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Review
'Captures the intoxicating romance of the weeks when anything seemed possible. Soueif writes with verve and passion, offering the authentic voice of the liberal Egyptian who risked everything because she wanted her country to have freedom and democracy' ----Daily Telegraph
'Conveys what it felt like to be in Tahrir Square, to face the police on the Nile bridges, to stumble into makeshift hospitals filled with bloodied youths. [Ahdaf Soueif] has an eye for ephemera at the edge of a vast stage. The reader gets a visceral sense of the dislocation the revolutionaries felt in their own city ... In years to come it will be a reminder to liberals - now once again in the opposition following the recent election victory of Egypt's Islamists - of their most glorious hour. It should serve as a heartening reminder of what they are capable of achieving when united and courageous' ----The Economist
'Bursts of lyricism, poetry and love illuminate the factual account and political commentary, and it works beautifully ... The immediacy is palpable. Read this book' ----Louisa Young, Independent
'There are many records of the Egyptian revolution, but Cairo takes us on a more intimate journey; one that goes far beyond the 18 days of Tahrir Square ... [Ahdaf Soueif] speaks of her own story but also speaks for thousands, perhaps even millions of other Cairenes ... Compelling' ----Guardian
'Soueif is a political analyst and commentator of the best kind' ----London Review of Books
'Conveys what it felt like to be in Tahrir Square, to face the police on the Nile bridges, to stumble into makeshift hospitals filled with bloodied youths. [Ahdaf Soueif] has an eye for ephemera at the edge of a vast stage. The reader gets a visceral sense of the dislocation the revolutionaries felt in their own city ... In years to come it will be a reminder to liberals - now once again in the opposition following the recent election victory of Egypt's Islamists - of their most glorious hour. It should serve as a heartening reminder of what they are capable of achieving when united and courageous' ----The Economist
'Bursts of lyricism, poetry and love illuminate the factual account and political commentary, and it works beautifully ... The immediacy is palpable. Read this book' ----Louisa Young, Independent
'There are many records of the Egyptian revolution, but Cairo takes us on a more intimate journey; one that goes far beyond the 18 days of Tahrir Square ... [Ahdaf Soueif] speaks of her own story but also speaks for thousands, perhaps even millions of other Cairenes ... Compelling' ----Guardian
'Soueif is a political analyst and commentator of the best kind' ----London Review of Books
Review
Captures the intoxicating romance of the weeks when anything seemed possible. Soueif writes with verve and passion, offering the authentic voice of the liberal Egyptian who risked everything because she wanted her country to have freedom and democracy Daily Telegraph Conveys what it felt like to be in Tahrir Square, to face the police on the Nile bridges, to stumble into makeshift hospitals filled with bloodied youths. [Ahdaf Soueif] has an eye for ephemera at the edge of a vast stage. The reader gets a visceral sense of the dislocation the revolutionaries felt in their own city ... In years to come it will be a reminder to liberals - now once again in the opposition following the recent election victory of Egypt's Islamists - of their most glorious hour. It should serve as a heartening reminder of what they are capable of achieving when united and courageous The Economist Bursts of lyricism, poetry and love illuminate the factual account and political commentary, and it works beautifully ... The immediacy is palpable. Read this book -- Louisa Young Independent There are many records of the Egyptian revolution, but Cairo takes us on a more intimate journey; one that goes far beyond the 18 days of Tahrir Square ... [Ahdaf Soueif] speaks of her own story but also speaks for thousands, perhaps even millions of other Cairenes ... Compelling Guardian 'Soueif is a political analyst and commentator of the best kind' London Review of Books
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is one of the first books written on the Egyptian "Lotus" Revolution; the writer has done an amazing job in writing; part autobiography and part a narration of the events; starting from January 28th, she actually narrates quickly the previous few days; but starting from January 28th 2011 she is an active eye-witness; participant in the events through beginning of November 2011; the style is quite good; the events are documented with clear references to their sources. Overall a must read for any person interested in getting a first hand view of the Lotus Revolution.
N.B. Some of the syntax used and some of the expressions; would need further explanation if the reader is not familiar with Arabic, Egyptian dialect.
A very easy read and quite eye-opening with much insight.
