Midaq Alley

Dec 21, 2007 Marissa added it

Egyptian author Naguib Mahfouz has written Many satirical pieces of literature, such as "The Happy Man", and probably his best-known book, "Midaq Alley." This book describes the strange events of a forgotten, traditional alley in modern Cairo, and satire is used to craft characters from human flaws. Such characters are like Hamida, a greedy and vain stepdaughter engaged to
a barber, a businessman, and a pimp.

One interesting thing in the novel was the characterization; the characters' personal...more

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Dec 18, 2007 Brooke rated it 4 of 5 stars

Midaq Alley is written by Naguib Mahfouz, an Egyptian writer who has also written The Cairo Trilogy and Arabian Nights and Days. He has won the Nobel Peace Prize in Literature and is one of the leading Arabic writers, forcing the world to consider Middle Eastern literature seriously. He writes about his homeland, Egypt, and the people that inhabit it. He has been influenced by many Western writers including Flaubert, Zola, Camus, Dostroyevsky, and Proust. This story follows the lives of the inha...more Midaq Alley is written by Naguib Mahfouz, an Egyptian writer who has also written The Cairo Trilogy and Arabian Nights and Days. He has won the Nobel Peace Prize in Literature and is one of the leading Arabic writers, forcing the world to consider Middle Eastern literature seriously. He writes about his homeland, Egypt, and the people that inhabit it. He has been influenced by many Western writers including Flaubert, Zola, Camus, Dostroyevsky, and Proust. This story follows the lives of the inhabitants of a dark sub-division of Egypt named Midaq Alley during World War II. These people weave in and out of scandals and despair, never seeming to break through their discontent. The effect of Westernization affects all of them in some way, and Naguib shows his negative opinion on it and its effects on Cairo. His writing technique is filled with satire, irony, and symbolism. Naguib uses four main themes for each of his characters: love, modernization, greed, and religion. Each character is a satire for at least one of these subjects.
I find the use of satire and symbolism very interesting in the book. Through events like Hamida’s prostitution to Salim Alwan’s spiritual downfall because of his mingling in greed, I can tell a lot about Mahfouz and his opinions based on what he writes and the book’s underlying meanings. There is a lot of metaphoric meaning, requiring the reader to look underneath the literal meanings and events in the book. It takes a bit more effort than some books, but when completely understood, the book is well worth it. The numerous plot twists kept my attention focused on the book, and there were not many dull moments. The characters are extremely well developed, and this is a major strength of the book. The reader is able to connect with the events that take place because of the wonderful development of the characters and the satire hidden away.
One weakness I found was a bit too much information on one subplot, when it is not all needed. For instance, there were two chapters narrating Salim Alwan’s new lack of vigor and spirit, but there could have been less information, and shorter descriptions of his changes. I don’t think that two chapters were needed for this. They could have been combined into one and still convey the message that Mahfouz is trying to say and inform the reader about the same events and go into the same level of depth of Salim’s character. There could be slightly better transitions from chapter to chapter, instead of just jumping from subplot to subplot. It leads to shorter, choppier views of the story until the very end, whereas it could be made so that the story is flowing and all of it is smooth and put-together. Lastly, the ending of the book is very abrupt and quick. The speed of the ending is out of place, almost like Mahfouz is eager to be done writing his story, too eager to have Abbas die. He could have built up more suspense and let the reader have time to think before suddenly ending his life.
Despite the few small improvements that could be made, Midaq Alley overall is a great book that shows the many views of Naguib Mahfouz and the issues he writes about dealing with Egypt. I enjoyed this book very much and valued its satire and political comments. This book is for people who are open minded and are willing to spend time reading between the lines. If they are willing to not take everything literally and get enthralled in a quick turn of events, then they will enjoy this book.(less)

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Oct 06, 2010 Adrianna rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone

Recommended to Adrianna by: Cafe Libri

Shelves: fiction, historical-setting, egypt, cafe-libri

Review Dedication: Many thanks to Cafe Libri Yahoo Group member Jeffrey Taylor for an engaging book discussion that aided in my research for this review.

This is the first book I've read by author Naguib Mahfouz, and I was pleasantly surprised by the pace and development of the story and characters. Mahfouz is well-known as one of Egypt's first novelists; he dared to break traditions and focus on a genre that was not encouraged by his country. The passion and love he had for the novel is depicte...more

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Oct 27, 2008 Wenxin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Midaq Alley

Naguib Mahfouz was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1911 and wrote many books about the city including The Cairo Trilogy and Sugar Street. He was also the first writer to be rewarded a Nobel Prize in Literature in Arabic. His novel, Midaq Alley, presents an interesting story about life in Cairo as well. The story is composed of many distinct characters with bizarre lives that all unite in Midaq Alley. The differentiated characters exercise very different personalities which result in drama...more Midaq Alley

Naguib Mahfouz was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1911 and wrote many books about the city including The Cairo Trilogy and Sugar Street. He was also the first writer to be rewarded a Nobel Prize in Literature in Arabic. His novel, Midaq Alley, presents an interesting story about life in Cairo as well. The story is composed of many distinct characters with bizarre lives that all unite in Midaq Alley. The differentiated characters exercise very different personalities which result in drama and unpredictable actions. Midaq Alley also reveals numerous aspects of Egyptian culture within the lives of the colorful characters.

This novel has no direct plot and it displays more of a soap opera or sitcom view rather than a book with one main goal and one protagonist with a conflict. The story of each character adds onto the disorder in the alley and each chapter exhibits a different story and character. For example, right after Hamida’s story with Ibrahim, Salim Alwan is brought right back from his heart attack and his entirely different life is told. It is very quick and Mahfouz skips flowingly from person to person. This set up is interesting because it is new and refreshing and it is more exciting to read about a variety of stories instead of just one. The unpredictable elements that provide the reader with an unexpected twist are absorbing because it is difficult to predict the outcome. These components make the reader curious about the result and maintain the reader’s desire to learn more about the characters and their lives.

The novel can be confusing at times when too many things are happening at once. There are also times when too many characters are involved and it is unclear who is speaking to whom. The novel can also become overwhelming due to the large amount of characters and plots. For instance, Kirsha’s life has nothing to do with Hamida’s and they barely affect each other at all. So when the author talks about one and then the other, it makes the book more complicated and harder to follow. The separating and merging of different stories is hard to comprehend at times when an excessive amount of detail or action is being told. This confusion also consists of the diverse characters with similar names that occasionally come together and at other times come apart. Mahfouz could have made the chapters more distinct and organized so the reader could follow the storyline more easily. The major weakness of this novel is that it may cause confusion which appears when too many things occur at once.

