The second volume of the highly acclaimed Cairo Trilogy from the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Filled with compelling drama, ear...
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May 15, 2011
Tyler
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This second book in The Cairo Trilogy follows the family and friends of Al Sayyid Ahmad as they pick up the pieces of personal disaster and move on. The grip of the patriarch over his family loosens, and Egypt’s brittle social structure begins to demonstrate unexpected strengths. The action starts in 1924; seven years have passed since the first book ended.
This continuation I thought to be as good as Palace Walk. Here Mahfouz exerts the same masterful control over the narrative. Cha More...
This continuation I thought to be as good as Palace Walk. Here Mahfouz exerts the same masterful control over the narrative. Cha More...
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Feb 11, 2012
Trish
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Volume two,
We are moving further into the 20th Century, seeing the English massacre and dominate Egypt and the resulting hatred of the Egyptians to the British. I have to say I have no idea why we felt it our right to blast into other countries, especially at this time and attempt to rule them. I personally feel from reading the second book that we as a country were truly arrogant at this stage and perhaps we still are.
The family story becomes stronger, the difference More...
We are moving further into the 20th Century, seeing the English massacre and dominate Egypt and the resulting hatred of the Egyptians to the British. I have to say I have no idea why we felt it our right to blast into other countries, especially at this time and attempt to rule them. I personally feel from reading the second book that we as a country were truly arrogant at this stage and perhaps we still are.
The family story becomes stronger, the difference More...
Feb 19, 2010
Susan
rated it: 
" Hearing the drone of falling rain, he glanced at the panes of the window overlooking Palace Walk. He noticed pearly drops clinging to the surface of the glass,which was misty from the humidity in the air.A pearl soon slid to the bottom,tracing on the surface a bright line with a curving path like a shooting star. K-- went to the window and looked up at the raindrops pouring from the heavy clouds. The heavens were united with the earth by these glittering threads.The minarets and domes of
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Jan 28, 2011
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Oct 09, 2010
Mohamed
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رواية تبحث فى الضعف الإنساني فى شتى صورة ، ضعف العقيدة و ضعف النفس و إنحدارها نحو الهاوية بمنتهي الذل و الخور ، و ضعف القلب و ذله أمام المحبوب ، و ضعف الإنسان نفسه أمام حقائق الحياة و ثوابتها كالموت و الزمن و الخَلق ....
رواية إجتماعية تبحث على التفكير ، و طريقة السرد بها شىء لا أدريه يحث القارىء على التفاعل بصورة غير مباشرة مع الأفكار -كالإيهام الذى يجعنا نتفاعل مع الأشخاص فى الرواية - فيجعلنا نتألم لآلامهم و نعيش معاناتهم و نفكر فيما يفكرون من أفكار و معتقدات ..
لا تقل روعة More...
رواية إجتماعية تبحث على التفكير ، و طريقة السرد بها شىء لا أدريه يحث القارىء على التفاعل بصورة غير مباشرة مع الأفكار -كالإيهام الذى يجعنا نتفاعل مع الأشخاص فى الرواية - فيجعلنا نتألم لآلامهم و نعيش معاناتهم و نفكر فيما يفكرون من أفكار و معتقدات ..
لا تقل روعة More...
Nov 18, 2011
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Dec 29, 2009
itpdx
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I enjoyed reading more about the Ahmad family. But, as with Palace Walk, I struggled with reading this. The style is very different from anything else that I have read. This edition uses the same translators as the Palace Walk that I read but with the addition of one more. It seemed to read a little more smoothly. I did run out of patience occasionally with Kamal's many page descriptions of his adolescent love. The Egyptian political scene plays a less prominent role in this book but is there
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Feb 23, 2011
Kristen
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I really, really want to love these books. I really do. For Pete’s sake, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was instrumental in getting them translated into English, and you know how I love Jackie O! But I find that I can’t get into them as much as I would like.
This book picks up with Al-Hamzawi five years after the end of the first book, and the characters are dealing with the passage of time and the loss of one of the young family members. In this book I found the mother Amina to be a far More...
This book picks up with Al-Hamzawi five years after the end of the first book, and the characters are dealing with the passage of time and the loss of one of the young family members. In this book I found the mother Amina to be a far More...
