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The Oud Player of Cairo
Vibrantly descriptive and evocative of the waning colonial world in Egypt during the mid-20th century, this debut historical novel by Jasmin Attia this is the compelling story of a young Egyptian woman, Laila, who defies the restrictive traditional roles set for women of that time, and instead follows the path inspired by her musician father, a much-beloved oud player, to become a singer and performer In her own right. After finding herself in a fairytale marriage that soon turns to a nightmare of adultery and abuse, she struggles to maintain her creative spirit, and falls into a passionate affair that puts her and her family in danger under the new oppressive regime, and with her life in danger, is forced to flee her beloved country.
400 pages, Paperback
Published July 10, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 31, 2023
This historical fiction is set in Egypt between 1932 and 1956 straddling the colonial years, independence, and the Egyptian revolution. Laila is the younger daughter of Selma and Kamal Abd El Malak. From the start, Laila and Kamal, an oud player, forged a special bond that only strengthened as the years go by. Laila shared her father’s passion for music and became his willing pupil. As a young child, he would take her with him on his performances, much to her mother’s dismay - it wasn’t appropriate. Kamal discovered early on that Laila had a beautiful voice and encouraged her to perform with him, which she loved. But soon Laila’s personal world and the larger world around her collapses, taking her life in a different direction. I enjoyed the historical, social, and cultural backdrop, the family relationships and especially Laila’s close relationship with her father. I also appreciated the relationship between Christians and Muslims, who lived together in community, with traditions and rituals observed by people of both religions related more to culture rather than religion. At important holidays Muslims and Christians would cook and share celebratory foods with each other. I liked the storyline, but felt the first third of the book was the most engaging, the second third dragged a bit, then it picked up as it concluded. Overall I rated it a 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. This debut novel by Jasmine Attia is a good start and I’d be interested in reading her next book. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
April 21, 2024
Wow, this book was beautiful and touched my heart in many different ways. I loved it, I loved the characters, I loved the story and loved the messages it conveyed. What a treasure. So many things I could connect to that it’s hard for me to express, highly recommend!
May 12, 2023
What an absolutely beautiful story. The book follows Laila, a young Egyptian girl, from birth to young adulthood. During Laila's birth, the world is held by WW2, and the book ends around the time of the Suez Crisis.
Laila, born into poverty, discovers from an early age that she has a talent for singing and her father, an Oud player, helps her to build and explore her talent.
As a young adult, Leila falls in love and marries what appears to be the man of her dreams. With the help of her wealthy new husband, her family is lifted from poverty. However, as soon as the honeymoon ends, so does the honeymoon period. Laila is left picking up the pieces of a marriage that she is now trapped in, and begins to find her own way in the world.
This book made me laugh, cry, and fall in love with the characters. I do think that it had the perfect ending, but if Jasmine Attia ever wrote a sequel, I would be the first in line to read it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, as I strongly feel that it would make anyones life better.
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Laila, born into poverty, discovers from an early age that she has a talent for singing and her father, an Oud player, helps her to build and explore her talent.
As a young adult, Leila falls in love and marries what appears to be the man of her dreams. With the help of her wealthy new husband, her family is lifted from poverty. However, as soon as the honeymoon ends, so does the honeymoon period. Laila is left picking up the pieces of a marriage that she is now trapped in, and begins to find her own way in the world.
This book made me laugh, cry, and fall in love with the characters. I do think that it had the perfect ending, but if Jasmine Attia ever wrote a sequel, I would be the first in line to read it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, as I strongly feel that it would make anyones life better.
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2026
Full video review is available @DarinasReads BookTok and Bookstagram: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThBKxbnp/ and https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTf0_f...
It’s a clash of old beliefs and modern thinking in a deeply patriarchal culture. It’s a story about empowerment in spite of circumstances.
It’s about a strong-willed woman in a time and society when women were raised to be obedient, talk less, not look in the eyes, and do whatever a man says.
It’s a powerful journey during a difficult time in the history of Egypt. We get to see the unfolding of the story through colonialism, oppression, occupation, revolution, nationalisation, and major conflicts that followed right after.
