A review by therkive
The City Always Wins by Omar Robert Hamilton

4.0

Speechless, honestly. My heart aches because isn't the betrayal of revolution worse than the act of anarchy itself? I haven't read much about the 2011 Egyptian revolution, outside of what was taught through the American lens during world history in high school. That being said, it's palpable in this book, of how the younger generation would do anything for a better life under a better government - for themselves, for their loved ones, for their fellow Egyptians - and in overthrowing one corrupt leader, elected someone who made false promises only to turn his back (like most leaders inevitably do) on the people to push forward his own agenda. The use of social media in this is remarkable as well; the revolution occurred during the rise of globalization and its effects - diaspora returning home to protest, journalists internationally covering it through their own rose-tinted lenses - are evident in the aftermath of the revolution. The ending fell short; I understood the concept of Khalil, a Palestinian diaspora, fleeing after his friends began being murdered and arrested, but it left a sour taste in my mouth. How it is easy for someone who has no permanent ties (you can argue that Mariam and what he had stake during the revolution could be permanent) to pack up and leave in order to protect themselves, while their loved ones stay back to continue fighting for their rights and beliefs. Regardless, I feel like this is such an important read, to bring forth and understand the pain so many face when attempting to overthrow corrupt regimes in the face of Western imperialism.