Sep 03, 2011
Nick
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Excellent book, the second in the Cairo trilogy (i.e. This trilogy is what many consider Mahfouz's top literary work) .... I did not get a chance to read Palace Walk (the first novel of the three), but was so impressed with Palace of Desire that I jumped immediately on Sugar Street (the last book in the trilogy)!
Mahfouz is the Tolstoy equivalent for Egyptians, he is patiently telling his story - the story of this Muslim family from Cairo, during the first half of the XXth Century. He More...
Mahfouz is the Tolstoy equivalent for Egyptians, he is patiently telling his story - the story of this Muslim family from Cairo, during the first half of the XXth Century. He More...
Mar 13, 2009
Scilla
rated it:
This is the second in a trilogy of family life in Egypt after WWII. It is very well written, although long and slow to get through. It taught me more about Muslim life and the end of British rule in Egypt. I found it somewhat annoying in that the father of the family was a "tyranical dictator, a petulant despot" in the words of his son. He went out every evening drinking and visiting prostitutes, but kept his family on a short leash. The women were not even allowed to be seen from
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Nov 25, 2011
Jeruen
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An edited version of this article was first published as Book Review: Palace of Desire: The Cairo Trilogy, Volume 2 by Nagib Mahfuz on Blogcritics.org.
What happens when an idealist becomes cynical and jaded? What are the events that might trigger one to abandon one's hopes and dreams and instead face the world with pessimism and hopelessness? This book is an exercise in this thought experiment, as it follows the al-Jawad family, in the Nagīb Maḥfūẓ's second book in his Cairo Trilogy, e More...
What happens when an idealist becomes cynical and jaded? What are the events that might trigger one to abandon one's hopes and dreams and instead face the world with pessimism and hopelessness? This book is an exercise in this thought experiment, as it follows the al-Jawad family, in the Nagīb Maḥfūẓ's second book in his Cairo Trilogy, e More...
Jan 07, 2011
Obaydah
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تكبر هنا العائلة الصغيرة ,, ويدخل جزء الأحفاد ,, بعد زواج الفتيات ..
تظهر شخصيات وتختفي شخصيات ,, ولا تستطيع أن تجزم من هو البطل , حتى بين الشخصيات الثابتة
فالمؤلف ينقلك ببراعة مميزة بين كل الأشخاص ,, ويعطي كل شخص منهم حقه ..
امتازت هذه الرواية عن غيرها بتركيزها على الحب .. حب العبادة كما يسميه نجيب محفوظ ,, ثم خيبة الأمل التي آل إليها هذا الحب , كعدد كبير من خيبات الأمل الموزعة في أجزاء الرواية ,,
والتي كذلك لم تخل من بعض الأحداث السعيدة ,,
أزعجني بها تحول شخصية كم More...
تظهر شخصيات وتختفي شخصيات ,, ولا تستطيع أن تجزم من هو البطل , حتى بين الشخصيات الثابتة
فالمؤلف ينقلك ببراعة مميزة بين كل الأشخاص ,, ويعطي كل شخص منهم حقه ..
امتازت هذه الرواية عن غيرها بتركيزها على الحب .. حب العبادة كما يسميه نجيب محفوظ ,, ثم خيبة الأمل التي آل إليها هذا الحب , كعدد كبير من خيبات الأمل الموزعة في أجزاء الرواية ,,
والتي كذلك لم تخل من بعض الأحداث السعيدة ,,
أزعجني بها تحول شخصية كم More...
Jan 06, 2011
Judy
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In the second volume of his Cairo Trilogy (Palace Walk is the first), Naguib Mahfouz continues the story of Al-Sayyid Ahmad Abd al-Jawad and his family. All but one of his four children are now grown, married and living outside the home. There are in-laws and grandchildren, but they are all still very close and visit each other often. Egypt has not yet achieved independence from Great Britain but is moving through changes of political leaders and their perfidies.
I found this vo More...
Jun 09, 2011
NG
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محفوظ الذي لن يكف عن إبهاري أبدا..
في الجزء الاول من الثلاثية -"بين القصرين"- تشعر بتفاعل الشخصيات مع بعضها البعض.. أما في "قصر الشوق" فتشعر بتفاعلات الشخصيات الداخلية مع نفسها.. فالصراعات بين الشخص ونفسه أقوى بكثير من الجزء الأول..