Although the novel can be confusing, overall, it is a captivating tale. Most of the characters connect or relate to each other somehow, for example, Abbas and Alwan’s life cross eventually so the novel does unite most of the characters. The lives of the characters come to life and the story as a whole is intriguing. The surprises from the culture alone are fascinating and the surprises from the abnormal characters are even more entertaining. Anyone who enjoys surprises, amusing dramas or stories, and strange, yet inquiring characters would enjoy this novel.

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Dec 21, 2007 Allison rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people who like Egyptian drama

Nauguib Mahfouz, born in Cairo in 1911, witnessed the transition from traditional to modern life as his family moved to a European-style suburb. Mahfouz transformed his observations into a novel where he used satire to teach lessons to the reader. In his novel, Midaq Alley, the reader is enlightened about the time through character conflicts, both emotional and verbal, and one is able to view how love, greed, modernization, and religion affect the society.

It was interesting how each character ha...more

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Dec 18, 2007 Morgs rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recently, I read the book Midaq Alley by Naquib Mahfouz. Naquib Mahfouz is one of the most prominent figures in Middle Eastern sociey. He won the Nobel Prize in 1988 and has written 30 novels and over 100 short stories. In Midaq Alley, one of his most acclaimed novels, he weaves an intricate tale of one of Cairo's bustling alleys. The book has several subplots, and all of them express at least one of Mafouz's views on modernization, greed, tradition, and other predicaments that faced Cairo duri...more Recently, I read the book Midaq Alley by Naquib Mahfouz. Naquib Mahfouz is one of the most prominent figures in Middle Eastern sociey. He won the Nobel Prize in 1988 and has written 30 novels and over 100 short stories. In Midaq Alley, one of his most acclaimed novels, he weaves an intricate tale of one of Cairo's bustling alleys. The book has several subplots, and all of them express at least one of Mafouz's views on modernization, greed, tradition, and other predicaments that faced Cairo during World War II.
The satirical manner in which the novel is written helps to make Midaq Alley an interesting book. Mahfouz uses each of the characters as a device through which he can express his political, moral, and religious views. For example, through the character Hamida, he emphasizes the importance of humility and tradition. Hamida gets caught in a web of enticement due to her vanity, and she strays from the rightful path tradition set out for her by becoming a prostitute. In the end, she ends up in a very dangerous situation. Mahfouz uses Hamida to show the consequences of vanity and worldliness or westernization in a way that's both entertaining and educating on the lifestyle of urban Egyptians during this time.
The biggest criticism I have of this novel is its numerous and counfusing characters and subplots. This book has almost fifteen significant characters, and since the book is foreign, their names are all overwhelmingly hard to adopt into the reader's vocabulary. Furthermore, Mahfouz includes around ten subplots in this book. Though these subplots enhance Mahfouz's ability to get his views across, the confuse the reader. Typically, a novel will have one main plot and possibly one or two underlying plots. Because this is the format that most readers are used to experiencing from novels, it is hard for any reader to get accustomed to Mahfouz's style in Midaq Alley. Not only were the many subplots confusing, but they also took away from eachother and the main plot. Since there were so many subplots, Mahfouz had to alternate continuations of each plot every few chapters. Many times while reading, I wanted to skip over the relatively insignificant chapter concerning the subplot to get right to the main plot of the story.
As much as I disliked this novel's confusing subplots, I overall enjoyed reading it. I believe that the main reason I enjoyed Midaq Alley was because of my ability to relate to it. Therefore, I would recommend it to readers who are patient and enjoy reading about other cultures. This novel tells a simple string of stories, tied together with feelings everyone has experienced and can relate to: love, greed, temptaion, defiance, and ambition. The stories of the residents of Midaq Alley are tales of ordinary people who struggle on problems that many before them have also been faced with. Some of these residents give in to the temptations that their problem presents, or they take the easy way out. Midaq Alley is a book that many of us can learn from and observe what kinds of decisions yield what kinds of consequences. The honest and very real nature of this book makes it both easy to read and thought provoking.(less)

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Dec 18, 2007 Matt S rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people who like satire that is not outwardly funny.

Midaq Alley is the story of a traditional alley in Cairo, Egypt. It follows the lives of the many inhabitants of Midaq Alley and through them it shows the problems and sucesses of urban Egyptian society. Midaq Alley was written by Naguib Mahfouz who is a Nobel prize winner for literature and has published over thirty novels in his career. He is unbeleivably popular in the Middle East; so much so that fifteen of his novels have been made into movies. Midaq Alley is considered by many to be the be...more Midaq Alley is the story of a traditional alley in Cairo, Egypt. It follows the lives of the many inhabitants of Midaq Alley and through them it shows the problems and sucesses of urban Egyptian society. Midaq Alley was written by Naguib Mahfouz who is a Nobel prize winner for literature and has published over thirty novels in his career. He is unbeleivably popular in the Middle East; so much so that fifteen of his novels have been made into movies. Midaq Alley is considered by many to be the best story in his long and illustrious writing career.
I found the way that Mahfouz brought the characters in Midaq Alley together in a twisting and turning plot was very interesting. The strongest characteristic of the novel, though, is the social critisism. Mahfouz simultaneously brings up several flaws in the culture of Cairo and Egypt as a whole. The way that their flaws related to ours was uncanny and I felt that the book could have easily taken place in the United States, with only a few minor changes.
Although there were many strengths, I also found that the book was nowhere near perfect and could have used alot of change. The character Zaita was brought into the book perfectly and was used in the book perfectly, but he was the only character who was introduced and utilized to that character's full potenial. Mahfouz's characters each had a good social critisim behind them, but some of them such as Abbas and Kirsha were not used well. Abbas represented modernization, but he was punished for modernizing to help his future wife, this is not a good critisim. Also, Kirsha was never punished for molesting boys and smoking hashish, how is Mahfouz critising those actions if Kirsha gets away with them.
Overall, I found that despite the novels weaknesses, it was very interesting. I enjoyed the social critisim and the way it applied to our culture as well as theirs. Although the characters were not fully utilized, Mahfouz got the point across and still kept a very interesting novel with a twisting, turning plot that kept you guessing. I would recommend this book to satire lovers who do not require that satire to be outwardly funny, because although there is humor in Midaq Alley it is not always laugh out loud funny humor. (less)

