Reviews

If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English: A Novel, by Noor Naga

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shafnut's review

emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

spoilers ahead SORRY!!

i like the ending and how they used the workshop to discuss the plot of the book - the idea of how survivors need to portray their stories in a certain way.

it was refreshing to see noor as a character that tries to settle in cairo but i wish she had done more in the sense of trying to find a job or to try and even eventually moving out of her apartment to something she found on her own. the fact that she continued in that place and the job that her mother gave her made her feel like a privileged brat?

the dual perspectives also was very cool although seeing the guy’s perspective didn’t really add any value except confirm how he’s a sexist abuser-stalker.

iguarnieri's review

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3.0

I have really mixed feelings about this novel…the first two sections left me cold but the third, which is the shortest by far, made me revisit all my assumptions. that being said - how can a writer be so aware of what they’re doing in their writing and still (ethically) want to engage in the same tropes? I really really don’t know, but I felt the first two sections had so many shortcomings and the writing often felt strained and cliched. I was genuinely about to give the book 2 stars until the last 30 pages.

THAT being said, I am really interested in the central tension of the main relationship-who stays behind and who gets the privilege to return. I think this was a really effective exploration of reckoning with identity of a wealthy, first generation immigrant returning to the motherland and also how class can strain relationships. And the question of who gets to tell certain stories really hits in the final part.

Curious to do some more reading and thinking on this.