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smuds2's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
There were a lot of kind of ham fisted ideas in this book - I think it would have been a better 300 page book than 100 page book. It’s brevity made it feel more like a manifesto than a work of fiction
lauren_endnotes's review
3.0
• THE SEARCH by Naguib Mahfouz, translated from the Arabic by Mohamed Islam, 1962.
A deathbed confession, a desperate search, and a web of deception...makings for a good little noir.
1960s Cairo, most of this novella takes place within the walls of a small hotel.
Lusty and lurid, the protagonist is not likable, but he isn't meant to be. The women of this novel are either vampy femme fatales, or long-suffering saints - more broad stroke caricatures in the noir genre.
Not a lot of nuance but that could be related to the novella length too.
One of the Mahfouz's lesser works. PALACE WALK and ADRIFT ON THE NILE, the other 2 Mahfouz works I've enjoyed, both rank above this one, but this still captured attention and interest.
3.5 ⭐
A deathbed confession, a desperate search, and a web of deception...makings for a good little noir.
1960s Cairo, most of this novella takes place within the walls of a small hotel.
Lusty and lurid, the protagonist is not likable, but he isn't meant to be. The women of this novel are either vampy femme fatales, or long-suffering saints - more broad stroke caricatures in the noir genre.
Not a lot of nuance but that could be related to the novella length too.
One of the Mahfouz's lesser works. PALACE WALK and ADRIFT ON THE NILE, the other 2 Mahfouz works I've enjoyed, both rank above this one, but this still captured attention and interest.
3.5 ⭐
manelradhia's review against another edition
4.0
الماضي...الحاضر ...المستقبل...اي طريق يستدعي منا الاهتمام و الاستكشاف...انحن من نختار ان نمشي على طريق آبائنا ام آبائنا هم الذين يحددوا اي طريق نمشي عليه .
مسألة فلسفية ناقشها العديد. لكن ييقى نجيب محفوظ باسلوبه و سلاسة كلماته مبدع لا يضاهيه احد .
مسألة فلسفية ناقشها العديد. لكن ييقى نجيب محفوظ باسلوبه و سلاسة كلماته مبدع لا يضاهيه احد .
garseta's review
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Sexual content, and Infidelity
Minor: Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Grief, and Death of parent
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