وتجلت تلك الصراعات في الحوارات الذاتية في الرواية التي أبدع فيها محفوظ، وتجلت فيها بلاغته الادبية على أكمل وجه.
ومرة أخرى ينتهي جزء من الثلاثية بالتناقض المثير بين الموت والحياة.. مأساة موت (وإن كان غير أكيد) ومعجزة ميلاد في ن More...
في الجزء الاول من الثلاثية -"بين القصرين"- تشعر بتفاعل الشخصيات مع بعضها البعض.. أما في "قصر الشوق" فتشعر بتفاعلات الشخصيات الداخلية مع نفسها.. فالصراعات بين الشخص ونفسه أقوى بكثير من الجزء الأول..
وتجلت تلك الصراعات في الحوارات الذاتية في الرواية التي أبدع فيها محفوظ، وتجلت فيها بلاغته الادبية على أكمل وجه.
ومرة أخرى ينتهي جزء من الثلاثية بالتناقض المثير بين الموت والحياة.. مأساة موت (وإن كان غير أكيد) ومعجزة ميلاد في ن More...
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Nov 29, 2007
Peter
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This is the second volume of the Cairo Trilogy of Naguib Mafouz. It is a fly on the wall look at the culture of a middle class Egyptian family in the twentieth century. It is interesting to see the similarities and differences that seem endless in the lives and psychology and social fabric that is described here.
Having lived in Egypt as a child and visited once since then I have longed to have more insight into the world I found so engaging and endearing.
Mahfouz won the Nobel Prize for More...
Having lived in Egypt as a child and visited once since then I have longed to have more insight into the world I found so engaging and endearing.
Mahfouz won the Nobel Prize for More...
Mar 12, 2011
الحمد لله رب العالمين
ادفع تسعة جنيهات واحصل على قصر الشوق من مكتبة مصر بالفجالةاو استعيرها من زميلك واقرأها ايا كان فإننى لم أقرأها حتى الآن لكننى اعرف ولله الحمد انها هى الجزء الثانى فى الثلاثية الشهيرة جدا لنجيب محفوظ
ادفع تسعة جنيهات واحصل على قصر الشوق من مكتبة مصر بالفجالةاو استعيرها من زميلك واقرأها ايا كان فإننى لم أقرأها حتى الآن لكننى اعرف ولله الحمد انها هى الجزء الثانى فى الثلاثية الشهيرة جدا لنجيب محفوظ
Nov 14, 2011
Bebe
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Book two of the Cairo Trilogy continues the story of al-Sayyid Ahmad and his family after the death of his son in the first book. His oldest son jumps in and out of relationships while his youngest son is determined to choose a career below what the father thinks is appropriate. Although flawed, you can't help but care for each of the people and hope that they achieve the results they want.
Feb 28, 2011
Anne
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The saga of an Egyptian family and colonial Egypt continues.......now Kamal, the baby of the family, is in late adolescent and falls in love, loses his faith, and finds his intellectual identity. Yasin, the oldest son, still can't keep control of his impulses, the mother's still devout, but has a little more freedom of movement, and the father still lives a dual life of stern family man and jolly partyboy.
Mar 08, 2011
Diana
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تطورات متلاحقة و كمال يصبح شخص آخر عندم يكبر، سلطة الأب تتقلص نتيجة نمو و نضوج الأبناء،و دخول شخصيات جديدة، و ظهور شخصيات كانت ثانوية، صدمة وراء الأخرى و القصة لازالت تشدك حتى آخر حرف
Jan 12, 2009
Katie
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I enjoyed the second volume of Mahfouz's Cairo Trilogy much less than the first. It was without structure, without much character development, and without much plot movement. Maybe I'm not a middle-material person, but I was so disappointed I couldn't even bring myself to read the third part.
Mar 02, 2011
Dennis
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According to the book's jacket, this novel contains, among many other things, "one of the most moving portrayals of unrequited love in literature". I really loved this 2nd volume of The Cairo Trilogy ... and my only negative is that the "moving portrayal" portion just seemed to drag on and on.