First, it slightly brushes over our main character whose father refused to play for the British. Then, we meet the wave of French people and American culture into the characters’ lives. And ultimately, the revolution that rips their lives apart.
The story starts the day the main character was born. Her father was a poor oud player who barely scraped by to provide for his family. He expected a boy, but instead, Laila was born.
He raised her as a boy. He taught her how to fight, how to play soccer, how to stand up for herself. When she was older, her talent for singing manifested. So, her father took her with him to sing in the café when he was playing. She had to wear loose clothes and cut her hair to avoid drawing attention.
When she got older, life didn’t get any easier. She had to quit school to work with her mother in the kitchen.
One day, a rich young man, a son of a pasha, noticed her. And her life changed.
This is a story of hope and hopelessness. Of love and betrayal. Of shame and obedience. Of resistance and stubbornness. Of pain and despair. Of losing one’s footing and re-inventing oneself. About freedom and oppression.
I recommend it to anyone interested in historical fiction who loves rich and deep stories that are deeply integrated into the core of the culture. It is a window into the history of different society levels of Egypt in the mid-20th century.
As for me, I am afraid I picked this book at the wrong time. I was not ready for the amount of small cultural details I needed to learn. At any other time, I would cherish every moment of it. I would Google every unfamiliar term, word, and tradition. Unfortunately, I picked it at a time when I was emotionally exhausted, and I didn’t have energy for it. I didn’t want to set it aside because it would be hard for me to restart later on. So I read it without doing my usual additional research and knowing that I am not “all-in” connected to this story. This is why I give it official 4.5 stars, but this is exactly why I round it to 5 stars as well.
I want to make it clear: this book is 100% worth it! I am acutely aware that I was not able to fully enjoy it because of me, not because there is something I didn’t like in the book. I loved it. I love the story. And I love that I learned so much about the culture and history of Egypt.
Read it. If you are ready to immerse yourself in a small world of Cairo with all its traditions, you will love it.
My favorite quotes:
“If you are not proud of who you are, you’ll never be proud of who you’ll become.”
(Chapter 17)
“[…] what’s wrong and right never really factor into political decisions. It’s just what’s right for the powerful. What’s wrong for the weak doesn’t matter.”
(Chapter 26)
Thank you, Jasmin Attia, for providing me the copy of your book for reading and reviewing. I loved it! 💖
It’s a clash of old beliefs and modern thinking in a deeply patriarchal culture. It’s a story about empowerment in spite of circumstances.
It’s about a strong-willed woman in a time and society when women were raised to be obedient, talk less, not look in the eyes, and do whatever a man says.
It’s a powerful journey during a difficult time in the history of Egypt. We get to see the unfolding of the story through colonialism, oppression, occupation, revolution, nationalisation, and major conflicts that followed right after.
First, it slightly brushes over our main character whose father refused to play for the British. Then, we meet the wave of French people and American culture into the characters’ lives. And ultimately, the revolution that rips their lives apart.
The story starts the day the main character was born. Her father was a poor oud player who barely scraped by to provide for his family. He expected a boy, but instead, Laila was born.
He raised her as a boy. He taught her how to fight, how to play soccer, how to stand up for herself. When she was older, her talent for singing manifested. So, her father took her with him to sing in the café when he was playing. She had to wear loose clothes and cut her hair to avoid drawing attention.
When she got older, life didn’t get any easier. She had to quit school to work with her mother in the kitchen.
One day, a rich young man, a son of a pasha, noticed her. And her life changed.
This is a story of hope and hopelessness. Of love and betrayal. Of shame and obedience. Of resistance and stubbornness. Of pain and despair. Of losing one’s footing and re-inventing oneself. About freedom and oppression.
I recommend it to anyone interested in historical fiction who loves rich and deep stories that are deeply integrated into the core of the culture. It is a window into the history of different society levels of Egypt in the mid-20th century.
As for me, I am afraid I picked this book at the wrong time. I was not ready for the amount of small cultural details I needed to learn. At any other time, I would cherish every moment of it. I would Google every unfamiliar term, word, and tradition. Unfortunately, I picked it at a time when I was emotionally exhausted, and I didn’t have energy for it. I didn’t want to set it aside because it would be hard for me to restart later on. So I read it without doing my usual additional research and knowing that I am not “all-in” connected to this story. This is why I give it official 4.5 stars, but this is exactly why I round it to 5 stars as well.
