Constructed as a series of vignettes about characters whose fates will soon converge, a stylistic device highly popular in todays hollywood, egyptian author alaa al aswany s arabic bestseller the yacoubian building brings to life a seedy and despicable cairo where only the corrupted and the corruptible can fare well. The yacoubian building is the sort of dense neighbourhood novel which, though quite out of style when set in london or. The first edition of the yacoubian building 2002 sold out within four weeks, and the novel became the arab worlds no 1 bestseller for five. Alaa alaswany is the bestselling author of three previous books published in arabic. Alaa al aswany is the internationally bestselling author of the yacoubian building and chicago. Alaa al aswany, the yacoubian building, fourth estate, 2007 alaa al aswany, the yacoubian building, humphrey davies translator, harperperennial, 2006 alaa al aswany, the yacoubian building, humphrey davies translator, the american university in cairo press, 2004.
An interview with alaa alaswany washington independent. The yacoubian building by egyptian novelist alaa al aswany has become an international literary phenomenon. By alaa al aswany, the american university in cairo press, 2004, 245 pp. The yacoubian building by alaa alaswany 2006 by janine jones alaa alaswanys novel the yacoubian building 2002, arabic tells the story of a group of people loosely bound together by dint of living in the same crumbling building a real place in downtown cairo. Arabic literature the yacoubian building essay 2203 words. The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany book quote. Omaret yakobean still succeeds as an uncommonly bold meditation on many controversial, clandestine aspects of modern egyptian life.
Pdf the yacoubian building book by alaa al aswany free. Reading literature about a particular city gives you insight into the mores and character of that community. Alaa al aswanys empathy and perceptive detail in this novel about the inhabitants of a cairo apartment building yield a credible evocation of. James buchan applauds alaa al aswanys arabic bestseller about sex and power, the yacoubian building. But bleak and flawed as it is, the yacoubian building a. Most politicians criticized the book extensively, and asked for it to be banned, allegedly because it was giving the country a bad name spotlight. It is about the books i love, the books i have read and. From the pious son of the building s doorkeeper and the raucous, impoverished squatters on it. The yacoubian building by egyptian novelist alaa al aswany has become an international. A novel paperback august 1, 2006 by alaa al aswany author 4. This country doesnt belong to usit belongs to the people who have money. The main characters of this fiction, northern africa story are. Constructed as a series of vignettes about characters whose fates will soon converge, a stylistic device highly popular in todays hollywood, egyptian author alaa al aswanys arabic bestseller the yacoubian building brings to life a seedy and despicable cairo where only the corrupted and the corruptible can fare well.
The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany overdrive rakuten. 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. An actual downtown cairo landmark called the yacoubian building is the books unifying element, housing all strata of egyptian society. Voice of reason interview with the author, national geographic interactive, nd. Imarat yaqubya n is a novel by egyptian author alaaalaswan y. The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany books the. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1. The pacing takes some delightful cues from that of egyptian soap operas with a small cliffhanger at the end of each part. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 256 pages and is available in paperback format. Yacoubian building houses uncomfortable truths the controversial, bestselling egyptian novel the yacoubian building describes a country that is corrupt, unfair and thuggish. This has given al aswany the opportunity to develop many interesting characters. Jan 26, 2007 the yacoubian building by egyptian novelist alaa al aswany has become an international literary phenomenon. Its a sort of reverse upstairs, downstairs building, with the more wealthy living in multi room apartments on one of the ten floors, while the poor live in small tin huts on the roof. Dec 14, 2007 so the first thing you want to know about the yacoubian building is.
In yacoubian building, a richly layered tale of life in. The yacoubian building is a novel about modernday cairo, using the residents of the building as a broad crosssection of egyptian society. The yacoubian building in cairo, has seen better days. The residents of the yacoubian building hardly talk to each other, separated by the walls of the building. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Alaa al aswanys novel the yacoubian building describes a beautiful building, combining french and greek architecture in grandiose statues and balconies, in the novel we follow the lives of those who live and work together in a building of the same name. Alaa al aswany engraved his mark in history by scornfully depicting the current egyptian history.
The yacoubian building, an actual landmark in cairo, is a building where the rich and poor of egyptian society can be found living or working. Feb 22, 2005 yacoubian building houses uncomfortable truths the controversial, bestselling egyptian novel the yacoubian building describes a country that is corrupt, unfair and thuggish. A journalist who writes a controversial opposition column, al aswany makes his living as a dentist in cairo. A dentist whose first office was in the yacoubian building, al aswany has written prolifically for egyptian newspapers across the political spectrum on literature, politics, and social issues. The yacoubian building is a novel by egyptian author alaaalaswany.
I found the novel both well written and structured. The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany goodreads. The following are excerpts from the yacoubian building by egyptian author alaa al aswany. This is true of alaa al aswany s novel from 2002, the yacoubian building imarat yaqubyan. Buy the yacoubian building reprint by aswany, alaa al, davies, humphrey isbn. A dentist whose first office was in the yacoubian building, he has written prolifically for egyptian newspapers across the political spectrum on literature, politics and social issues. The yacoubian building has topped the bestseller lists for over two years, been adapted for the.
