Reviews

رحلة ابن فطومة by Naguib Mahfouz

omaimakh96's review against another edition

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4.0

4.5
كانت تلك أولى تجاربي مع أعمال نجيب محفوظ الذي طالما كثرت الأقاويل حول أدبه والأفكار التي يطرحها. وضعتُ كل ما سمعته جانباً واخترتُ أن أحكم بنفسي. في بادئ الأمر لم يكن الأمر باليسير إذ كنت أقرأ الفقرة أكثر من مرة لأستوعب ما يريد عم نجيب أن يقول ولكن سرعان ما انغمست في العالم الذي نسجه وارتحلتُ مع ابن فطومة حيث ذهب. أكثر ما لاقى إعجابي الشديد هو قدرة نجيب محفوظ على دمج الكثير من الرموز في قصة ممتعة بدون ملل. يستكشف الرحالة ابن فطومة القادم من دار الإسلام العديدَ من العوالم الأخرى كدار الحيرة حيث التقديس والعبادة للملك وحده ولمن حوله من الصفوة تقابلها دار الحلبة حيث "لا دواء إلا المزيد من الحرية" ثم ينتقل إلى دار الأمان وما يجده فيها من مزاعم العدل والمساواة بين الجميع في توزيع الثروات الذي لا يخلو من بعض الاستثناءات للملك ونخبته. لا يتوانى ابن فطومة أثناء رحلته عن المقارنة بين ما رآه في هذه الأماكن وبين حال وطنه دار الإسلام، غير أنه لم يتخلَ عن الحلم الذي يداعب خياله من الذهاب إلى دار الجبل الموعودة التي يلفها الغموض والأساطير.
لا ريب أن أسلوب نجيب محفوظ وكلماته ساحرة لمن يقرؤها لكنها أيضاً تدعو كل ذي لُبٍ للتفكير في ما يدور حوله وأن يبدأ كل فرد رحلته الخاصة عساه يجد دار الجبل.

miss_tsundoku's review against another edition

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3.0

Not as wonderful as I hope. I finished this book during a journey when I need to feel occupied rather than doing nothing.

2.5/5 stars.

tpilato's review against another edition

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challenging reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

slammy90's review against another edition

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5.0

Il miglior Mahfuz che mi sia capitato di leggere.
Sorprendenti le grandi metafore che il libro racchiude.. Si legge in meno di due ore, ma ne vale veramente veramente la pena!

robk's review against another edition

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5.0

The Journey of Ibn Fattouma is a parable about the rise of civilization. Ibn Fattouma's life comes to a crisis after his fiance is compelled to marry the prince of his native country. His mother, a widow, becomes engaged to his teacher, and Ibn realizes there's no reason for him to stay in his country, a land which, despite its religion and civilization, seems flawed and corrupt. So, Ibn sets out on a journey to see other lands. Ash he does so, he encounters struggles both physical and psychological. He falls in love, meets heartache. He comes across new ways to view the world, which challenge his convictions.

Overall, this short novel is about what it means to be a traveler, which is just another way of saying, human. It's about being yourself, but being open to new ideas and never abandoning the desire to learn more.

kjfalk's review against another edition

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3.0

Not as richly wonderful as his Cairo Trilogy, but an enjoyable parable that evokes 18th century novels, as well as a very quick read that still manages to be thought-provoking and sharply critical. I did a double-take at some points - amazing to think this was written in 1983, years before Operation Desert Storm or "OIL"...

spacenoirdetective's review against another edition

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5.0

Reading Mahfouz is like reading another language, (even when it's translated). A lyrical poetry all in its own right, the man transcends myth and history and culture and creates something so ethereal, dreamlike, and yet hardeningly real that I can't quite put an accurate description to him and his work. I was deeply affected by it, it is truly a wonderful parable for both the myriad of political and spiritual realms that humans inhabit.

tasmin's review against another edition

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4.0

Eine sehr andere Lektüre, die mich noch eine Weile beschäftigen wird. Die Nachricht zwischen den Zeilen war so versteckt und gleichzeitig immer spürbar, dass man sich vermutlich noch länger Gedanken dazu machen muss.
Es erinnert mich an ein Märchen oder an "Der Alchemist" - nur im Stil der arabischen Poesie
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