I want to make it clear: this book is 100% worth it! I am acutely aware that I was not able to fully enjoy it because of me, not because there is something I didn’t like in the book. I loved it. I love the story. And I love that I learned so much about the culture and history of Egypt.
Read it. If you are ready to immerse yourself in a small world of Cairo with all its traditions, you will love it.
My favorite quotes:
“If you are not proud of who you are, you’ll never be proud of who you’ll become.”
(Chapter 17)
“[…] what’s wrong and right never really factor into political decisions. It’s just what’s right for the powerful. What’s wrong for the weak doesn’t matter.”
(Chapter 26)
Thank you, Jasmin Attia, for providing me the copy of your book for reading and reviewing. I loved it! 💖
July 14, 2023
“The mind lied. It manipulated. It manufactured. But the heart made the music.”
The Oud Player of Cairo by Jasmin Attia is a stunning debut novel that takes readers on a journey to mid-20th century Egypt. Attia's writing is lyrical, heart-felt and vivid. The story follows Laila, a talented young Egyptian woman with a stunning voice who defies societal rules and expectations to become a musician like her father, the oud player.
What I loved most about this book was how Attia weaves Egyptian culture and traditions into the narrative. The characters were so well developed and adeptly crafted; they felt real and natural. Attia's storytelling is gripping and heart-wrenching, with the events leading up to the 1952 revolution serving as a backdrop (and ticking time-bomb) to Laila's personal journey.
One thing that I found particularly interesting about The Oud Player of Cairo was the way the author explored mid-20th century Cairene society. The cast of characters is made up of people from wildly different social classes, and the author does a great job of showing how these characters interact with one another.
The novel also tackles the different impacts of the 1952 revolution on the different social classes, covering the Nasser reforms, the socialism era, and the Jewish exodus.
The way everything came full circle at the end was just perfect (and sad). It left me feeling satisfied and fulfilled (and again, sad). This book was everything I love about historical fiction; informative, evocative, and heart-wrenchingly beautiful.
“She was in a way, touching death by leaving everything behind.”
Those final chapters had me in tears, whew.
Thank you NetGalley and Schaffner Press for sending me an Advanced Reader’s Copy to review!
December 9, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Oud Player of Cairo by Jasmin Attia
I was completely taken by surprise by how much this book moved me. What stood out to me the most was not just the historical setting, but how intimate and emotionally layered Laila’s story felt. Jasmin Attia writes with a softness and sincerity that made me feel like I was growing up alongside Laila — watching her dream, fall, break, and rebuild.
The relationship between Laila and her father was my favorite part of the entire novel. Their shared love of music, the way he nurtures her voice, and the tenderness of their bond felt so authentic. Every scene involving Kamal and the oud felt alive — like I could actually hear the music vibrating through the pages.
Another thing I really appreciated was how naturally Attia blends the political and social context of Egypt during those decades. It’s never heavy-handed; it just forms a powerful backdrop that adds weight to the characters’ lives. The way Christians and Muslims are shown living together, sharing traditions and community, was one of the most beautiful aspects of the book — subtle but meaningful.
Laila’s personal journey is what truly stayed with me. Watching her navigate love, disappointment, and the limitations placed on her as a young woman was heartbreaking at times. There were moments I had to stop reading just to take in what she was feeling. And yet, there’s so much resilience and quiet strength in her character. Her transformation by the end felt earned and incredibly satisfying.
This book made me emotional in ways I wasn’t expecting — I laughed, I felt my chest tighten, and I absolutely fell in love with these characters. It’s elegant, immersive, and beautifully written. Jasmin Attia has a rare talent for capturing both the beauty and pain of a life shaped by art, family, and history.
I genuinely loved this novel and will be thinking about it for a long time.
I was completely taken by surprise by how much this book moved me. What stood out to me the most was not just the historical setting, but how intimate and emotionally layered Laila’s story felt. Jasmin Attia writes with a softness and sincerity that made me feel like I was growing up alongside Laila — watching her dream, fall, break, and rebuild.
