Chicago

Description

Professor Galal Amin says of this distinguished novel: “Here is Alaa Al Aswany’s new novel, “Chicago,” which deserves similar success, just as much as “The Yacoubian Building.” I was delighted when I finished reading it for more than one reason. This reading confirmed to me that we indeed have a great and talented writer, and it became clear that “The Yacoubian Building” is not a unique, unrepeatable phenomenon, but rather, it can be repeated time and time again. The new novel, “Chicago,” has all the advantages of its predecessor: suspense that begins from the first page and continues to the last; a smooth, swift writing style that consistently hits the target without sluggishness or lingering; clear and consistent characterization; refined Arabic language without affectation or deliberate strangeness; and, above all, nobility of meaning. In my opinion, no novel, no matter how exciting or masterful, is worthless if its purpose is not noble. If the purpose is trivial or contemptible, it undermines whatever skill and cleverness might have had on the reader.