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Dec 18, 2007 Madison rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people who like suspense

The novel, Midaq Alley, was written in 1947, and is set during the time of World War II. It is just one of the many novels written by an Egyptian named Naguib Mahfouz. Naguib was born in Cairo in 1911, and began writing when he was only seventeen. Since then, he has written about thirty novels, one hundred short stories, and more than two hundred articles. One of his well known novels, Midaq Alley, is about the inhabitants of a small neighborhood in Cairo. Each person has their own story that pl...more The novel, Midaq Alley, was written in 1947, and is set during the time of World War II. It is just one of the many novels written by an Egyptian named Naguib Mahfouz. Naguib was born in Cairo in 1911, and began writing when he was only seventeen. Since then, he has written about thirty novels, one hundred short stories, and more than two hundred articles. One of his well known novels, Midaq Alley, is about the inhabitants of a small neighborhood in Cairo. Each person has their own story that plays into the plot of the novel. However, in some cases, a few people are all tied into the same plot. For instance, one of the main plots includes three men who love one woman and have to fight to win her love in return. In Midaq Alley, people fall in love, break the law, run away from home, and even perish.
Midaq Alley holds attention by switching plots every chapter. At some points, it’s hard to put the book down. When reading about one character gets boring, it quickly switches to another character. Although, one would assume that the neighborhood is much different from where they live, it’s interesting to find out that there are some characteristics that make it very similar. For example, people in small neighborhoods are always in each other’s business. Something else that makes the novel interesting is how Naquib never gives you what you’re expecting. Throughout the book, I was predicting things that were going to happen, but always got them wrong.
Although necessary, the beginning chapters of the book were really slow. I enjoy getting to know the characters as the book progresses, instead of being told who everyone is and what they do. I wish the author would have made Abbas forget about Hamida and move on. Abbas became really obsessive, and that bothered me because Hamida wouldn’t have been a good wife to him. Also, although some of the characters lived happy lives, the characters that didn’t overtook them, and set a depressing mood. Many people had disturbing jobs, were drug addicts, or were just living a horrible life in general.
Despite how sad it was, I actually liked the end of the book. Besides the very beginning, it seemed like the entire book was filled with excitement. Anyone who enjoys suspenseful and sometimes confusing books set back in time would like reading this book. There are highs and lows in this book. Sometimes there are characters that you really don’t care about, and you don’t want to read about them because one of the other characters is more interesting to you. Most of the characters are fun to read about, though. All in all, Midaq Alley wasn’t my favorite novel, but I did enjoy reading it.

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Dec 18, 2007 Kaitlin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Naguib Mahfouz, one of the most prominent authors in the Middle East, is well known for his novel, Midaq Alley. He began writing at age seventeen and has written over 30 novels and more than 100 short stories. He is a winner of the Nobel Prize in literature. His contributions in the world of literature are renowned around the world. Midaq Alley takes place in Cairo, Egypt during World War II. This satire describes the impact modernization has on the city. The characters in the book represent ma...more Naguib Mahfouz, one of the most prominent authors in the Middle East, is well known for his novel, Midaq Alley. He began writing at age seventeen and has written over 30 novels and more than 100 short stories. He is a winner of the Nobel Prize in literature. His contributions in the world of literature are renowned around the world. Midaq Alley takes place in Cairo, Egypt during World War II. This satire describes the impact modernization has on the city. The characters in the book represent many of the effects of modernization. Some of the major themes include greed, love, and westernization.
I found this novel interesting because it was completely different from anything I have read previously. One thing about the book that I found fascinating was the complex story line that was followed for the duration of the story. There were at least five different characters whose lives were documented in the book. Also, I thought the way that Mahfouz used satire to express his viewpoints was neat. Although I did not catch all of his subtle humor, I found the book to be very interesting and more humorous. Finally, because the book took a very sudden twist at the end, it captivated my interest even more. Midaq Alley is definitely not a book in which the ending becomes clear by the end of the first chapter.
Though the novel became riveting at some points, it still had a few weaknesses. I thought that the first couple of chapters were weaker than the rest of the book. However, this could be due to the fact that some introduction was needed before the real plot could begin. I also disliked some of the main characters because their lives were not nearly as action filled and dramatic as others. For example, I found that Salim Alwan’s life was not very eventful. Meanwhile, I thought Hamida and the many decisions she had to make were much more interesting. While I enjoyed reading about some characters, other chapters became very boring.
Despite its weaknesses, Midaq Alley is still an excellent book. Although some chapters were definitely not as enjoyable to read, I still appreciated this novel. Anyone interested in a satire with many underlying subplots included would love this book.
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Dec 18, 2007 Caroline J rated it 3 of 5 stars

“Midaq Alley” by Naguib Mahfouz is very similar of one my favorite, but substantially less enriching, book series “Gossip Girl”. These books record the every move of the corrupted “Upper East Siders” of New York City. This is similar to the contents of “Midaq” Alley by way of gossip, scandal, and general discord. “Midaq Alley” tells the story of the inhabitants of an alley in Cairo. Driven by wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and an assortment of other deadly sins, these residents are fluent in goss...more “Midaq Alley” by Naguib Mahfouz is very similar of one my favorite, but substantially less enriching, book series “Gossip Girl”. These books record the every move of the corrupted “Upper East Siders” of New York City. This is similar to the contents of “Midaq” Alley by way of gossip, scandal, and general discord. “Midaq Alley” tells the story of the inhabitants of an alley in Cairo. Driven by wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and an assortment of other deadly sins, these residents are fluent in gossip, but illiterate in humility. The 1988 Nobel Prize winning author, Naguib Mahfouz, has written over thirty novels including “Palace of Desire”, “The Cairo Trilogy”, and “The Dreams”. In addition to his novels, Mahfouz has written countless short stories which will not soon be forgotten.
The constantly changing, entrancing, plot of “Midaq Alley” grasped my attention and kept me turing the pages. The book opens with a quite overview of the alley. Shopkeepers are cleaning, bakers sifting flour, and café owners preparing for the evening rush. I find this ironic because the setting of Midaq Alley is anything but placid. Scandal after scandal keep the alley buzzing with gossip, and occasionally tragedy. Pedophiles, abusive husbands, prostitutes, pimps, cripple makers, malpractices, and thieves lace this novel with an endless spark. “Midaq Alley” tracks the lives of the residents of a troubled alley, exposing their faults, problems, and secrets. My favorite character was Hamida. Her lack of judgement, fire-scorched temper, and impetuous personality made the story interesting. I also enjoyed reading about Kirsha, and his uncontrollable desires that caused his family so much trouble. As you can see, I enjoyed the "troubled" characters, who made the story interesting!
The excessive satire of this novel was indeed humorous, but at bit repetitive. A son laid off from work returns home penniless, with his wife and her brother. His overindulgent, perverse father finds comfort in the wife's brother’s good looks. Normally a bittersweet return, the son’s entrance is overshadowed by the father’s stupidity and uncontrollable desire. This overuse of satire happens in numerous instances throughout the story. The satire is funny and makes reading enjoyable, but way too much was used. Also, the beginning of the story was not a sufficient reflection of what was to come. If I had not been required to, I may not have continued reading.
Despite the overuse of satire and slow beginning, Midaq Alley entranced me to the very end with its secrets, lies, deceit and scandal. An avid reader would devour this book in a few short days. Readers are transported into the setting of Cairo in a time where principles and virtue were disregarded. and personal pleasures were indulged without reason. A relatively easy read, "Midaq Alley" is enjoyable and captivating. (less)

