kamal. He is a hypocrite who rules the household with terror by day. By night, he transforms into a different man who spends his evenings and late nights with friends drinking, telling stories and fornicating. He usually arrives home drunk and Amina looks after his needs as a devout wife must.
His wife and daughters are not allowed to leave the home and their lives consist of looking after the household and waiting for an arranged marriage.
Islam plays a very prominent role in the household and all members are outwardly very devout. Amina in particular believes in Allah’s power to provide guidance to her family. She ignores her husband’s other life and hopes that God will forgive him.
This is a tight knit family that spends the evenings without Ahmad at their coffee chats where the lives of family and friends are discussed in a friendly and safe space.
Things change in 1919 when British soldiers are encamped on Palace walk near the family home. Fahmy becomes involved with student protests against British rule with deadly consequences.
The criticism about this book is that although it’s beautifully written, not a lot happens. I have to agree.

I finally finished this first book of the trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz. I read it ahead of my November trip to Egypt. It’s an extremely well written book by a Nobel winning prize author.
The story takes place in Cairo, 1917-1919. The main character is Ahmad Abd al-Jawal, a wealthy local businessman and very devout Muslim who is married to Amina and has 5 children Yasin, Aisha, Khadijah, Fahmy and Kamal. He is a hypocrite who rules the household with terror by day. By night, he transforms into a different man who spends his evenings and late nights with friends drinking, telling stories and fornicating. He usually arrives home drunk and Amina looks after his needs as a devout wife must.
His wife and daughters are not allowed to leave the home and their lives consist of looking after the household and waiting for an arranged marriage.
Islam plays a very prominent role in the household and all members are outwardly very devout. Amina in particular believes in Allah’s power to provide guidance to her family. She ignores her husband’s other life and hopes that God will forgive him.
This is a tight knit family that spends the evenings without Ahmad at their coffee chats where the lives of family and friends are discussed in a friendly and safe space.
Things change in 1919 when British soldiers are encamped on Palace walk near the family home. Fahmy becomes involved with student protests against British rule with deadly consequences.
The criticism about this book is that although it’s beautifully written, not a lot happens. I have to agree. ( )

Interesting novel about Cairo family life at the time of the end of WW I (1918 or so). Tyrannical father calls for strict obedience from wife and children but allows himself a party life of wine and women after his work hours. Some revolutionary actions against the British are included in the account. This is the first part of a trilogy and I may continue (if my to-read list wasn't so long!) ( )

This is a fascinating book about a devout Muslim family in Cairo during WWI. The father is a brutal disciplinarian to his wife and five children. I found myself muttering "asshole" periodically throughout the book. The wife married this Egyptian macho when she was 15 years old, and right away he started going out every night and staying out till all hours, coming home drunk and stinking of sex. When she meekly remonstrated with him about it, he harshly told her, "Don't make me discipline you." Well, part of my avid interest in this book is just in the hope of seeing him brought down, and hurt. Yes, I have a personal interest in seeing karma deal with machos. ( )

Interesting setting of culture and customs of a Muslim family living in Egypt during the 1920s, including the British occupation. Each part of the story explores the experiences of each member of the family. The youngest boy was keen on over-exaggerating his experiences until he experienced a real gun-fight, where no exaggeration was needed. I would have preferred it to have more of a plot, but nonetheless it was very human and realistic. ( )