Trained as a dentist in egypt and chicago, it took him 9 years to earn his. Jan 04, 2009 alaa al aswany, a dentist and opposition journalist in cairo, broke onto the literary scene in 2002 with the yacoubian building, a novel whose frank depiction of sexuality in contemporary. He cites kareem amer, serving four years in jail for a blog deemed insulting to. An interview with alaa alaswany washington independent.
In 2007, the yacoubian building was made into a television series of the same name. Using a conversational and unpretentious style to create characters that the reader comes to care about, alaa al aswany shows his characters home life in the yacoubian building, hisher dreams and goals, the nature of life in the city at large, and the impediments to success. A modern arabic novelby alaa al aswanytranslated by farouk abdel. From alaa al aswany, the author of the highlyacclaimed the yacoubian building, comes a story of love, sex, friendship, hatred, and ambition set in the midwestern city with a cast of american and arab characters achingly human in their desires and needs. In this book, alaa al aswany seems to be responding to what some people have called the american dream which appears in the novel to be, in fact, an american nightmare. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the yacoubian building.
Chicago alaa al aswany paperback harpercollins publishers. The locale of the novel is university of illinois at chicago where the writer did his postgraduate studies. When egyptian author alaa al aswanys first novel the yacoubian. Discover book depositorys huge selection of alaa aswany books online. With an ensemble performance that recalls his most famous book, the yacoubian building, aswany shows a society at the boiling point. Before launching into a note of praise for egyptian author alaa al aswany s second novel chicago translated into english by farouk abdel wahab, permit me to quote some witnesses for the prosecution. Sep 07, 2008 alaa al aswany is definitely, defiantly, a storyteller. Alaa al aswany has 34 books on goodreads with 76584 ratings. Oct 07, 2008 in al aswanys followup to the yacoubian building 2005, egyptian students and professors find scant refuge in post911 chicago originally published in egypt in 2007, and a bestseller in france, the novel was inspired by the authors student days in the windy city. Alaa alaswany claims that during the egyptian revolution of 2011, many protesters approached him and said we are here because of what you wrote. Alaa al aswany is the author of the yacoubian building, which was longlisted for the international impac dublin literary award in 2006 and was the bestselling novel in the arab world for more than five years. Ligaya mishan edits the book bench, the new yorkers books blog.
Chicago by alaa al aswanyalaa al aswany s tale of an egyptian migrant community in chicago asks timely questions but is marred by its crude representation of america says william skidelsky. Alaa alaswany is an egyptian writer, and a founding member of the political movement kefaya. Friendly fire is a novella and collection of short stories from alaa al aswany, author of the bestselling the yacoubian building. A journalist who writes a controversial opposition column, al. As it happens, chicago is a story of egyptians in chicago, and much of it. Shikagu is a novel by egyptian author alaaalaswany. Having read the yacoubian building, i was interest in this new book and i think that it is good to read chicago. First of all it was amazing reading about the historical context of post 911 americ.
Its a long way from cairos tahrir square, the nexus of egypts 20 democratic uprising, to new york states hudson valley, but alaa alaswany has made many such jumps of distance, time, and culture in the past three decades, just as he manages to follow, simultaneously, two very different vocations. Give yourself the gift of knowledge subscribe to big think edge. Do they continue to live safely with a boot on their neck, or do they risk what little they have for the right to live freely without fear. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Alaa al aswany speaks about that historical episode blogger. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. Shop amongst our popular books, including, the yacoubian building, return of the spirit and more from alaa al aswany. Each week, aswany tries to introduce a book or a new writer. Mar 08, 2011 alaa al aswany speaks about that historical episode dr. The novel is about the conflict between politics, sex and money. Oct 29, 2015 the yacoubian building by alaa al aswany in chm, epub, fb3 download e book. His remarkable gift for narrative momentum sustains chicago. Alaa alaswany during his monthly seminar in the leadership and management development center on 25 april 20.
In chicago alaa al aswany presents the crisscrossing stories of a number of egyptians abroad, clustered around the department of histology at the the university of illinois medical school. I very liked how the crash and mix of the american. Published in arabic in 2007 and in an english translation in 2007. Published in arabic in and in an english translation in the locale. If youre interested in licensing this or any other big think c. Feb 15, 2011 discover book depositorys huge selection of alaa aswany books online. In this book, alaa al aswany seems to be responding to what some people have. Based in egypt, and writing in arabic al aswany uses chicago to tell the story of how several different characters adjust to their new life in chicago having left cairo to pursue their medical career.