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Dec 18, 2007 Chris K rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-books

Naguib Mahfouz is well known author from the Middle East. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1988 for his great work. Some of his well known novels are 'Arabian Nights and Days', 'Old Egypt', and 'Midaq Alley'. 'Midaq Alley', takes place in Naguib’s hometown of Cairo during WWII. The novel mainly follows the life of Abbas, a barber, and his finance, Hamida. Once engaged, Abbas decides to join the British army to make money for the greedy Hamida. However, during his time away Hamida runs o...more

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Dec 18, 2007 Kelsey rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: See below

Naquib Mahfouz is the foothold of Egyptian literature when it comes to satirical writing. Mahfouz began writing at the young age of 17, and had his first novel printed and published in 1939. By the July of 1952, Mahfouz had printed 10 novels. Naquib finally hit stardom when he published the Cairo Trilogy of Bayn al Qasrayn, Qasr al Shawq, and Sukkariya (Between-the-Palaces, Palace of Longing, Sugarhouse) in 1957, and all the world became a stage for his writing. He set the stage for satirical wr...more Naquib Mahfouz is the foothold of Egyptian literature when it comes to satirical writing. Mahfouz began writing at the young age of 17, and had his first novel printed and published in 1939. By the July of 1952, Mahfouz had printed 10 novels. Naquib finally hit stardom when he published the Cairo Trilogy of Bayn al Qasrayn, Qasr al Shawq, and Sukkariya (Between-the-Palaces, Palace of Longing, Sugarhouse) in 1957, and all the world became a stage for his writing. He set the stage for satirical writing, showing the world the urban life of his city and the political views on all situations. During this time he also was a civil servant, working for the government. Midaq Alley is a story of a small hidden alley in Cairo, and with it’s characters come plot twists and stories under stories. Midaq Alley also pokes fun at the society of Cairo and all of it’s aspects.
The novel “Midaq Alley” was a change of pace for me. I actually enjoyed this book a bit more than I thought I would. It grabs your attention and keeps you deep in thought while you read the detailed descriptions of everyone and everything. From the blood flecked face of Uncle Kamil to the beautiful temptress Hamida, Mahfouz captures your interest and keeps you wondering. The storyline was an interesting one in that the characters had underlying purposes. I loved his way of portraying each character as an aspect of society; such as Abbas being tradition and Hamida being love. On the flip side, I was not a fan of the way he intertwined the story plots together. I thought that they way he wrote it was very soap opera-ish, and it definitely lacked showing a purpose (problem and solution). It was a senseless story, but it did have some strange odd qualities. Much like the school for prostitutes was a strange twist on the matter. Nothing was truly “wrong” with the book; it is onty that his style of writing isn’t really what I enjoy completely.
I think “Midaq Alley” is a very strong book. You must begin reading it knowing that it is satirical. If you didn’t then it would be utterly confusing and completely incomprehensible. I know for me that after the first few chapters I didn’t know that “Midaq Alley” was satire, therefore making me confused as ever. Once someone did give me the heads up, things became much clearer. I also think it is a very dry book, for that you really have to enjoy Mahfouz’s style of writing and his work. For me I just thought it was a silly story without a purpose, but as you get more than half way, his opinions and his outlooks on Urban life beginning to take shape and form.
All in All, Midaq Alley is a novel that I believe should be in everyone’s repertoire. For as slow as it is to start, it’s not too shabby. I think that it is a great book for anyone who enjoys a soap opera or anyone who likes to poke fun at society. It also makes you think as you come closer to the end because you start to revel in your own society. I know for me that I thought much deeper after reading this and I think everyone should have a deep thinking moment.

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Dec 18, 2007 Jessica H rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone who can follow sarcasm

Shelves: boooks

"Midaq Alley" is a sarcastic novel of individuals living in Cairo during WWII in the 1940’s. This novel was written by Naguib Mahfouz, the Nobel Prize winning author. Naguib also wrote "Bayn al Qasrayn" which began his successful career as a writer. "Midaq Alley", reveals some of the surprising truths in Cairo with wit and sarcasm. The many characters introduced have varying personalities which continue to keep the reader’s interest through out the book. Not only is this novel a deceitful love...more "Midaq Alley" is a sarcastic novel of individuals living in Cairo during WWII in the 1940’s. This novel was written by Naguib Mahfouz, the Nobel Prize winning author. Naguib also wrote "Bayn al Qasrayn" which began his successful career as a writer. "Midaq Alley", reveals some of the surprising truths in Cairo with wit and sarcasm. The many characters introduced have varying personalities which continue to keep the reader’s interest through out the book. Not only is this novel a deceitful love tale, but it is also a satirical
"Midaq Alley" is unlike any other novel I have read. It develops several sub plots which in the end share a common theme. Each sub plot includes diverse characters who do not seize to feed my interest. The situations that occur in the novel are so exaggerated that you, as the reader, crave to know more. Mahfouz does an exceptional job explaining characters physical description, which gives further incite to their personality. One character, Sheik Darwish, was used to foreshadow events that would occur later on in the book. I loved how Mahfouz would use characters as symbols to get his ideas about Cairo across to the reader.
One of "Midaq Alley's" strengths was also one of its weaknesses. I thought that the way Mahfouz described these characters was unreal, however I felt that at certain parts of the book, Naguib Mahfouz went into to much detail. On occasion, Naguib would describe a character in depth in the middle of an important scene in the book. This distracted me from what was going on before the character description. I think Mahfouz did an amazing job helping his readers visualize his cast, but I feel as though he should have chose better times to introduce them.
Although Naguib Mahfouz sometimes wrote in a distracting way, his novel was satisfying to read. He kept my interest with his many sub plots and intriguing characters. Anyone who can follow along with several plots and many characters should read this book. It would interest those most who have a sarcastic humor.