The relationship between Laila and her father was my favorite part of the entire novel. Their shared love of music, the way he nurtures her voice, and the tenderness of their bond felt so authentic. Every scene involving Kamal and the oud felt alive — like I could actually hear the music vibrating through the pages.
Another thing I really appreciated was how naturally Attia blends the political and social context of Egypt during those decades. It’s never heavy-handed; it just forms a powerful backdrop that adds weight to the characters’ lives. The way Christians and Muslims are shown living together, sharing traditions and community, was one of the most beautiful aspects of the book — subtle but meaningful.
Laila’s personal journey is what truly stayed with me. Watching her navigate love, disappointment, and the limitations placed on her as a young woman was heartbreaking at times. There were moments I had to stop reading just to take in what she was feeling. And yet, there’s so much resilience and quiet strength in her character. Her transformation by the end felt earned and incredibly satisfying.
This book made me emotional in ways I wasn’t expecting — I laughed, I felt my chest tighten, and I absolutely fell in love with these characters. It’s elegant, immersive, and beautifully written. Jasmin Attia has a rare talent for capturing both the beauty and pain of a life shaped by art, family, and history.
I genuinely loved this novel and will be thinking about it for a long time.
July 25, 2025
Folks who know me know I'm stingy with my five-star reviews. I don't like to give them, because I want somewhere to go when a book comes along with something special. I've only just finished The Oud Player of Cairo, so maybe I'm just excited, but at the moment, I'll put this book up there with The Lord of the Rings, with The Dead are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X, with my favorite books ever.
I'll put it beside the Lord of the Rings because it's one of a tiny handful of books that could challenge The Hobbit for being my favorite work of fiction.
I'll put it beside The Dead are Arising because it demonstrates the same level of meticulous research while remaining gripping.
I'll put it beside my favorite books ever because Attia just kept adding to the ways this book touched my heart and intersected with my own experiences.
On the sheer quality of the book, I'll point out three things in particular. First, world-building. I don't know if you can really call it that, since it's historical fiction rather than fantasy, but it's analogous. Attia writes early-20th-century Egypt in a way that feels profoundly real and strikingly vivid. The meticulous research really shines. Second, symbolism. Attia sails smoothly between Scylla and Charybdis, avoiding irritating heavy-handedness and murky confusion. The book never spells it out, but it does so without becoming a puzzle in need of a solution. Third, the characters. You'll love them, you'll hate them, you'll be annoyed at them, you'll be grateful for them, they'll enrage you, and they'll charm you. And they all feel unflaggingly complex and real. This book is excellent.
I'll put it beside the Lord of the Rings because it's one of a tiny handful of books that could challenge The Hobbit for being my favorite work of fiction.
I'll put it beside The Dead are Arising because it demonstrates the same level of meticulous research while remaining gripping.
I'll put it beside my favorite books ever because Attia just kept adding to the ways this book touched my heart and intersected with my own experiences.
On the sheer quality of the book, I'll point out three things in particular. First, world-building. I don't know if you can really call it that, since it's historical fiction rather than fantasy, but it's analogous. Attia writes early-20th-century Egypt in a way that feels profoundly real and strikingly vivid. The meticulous research really shines. Second, symbolism. Attia sails smoothly between Scylla and Charybdis, avoiding irritating heavy-handedness and murky confusion. The book never spells it out, but it does so without becoming a puzzle in need of a solution. Third, the characters. You'll love them, you'll hate them, you'll be annoyed at them, you'll be grateful for them, they'll enrage you, and they'll charm you. And they all feel unflaggingly complex and real. This book is excellent.
March 10, 2024
Laila’s baba (father) raised her in the spirit of the boy he had always hoped for. Baba taught her strength and endurance, to stand up for what she believed and walk proud with the confidence of a man. In Egypt, during the mid 1900’s their family was just getting by. In Cairo, Kamal was a well known oud player at local cafes and parties. Talented and kind, his music entertained many but did not produce a large income. While his wife took in sewing and odd jobs to help the family financially, mostly her responsibilities were to care for their two girls. One day Kamal realized that Laila, his younger daughter had a beautiful voice. With some training and lessons her voice grew into a magnificent gift. Even though society frowned upon Laila accompanying him on his musical endeavors, he was certain she could be famous. The duo became widely known and applauded. As life took some turns for the worse, Laila is married off to a handsome pasha from a wealthy family. At first their love feels authentic and hopeful. But as society proves them wrong, their initial emotions are not strong enough to withstand the pressures of life in the upper echelons of their city. Laila must ultimately forge her future path instead of following what is expected. In the midst of a society teetering on the brink of transformation, Laila finds her world upended by the dynamic forces of politics, religion, and the evolving dynamics within her own family. A beautiful story filled with incredible characters, interesting history and family love.