N.B. Some of the syntax used and some of the expressions; would need further explanation if the reader is not familiar with Arabic, Egyptian dialect.
A very easy read and quite eye-opening with much insight.
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
"What can we do? If we could take off this uniform we'd join you!" says one young soldier as he kindly lets Ahdaf Soueif and two neices past their cordon when they get stuck on 6 October Bridge in the centre of Cairo. Tear gas swirls all around and they can hardly see through streaming eyes.
That was January 28th 2011, perhaps the key day of the revolution, when Mubarak's National Democratic hq was set on fire, and it captures the feeling of sheer frustration in Egypt brought about by his regime: many people really on the same side, yet divided by despotism.
The moment also captures the once Booker shortlisted novelist's just-get-out-there approach to the revolution, on which she reported for the Guardian and gave regular broadcast interviews. The best parts of the book, which covers the 18 days of the revolution up to Mubarak's fall, have this down to earth eye-witness style, often "pulling in shallow burning breaths" as she finds hospitals blockaded (where doctors inside refuse to offer proper autopsies so shootings go unreported), and enters terrifying alleyways in which hired thugs hurl stones from rooftops.
The book has a large section in the middle that flashes ahead to October of 2011, when there was further trouble with the security services, which to me breaks the pace, and should have been put at the end, with the structure of the whole book altered.
But it's a gripping, insightful story with some vivid phrases and front-line scenes.
That was January 28th 2011, perhaps the key day of the revolution, when Mubarak's National Democratic hq was set on fire, and it captures the feeling of sheer frustration in Egypt brought about by his regime: many people really on the same side, yet divided by despotism.
The moment also captures the once Booker shortlisted novelist's just-get-out-there approach to the revolution, on which she reported for the Guardian and gave regular broadcast interviews. The best parts of the book, which covers the 18 days of the revolution up to Mubarak's fall, have this down to earth eye-witness style, often "pulling in shallow burning breaths" as she finds hospitals blockaded (where doctors inside refuse to offer proper autopsies so shootings go unreported), and enters terrifying alleyways in which hired thugs hurl stones from rooftops.
The book has a large section in the middle that flashes ahead to October of 2011, when there was further trouble with the security services, which to me breaks the pace, and should have been put at the end, with the structure of the whole book altered.
But it's a gripping, insightful story with some vivid phrases and front-line scenes.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Amazing Book, Realistic Narrative Jan-Nov 2011
30 Jan 2012
Format:Hardcover
This is one of the first books written on the Egyptian "Lotus" Revolution; the writer has done an amazing job in writing; part autobiography and part a narration of the events; starting from January 28th, she actually narrates quickly the previous few days; but starting from January 28th 2011 she is an active eye-witness; participant in the events through beginning of November 2011; the style is quite good; the events are documented with clear references to their sources. Overall a must read for any person interested in getting a first hand view of the Lotus Revolution.
N.B. Some of the syntax used and some of the expressions; would need further explanation if the reader is not familiar with Arabic, Egyptian dialect.
A very easy read and quite eye-opening with much insight.
Cairo
N.B. Some of the syntax used and some of the expressions; would need further explanation if the reader is not familiar with Arabic, Egyptian dialect.
A very easy read and quite eye-opening with much insight.
Cairo
A must read for anyone who wants to learn about the facts on the ground
15 Mar 2012
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
As usual, Soueif fills a void that was in need to be be addressed. With the position of Egypt in both the Middle East and World politics, reactions to the revolution varied from one end of the spectrum to the other and questions abound. As time goes by, more and more analysis is published, but sadly more often than none, it is the analysis of people who were never on the ground and don't have an insider understanding of the factors and issues at play.
For the world to have a better understanding of the actions that led to this revolution, the pains and suffering the Egyptian people had endured for over 30 years and the diplomatic, political, economic and social ailments this regime had created, reading this book is a must to gain a rational intelectual insider record. It also offers an account of the crimes, legal and physical, the military has committed within the last year.
I highly recommend it
For the world to have a better understanding of the actions that led to this revolution, the pains and suffering the Egyptian people had endured for over 30 years and the diplomatic, political, economic and social ailments this regime had created, reading this book is a must to gain a rational intelectual insider record. It also offers an account of the crimes, legal and physical, the military has committed within the last year.
I highly recommend it
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