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Article: Book Review: Chicago: Egyptians blow into windy city
- Article from:
- Scotland on Sunday
- Article date:
- August 31, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2008 Scotland on Sunday. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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CHICAGO by Alaa Al Aswany
Fourth Estate, GBP 14.99
SET in Cairo, Alaa Al Aswany's debut novel The Yacoubian
Building, depicting modern Egyptian society, came to the eyes of
western readers with the shock both of recognition and surprise. It
depicted a city peopled with bright, familiar characters. Yet it
surprised with its frank exposure of corruption, decadence,
prejudice and greed.
Now shifting his focus to America, Al Aswany features his
countrymen and women living as emigres, seeking betterment in a
nation which some have embraced as their promised land, and which
others despise.
We are shown America and Americans, together with modern Egypt
and modern Egyptians, through the ...