May 24, 2023
“Laila was love and poetry and strength. Laila was mystery and resilience. Laila was night and the distant brilliant stars in it.”
The Oud Player of Cairo tells the beautiful story of a father who guides his youngest daughter through the ways of the world as he would have parented a son. Additionally, his discovery of Laila’s unique voice leads her down a path in life which tends to conflict at times with tradition versus staying true to her heart. The result is Laila’s song – beginning to end, and all the ups and downs of the notes in between.
From the opening paragraph, I felt as though Jasmin Attia’s writing style was like listening to a song played on Laila’s father’s oud. She lyrically paints a picture as colorful as I can only imagine Cairo to be – from the smells of the food, the sounds of the music and the zaghoruta (which I actually had to look up!), to the vibrant fabrics worn by elite society resulting in a wonderfully crafted story throughout Laila’s life. I truly fell in love with Laila, her family and friends and felt pain with her struggles and happiness with her joys.
My initial reaction to the end was that I felt unsettled, but after sitting on it for a day and rereading it once again, I believe the ending of the story is perfection. If you like stories which integrate true character growth and self-awareness influenced heavily by historical events then The Oud Player of Cairo is a must read!
Thank you NetGalley and Schaffner Press for sending this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Oud Player of Cairo tells the beautiful story of a father who guides his youngest daughter through the ways of the world as he would have parented a son. Additionally, his discovery of Laila’s unique voice leads her down a path in life which tends to conflict at times with tradition versus staying true to her heart. The result is Laila’s song – beginning to end, and all the ups and downs of the notes in between.
From the opening paragraph, I felt as though Jasmin Attia’s writing style was like listening to a song played on Laila’s father’s oud. She lyrically paints a picture as colorful as I can only imagine Cairo to be – from the smells of the food, the sounds of the music and the zaghoruta (which I actually had to look up!), to the vibrant fabrics worn by elite society resulting in a wonderfully crafted story throughout Laila’s life. I truly fell in love with Laila, her family and friends and felt pain with her struggles and happiness with her joys.
My initial reaction to the end was that I felt unsettled, but after sitting on it for a day and rereading it once again, I believe the ending of the story is perfection. If you like stories which integrate true character growth and self-awareness influenced heavily by historical events then The Oud Player of Cairo is a must read!
Thank you NetGalley and Schaffner Press for sending this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 4, 2023
*I received this book on Netgalley in exchange for a review*
Attia utilized strong language and vivid descriptions to draw the reader into the world of Egypt in the mid-20th century and into Laila’s life. The book occurs over a time period of many years, from Laila’s birth (in 1932) until 1956 when she is 24. Doing the math now makes the life and stories of this character so much deeper and more meaningful as she survived so much at such a young age. Her life is beautifully crafted and flawed and torturous and yet Laila still carries with her a hope and optimism that offsets the brutality of her world.
One thing I personally was disappointed by was how much of the book is spoiled in the description or preview. I didn’t do the math but I felt that around ⅔ of the book was just a more detailed version of the description with only one or two surprises. I still thoroughly enjoyed the book and the story but I would’ve enjoyed knowing less ahead of time. I also felt that the ending was rather rushed and that more happened in the last chunk of pages than the entire beginning of the book. I wish it had been more drawn out or detailed as everything happened very quickly and then, just like that, the book was over.
Attia utilized strong language and vivid descriptions to draw the reader into the world of Egypt in the mid-20th century and into Laila’s life. The book occurs over a time period of many years, from Laila’s birth (in 1932) until 1956 when she is 24. Doing the math now makes the life and stories of this character so much deeper and more meaningful as she survived so much at such a young age. Her life is beautifully crafted and flawed and torturous and yet Laila still carries with her a hope and optimism that offsets the brutality of her world.