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Dec 18, 2007 Layla rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people who like cultural satires.

Midaq Alley, by Naguib Mahfouz, provides a satirical view of Cairo during WWII. Mahfouz is renowned in the intellectual community as a recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1988, and he has written hundreds of literary works. His Egyptian heritage has greatly influenced his advanced writing style.
There are many interesting aspects of Midaq Alley. However, the one character that really brought the book to life was Hamida, a poor girl in her twenties whose unsurpassable beauty gives her...more Midaq Alley, by Naguib Mahfouz, provides a satirical view of Cairo during WWII. Mahfouz is renowned in the intellectual community as a recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1988, and he has written hundreds of literary works. His Egyptian heritage has greatly influenced his advanced writing style.
There are many interesting aspects of Midaq Alley. However, the one character that really brought the book to life was Hamida, a poor girl in her twenties whose unsurpassable beauty gives her a feeling of entitlement of riches, and would do anything for money. Her unquenchable thirst for wealth inhibits her to love anyone truly for who they are, not just for their money. Many suitors wish to marry her, and even when she accepts an offer from her destitute neighbor, Abbas, she leaves him for a life of prostitution. As it turns out, she appreciates her new life only because of the immense amount of money she is receiving for her services. This chosen profession brings her many tests and difficulties which she overcomes, creating an exciting and gripping plot to the novel. I really enjoyed how that main plot took twists and turns, while still staying true to its origins.
Even though Midaq Alley has its strong points, much of the novel is disappointing. There is a lot foreshadowing in each chapter which creates suspense for the reader, but this causes the reader to create expectations of how the book might end. However, those expectations are not even close to being met even after the book is finished. The end occurs so abruptly that you barely have time to realize that you have finished the story. Another weak point is the unsatisfactory subplots. There are so many of them, yet none of them interested me in the slightest. On top of this, the subplots took up so much of the book that the main plot became a background idea, not the main focus. To solve these major issues, the author could provide at least some sort of epilogue to meet the reader’s expectations and to edit the subplots so as to incorporate the main plot in more detail. Also, Mahfouz could include more chapters involving the main plot as its sole topic.
Overall, Midaq Alley was just good, nothing more, maybe less. Yes, the main plot was very interesting; however, there were so many monotonous subplots which overshadowed the gripping tale. Although this review seems harsh, I still believe “Midaq Alley” is worth reading. It is not an extremely lengthy volume, and the spark of excitement it contains is just enough to keep its readers interested. I suggest this book to those with a long attention span, and those who are interested in satirical Middle-Eastern works. Anyone who enjoys cultural satires would enjoy this novel.
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Dec 18, 2007 Michelle rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who like satire... and some other stuff.

Midaq Alley, written by Nobel Prize recipient Naguib Mahfouz, can be summarized in the 4 P’s: pimps, prostitutes, pedophiles, and perverts. Mahfouz is an accomplished writer, with The Thief and the Dogs, Autumn Quail, Small Talk on the Nile, Miramar, as well as several collections of short stories under his list of works. He is a master of satire. The twisted lives of Midaq Alley’s inhabitants come to life through this ingenious satire. The book's setting is in a deplorable, forgotten back alley...more Midaq Alley, written by Nobel Prize recipient Naguib Mahfouz, can be summarized in the 4 P’s: pimps, prostitutes, pedophiles, and perverts. Mahfouz is an accomplished writer, with The Thief and the Dogs, Autumn Quail, Small Talk on the Nile, Miramar, as well as several collections of short stories under his list of works. He is a master of satire. The twisted lives of Midaq Alley’s inhabitants come to life through this ingenious satire. The book's setting is in a deplorable, forgotten back alley of Cairo, Egypt that is filled with corruption. The interesting characters are extremely exaggerated, as can be seen by their outrageous actions. The book is a clear representation of Mahfouz's view on the modernizing Cairo, and the consequences of Western influence.
From the chaste and holy Radwan Hussainy to the male-coveting Kirsha, Mahfouz voices his concern for the negativity the British is bringing to Cairo. The characters are spontaneous and original, shedding new light on the darker sides of society. Vivid details, provided by Mahfouz, complement the intricate plot where the lives of the Midaq Alley’s people are intertwined. Zaita, the cripple-maker, embodies all the corruption and greed in a society. The man has a heart as black as his grimy appearance. He robs the dead and cheats the impoverished. He preys on the weak and poor of Cairo, disfiguring them and then exploiting them for their earnings.
Every resident and aspect of Midaq Alley is described in great detail. The vivid images really help readers grasp Mahfouz’s views on topics. But, they can also overwhelm when they become too unrealistic. Some of the vices were extremely exaggerated. Abbas is a good, traditional, peaceful man that is manipulated by his jealous friend Hussain Kirsha, and ultimately meets his demise this way. Hamida, the prideful, stubborn young lady, is turned into a prostitute by a strange man with a school for prostitution. She trades her entire life, her tradition, family, religion, for one of disgrace because of her pursuit for wealth. Hamida realizes this mistake and escapes with her pride intact miraculously. When she does return to the alley, she again condemns her home and the people the love her for who she is. These characters show some of the many examples of the overexaggeration. The way they are portrayed, even in the style of satire, completely challenges reality in a way unimaginable.
The book, Midaq Alley, is definitely one that is worth reading. The way Mahfouz views Cairo can give readers insight on their own society’s flaws. Though there are plenty of explicit topics, Mahfouz effectively conveys his viewpoint on the gravity of forced modernization. Corruption and greed are overlying issues throughout the story that twist many lives. Midaq Alley is unlike any other book I’ve had to read in school. The book’s topics, characters, and styles are a refreshing escape from the standard “classics”. People interested in subtle humor would love this book, but be prepared for the unexpected.

