THE YACOUBIAN BUILDING: Alaa Al Aswany

This book was recommended in a review, as one of the best written books about the Middle East, as well as the most popular. I have to admit I did find it very readable, and it presented an interesting view of the Middle Easterner, perhaps more accurately the Egyptian, though it did not match my view of Muslims from having lived in Istanbul. In this book, the men, even the women, seem obsessed with sex, which I found unrealistic, though I don't really know their culture very well. The novel follows a number of characters, from the aging fop who ends up marrying a widow, to a young student and his childhood girl friend. He eventually gets discouraged from pursuing a a career because of police corruption and nepotism, ends up being recruited by Islamcists, and dies in a failed terrorist attack. She ends up discovering her power over men, uses her sexuality to get a job, eventually marrying the fop, Zeki Bey, who, truth be told, just loves women, enjoys their beauty and treats them well. The other major characters are a rich land owner, unhappy with his wife, who takes up with a needy widow, sets her up with an apartment, but sets clear rules, no children. She becomes pregnant, and in the most violent scene, he sends his lackeys, who beat her, leading to an abortion, and the end of their relationship. The power of the wealthy is clear throughout the novel, and the weakness of the poor. The Yacoubian building brings them all together, as either they live on the roof, the poor student and his girlfriend, or have offices in the building Zeki Bey and the merchants. It paints an unattractive picture of Egyptian politics, corruption, ill gotten wealth, as well as the hypocrisy of the religious fanatics. The redeeming qualities of the book lie in the character of most Egyptians, with only a few exceptions. Most of the characters are interesting and well drawn, and like anywhere else, mostly want love and comfort. Some of willing to kill for it, steal, or use any means available to get what they want. But most are willing to leave it to kismet allowing the drift of circumstance to determine their future. Only the strong seem to realize they can shape their future, and use whatever means available to shape it. The women for the most part are aware of their lack of freedom, and to survive, must use all of their skills to assure a future. The novel is modern in that it tracks four or five different characters, in fairly short, readable chapters. It seems less developed and dense then Palace Walk, NAGUIB MAHFOUZ'S great novel. But, I would recommend it to anyone who wants a fun read, set in the Middle East, with a caveat not to take it as a full representative of the Egyptian. Like anywhere, there are millions of types.