Book Review: The Twenty-Second Day (اليوم الثانى والعشرون) by Mohamed Alaa-El Din

A compelling novel. Mainly a character study of a young Egyptian man at a loss for identity and lacking sexual maturity. It is also a novel about losing yourself in the labyrinth that is modern Egypt. Author Mohamed Alaa-El Din’s (The Idol) style is hypnotic and assured, and his deconstruction of the linear narrative is bold and effective. Recommended.

Book Review: Daughter Faten (الابنة فاتن) by Nai'm Sabry

A good novel, written in clean, spare prose. The plot, about the life of Faten Farouk, a woman who has an absentee father, and how her relationship with him affects her emotionally and psychologically, is masterfully paced. Author Na'im Sabry (The Waves of Autumn) proves once again that he is a master of the Egyptian psycho-sexual novel. Reminiscent of the works of Ihsan Abdel Qodous and Youssef El Seba’y.

Book Review: The Exiles of God by Ashraf El Khamaisy (منافى الرب)

A daring, unique piece of work, filled to the brim with thought-provoking, bound-to-prove-controversial ideas (like obsession with death, fear of life, the enigma of faith, and sensuality as a conduit to spirituality). The prose is smooth, romantic, and hypnotic.

Even if the book is a tad too long, and the non-linear plotting a bit on the disorienting side, this is still a brilliant book, worth discovering. Long-listed for the "Arabic Booker Prize".

Book Review: The Blue Elephant by Ahmed Mourad (الفيل الأزرق)

I have to say I am somewhat puzzled by how successful this novel proved to be over the past year. It is an entertaining book on some levels, but it's also a deeply flawed one.

Badly written, plastic dialogue, superficial characterization, and a poorly constructed plot, consisting mainly of clichés lifted from dozens of American horror films, are some of the flaws that this book suffers from.

It being short-listed for the "Arabic Booker Prize" is mind-boggling!