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Dec 20, 2007 Brady B rated it 3 of 5 stars

The novel Midaq Alley by Naguib Mahfouz is set in an alley in Egypt. Mahfouz has written many other books, such as Miramar, Sugar Street, and Palace Walk and is a common name in the middle east.The alley is a cesspool for all kinds of people. Many of them good and normal, but also some of them not so good. This roller coaster of a book keeps you interested while intertwining the lives of all of the characters.
I found that, at times the structure of the book could also be very confusing and could...more The novel Midaq Alley by Naguib Mahfouz is set in an alley in Egypt. Mahfouz has written many other books, such as Miramar, Sugar Street, and Palace Walk and is a common name in the middle east.The alley is a cesspool for all kinds of people. Many of them good and normal, but also some of them not so good. This roller coaster of a book keeps you interested while intertwining the lives of all of the characters.
I found that, at times the structure of the book could also be very confusing and could easily lose the reader. Although at points I did like it, it was often hard to follow or remember what is happening with a character after not reading about him/her for a few chapters. Also another thing that I did not like was the ending of the book. I found what happened between Hamida and Abbas to be a little frustrating. I would maybe have liked it more if Abbas had not been killed so abruptly and maybe if Hamida did not just return to the alley, just like she had lived. Like the rest of the book, I was hoping for a more interesting twist at the end.

The novel, written in episodic narrative structure, begins by giving detailed descriptions of each character, and all though in the beginning it can be a little confusing, the characters are distinguished quickly. I feel that because the book had so many characters, it made it more interesting and fun to read. While thinking about one character, the next chapter quickly becomes about another, but eventually they all tie together. Also I enjoyed how Mahfouz did not try to baby the reader, he took life's worst experiences and people and made characters around them. From Mr. Kirsha, who has a special liking towards young boys, to Zaita, who cripples people to become beggars for a living. These are the people that make the book interesting and different.

Despite the ending, overall I enjoyed this novel. Although I may only recommend this novel to an older group, due to its complicated plot and vulgarity, the books twists and turns keep the reader interested and wanting more. Also the many characters and events that tie together make the book very enjoyable. Mahfouz did an exceptional job of showing not only the pretty side of life and mankind, but the side that many people try to turn the blind eye towards, which is unlike most books and in turn made this novel very different and interesting t read!(less)

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Dec 18, 2007 Em rated it 4 of 5 stars

Midaq Alley written by renowned author Naguib Mahfouz is the satirical and slightly cynical tale of numerous people living together in an alley, where their lives unintentionally coincide. This book’s major themes are greed and love. Most of the characters have a tie to these themes, whether they are looking for love or wealth. Intertwined with these themes are several subplots that illustrate aspects of the Egyptian culture; each character is a representation of a point Mahfouz wanted to highli...more Midaq Alley written by renowned author Naguib Mahfouz is the satirical and slightly cynical tale of numerous people living together in an alley, where their lives unintentionally coincide. This book’s major themes are greed and love. Most of the characters have a tie to these themes, whether they are looking for love or wealth. Intertwined with these themes are several subplots that illustrate aspects of the Egyptian culture; each character is a representation of a point Mahfouz wanted to highlight. The Nobel Prize winner of 1988, Mahfouz, is highly praised for his numerous novels and his ability to bring Arabic literature to the world stage. Beginning his writing at the age of seventeen, he has since written thirty novels, more than a hundred short stories, and more than two hundred articles. And approximately half of his novels have been made into films which have been distributed throughout the Arabic-speaking world. In addition to Midaq Alley, the Cairo Trilogy (Bayn al Qasrayn, Qasr al Shawq, Sukkariya), The Children of Gebelawi, The Thief and the Dogs, Autumn Quail, Small Talk on the Nile, Miramar, and The Happy Man are among Mahfouz’s vast collection of works.

There are several interesting aspects of this novel. One was the ‘soap opera’ style of writing. With each chapter, you learn a little more about each of the main characters and their individual subplots, and with each new chapter you learned about a different character. Another very interesting aspect is the use of these subplots and characters to represent flaws with his society. Many of the characters are greedy and willing to drop their traditional values for that greed. Through his beautiful writing style, Mahfouz makes his views on these subjects inescapably clear. For example, Hussain Kirsha was one resident with a want to get out of the alley and become rich so that he may enjoy the luxuries of modern living. He willingly drops tradition and joins the British Army. But as the war comes to a close, his life is ruined and he is forced to return to poverty.

In my opinion, a big flaw in Midaq Alley was the rushed ending. The ending itself and the events that ensued fit in well with the story, however, they are very sudden. In chapters 34 especially, I thought the story was very rushed and lazily written. It almost seemed as if he cut the action of the scene short making it awkward. As Abbas is getting beaten, he quickly fades from the spotlight which then lands on Hussain Kirsha who really adds very little to the scene. After that, the story just titters out, seeming incomplete and unsatisfying.

As one of the great, lesser-known classics, I thought Midaq Alley was an enjoyable read. Its use of pessimistic comedy and the subtle truths behind each character made it a fascinating and unique novel. Anyone who enjoys a story with intertwining subplots and detailed characters and interactions will enjoy this novel.

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Dec 18, 2007 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everybody.

Nobel Prize-winning author Naguib Mahfouz has once again written a truthful tale on society in Cairo, Egypt. Mahfouz was born in 1911 to middle-class parents in Cairo. Most of his tales tell of the truths and hidden characteristics of society. Midaq Alley weaves the fates of the occupants of the alley itself. The story goes from the deep unrequited love of Abbas the Barber to the business-like cold demeanor of Ibrahim Faraj. In the end, all of these lives blend together and connect in unexpected...more Nobel Prize-winning author Naguib Mahfouz has once again written a truthful tale on society in Cairo, Egypt. Mahfouz was born in 1911 to middle-class parents in Cairo. Most of his tales tell of the truths and hidden characteristics of society. Midaq Alley weaves the fates of the occupants of the alley itself. The story goes from the deep unrequited love of Abbas the Barber to the business-like cold demeanor of Ibrahim Faraj. In the end, all of these lives blend together and connect in unexpected ways.

