This is above all a social novel, a cross section of how people lived and experienced their relationships to society in Alexandria in the 1960s; and a political novel, since everything in it is very much affected by the rearrangements of power that were taking place, and by questions of who's gaining, who's losing, how will people survive, or even improve their place in the new order. The guests at the Pension Miramar (an old radical and a young radical, an old aristocrat and a young aristocrat, all of whom have been washed away by the July Revolution; and a fifth guest who's apparently floating on top of the tides) reveal their thoughts as the events of a couple of weeks are told from four different perspectives. One thing so many people have in common in this book is a sense of aimlessness and futility, of lost opportunities and no future, and Mahfouz makes a good case for this being a pretty general condition of Alexandrian society then, not peculiar to these characters. They all spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about the young country-bred maid Zohra, not just because she's beautiful, but also because she's dynamic. She, alone, knows what she wants and has the will to reach for it.

The other two young men hate Sarhan El-Beheiry because it seems like he has it made in the revolutionary world, like he's headed right for success. Only we readers come to know that he doesn't feel successful at all, that he can't cope with the demands of his life, can't be satisfied with what he has and is too weak to achieve anything. The author's alter-ego, the old journalist Amer Wagdi, provides ruminative perspective on everything; at the beginning, it seemed like he too might sink into bitter brooding, but (besides being helped by religion) he is encouraged by observing Zohra's strong will and how she avoids letting any of the weaker characters drag her down with them. Thus, bad as the situation is, the novel can still end on a hopeful note.

Thanks so much for your donation Vasha!

This book is now part of the 1001-library. If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the 1001-library bookshelf.

In transit.

Book received safe and sound, many thanks.

11 June 13 -This book tells the same story several times but from the perspective of the different men staying at the pension. Although this could be a tedious way to tell a story, it actually worked pretty well and was a good example of you never know what really happens as everyone has different views. I was a bit disappointed that you didn't get the view of either women and I think some of the politics was lost on me too. I had a lot of respect for Zohra for breaking away and knowing what she wanted to achieve in an age where it was unheard of.

This book is continuing its journey as a book ray. I don't like to set time limits on how fast this has to be read, I'm jut happy to see it keep moving.

Danielle23 EU/EU
Boekentrol EU/EU
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EmgeeNL EU/EU

Ooh, looking forward to reading this one. It sounds really interesting and just hope it is written well as this kind of story could go either way for me. Thank you for sharing kingfan30 and I'll get to it soon xx

I'm so sorry, I completely forgot this was a bookray. Anyway, I have finished the book and really enjoyed it. The same story told from several different perspectives with a twist to the ending. Whose story had the true ending?

I really felt sorry for Zohra but had respect for her decisions and how she had taken control of her own life although there still didn't seem much good it in for her. A good read and off to the next in line very soon. Thank you for your patience xx

Posted to the next in line. Enjoy xx

Danielle23 has informed us that the book got lost in the post.

She has replaced it with this copy: http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/12269686