If youd had twenty thousand pounds and used them to bribe someone, do you think any one would have asked about your fathers job. Its a long way from cairos tahrir square, the nexus of egypts 20 democratic uprising, to new york states hudson valley, but alaa alaswany has made many such jumps of distance, time, and culture in the past three decades, just as he manages to follow, simultaneously, two very different vocations. Buy the yacoubian building reprint by aswany, alaa al, davies, humphrey isbn. Imarat yaqubyan is a novel by egyptian author alaaalaswany. In chicago alaa al aswany presents the crisscrossing stories of a number of egyptians abroad, clustered around the department of histology at the the university of illinois medical school. Through their various exploits, we learn about businessmen, politics, closet homosexuality, students, entrepeneurs and families living hand to mouth. The author of the highlyacclaimed the yacoubian building returns with a story of love, sex, friendship, hatred, and ambition set in chicago with a cast of american and arab characters achingly human in their desires and needs. An easy, enjoyable and educational for those of us in the west read. Alaa al aswany is a talented and respected writer, who portrays all his characters with so much empathy and insight that you find yourself caring about even the more despicable ones. The main characters of this fiction, northern africa story are. Read chicago a novel by alaa al aswany available from rakuten kobo.
Alaa al aswany is the author of the yacoubian building, which was long listed for the international impac dublin literary award in 2006 and was the best selling novel in the arab world for over five years, as well as chicago named by newsday as the best translated novel of 2006 and friendly fire. The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany, humphrey t. A dentist whose first office was in the yacoubian building, he has written prolifically for egyptian newspapers across the political spectrum on literature, politics and social issues. One of egypts most recognizable literary celebrities, he was a highprofile fixture of the 2011 tahrir. Facebook post by alaa al aswany from nov 26, 2012 0 copy quote a fascinating book and a great pleasure to read.
Rafat thabit, an egyptianamerican professor at the university of illinois medical school, has burrowed deep into american culture, but finds his identity threatened after his rebellious daughter falls under the sway of a shady boyfriend. Betool khedairi is a talented new voice in fiction. The yacoubian building, by alaa al aswany, trans humphrey. In alaa alaswanys the automobile club of egypt, many of those working in the titular club face a terrible choice. Shikagu is a novel by egyptian author alaaal aswany. Alaa al aswanys the yacoubian building translated by humphrey davies by bookshy 20. Alaa al aswany has 34 books on goodreads with 76584 ratings. A novel translated from arabic by farouk abdel wahab, is set not in egypt but in the united states, tracking a brief period. Pdf the yacoubian building book by alaa al aswany free. A novel and join the genius community of scholars to learn the meaning behind the words. Alaa al aswany is definitely, defiantly, a storyteller. Such a concentration of egyptian histologists, both as faculty and students, is hard to believe, but then so are many of aswanys american details but then chicago isnt. First of all it was amazing reading about the historical context of post 911 americ.
Published in arabic in and in an english translation in the locale. From alaa al aswany, the author of the highlyacclaimed the yacoubian building, comes a story of love, sex, friendship, hatred, and ambition set in the midwestern city with a cast of american and arab characters achingly human in their desires and needs. The yacoubian building by egyptian novelist alaa al aswany has become an international literary phenomenon. Make moneyand youll get everything, but if you stay poor, theyll. Chicago ebook by alaa al aswany 9780061981883 rakuten kobo. Sex, money and politics are the driving forces of society in this new novel from bestselling author alaa al aswany. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 256 pages and is available in paperback format. Alaa al aswany is the internationally bestselling author of the yacoubian building and chicago. The first edition of the novel was published in 2002, and was written by alaa al aswany.
An interview with alaa alaswany washington independent. The yacoubian building is a novel about modernday cairo, using the residents of the building as a broad crosssection of egyptian society. Chicago by alaa al aswany meet your next favorite book. Since the publication of his successful debut the yacoubian building 2004, alaa al aswany has become one of egypts most celebrated writers, a vocal opponent to the corruption and nepotism that have characterized president mubareks regime. A laa al aswany, the egyptian novelist, became famous overnight in the arab world with the publication of his first novel, the yacoubian building, in 2002. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the yacoubian building.