The descriptions Mahfouz uses are extremely realistic and imaginable. They provide a vivid image of each character to the reader and let the reader experience the ongoing events as if it is in reality. The similes and metaphors used within the text express the author’s own thoughts and feelings. For example, in the characterization of Uncle Kamil the sweet seller, Mahfouz does not merely state that Uncle Kamil is fat or corpulent. Instead, he uses similes such as “a belly like a barrel” and “his behind large and rounded like the dome of a mosque”. From these descriptions, we can truly imagine what the character looks like and his habits.

Although I enjoyed the novel, I thought it was confusing the way Mahfouz seemed to leapfrog from the life of one character to another. Just as I was enjoying reading about the life of one occupant of the alley, the story stopped, only to start once again with the life of a whole different person. This decreased my interest in the story and made me feel lost in certain places. The author should have finished telling the tale of one person’s life and somehow connected it to the tale of the next person. That way, their lives would still be connected and the reader would not be as confused.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It is probably one of the better ones I’ve read relating to schoolwork. Its originality and creativeness really urged me to continue reading to find out what happened next. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone older than the age of 13.(less)

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Dec 20, 2007 Daniel added it

The book Midaq Alley, by Naguib Mahfouz, takes place in WWII (1940s) Cairo, Egypt. Mahfouz was born in the Gamaliya quarter of Cairo on December 11, 1911. He has published 34 novels, over 350 short stories, dozens of movie scripts and 5 plays. Some of his other works include The Mockery of Faiths and The Struggle of Tyba. Midaq Alley is a novel that follows an episodic structure, and tells the stories of the inhabitants of the alley.
I believe the novel has very few weaknesses in it. One of tho...more The book Midaq Alley, by Naguib Mahfouz, takes place in WWII (1940s) Cairo, Egypt. Mahfouz was born in the Gamaliya quarter of Cairo on December 11, 1911. He has published 34 novels, over 350 short stories, dozens of movie scripts and 5 plays. Some of his other works include The Mockery of Faiths and The Struggle of Tyba. Midaq Alley is a novel that follows an episodic structure, and tells the stories of the inhabitants of the alley.
I believe the novel has very few weaknesses in it. One of those is the rapid introduction of characters in the beginning of the novel. The novel has numerous characters, and it seems somewhat overwhelming to be introduced to all but a few of them in the beginning of the novel. After continuing to read through the novel, this weakness had little effect, as all of the characters are spoken of more in depth. Introductions give the reader a clear view of the characters and the setting in the novel. Mahfouz did a splendid job of this, but I still feel engulfed in the rapid introduction of the characters. Aside from his introduction, I don’t believe the novel has any other weaknesses. The plots of all the characters had interesting twists of fate in them, and used wonderful metaphors and satire in them.
The novel has infinite strengths about it. The most noticeable one is the use of satire in the novel. Mahfouz has very negative views of politics, as well as human nature. He uses clever and witty satire to express his views during the novel. One of these occurs in the beginning of chapter 19 on page 148. Uncle Kamil, the owner of Midaq Alley’s sweet shop, observes a large gathering of people in the alley. Mahfouz says Kamil, “…shouted to a youth passing in the street and asked him who had died.” This shows Mahfouz’s negative view on politics in a very piquant way. Throughout the novel, Mahfouz shows through characters like Kirsha and Hamida that the alley is a terrible place, and the people there are quite charming. One of these charming characters is Kirsha. Kirsha is your everyday pedophiliac hashish dealer who runs a café. Obviously, this shows that Mahfouz has an overly negative view on human nature, and often shows the negative aspects of it. Another strength of the novel is its humor. I believe that aside from satire and witty criticisms, some of the characters are particularly unique. One of these characters is my favorite, Zaita. Zaita is a very dirty man, who makes cripples out of people so that they can become better beggars. This job is certainly exclusive, and despite the fact Zaita seems to be the abnormal one in the alley, he is actually one of the smarter characters. One of Zaita’s quotes is, “But I am the best of people, not the worst.” (pg. 132) He is very self confident, and his understanding of human nature is far beyond that of the rest of the alley’s inhabitants.
I believe Midaq Alley is a magnificent novel. I believe that someone who enjoys reading about the stories of others would enjoy this book. I also believe someone who enjoys soap operas or enjoys episodic books and TV shows would enjoy this book. I loved reading Midaq Alley and I hope that future readers will as well.
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Apr 13, 2013 Josh rated it 3 of 5 stars

i had to read this book for class and it was decent. it wasn't like one of my favorite novels of all time, but it also wasn't as awful as i expected it to be. i found it to be VERY similar to The Great Gatsby. in fact i wrote like a two page paper comparing the two for my class. there are a lot of similarities between the two but some of them are pretty major so i'll just stick to the basic non-spoilery kind. basically both are a critique on a certain period in a country's history. The Great Gat...more

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Jan 13, 2013 tENTATIVELY, cONVENIENCE rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: literature

review of
Naguib Mahfouz's Midaq Alley
by tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE - January 11, 2013

This is only the 2nd Egyptian novel that I've read, the 1st being Fathy Ghanem's The Man Who Lost His Shadow (see my review of that here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/78... ). As such, I certainly can't make any generalizations of any value (are generalizations EVER of any value?!) but I can say that both novels take place partially during so-called WW-II, have women characters who become prostitutes, &...more

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Jul 26, 2011 La Stamberga dei Lettori rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: lorenzo-pompeo

Vicolo del Mortaio è considerata una delle opere migliori del premio Nobel egiziano Nagib Mahfuz, primo e unico Nobel arabo scomparso nel 2006. Non ho avuto la possibilità di leggere molto altro di questo autore, ma sicuramente questo romanzo possiede tutte le carte in regola per essere considerato un vero e proprio "classico". E non tanto grazie al Nobel, quanto, semmai, grazie alla perfetta composizione, alla coralità della struttura narrativa mirabilmente costruita. Il protagonista del romanz...more

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Jan 01, 2011 Joselito Honestly and Brilliantly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Midaq Alley could be any small, familiar place like a small town one grew up in, or the neighbourhood of his youth. Here, it is a street in Cairo, Egypt and the story is set sometime during the second world war. Originally written in Arabic, its main charm is that it takes the reader to where he has never been before: a small street, in the heart of the Arab world, at the time when his parents, or maybe grandparents, were just small boys and girls.

Some novels the reader grapples with. This one i...more Midaq Alley could be any small, familiar place like a small town one grew up in, or the neighbourhood of his youth. Here, it is a street in Cairo, Egypt and the story is set sometime during the second world war. Originally written in Arabic, its main charm is that it takes the reader to where he has never been before: a small street, in the heart of the Arab world, at the time when his parents, or maybe grandparents, were just small boys and girls.

