The Harafish

Rating:
Summary: Like a fairy tale from childhood
Review: Mahfouz is not well knowin America, but should be. The Harafish is the epic novel of the al-Nagi family who rules a particular alley in Egypt over multiple generations. (The "harafish" refers to the common people of that same alley). The book's chapters each encompass a generation of leadership by some descendant of the original Ashur as-Nagi, a gentle and pure physical giant, filled with pious and spirit-filled humility. His off-spring, and theirs as well, vary widely in their emulation of this great man and their stories are fascinating and quite unique. Each story's characters are vividly painted for the reader and all of the generations their good guys and bad guys. The entire book will captivate the reader and the simplicity of the read will remind you of books you read in childhood. However, the story themes are not to be thought of as childish- but rather as timeless and transcultural. Greed, piety, fidelity, cunning, love, lust, faith, and compassion all rolled together in an easily read documentary of one family's influence on many. An absolute joy to read. Mahfouz is one of my favorites!

Rating:
Summary: Like a fairy tale from childhood
Review: Mahfouz is not well knowin America, but should be. The Harafish is the epic novel of the al-Nagi family who rules a particular alley in Egypt over multiple generations. (The "harafish" refers to the common people of that same alley). The book's chapters each encompass a generation of leadership by some descendant of the original Ashur as-Nagi, a gentle and pure physical giant, filled with pious and spirit-filled humility. His off-spring, and theirs as well, vary widely in their emulation of this great man and their stories are fascinating and quite unique. Each story's characters are vividly painted for the reader and all of the generations their good guys and bad guys. The entire book will captivate the reader and the simplicity of the read will remind you of books you read in childhood. However, the story themes are not to be thought of as childish- but rather as timeless and transcultural. Greed, piety, fidelity, cunning, love, lust, faith, and compassion all rolled together in an easily read documentary of one family's influence on many. An absolute joy to read. Mahfouz is one of my favorites!

Rating:
Summary: A brillinat story of alley generations.
Review: The rise and fall of generations in an Egyptian alley is the focus of Mahfouz's great parable. The story covers many themes, and evokes much thought while remaining extremely interesting. Arabic writing is great fun to read, and Mahfouz's story telling skills generate curiosity and a need to check out his other works.

Rating:
Summary: A brillinat story of alley generations.
Review: The rise and fall of generations in an Egyptian alley is the focus of Mahfouz's great parable. The story covers many themes, and evokes much thought while remaining extremely interesting. Arabic writing is great fun to read, and Mahfouz's story telling skills generate curiosity and a need to check out his other works.

Rating:
Summary: an illuminating book
Review: The story style was new to me and at first I had trouble getting used to the pace and the simple (almost childlike, unsophisticated) writing. But, you soon realize that the author is a very intelligent and perspicacious person and continually surprises you with his analysis of human beings. I was particularly struck by the manner in which he picked the defining character trait of each person and skillfully built the chapter around it. I was also impressed by the aptness and beauty of his metaphors. As I kept reading about successive generations, I began to wonder how I would end such a narrative and I couldn't come to any satisfactory conclusion. So when I reached Mr. Mahfouz's ending, I was suitably floored. In all, a very beautifully structured and written story.

Rating:
Summary: A weaving epic of a family and a village
Review: This is the tale of an extended clan, and the extended clans around them, in an Egyptian "alley." The book completely draws the reader into the desert setting, which somehow transforms everything by way of prickly heat... families, rulers, poets, princes, and the main characters themselves, all rise and fall, coming and going, eternally shape-shifting, like the sands. This is a family story, and an epic, set among the village poor. The Harafish is an excellent introduction to the literary tradition of Egypt and the Arab world; for another example of excellent fiction from an Arabic culture, though a bit less traditional and more political, try reading something by Saudi expatriate Abdelrahman Munif.

Rating:
Summary: A weaving epic of a family and a village
Review: This is the tale of an extended clan, and the extended clans around them, in an Egyptian "alley." The book completely draws the reader into the desert setting, which somehow transforms everything by way of prickly heat... families, rulers, poets, princes, and the main characters themselves, all rise and fall, coming and going, eternally shape-shifting, like the sands. This is a family story, and an epic, set among the village poor. The Harafish is an excellent introduction to the literary tradition of Egypt and the Arab world; for another example of excellent fiction from an Arabic culture, though a bit less traditional and more political, try reading something by Saudi expatriate Abdelrahman Munif.