A novel and join the genius community of scholars to learn the meaning behind the words. Free download or read online the yacoubian building pdf epub book. The boo k was made into a film of the same name in 2006 and into a tv series in 2007. The yacoubian building the yacoubian building by al aswany, alaa authoraug012006 paperback inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 30% off your first box. The yacoubian building, an immense scandal when first published because of its sexual frankness, has topped bestseller lists for two years and is now a film with a hollywoodsize budget. The book focuses mainly on the residents of the yacoubian. Poor cairenes like busanya and taha live on the roof, while rich cairenes like hatim rasheed, the homosexual editor of a popular french newspaper, live in the building. If youd had twenty thousand pounds and used them to bribe someone, do you think any one would have asked about your fathers job. The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany, humphrey t. Epic in every sense of the word, this drama directed by firsttime feature filmmaker marwan hamed springs from a bestselling novel by alaa al aswany, adapted by veteran screenwriter wahid hamed the. The yacoubian building of the title is a microcosm of much of cairo, and in telling the stories of various of its denizens alaa al aswany offers a colourful picture of contemporary egypt. Set in the late 20th century egypt, after the egyptian revolution of 1952, the yacoubian building started filling up with people from egypts lower class, while some others from the upper and middle classes stayed put. Alaswany, who is also author of the yacoubian building the bestselling book in the arab world for five years has received numerous international awards and was named by the london times as one of the best 50 authors translated into english in the last 50 years.
Interview with director and star of the yacoubian building duration. It would be difficult to overestimate the impact that alaa al aswany s novel has had in egypt. This controversial bestselling novel in the arab world re. A fading aristocrat and selfproclaimed scientist of women. A journalist who writes a controversial opposition column, al.
His first major novel was the yacoubian building, published in arabic in 2002. The yacoubian building, by alaa al aswany, trans humphrey. The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany, humphrey davies. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Buy the yacoubian building by alaa al aswany, humphrey davies from waterstones today. Alaa al aswanys the yacoubian building translated by humphrey davies. All live in the yacoubian building, a onceelegant temple of art deco splendor slowly decaying in the smog and hubbub of downtown cairo, egypt. Set in an actual building in downtown cairo, the controversial bestseller weaves. The yacoubian building by alaa alaswany 2006 not even. Imarat yaqubyan is a novel by egyptian author alaaalaswany. The first edition of the novel was published in 2002, and was written by alaa al aswany. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the yacoubian building.
From the pious son of the buildings doorkeeper and the raucous, impoverished squatters on it. Through their various exploits, we learn about businessmen, politics, closet homosexuality, students, entrepeneurs and families living hand to. Aug 27, 2006 alaa al aswanys empathy and perceptive detail in this novel about the inhabitants of a cairo apartment building yield a credible evocation of the making of a terrorist. It would be difficult to overestimate the impact that alaa al aswanys novel has had in egypt. Humphrey davies earned his doctorate in near eastern studies from the university of california, berkeley. August book sense picka fading aristocrat and selfproclaimed scientist of women. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. The first edition of the yacoubian building 2002 sold out within four weeks, and the novel. A rare and penetrating look into modern egyptian society can be found in alaa al aswanys novel, the yacoubian building. Reviewed by amie daraves a rare and penetrating look into modern egyptian society can be found in alaa al aswanys novel, the yacoubian building.
The yacoubian building provides a glimpse into the complicated lives of residents of an egyptian building. Alaa al aswanys the yacoubian building qbc kicked off 20 by doing something a little closer to asia. The yacoubian building holds all that egypt was and has become over the 75 years since its namesake was built on one of downtown cairos main boulevards. The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany overdrive. 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 alaswany, bestselling egyptian novelist known especially for his social. Al aswany uses a building as the organizing principle of this well populated book. In the course of this unforgettable novel, these disparate lives converge, careening inexorably toward an explosive conclusion. Oct 29, 2015 alaa al aswany is the internationally bestselling author of the yacoubian building and chicago. Aswany brings those who live and work there vibrantly alive. Where alaa al aswany is writing from, new york times magazine, 27 april 2008.
A young shopgirl enduring the clammy touch of her boss and hating herself for accepting the modest banknotes he tucks into her pocket afterward. Aug 14, 2012 the yacoubian building by alaa alaswany 2006 by janine jones alaa alaswanys novel the yacoubian building 2002, arabic tells the story of a group of people loosely bound together by dint of living in the same crumbling building a real place in downtown cairo. 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. The paperback of the the yacoubian building by alaa al aswany, humphrey t. The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany librarything. Published in arabic in 2002 and in an english translation in 2004, the boo k. The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany books library. The yacoubian building is fastmoving and actionpacked, with drama in every scene and shifts between the different strands used to provide tension. As yacoubian building heads west, the author discusses the storys message, daily star egypt, 8 december. This is true of alaa al aswanys novel from 2002, the yacoubian building imarat yaqubyan. Through their various exploits, we learn about businessmen, politics, closet homosexuality, students, entrepeneurs and families living hand to mouth. Each character inhabits a different part of the building and lives a different thread of the story. Set in an actual building in downtown cairo, the controversial bestseller weaves together the lives of several characters to create a. The book was made into a film of the same name in 2006 and into a tv series in 2007.
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