War in the Land of Egypt

by Yusuf al-Qa'id | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 184437033X Global Overview for this book
Registered by duskiska of Kaarina, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on 11/27/2010
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This book is in the wild! This Book is Currently in the Wild!
13 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by duskiska from Kaarina, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Wednesday, December 8, 2010
From the back cover:

"Egypt on the eve of the 1973 October war. A young man has been drafted into the army. His father, the village elder, persuades a poor night-watchman to send his own son as a stand-in. But the impersonation plan goes horribly wrong, with trafi-comic results.

Al-Qa'id's tale of the fiasco - steeped in black humour - parodies outrageous corruption and ludicrous bureaucracy. A skillfully-crafted mosaic of life in modern Egypt.

Yusuf al Qa'id is one of Egypt's outstanding writers with eleven novels and four short-story collections to his credit. Written in 1975 and banned in its country or origin, 'War in the land of Egypt' is the first of his novels to be translated into English."

Journal Entry 2 by duskiska at Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Friday, August 12, 2011
I'm going to take part in a Finnish alphabet challenge with this book. In the challenge you have to read one book per each letter in the Finnish alphabet, and the author's surname has to start with the letter in question. This should count for Q since the authorized version of the author's name is written Quʿayd, Muḥammad Yūsuf al-.

I offered this as a ray on the Finnish forum but since Sumako was the only one interested, the ray is now cancelled and the book is going to Sumako.

Journal Entry 3 by duskiska at Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Wednesday, November 16, 2011
This was a surprisingly good book! It's about the divide between the rich and the poor, power and powerlesness, and justice and injustice. The main lines of the plot were quite predictable, but the book still managed to intrigue me. I haven't read much (any??) African literature before, so this was a pleasant surprise as I had no idea what to expect.

What especially stands out is the narrative technique where the story is told from several different points of view, but none of the characters repeat what has already been said. A great way to shed light on different views while at the same time keeping the story going without repetition. I don't think I've ever seen narration quite like this before.

Journal Entry 4 by duskiska at Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (11/16/2011 UTC) at Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Off to Sumako.

Journal Entry 5 by sumako at Kuopio, Pohjois-Savo / Norra Savolax Finland on Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Tietääkseni ensimmäinen egyptiläisen kirjoittama kirja hyllyssäni. Kiitos!

Released 6 yrs ago (4/21/2017 UTC) at Bookcrossing Convention Oslo 2017 in St. Hanshaugen bydel, Oslo fylke Norway

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Releasing this to the book buffet

Journal Entry 7 by wingHaugtussawing at Stavanger, Rogaland fylke Norway on Friday, April 21, 2017
I love Egypt! Thus this book screamed out at me....

Journal Entry 8 by wingHaugtussawing at Stavanger, Rogaland fylke Norway on Friday, January 19, 2018
I liked this book, and the way it was written. The different voices who where involved in the story each told their part. Whether it gives a true insight into the Egyptian way of life, I do not know. I also liked the fact that it was set in the countryside, most of the books I've read by Egyptian authors are all set in Cairo.

Journal Entry 9 by wingHaugtussawing at Stavanger, Rogaland fylke Norway on Monday, March 5, 2018
This book was offered as a RABCK at the one-RABCK a month thread, however, as so many people wanted the book I will make it a ray in order for more people to enjoy it.
Please read the book within a reasonable time - no need to hurry, as I do believe all of the participants have other books to read whilst waiting for this one!

Let the ray begin:
Greenbadger - UK
Blue_berry - UK
Icila - France
sedna5213 - Germany
Delphi_Reader - Greece
mcsar - Canada
book-a-neer - Australia
Edwardstreet - NZ
FinalsEnd - Netherlands

Journal Entry 10 by wingHaugtussawing at Stavanger, Rogaland fylke Norway on Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Released 6 yrs ago (3/6/2018 UTC) at Stavanger, Rogaland fylke Norway

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Let the ray begin!

Journal Entry 11 by winggreenbadgerwing at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Saturday, March 10, 2018
Thank you very much for this ray book, looking forward to reading it.

Journal Entry 12 by winggreenbadgerwing at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, March 13, 2018
It's 1973 and Egypt is at war with Israel. When a wealthy village leader's son is drafted into the army, he's already used every excuse in the book to get his other sons out of service so he has to go for something more extreme - persuading a poor night-watchman's son to take his place. There's some dark humour in the unfolding events as the different characters tell their parts of the story, but the sheer level of corruption and inequality is shocking.

Journal Entry 13 by winggreenbadgerwing at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Released 6 yrs ago (3/14/2018 UTC) at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to Blue_berry, next in the ray. Enjoy! :)

Journal Entry 14 by Blue_berry at Croydon, Greater London United Kingdom on Friday, March 16, 2018
Received with thanks! Will start after my current read.

Journal Entry 15 by Blue_berry at Croydon, Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, April 15, 2018
This was an ok read, well written and structured. Story itself is about corruption and powerlessness of the ordinary man. Nothing new there frankly.

