Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English

Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga

38 reviews

t0rixoxo's review against another edition

challenging reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

honestly, when first reading this book I thought I'd be able to give it five stars easily. I couldn't put it down. but at some point, I wasn't able to understand what the book was trying to tell me, and it just confused me for the rest of the book.
don't get me wrong, I absolutely adored the book! but something switched during part two and three that I can't decipher. even after reading part three, i couldn't figure it out.

but anyways, 4 stars. it was able to keep me hooked for a few days and I loved the way it introduced me to many different aspects of Egyptian culture. the experience of an Egyptian American woman vs an Egyptian man from the rural parts and their relationship was very intriguing to me. I learned so many new things from this book <3

Content Warnings

certifiedplayerhater's review

Go to review page

dark reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I loved the ideas this book were executing. It was very reminiscent of A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers in premise, but I felt more compelled by this story strictly because I am Sudanese myself and could appreciate the nuance of the cultural divide a bit more. The two characters were both messed up in their own right, but I loved the way each character approached their flaws. The woman was painfully self-aware and almost loathed herself for it, but didn’t do very much to address any of this self loathing at any point, everything under the veil of her class positioning The boy was more outwardly chaotic, with his flaws manifesting as outward forms of harm that were coated with a thick layer of misogyny. These two interactions were illuminating, especially with regards to the ideas of revolution and the fetishizing of the other, better thing. Watching the two going back and forth from their own perspectives was appreciated because each at their own voice. I especially appreciated when the two voices would tangle and you could see how the boy was changing the girl and vice versa.

Which is what made the third part so disappointing. I don’t know what’s this new trend of authors that explore complex themes needing to spell it out to the reader through the lens of caricatures that are so out of touch. I truly don’t understand why the third part was in the story, as if it couldn’t speak for itself. It feels a little derogatory to the readers to feel the need to so obviously break the tension by introducing a writers room. I understand the idea of wanting to blur reality and fiction, but it’s moments like that that remind me that I’m reading an American who is victim to the nudge-nudge phenomenon so as to remind the reader the struggles they had while publishing it. Honestly I hated that section so much it brought it down one star for me.

Content Warnings

catsteaandabook's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

TW: rape, domestic violence

If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English follows a wealthy Egyptian-American woman and a poor Egyptian man. She moves to Egypt to be an English teacher and struggles with being seen as merely “American” and not “Egyptian” as she struggles with Arabic and does not conform to much of Egyptian culture. He is a native and struggles with money and a cocaine addiction. He was sexist. She was classist. (Can I make it any more obvious?)

If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English is a masterclass in nuance. At the beginning of the book I thought it was going to be a romance. I quickly realized it is not. Noor/The American is very privileged and this is apparent through her actions. Simultaneously, she is the boy from Shobrakheit’s victim. The boy from Shobrakheit is at times sympathetic. I can empathize with his addiction and money struggles, but at the same time, he is sexist and abusive. His thoughts are very reminiscent of incel rhetoric. He throws objects at Noor and seemingly rapes her. (The way it is written makes it not entirely clear.) Noor recognizes this but still cares for him, and much of the book is her reckoning with this. Also, while their sins are obviously not equatable, the boy from Shobrakheit also reckons with caring for Noor while she does not understand his struggles.

The ending was brilliant and brought my review from 4.5 to 5. Incredibly meta, the third and final part of the book takes place in a writing class where Noor is presenting If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English to the class as her memoir and her classmates are discussing what they liked and disliked and how it could be better. The class spoke some of my own thoughts and helped me parce through them while also bringing up points I hadn’t thought of. It was a creative and very enjoyable ending.

Content Warnings

ameliasbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark informative reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Experimental in the way I like. Interesting insights into Egyptian society and also into what it means to be an expat and returning to a country or visiting the country of your ancestors for the first time. Who are you as a person, what makes you and where do feel like you belong?
It checks on your viewpoints and prejudices.
Not sure about part three, but I can see, what it was trying to do.

Content Warnings

kaanda's review

Go to review page

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Easily one of the best books I’ve ever read. The experimental elements add rather than take away from the understanding and content. The two perspectives are beautifully built and explored. Loved it completely!

Content Warnings

bluesandbooks's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Have never read anything like this before so beautiful written and thought-provoking

Content Warnings

isabelh0410's review

Go to review page

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I was not expecting to read this book so quickly. Its format was different - three parts: 1) a question posed at the top of the page and answered in a page or two by two alternating perspectives, 2) a short story format, and 3) a play script of writing students discussing the two previous parts as a memoir. I am amazed at what Naga was able to accomplish in these few pages. I'm having trouble articulating my thoughts on it. The complexities of language barriers, imposter syndrome, sexism, drug addiction, and the fabrication of lies all rear their terrible heads. This novel is a great embodiment of cultural clashes. I don't think I've ever been this turned off by two characters and yet be so invested in their stories. These characters are not lovable, perhaps not even likable, yet they are compelling because they feel tangible and real. They could be and are the readers, forcing us to consider our own ugly flaws.

"I have the kind of skin lazy white writers refer to with food: honey, latte, almond, cinnamon, caramel, et cetera."

Content Warnings