Sex, money and politics are the driving forces of society in this new novel from bestselling author alaa al aswany. From alaa al aswany, the author of the highlyacclaimed the yacoubian building, comes a story. The egyptian novelist gamal alghitani praised the book as having enriched the art. A while ago, one of work mates was telling me he wished to travel to america where all dreams come true and all the impossible can be rendered possible. Apr 23, 2012 give yourself the gift of knowledge subscribe to big think edge. Alaaal aswany finally publishes cars club started in 2008, inspired by hearing the story of the invention of the car on a visit to a famous car club in germany. Al aswany, born in 1957, originally trained as a dentist, and still has his own.
Alaa al aswany, a dentist and opposition journalist in cairo, broke onto. The yacoubian building is fastmoving and actionpacked, with drama in every scene and shifts between the different strands used to provide tension. Shikagu is a novel by egyptian author alaa al aswany. The egyptian novelist gamal al ghitani praised the book as having enriched the art. Egypts alaswany launches historical novel set under british colonialism renowned egyptian novelist alaa alaswany intrigued fans at the cairo opera house at. Tragicomic, passionate, shockingly frank in its sexuality, and brimming with an extraordinary, embracing human compassion, the yacoubian building is a literary achievement of the first order.
In alaa alaswanys the automobile club of egypt, many of those working in the titular club face a terrible choice. The funniest scene in the book is the encounter between nagi and a prostitute that ends in mutual disappointment. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. When the yacoubian building snared the affection of readers around the world, it gave alaa al aswany a clout in egypt denied to other kinds of dissident. Alaa al aswany is a wellknown egyptian writer whose previous book the yacoubian building was a bestseller.
Alaa al aswany became a contributing opinion writer for the international new york times in the fall of 20. Chicago, a novel set in the city in which the author was educated, was published in january 2007. Alaa al aswany is the author of the yacoubian building, which was long listed for the international impac dublin literary award in 2006 and was the best selling novel in the arab world for over five years, as well as chicago named by newsday as the best translated novel of 2006 and friendly fire. This is far from the cairo of the yacoubian building, but the book is no. Story is set in the campus of the university of illinois medical center some time after 11th sept. Egypts alaswany launches historical novel set under. As in that novel, al aswany dissects modern egyptian society and, with skill and detachment, reveals the hypocrisy, violence and abuse of power characteristic of a world in moral crisis. Alaa al aswany is among the best writers in the middle east today, a suitable heir to the mantle worn by naguib mahfouz, his great predecessor, whose influence is felt on every page. Buy the yacoubian building reprint by aswany, alaa al, davies, humphrey isbn. Oct 06, 2009 the author of the highly acclaimed the yacoubian building returns with a story of love, sex, friendship, hatred, and ambition set in chicago, with a cast of american and arab characters achingly human in their desires and needs. Whatever their decisions, characters like alku, kamel, mahmud, and mr.
Al aswany seems to see the novelists role as being close to that of a schoolteacher. Alaa al aswany, a dentist and opposition journalist in cairo, broke onto the literary scene in 2002 with the yacoubian building, a novel whose frank depiction of sexuality in contemporary. Alaa al aswany is the internationally bestselling author of the yacoubian building and chicago. Chicago by alaa al aswany same as his, the yacoubian building, this book have a variety of characters from all walks of life. The author of the highly acclaimed the yacoubian building returns with a story of love, sex, friendship, hatred, and ambition set in chicago, with a cast of american and arab characters achingly human in their desires and needs. Chicago, named by newsday as the best translated novel of 2006. Alaa al aswany spoke at al ghad party last thursday telling the whole world exactly what happened at the backstage of this historical episode from his view of course, it is his side of the story. In the course of this unforgettable novel, these disparate lives converge, careening inexorably toward an explosive conclusion. Oct 03, 2008 a laa al aswany, the egyptian novelist, became famous overnight in the arab world with the publication of his first novel, the yacoubian building, in 2002.
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