One thing I personally was disappointed by was how much of the book is spoiled in the description or preview. I didn’t do the math but I felt that around ⅔ of the book was just a more detailed version of the description with only one or two surprises. I still thoroughly enjoyed the book and the story but I would’ve enjoyed knowing less ahead of time. I also felt that the ending was rather rushed and that more happened in the last chunk of pages than the entire beginning of the book. I wish it had been more drawn out or detailed as everything happened very quickly and then, just like that, the book was over.
April 8, 2025
The novel takes place in Egypt during British occupation in the mid twentieth century. Kamal, the head of the family is an oud player making just enough money for his family- his wife Selma and their daughter Naime.
When their second child is about to be born, Kamal prays for a son but instead is blessed with Laila. Her red faced wailing and her brazen, spunky personality endeared her to her father. He raised her with many of the lessons of self determination and survival, he would have taught to his son. Laila, at an early age discovers her beautiful singing voice, and accompanies her father to the coffee houses and bars much to her mother's disapproval.
Most of the novel covers her unhappy marriage to a wealthy, handsome upper class Amir. This part really showed the class division as well as the chauvinism and extreme sexism of the culture. In 1953, Egypt's monarchy is overthrown by militants, land and wealth is redistributed and a war with Israel is begun.
Drastic changes to Laila's life happen in the last seventy five pages. I guess my one complaint is that this section did a lot of telling not showing and I would have liked to see more from this time in her life.
When their second child is about to be born, Kamal prays for a son but instead is blessed with Laila. Her red faced wailing and her brazen, spunky personality endeared her to her father. He raised her with many of the lessons of self determination and survival, he would have taught to his son. Laila, at an early age discovers her beautiful singing voice, and accompanies her father to the coffee houses and bars much to her mother's disapproval.
Most of the novel covers her unhappy marriage to a wealthy, handsome upper class Amir. This part really showed the class division as well as the chauvinism and extreme sexism of the culture. In 1953, Egypt's monarchy is overthrown by militants, land and wealth is redistributed and a war with Israel is begun.
Drastic changes to Laila's life happen in the last seventy five pages. I guess my one complaint is that this section did a lot of telling not showing and I would have liked to see more from this time in her life.
January 15, 2025
Jasmin Attia’s—The Oud Player of Cairo *****
Although Kamal, an oud player, is disappointed that his second child is another daughter, he encourages Laila to play soccer, to be resilient, and excludes her from chores her mother and older sister perform. As she grows, Kamal learns Laila is a natural singer and trains her to sing Arabic songs. Against her mother’s wishes, Kamal takes her to night clubs where he plays his oud and eventually, she sings with the ensemble. Her father dies and she marries the rich pasha’s son. Her life changes—she no longer goes hungry, she moves into a palace, she is idle instead of working in another family’s kitchen, and wears expensive clothes, but will she be able to adjust after living in the poorest part of Cairo? And will her new family accept her, a woman who cannot read?
A great insight into a time when the British ruled Egypt and were finally ousted as well as the restricted role women were expected to play.
Although Kamal, an oud player, is disappointed that his second child is another daughter, he encourages Laila to play soccer, to be resilient, and excludes her from chores her mother and older sister perform. As she grows, Kamal learns Laila is a natural singer and trains her to sing Arabic songs. Against her mother’s wishes, Kamal takes her to night clubs where he plays his oud and eventually, she sings with the ensemble. Her father dies and she marries the rich pasha’s son. Her life changes—she no longer goes hungry, she moves into a palace, she is idle instead of working in another family’s kitchen, and wears expensive clothes, but will she be able to adjust after living in the poorest part of Cairo? And will her new family accept her, a woman who cannot read?
A great insight into a time when the British ruled Egypt and were finally ousted as well as the restricted role women were expected to play.
