Reviews

‫قصر الشوق‬ by Naguib Mahfouz

ripghostdad's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

sidharthvardhan's review against another edition

4.0

It pales out when compared to the first volume of the trilogy. The narrator spends far lesser time with the female characters. And the three male characters are all obsessed with desire (love or lust as the case may be). There are some beautiful lines all around though the only point of interest is Kamal's troubles as he discovers Darwin's evolution theory and struggles to find a place for his religious beliefs. Kamal is author's alter ego and Mahfouz did go through a similar crisis (which gave birth to 'Children of Alley') upon discovery that Darwin's discoveries didn't agree with Islamic theory about how the world was created.

ceegee's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

Not quite as good as the first in the series, but that could be because I found one character’s sections impossible to parse. Still, a great generational story with fascinating characters and excellent prose. 

paradaisboi's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

msewidan's review against another edition

5.0

غريب حالة النفاق اللى عايش فيها اغلب شخصيات الرواية
يذنبون كل الذنوب وكلامهم لا يخلو من ذكر الله

emmc's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

alexniehans's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

krobart's review against another edition

2.0

See my review here:

https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2021/03/23/review-1634-palace-of-desire/

xanadu_'s review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

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

4.5

gforbes4565's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75