Rating: 
Summary: Everyday life made interesting
Review: This book is among the best by Mahfouz, one of the world's best authors. There is too much lost in translation, but with just a basic understanding of the Middle East and of Mahfouz, I believe that can be overcome. The main character of this book is really the alley itself. Mahfouz brings togther its inhabitants and weaves an involving tale of love, hope, faith and the effects of Western imperialism. But in the end, life in the alley just goes on, and in this Mahfouz affirms the beauty of life as we live it every day.
Rating: 
Summary: Chronicle of midaq alley
Review: This book is as satisfying as William Faulkner, Robert Penn Warren, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Herman Melville, Milan Kundera, and so on. A friend very nonchalantly passed a copy along to me. You must read this book if you love great literature.
Rating: 
Summary: This is a great book
Review: This book is as satisfying as William Faulkner, Robert Penn Warren, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Herman Melville, Milan Kundera, and so on. A friend very nonchalantly passed a copy along to me. You must read this book if you love great literature.
Rating:
Summary: Great book but soft in translation
Review: This book is excellent. The plot pressure cooks in the alley, with a dynamic flow. Weakest aspect is in translation, it's something you can sometimes "tell," but not too often. This novel, in translation, demands footnotes. It won a Nobel Prize for a reason, pick it up.
Rating:
Summary: Great book but soft in translation
Review: This book is excellent. The plot pressure cooks in the alley, with a dynamic flow. Weakest aspect is in translation, it's something you can sometimes "tell," but not too often. This novel, in translation, demands footnotes. It won a Nobel Prize for a reason, pick it up.
Rating:
Summary: You'll become a resident of this little street
Review: This book was an excellent and not-too-difficult read. I say not too difficult because I read the entire thing on my morning and evening commute over two weeks. The narration really brings the reader into Midaq Alley, to a point where one feels like they too are peering at every character through window shades and evesdropping on conversations in the cafe. The plight of the main female character is reminiscent of Sister Carrie. Like Carrie, she is a character that one can neither like nor detest. I enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more of Mahfouz's work.
Rating:
Summary: An intimate perspective
Review: This novel is the perfect distillation of Mafouz' brilliance as a writer. A slice-of-life in Midaq Alley, the characters are carefully wrought and distinct, complete with idiosyncrasies. From Uum Hamida, who brokers a marriage for the well-heeled Mrs. Saniya Afify, to Zaitas the cripple-maker, each has a role in the tapestry of life as lived in the alley. Like the Cairo Trilogy, Mafouz creates his own rhythm and style while adapting the novel format, one not commonly found in Arabic literature when he began writing novels. His plot revolves around the denizens of Midaq Alley and their every day yearnings for happiness, love and prosperity. Whether you are familiar with this author, or this is your first Mafouz novel, it is an excellent example of the unique talent that allows the reader an intimate view of the characters common to this man's vast insight into humanity.
Rating:
Summary: So Many Short Stories Glued Together to Produce A Novel
Review: When I take a look at the list of the translated works of Mahfouz from Arabic to English I fell petty. This man, being one of the best (if not the best) Arabic novelists, is not really well appreciated in the West. I am not trying to imply anything here. It just so happens that Maxim Gorky, the greatest Russian Novelist, is also ignored. You cannot, for example, find the complete collection of his short stories translated to English, which really deprives so many readers from his capturing style. When you view the ratings the readers had given to Mahfouz's works, you would find that they have really enjoyed his singular style. It is unique, as a matter of fact. He was actually affected by the Western and Russian giants in his writing style. This story "Midaq Alley," with midaq meaning an object being hit, just like an anvil, was written after 6 other literary works. The first one was a collection of fine short stories, and for a starter in literature, I might say they have some elements of genius. Then he went to write three historical novels, evidently affected by Sir Walter Scott, situated in old Egypt. I did not like those three, even though the language (in Arabic) was excellent. Then he started his real career with "The New Cairo," which is the name of a quarter in Cairo, followed by "Khan Al-Khalili," both being excellent reads. I was disappointed, thus, by seeing this story. It is not all that bad, but I did not see the use of much of the occurrences and the plot could have been reduced to a short story. Do not take me wrong, I enjoyed it after all, but when I compare it to "The New Cairo" and the "Khan Al-Khalili" I cannot but give it 3 stars. The story speaks about the life styles of people living in a popular quarter called "Al-Midaq Alley," which is a little bigger than an alley itself. So many characters appear in the plot, and Mahfouz has done a great job describing their lives and feelings. The story is actually centered about a girl who is about to leave the alley and start a business in "prostitution." She has a lover, and the story is mainly accounting the suffering of her negligence of him and her suffering from poverty. Mahfouz is a popular writer and would always give you the truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth. He describes in this novel the true feelings of a boys loving café master, an old spinster trying to hunt a husband, and a beggar providing a dentist with golden teeth. If you want to know something about Egypt of the 1940's (like I did), you are more than welcome to read this novel, which, I guarantee, will not bore you.
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