Reviews

Azazeel by Youssef Ziedan, Jonathan Wright

aindrila's review against another edition

challenging informative mysterious reflective fast-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

nadaesmaeel's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

3.5

grogu_djarin's review

adventurous informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

Overall Thoughts:
This was a fascinating book, I enjoyed the backdrop of early Christianity including some major events and notable historical characters such as Hypatia, Cyril, and Nestorius leading up to the Council of Ephesus and an exploration of cities Alexandria, Jerusalem, and Antioch. This is by far the most interesting part of the book and Ziedan's academic experience in the matter shows. 

That said, quite a lot of that plot is left in the backdrop while the story focuses more on Hypa's hyper-fixation on two different women. Sure, there are elements of the theological debate on topics such as hypostasis, elements Christianity has adopted or shunned from paganism, and politics between the bishops, but Hypa's thoughts are less burdened by this and more from his personal desires. I think this would have been a far more interesting story if it explored his conflicts of faith, but his faith often has a habit of being put on the side for his lusts.

Likes:

• I liked this historical setting especially in the context of historical characters such as Hypatia, Cyril, and Nestorius and historical cities like Alexandria, Jerusalem, and Antioch. Each location felt different and I liked the contrast.

Dislikes:

• The book focuses far too much on Hypa's hyper-fixation with women to the point it felt more like the focus of the plot while the theological debate is given less attention and serves as more of a backdrop. 
• While it covers a lot of history, it didn't feel to me that a lot happened in the story, partly due to Hypa acting as more of an observer in events and retelling them in the scrolls he's writing years later. It felt more like a summary of events than anything else. 
• The author had a habit of sidetracking the writing with needless descriptions, including things such as the exact dimensions and layouts of certain rooms. 
• The book uses modern names for cities unless the cities no longer exist or are notable in their classical names which leads to an odd mish-mash of locations that make it feel semi-modern despite the historical period. 

Other Notes:

• There's several graphic sex scenes so keep that in mind if that's to your taste or not.

Would Recommend To:

• Anyone interested in historical fiction, especially one which explores the early history of Christianity.

Do Not Recommend To:

• People uninterested in historical fiction or Christianity and anyone who does not like reading about sex.

kamckim's review against another edition

5.0

Wow. This is probably one of the most engaging pieces of literary fiction I've read in quite a while. It's the next choice for the IAA parent book club. It took me forever to get a copy in English. None were available in Jordan last Spring, so I ordered via Amazon when I was home over the summer. It arrived the day after we flew back, so my mom finally had to send it to me via Aramex (along with my much-anticipated Lilly Pulitzer Jumbo Agenda). Back to the book, Ziedan writes as Hypa, an Egyptian monk in the days of the church between Arius and Nestorius. I'm not sure this is as much fodder for a historical novel, as say, Elizabethan England. What I found fascinating was the way the narrative presents the transition of the early church from paganism to sophistry to various dogmatic schisms in the early church. It's almost anthropological in this regard. But what is clearer is the dualities that play out in Hypa's own life. Hypa views his moral choices as either/or and leaves no room for ambiguity. He constantly dialogues with his own personal devil, Azazeel, who comes to him during times of temptation. So, Hypa's moral dilemmas mirror the Christological dilemmas of the early church. Was Christ both God and man? Was he fully human without being God for a while? Was Mary to be called the Mother of God or Mother of Christ? Would the power in the church be Alexandria, Constantinople, or Rome? In addition to all these questions raised by the novel, there is some great symbolism woven throughout the book regarding ancient stories of flocks of birds landing on various mountains as harbingers of supernatural change. There are also some very sumptuous love scenes, which were almost too much for me to handle, let alone our poor protagonist. It was extremely enlightening to read about the brief history of the Christian church in Alexandria, as it was soon made part of the Arab conquest. Most Muslims I know fully admit that their Christological point of view is influenced by the beliefs of Nestorius, but I find it fascinating that Cyril was able to pull off his religious coup against Nestorius in Northern Africa. One disturbing theme that runs throughout the entire books is Christ's quote. I have come to bring a sword, not peace. It seems Hypa experienced the sword both spiritually and literally-quite the internal and external conflicts. There is so much to catch in this book, it's on my read-it-again pile. I can't wait for our group discussion.

esraa_gibreen's review against another edition

5.0

هذه رواية وعادة هذا لا يحدث في الروايات، لكن، لو ألحق بالكتاب جزء خاص بالمراجع أو القراءات الإضافية لكان أمرا رائعا.