Some novels the reader grapples with. This one is an easy read and can be digested even amidst the firecrackers and drunken new year revelries. Not one word where a dictionary is needed and most of the characters are people anyone must already somehow met before: the beautiful, ambitious and materialistic girl, Hamida, who ended up being a prostitute (when she became her pimp's lover he nicknamed her "Titi"--the Tagalog word for penis; and she was given a dance instructor named "Susu"--Tagalog for breasts); the young barber Abbas, who loves her very much and who tragically dies a senseless death because of her; a holy man whom people at the alley consult when they have problems; a married businessman with successful children who is addicted to hashish and sex; another one likes young boys; still another one is constantly being beaten by his wife; the town fool who loves to show off his knowledge of English and actually spells the words, unbidden, for his listeners. One character, however, I had not seen anywwhere else whether in literature or in real life: a beggar who, as a sideline, cripples or maims people who come to him to make them beggars, or better beggars. The process may be likened to, say, going to college to take up a course and prepare oneself for a profession. Not making enough money? One goes to this expert "beggar maker" and he'll know what to do with you: maybe twist your arm a little bit, or nip off an ear, blind an eye, or smash your knees. For free. But the beggar maker gets a commission from the income you'll earn later. From begging.

Naguib Mahfouz, 1988 Nobel Prize winner for literature(less)

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Aug 05, 2010 Alaa Alassaf rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

أول رواية قرئتها لنجيب محفوظ لا بأس بها تحكي قصة الفتاة حمده التي كانت تمقت الحي الذي تعيش فيه و كيف للفقر و حب المال و الاستماع لوسوسة الشيطان بالتخلي عن أغلى ما تملكه الفتاة نهاية تعيسه لحبيبها أو من يحبها بالقتل على ايدي الجنود الانجليز

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Apr 01, 2013 A S rated it 4 of 5 stars

Probably one of the best books I have ever read for Naguib Mahfouz. It is Soap Opera, Cairo style. Unlike his books that were published before this one, I feel this one is more courageous than the rest. Pedophilia, homosexuality and prostitution are among the major topics discussed in this novel. He barely touches on those in his earlier work. However, the most courageous battle this book conquered is the imperfect characters Mahfouz created. What made earlier works of Mahfouz so dull is how he...more Probably one of the best books I have ever read for Naguib Mahfouz. It is Soap Opera, Cairo style. Unlike his books that were published before this one, I feel this one is more courageous than the rest. Pedophilia, homosexuality and prostitution are among the major topics discussed in this novel. He barely touches on those in his earlier work. However, the most courageous battle this book conquered is the imperfect characters Mahfouz created. What made earlier works of Mahfouz so dull is how he went on and on, for pages, describing how pretty the young princess was or how wise the old king is and how everyone is either one hundred percent good or bad or smart or stupid. Stuff like that. However, in the Midaq Alley, there is no clear definition of who/what is good or bad. In this novel, just because you are a pretty girl (Hamida) does not mean you are going to be perfect. Just because you are a calm well-mannered young man (Abbas) does not mean you are not going to assault people in the moment of anger. Hamida and Abbas will never survive a day in the world created by Mahfouz's Khan El-Khalili or Cairo Modern. They will look grey in a world of black and white.

In another way, I felt that Mahfouz wrote this book because he wanted to write this book. Not because he wanted to impress his readers. He wrote, for the most part, what is on his mind. He was free. For example, he did not borrow any expressions from the Quran (not that that is a bad/good thing) like we see in his earlier works. The point is, Mahfouz was creating his own art. Mahfouz is dabbling in the sea of originality and you can tell he is so damn good at it.

As of this moment, and having read only all of Mahfouz's books written before this one, this is the only one I recommend.

I had the privilege of reading this work in its original language. Mahfouz never ceases to amaze me when it comes to using vocabulary, cynical sense of humor and analogies. However, overusing analogies and over-describing feelings is not always needed. If Mahfouz can address that, he will deliver exemplary literature. (less)

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Nov 20, 2012 Emma rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: world-fiction-challenge, egypt, historical-fiction, read-in-translation, africa, middle-east, 3-stars

This book didn't do much for me. I don't think it's bad, it has its moments and I wasn't bored, but a book about a bunch of people living their everyday lives is likely to work for you only if the characters resonate. There wasn't much here that fit with my experience of living in the world--I don't think it's entirely cultural, since plenty of books by American authors are filled with characters who are nothing like anyone I know, it's just a bigger deal in this kind of book. Or maybe I just mi...more

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Feb 15, 2010 Belinda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to my book club, I'm finding my way around authors and works that I probably wouldn't have ventured to try. "Midaq Alley" is one of these works.

Better written than some "modern" novels out there, "Midaq Alley" follows the life of inhabitants of one tiny corner of Cairo in the 40s during WWII. In some ways, this reminds me of an Egyptian version of a Maeve Binchy work -- interesting characters, believable yet surprising twists in the plotline, and a community that ties them together. What...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Rita rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: novels-set-in-other-countries, translated-novel

1947. Mahfouz's novels certainly make me feel I am seeing how [some] people lived in Cairo. Such good descriptions of people and activities out on the street as well as in the cafe, in houses... Such a broad range of characters.

Sure feel sorry for a lot of the characters, some are unable to find work or work at slave wages. Women so often are confined to the home and don't get the chance to meet other people, esp. not of the opposite sex. I do think it is much preferable for young people to have...more

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Apr 20, 2013 Stefan Meyer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Midaq Alley is the book that got me interested in modern Arabic literature--and I went on to write a scholarly book on the subject! It's not the best novel by Naguib Mahfouz, but it's the most delightful and the one that will stick forever in your memory. The characters are all stereotypical, but you fall in love with them. From Kirsha, the cafe owner with his penchant for young boys, to Dr. Booshy, the dentist who sells false teeth that he steals off dead bodies, to the beautiful Hamida who dre...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Gerrigray rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mahfouz was the first Arabic writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. "Midaq Alley" is his most widely translated novel and is certainly accessible to western readers. He grew up in an alley community in Cairo not unlike Midaq Alley. The people in the story are the poor and neglected who seem to have little control over anything in their lives. They ascribe the good events to God and the terrible things that happen to the devil. In the alley there are plenty of both. Like people of p...more

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