Released 5 yrs ago (4/17/2018 UTC) at -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to the next reader in the BR.

Journal Entry 17 by wingIcilawing at Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Saturday, April 21, 2018
The book arrived safely, along with an other ray, thank you. I'm going on a trip but I w'll read it asap.

Journal Entry 18 by wingIcilawing at Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Thursday, May 17, 2018
I'm a bit disappointed. I agree with Blue_berry though.

Journal Entry 19 by wingIcilawing at Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Friday, May 25, 2018

Released 5 yrs ago (5/25/2018 UTC) at Nantes, Pays de la Loire France

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to Berlin... Enjoy !

Journal Entry 20 by wingsedna5213wing at Charlottenburg, Berlin Germany on Friday, June 1, 2018
The book arrived safely in Berlin today. Thank you very much for sending it over and for the pencil aswell! Will start to read asap.

***

Interesting book. Really liked the different aspects of the story.

Journal Entry 21 by wingsedna5213wing at Charlottenburg, Berlin Germany on Friday, June 8, 2018

Released 5 yrs ago (6/8/2018 UTC) at Charlottenburg, Berlin Germany

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

The book is on its way to the next reader. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 22 by wingDelphi_Readerwing at Delphi - Δελφοί , Fokida Greece on Wednesday, June 13, 2018
This book is now in my hands. Thank you duskiska for registering and sedna5213 for sending it over and for your nice postcard and stickers! And thank you everyone for making this book's journey so interesting and for keeping it on the move!

This is a hectic time of the year for me (when it isn't...?) but I'll do my best to read the book asap and pass it on...

Journal Entry 23 by wingDelphi_Readerwing at Delphi - Δελφοί , Fokida Greece on Thursday, June 21, 2018
This is a quick read, written on a poignant, ironical, almost farse-ose style while touching on bitter truths through a rather predictable story. A bitter-sweet book featuring lots of symbolism and multiple layers, full of black humor and rather sad realisations about the way this world works.

Unfortunately the book seems timely not only in 1970's Egypt but on human society in general on most -if not all- eras and areas...

An easy novel due to writting style, but a hard one due to context.

Released 5 yrs ago (6/25/2018 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This book is now on its way to Canada. Enjoy mcsar : )

Journal Entry 25 by mcsar at Richmond, British Columbia Canada on Thursday, August 2, 2018
The book arrived in Canada. I will start reading soon and keep the ray going. Thanks for sending.

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Updated August 18, 2018

Thank you for offering this as a ray so that we can all enjoy it. I really like the book, particularly the narrative set up. I agree with Delphi_Reader who says the writing makes it an easy read but the context makes it hard.

Journal Entry 26 by mcsar at Next Reader, Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Friday, September 7, 2018

Released 5 yrs ago (9/7/2018 UTC) at Next Reader, Bookray -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Off to the next reader it goes.

Journal Entry 27 by book-a-neer at Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Tuesday, November 20, 2018
I didn’t realise that I only posted on the Bookring thread and hadn’t acutally journaled the book.

Anyway, I have now finished and am sending on to Edwardstreet in NZ.

Thank you for including me in this ray. I liked the book and how it was written. I kept waiting for the funny bit but realised in the end that it was black humour more than anything else.

Journal Entry 28 by book-a-neer at Australia Post in Blackburn, Victoria Australia on Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Released 5 yrs ago (11/20/2018 UTC) at Australia Post in Blackburn, Victoria Australia

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Off to the next reader in New Zealand.

Journal Entry 29 by wingEdwardstreetwing at Wellington City, Wellington Province New Zealand on Thursday, December 6, 2018
Letter box surprise to be read and then sent along

Released 5 yrs ago (12/14/2018 UTC) at —- by hand, post, or courier in Wellington City, Wellington Province New Zealand

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Heartbeaking.
In the mail to the next recipient in the ray.

Journal Entry 31 by BookishPanda at Nijmegen, Gelderland Netherlands on Saturday, January 12, 2019
This book is now with me. Thank you for sending it. Cool to receive such a well-traveled book!

Journal Entry 32 by BookishPanda at Apeldoorn, Gelderland Netherlands on Friday, June 4, 2021

Released 2 yrs ago (6/10/2021 UTC) at Apeldoorn, Gelderland Netherlands

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Gave this very special book to Japie88, so it can continue its journey. I hope this book will be read by many more.

Journal Entry 33 by Japie88 at Apeldoorn, Gelderland Netherlands on Sunday, June 13, 2021
Got this book from a friend.
My English is not that good so I have yet to see if I will read the book. In any case, I will treat the book with care and ensure that it can travel again.

Journal Entry 34 by Japie88 at Restaurant Ume in Breda, Noord-Brabant Netherlands on Saturday, April 1, 2023

Released 12 mos ago (4/1/2023 UTC) at Restaurant Ume in Breda, Noord-Brabant Netherlands

WILD RELEASE NOTES:


The book has already had quite a journey. Make the journey even bigger and take the book with you to read or to put it somewhere else.

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