July 2, 2023
I waivered between 3 and 4 stars, prob a 3.75 as it was at times a touch slow, or predictable. At the same time- An interesting and heartfelt book, unusual in its setting in Egypt. Following a young women Laila raised from girlhood by a musician/oud player father who recognizes her vocal talent, and over-rides traditional roles training as her mother prefers. Sisterhood, Love and Marriage, Mother- daughter, Community are all part of this telling. After her father's death and through her coming of age, the clashes with gender roles, economic class, the power of British presence, right into a revolution in MId 20th C is a setting less visited in fiction by and about women. Fascinating, visually descriptive, and often sad.
February 15, 2025
This book is a love story about the love of family and the strength it gives you to find the right answer. It is a a story that has you wanting to continue to read to see what is happening next yet it moves with grace and color describing the people and surroundings with simple but lush prose.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the daily preparations of life, the food - the shopping to get it, haggling with the store clerks, making delicious meals out of next to nothing but mostly how it made them feel, how it gave them strength and unity. The descriptions of the city, the gardens, the buildings - all seamlessly interwoven into the story.
I would highly recommend this book and hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
I enjoyed the descriptions of the daily preparations of life, the food - the shopping to get it, haggling with the store clerks, making delicious meals out of next to nothing but mostly how it made them feel, how it gave them strength and unity. The descriptions of the city, the gardens, the buildings - all seamlessly interwoven into the story.
I would highly recommend this book and hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
August 15, 2023
A truly great read for me. I found this to be a comforting bedtime read, despite the heavy underlying themes that are woven throughout the novel. Often times I feel the weight of a book can take away from the joy of reading, but that was not the case here. The book doesn’t shy away from the tough topics while still maintaining hope. The author has a beautiful way with words and I felt attached to each character very early on. I am still going to cross my fingers for a sequel now, I want to continue to follow this character’s story.
July 26, 2023
It's not often that I read a book that makes me forget I am reading. The author's ability to paint with words is magical. I felt like I was "watching" the tale unfold in my head- it is so beautifully done. Along with an admirable heroine that bravely pushes against the social and cultural grain of early 1900s Egypt, the historical accuracy and skillful use of Arabic words brilliantly enrich the story. I laughed, I cried and I blushed and now that it is over, I'm praying for more! I must know what happens next.
October 18, 2023
4.5 rounding up
beautifully written, enough historical fiction to give context while layering in themes of social status, what is considered intelligence, belonging and home, love and duty, and so much more.
tw: SA, DA, Violence and Hate crimes
beautifully written, enough historical fiction to give context while layering in themes of social status, what is considered intelligence, belonging and home, love and duty, and so much more.
tw: SA, DA, Violence and Hate crimes
October 22, 2023
3.5 -4 stars
I thought this was a beautiful story overall. The first 1/3 of the book felt like the strongest part of the story to me. The middle dragged a little and the end felt slightly rushed but I did find myself enjoying this.
I thought this was a beautiful story overall. The first 1/3 of the book felt like the strongest part of the story to me. The middle dragged a little and the end felt slightly rushed but I did find myself enjoying this.
January 3, 2025
What a beautiful read! This book is full of history, culture and music of 1930s-50s Egypt, a strong female protagonist who is easy to love, and a through-line of small and large acts of revolution. Highly recommend!
February 2, 2025
Wow. This is one of the best books a I’ve read in a long time. I was captivated by the story, the characters, the culture, and the time period. Loved everything about it.
I hope the author writes a sequel.
I hope the author writes a sequel.
July 10, 2023
I love Middle East literature and this is one is excellent and well written.
I loved it and it's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I loved it and it's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
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August 26, 2023Here is my review of this book for Washington Independent Review of Books. https://www.washingtonindependentrevi...
August 30, 2023
This is the rare book that I wished was longer. We don't get near enough time to see Laila come into her own, which is a real shame as I fell in love with her character from the beginning.
October 19, 2023
A beautiful read that takes you into an old Cairo. I loved every page of this book
November 2, 2023
I loved feeling like I was diving into a beautiful Egyptian culture throughout the whole novel. There was so much magic in this story, and it was so beautifully written. 5/5!
October 23, 2024
Insightful. International. Well researched. Engrossing story that makes you hopeful for the main character.
January 4, 2025
Loved it
January 24, 2026
Story of an Egyptian family, the first part was good but the ending felt rushed and not put together well. Good story, not so good execution.
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