If youre interested in licensing this or any other big think c. Alaa alaswanys latest work explores class divisions, corruption and injustice as the masters take the servants for a ride in 1940s cairo published. Al aswany, born in 1957, originally trained as a dentist, and still has his own. The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany book quote. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Alaa al aswany, a dentist and opposition journalist in cairo, broke onto the literary scene in 2002 with the yacoubian building, a novel whose frank depiction of sexuality in contemporary. Alaa al aswany became a contributing opinion writer for the international new york times in the fall of 20. Chicago offers an illuminating portrait of americaa complex, often contradictory land in which triumph and failure, opportunity and. Based in egypt, and writing in arabic al aswany uses chicago to tell the story of how several different characters adjust to their new life in chicago having left cairo to pursue their medical career. A journalist who writes a controversial opposition column, al.
Alaa al aswany, the author of the automobile club of egypt, is no stranger to activism. Egyptian author al aswany the yacoubian building weaves a vivid tapestry of clashing cultures in post911 chicago. Alaa al aswany, a dentist and opposition journalist in cairo, broke onto the literary scene in with the yacoubian building, a novel. It would be difficult to overestimate the impact that alaa al aswanys novel has had in egypt. In al aswanys followup to the yacoubian building 2005, egyptian students and professors find scant refuge in post911 chicago originally published in egypt in 2007, and a bestseller in france, the novel was inspired by the authors student days in the windy city. The author of the highly acclaimed the yacoubian building returns with a story of love, sex, friendship, hatred, and ambition set in chicago, with a cast of. Lexical obscurities, ambiguities of characterisation, tricksy narrative devices.
Based in egypt, and writing in arabic al aswany uses chicago to tell the story of how several different characters adjust to their new. Whatever their decisions, characters like alku, kamel, mahmud, and mr. The yacoubian building is fastmoving and actionpacked, with drama in every scene and shifts between the different strands used to provide tension. Do they continue to live safely with a boot on their neck, or do they risk what little they have for the right to live freely without fear. Give yourself the gift of knowledge subscribe to big think edge. Interview with alaa alaswany by james romm the fabulist. The yacoubian building, an actual landmark in cairo, is a building where the rich and poor of. Alaa al aswany is a wellknown egyptian writer whose previous book the yacoubian building was a bestseller. Egyptian and american lives collide on a college campus in post911 chicago, and crises of identity abound in this extraordinary and eagerly anticipated new novel from. Wed love you to buy this book, and hope you find this page convenient in locating a place of purchase. When the yacoubian building snared the affection of readers around the world, it gave alaa al aswany a clout in egypt denied to other kinds of dissident.
Alaaal aswany finally publishes cars club started in 2008, inspired by hearing the story of the invention of the car on a visit to a famous car club in germany. The author of the highly acclaimed the yacoubian building returns with a story of love, sex, friendship, hatred, and ambition set in chicago, with a cast of american and arab characters achingly human in their desires and needs. Read a sample read a sample read a sample enlarge book cover audio excerpt. The yacoubian building has topped the bestseller lists for over two years, been adapted for the. Free download or read online the yacoubian building pdf epub book.
The book was made into a film of the same name in 2006 and into a tv series in 2007. He has received many awards internationally, including the bashrahil award for the arabic. This country doesnt belong to usit belongs to the people who have money. The novelist alaa al aswany places his emigre characters in post911 chicago. This was the moment he and other prodemocracy activists had been working towards, but could never be sure would come. A journalist who writes a controversial opposition column. Shikagu is a novel by egyptian author alaaalaswany published in arabic in 2007 and in an english translation in 2007 the locale of the novel is university of illinois at chicago where the writer did his postgraduate studies. The author of the highly acclaimed the yacoubian building returns with a story of love, sex, friendship, hatred, and am.