Monday, September 19, 2011

The Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al Aswany

The story is set in Cairo. It's something like the Chinese movie "The 72 Tenants". It's about this grand building which once was one of the grandest building in Cairo. The richest and famous people stayed there. That  is till the war changes everything.

The building started to be occupied by the high officers and their family. It's still grand but some people from the lower class moved on to the rooftop of the building. It was like two different world.

Among those staying in the building were an aging playboy, a gay editor of Le Caire, the ambitious son of the door keeper and the beautiful daughter of an old widow.

At first I was apprehensive whether to buy this book or not as I have another book "Chicago" which is written by the same author. Have tried reading that book but kept getting stuck in the first few pages. Maybe will return to it later on.

Anyway, I found that I like this book pretty much. Love the author's sense of humor and the corruption that he revealed in this book. Makes me wonder if the world is as corrupted as that. Nevermind the said, it was still fun to read about how the way things works over there.

This book makes me feel happy and yet a bit sad at how some of the things ended in the story.  The author is brilliant and able to draw readers to feel the emotions that the characters are feeling.

Overall I give it 4 stars out of 5.

6 comments:

Jothi said...

This book sounds interesting, I kinda like storylines like these - different people, some a lil' eccentric, whose lives a woven together. Will look out for this book.

Hidayah Ismawi said...

Know thy neighbour haha.. lived in apartment when I was a teen..some crazy stuff went on ;)

May said...

When i was growing up, i love reading novels. Even till date i don't play with novels. This book sounds so interesting and i hope i get to read it. Thanks for the review.

Small Kucing said...

Jothi

The way its written was very interesting

Small Kucing said...

Hidayah

agree with you there

Small Kucing said...

May

The joy of reading :)

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