The Yacoubian Building

A Novel

"A bewitching political novel of contemporary Cairo that is also an engagé novel about sex, a romantic novel about power and a comic yet sympathetic novel about the vagaries of the human heart. Even the least politically oriented reader will find it engrossing." — New York Times Book Review

These disparate lives careen toward an explosive conclusion in Alaa Al Aswany's remarkable international bestseller. Teeming with frank sexuality and heartfelt compassion, this book is an important window on to the experience of loss and love in the Arab world.

All manner of flawed and fragile humanity reside in the Yacoubian Building, a once-elegant temple of Art Deco splendor now slowly decaying in the smog and bustle of downtown Cairo: a fading aristocrat and self-proclaimed "scientist of women"; a sultry, voluptuous siren; a devout young student, feeling the irresistible pull toward fundamentalism; a newspaper editor helplessly in love with a policeman; a corrupt and corpulent politician, twisting the Koran to justify his desires.

Listened to in two sittings

Great story and performance. Story was easy to follow and kept me entertained. Was fairly easy listen as I was able to multitask without having to concentrate or rewind. Quite sad in places but overall a great listen.

Worthwhile

Great detail and descriptions. Heartwrenching and depressing portrait of Cairo in the 1990s. Took a little while to get into it but then I was
very into it.