paracosm's review against another edition
In the first couple of chapters two things happen. One, a character that is an actual sex predator is introduced but his behaviour is not only perfectly acceptable, but encouraged. Second, that is very important that we know the breast size of all female characters. Yikes.
peter_fischer's review against another edition
4.0
I used to belong to a book group that specialised in Middle Eastern literature. This is one of the best books we read there. The Yacoubian building symbolises Cairo through the ages and tells the stories of its various and diverse occupants. One can almost smell and feel Egypt!
ellieanor's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
aldwynreads's review against another edition
4.0
This is a story of different people living in one building. We look into the past and present of the building and its inhabitants and understand how each person takes decisions that without the story, could seem shocking or impossible. I wish there was more written by this Egyptian author.
soph2962's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cecilie_flohr's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This is a book I read for school and while it isn't something I would usually pick up myself, it was an interesting read that I enjoyed.
I found the characters to be interesting and well-written. They were complex and felt like real people.
The book follows multiple different characters, and often when that happens there is a POV that you just want to skip. That didn't happen with this book, which I am pleasantly surprised by.
I found the characters to be interesting and well-written. They were complex and felt like real people.
The book follows multiple different characters, and often when that happens there is a POV that you just want to skip. That didn't happen with this book, which I am pleasantly surprised by.
kiba_can's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
snaz's review against another edition
2.0
read the whole thing, couldn’t tell you what it was about if you paid me
goodcook07's review against another edition
3.0
This was a different sort of book for me, but something made me pick it up at the library and I was glad that I did. It was an interesting read about a part of the world that we normally don't read much about. A lot of tragedy in the lives of the characters though - not a book if you like happy endings.
thegabecole's review against another edition
2.0
Not my favorite read. The characters and their stories were interesting enough, but the writing style and voice just wasn't my cup of tea.