Chicago by Alaa Al Aswany – a book to widen your horizons
I bought this book in Dublin but took it with me on my recent trip to Seattle and read it while I was there. The title and cover attracted me. I lived in Evanston, just north of Chicago, for a year, 1958 to 1959. I was attending Northwestern and earned my Master’s Degree in Geography. I had some feeling for Chicago but hardly had time to really explore and enjoy the city. Since that time I have touched down in O’Hare many times but still haven’t spent time seeing the many sights that Chicago has to offer. I always seem to be travelling on to somewhere else.
This book offered a picture of a Chicago I never knew. It is Chicago as seen from the experiences of a number of recent immigrants from Egypt. It is actually more about Egypt and Egyptians and the immigrant experience rather than the city of Chicago. A fascinating topic and a very interesting read.
For a New York Times review of this book, follow this link.
Leave a Reply