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A review by sarahe
Chicago by Alaa Al Aswany
2.0
More Egyptians behaving badly, but this time away from home. This is really quite bad, with the most appalling stiff dialogue and laughably unrealistic situations - and it's not really set in Chicago, but in some parallel universe where they also make Egyptian soap operas.
I liked [b:The Yacoubian Building|128711|The Yacoubian Building|Alaa Al Aswany|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348797639s/128711.jpg|563704], despite it having all the same issues, and like that one, this has some redeeming quality in the extreme humanity that underlies it. All of these horrible people are allowed their faults, not because of any traumatic backstory that excuses them, but just because people do terrible things and that's how it is. On the other hand, it's misogynist, and has some weird ideas about race relations in America.
And as with The Yacoubian Building, but we're not as engaged with them this time. I feel these interlocked stories could be pretty interesting if toned down considerably... .... ok, yes, land of opportunity if you're willing to prostitute yourself, but come on, man.
Anyway, kind of interesting for the Egyptian view(s) of America, but also excruciating.
I liked [b:The Yacoubian Building|128711|The Yacoubian Building|Alaa Al Aswany|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348797639s/128711.jpg|563704], despite it having all the same issues, and like that one, this has some redeeming quality in the extreme humanity that underlies it. All of these horrible people are allowed their faults, not because of any traumatic backstory that excuses them, but just because people do terrible things and that's how it is. On the other hand, it's misogynist, and has some weird ideas about race relations in America.
And as with The Yacoubian Building,
Spoiler
only one unlikely couple emerges from the chaos intact and hopefulSpoiler
seriously, an educated black woman in Chicago can find no job at all, not even dog walking (the worst of all possible jobs, apparently, to Al Aswany) 'because she's black', but then despite having an average figure, gets taken up as a lingerie model (for a gig which conveniently doesn't show her head and therefore she can hide it from her partner) and then foot model and paid $1000 an hour which solves all her problems (for a while)Anyway, kind of interesting for the Egyptian view(s) of America, but also excruciating.