jiyoung's review against another edition

2.0

Do all books about monks have to be so horny? I guess it’s my fault for reading multiple books about monks this year. Religious history is not my thing, but this was an interesting enough look into Egypt’s brief Christian era, especially given the Coptic Church’s vehement rejection of the way Ziedan portrayed their beloved Bishop Cyril. Men jockeying for power over religious dogma were par for the course but the takes on sex and temptation were puerile at best. I’m disappointed I learned about Hypatia for the first time through this book.

maastaar's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad medium-paced

5.0

ayreading's review against another edition

4.0

- تحيا يا هيبا لتكتب، فتظل حياً حتى حين تموت في الموعد، وأظلُّ حياً في كتاباتك.. اكتبْ يا هيبا، فمن يكتب لن يموت أبداً. /عزازيل

julieabe89's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I found this a fascinating look at a man's faith and his questions about what he believes. His self importance was interesting. His willingness to throw himself into sin while blaming everyone but himself was classic. It felt historically accurate even though it was fictional.

ysfarb's review against another edition

عزازيل هي رواية تاريخية او بالأحرى رواية خيالية تاريخية صاحبها يوسف زيدان مصري التي كتبت سنة 2008 وفي سنة 2009 حازت الرواية بجائزة بوكر العربية مع علم في سنة 2012 حازت على جائزة أنوبي البريطانية لأفضل رواية مترجمة إلى اللغة الانجليزية، هل بالفعل تستحق هذه رواية على هذه الجوائز؟ سنرى معا.

تتمحور أحداث الرواية في القرن الخامس الميلادي ما بين صعيد مصر والإسكندرية وشمال سوريا، عقب تبني الإمبراطورية الرومانية للمسيحية، وما تلا ذلك من صراع مذهبي داخلي بين آباء الكنيسة من ناحية، والمؤمنين الجدد والوثنية المتراجعة من جهة أخرى.
تعتبر رواية ترجمة للفائف مكتوبة باللغة السريانية ومنها وضعت في صندوق خشبي ثم دفنت في المنطقة تقع في شمال سوريا، وسؤال هنا؟ على ماذا تحتوي تلك الرقوق؟ ومن هو عزازيل؟ وما علاقته مع البطل للرواية واللفائف؟.
تبدأ القصة عندما غادر البطل منطقة أخميم في صعيد مصر في طريقه إلى الإسكندرية لدراسة اللاهوت و الطب، عند وصله التقى بإمرأة.. هل سيتزوجها البطل ؟ مع علم أنه التقى بهيباتيا الفيلسوفة التي لمعت في تدريس علم الفلك والفلسفة ، ما الذي سيفعله؟..وبعد هذه الاحداث خرج البطل إلى فلسطين للبحث عن أصول للدين واستقراره في أورشاليم ولقائه بالقس الذي أحبه كثيرا وأرسله إلي دير هادئ بالقرب من أنطاكية.
سيحدث للبطل احداث مريبة وكن ماهي هذه الحلقة؟ ،وينهي الرواية بقرار أن يرحل من الدير، أين سيرحل؟وكيف ستنتهي رواية؟.

أتمنى أن يعج رأسكم بأسئلة، هنا تأتي اللغة وطريقة كتابة وسرد الرواية، من خلال تجربتي كانت اللغة العربية الفصحى السليمة وتناولها فترة زمنية غير مطروقة في الأدب العربي، سؤال الذي يطرح نفسه هل رواية احداثها حقيقية أم محض خيال؟ فنجد الكاتب لديه أدوات خاصة تجعلك تصدق أن العمل حقيقي حتى لو كان غير ذلك، لو كان الأمر كذلك، فسنكون قد حصلنا على وثائق تاريخية يجب فحصها وعرضها على لجان متخصصة؛ فهي ستكون ثورة تاريخية لفترة تاريخية مهمة من التاريخ المطمور، أما إذا كان عكس أي من تأليف الكاتب فهذا يبرهن أن عقلية الكاتب خصبة بالخيال تستطيع أن تندمج بالعمل بصورة مباشرة لتكون غير مستعد للابتعاد عن الكتاب بدون إنهائه لدرجة أنك تُصدم...عندما كنت أقرأ الرواية كنت أعيش جميع لحضات بصغيرها و وصفها يجب على القرأء ان يعلمو أن هذه رواية كانت حادثة ضجة كبير في أوساط القراء و نقاد.. ملاحظة رواية صالحة للكبار

تقييم : 5/5