rebdhar's review against another edition
5.0
In The Last Watchman of Old Cairo, Lukas masterfully weaves together three time periods, whose stories connect through a family mystery that is traced back a thousand years before the contemporary narrator. Each of the narrative threads is populated by characters who are peculiar to their time, and who fit perfectly within the specific Cairo in which they find themselves.
We care about these characters, whose struggles we identify with, no matter the background or epoch. Here we find people who strive to lead good lives, who demonstrate the many ways in which responsibility and forgiveness, love and kindness, shape the way we see and act in the world. Faith also plays an important role, but it is not the faith of only one religion or belief. It seems more the faith of striving to live a good life, and of knowing that it is worth the effort.
Lukas highlights the central role of story, the meaningful stories we tell ourselves and each other throughout our lives and through the ages. This beautiful tale provides us with some needed inspiration in our challenging times.
We care about these characters, whose struggles we identify with, no matter the background or epoch. Here we find people who strive to lead good lives, who demonstrate the many ways in which responsibility and forgiveness, love and kindness, shape the way we see and act in the world. Faith also plays an important role, but it is not the faith of only one religion or belief. It seems more the faith of striving to live a good life, and of knowing that it is worth the effort.
Lukas highlights the central role of story, the meaningful stories we tell ourselves and each other throughout our lives and through the ages. This beautiful tale provides us with some needed inspiration in our challenging times.
makm's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
diskin40's review against another edition
3.0
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I would actually rate this book closer to a 3.5. I enjoyed how the story covered three different time periods related to interaction with the Ezra scroll. Characters were well developed to the point that you could imagine their behaviors and interactions. Some areas of the story took you down a path that felt important but then were wrapped up quickly and not really resolved. One big positive was the ending for the current day storyline. It was managed well and left you with a true impact of the importance and commitment of the bloodline of the watchman. I would recommend this book to others.
thenschultz's review against another edition
2.0
Read this on a whim and just for fun knowing it probably wasn't highly literary. It's a fun and easy read if not particularly well written. There was room for a lot of depth but the author was plot focused so it feels like a full story but very shallow in depth. Not a terrible book, just not particularly great writing.
emeraldcityreader's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
patrisias's review against another edition
4.0
My favorite quote from this book: "Mercy is more powerful than justice; forgiveness greater than revenge."
If you are expecting a Dan Brown-esque story about searching for a sacred object, you might be disappointed. This is more about the spiritual investiture we make in these objects. More ideas about the thing than the thing itself (with apologies to Wallace Stevens.)
Plus it was great storytelling.
If you are expecting a Dan Brown-esque story about searching for a sacred object, you might be disappointed. This is more about the spiritual investiture we make in these objects. More ideas about the thing than the thing itself (with apologies to Wallace Stevens.)
Plus it was great storytelling.
theadegruchy's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
srcanedo's review against another edition
5.0
I picked this book up on a wim and was impressed with how much of an easy read it was. I thought the balance between the story line was good and left enough question to keep you going. I do not really like reading books that have to do with religion but I thought it was handled very well here without it being over bearing.
andraste's review against another edition
2.0
This book was...okay. I had really high expectations of it because The Oracle of Stambul was such a wonderful read.
There was only one of the three intertwined stories that had the same magic and beauty as The Oracle of Stambul: the story of Ali, the first watchman.
The chronologically second story, the story of Margaret and Agnes was pretty good, but I felt it was lackluster.
The third story was completely uninteresting and poorly written. The main character/narrator of the third arc, Joseph, was unbearable and I found his chapters boring and nearly unreadable for a variety of reasons.
There was only one of the three intertwined stories that had the same magic and beauty as The Oracle of Stambul: the story of Ali, the first watchman.
The chronologically second story, the story of Margaret and Agnes was pretty good, but I felt it was lackluster.
The third story was completely uninteresting and poorly written. The main character/narrator of the third arc, Joseph, was unbearable and I found his chapters boring and nearly unreadable for a variety of reasons.