Aug 31, 2010
Huda
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رواية جميلة و لكنها لم تقف جمالا الجزء الأول من الثلاثية، ربما لأن الأفكار في هذا الجزء أعمق و الشخصيات أكثر اضطرابا، و قد أصبح الكاتب رفيق لهذه الشخصيات فلعب بهم كما يشاء و عفرهم بالتراب و جعلهم في حالة لا يرثى لها.
و لكنه جعلني أفكر، أكثر من الجزء الأول، فكما كنت في بين القصرينلا أتفاعل بل أشاهد و حسب و لكن نجيب محفوظ أبى إلا و جعل لي رأي و تحفظ على هذا و ذاك، بالتالي لم يسعني إلا أن أغضب من الشخصيات كثيرا و بالتالي من الكتاب
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و لكنه جعلني أفكر، أكثر من الجزء الأول، فكما كنت في بين القصرينلا أتفاعل بل أشاهد و حسب و لكن نجيب محفوظ أبى إلا و جعل لي رأي و تحفظ على هذا و ذاك، بالتالي لم يسعني إلا أن أغضب من الشخصيات كثيرا و بالتالي من الكتاب
More...
Oct 21, 2011
Faez
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The main theme of the second volume of Mahfouz's Trilogy is love in the 1920s in Egypt. Different aspects and types of love are explored ranging from the frustrated platonic love of Kamal to the purely erotic lust of Yasin.
The translation into English lacks the magic of Mahfouz's Arabic style, especially in this volume where the words of Mahfouz reach the summits of poetry.
The translation into English lacks the magic of Mahfouz's Arabic style, especially in this volume where the words of Mahfouz reach the summits of poetry.
Apr 03, 2011
Rola
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نفس تعليقى على الجزء الأول
بين القصرين يزيد عليه بعض وصف و تقارير الإلحاد الخاصة ب "كمال" و تشابك علاقات الأب و ياسين و نسائهم
زائدة عن حد احتمالى
بين القصرين يزيد عليه بعض وصف و تقارير الإلحاد الخاصة ب "كمال" و تشابك علاقات الأب و ياسين و نسائهم
زائدة عن حد احتمالى
Nov 13, 2011
Ahmed
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قصر الشوق أكثر أجزاء الثلاثية فلسفةً .. وإن كنت في كثير من الاحيان أمل من بعض فقرات ذلك الجزء بالذات إلا أن متعة هذا الجزء كانت في تأمل أحوال ابطالها أكثر من تأمل طرافة الأحداث كما كان في بين القصرين..
Feb 25, 2009
Judy
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I really enjoyed this book once I got past the different Egyptian culture. I was interested in the characters and ideas. Got a little bogged down with the "beloved," but overall outstanding.
May 02, 2011
Biskin
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Even better than the first. The author started to trust his audience more, so allowed deeper character development with less repetition. Highly, highly recommend reading.
Nov 16, 2009
Jodi
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I found this volume of the Cairo Trilogy easier to get into and to maintain my attention with than "Palace Walk". I enjoyed it a bit less though, mainly because Mahfouz concentrated almost solely on the male characters and left the women hovering in the background. I don't like the way he uses quotes first to describe what a given character thinks and then what he says aloud; I find it very confusing. Like its predecessor, I found it to be a challenging read but worth it overall due t
More...
Sep 17, 2011
Omar
rated it:
لا اجزم انني اكتشفت من هو البطل ف الرواية .. ولكن اعتقد بأن قصة حب الفتي كمال كان لها الجزء الاكبر ف الرواية ...
ابدع محفوظ ف وصف الحب بجميع مراحله واطواره الاولية حتي الانتهاء باليأس والانكسار ...
كرهت بشدة تحول كمال بتلك الصورة ..
وسعدت لبداية انهيار السيد ,,,
في المجمل : الرواية لن تتركك الا وانت تصيح " الي الجزء الاخيييير "
......... More...
ابدع محفوظ ف وصف الحب بجميع مراحله واطواره الاولية حتي الانتهاء باليأس والانكسار ...
كرهت بشدة تحول كمال بتلك الصورة ..
وسعدت لبداية انهيار السيد ,,,
في المجمل : الرواية لن تتركك الا وانت تصيح " الي الجزء الاخيييير "
......... More...
Dec 29, 2009
So far, the translation I have isn't all that great, but the plot's juicy and intriguing from a cultural perspective.
