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sydneyqamar's review against another edition
4.0
This book hurtled me from feelings of hope to intense sorrow and even worry. It gave me sleepless nights as I worried about the fates of the endearing characters and made me wish some others would materialise before me so I could slap them for their callous behaviour. My only complaint(s) with this book was that it took me a while to feel the lyrical nature of the writing, but the rhythm evolves throughout the book until it reaches exquisite in the final chapters. I also found that some details-the dress, housing, etc-can be a bit hard to access without cultural background but not to the hinderance of enjoyment.
paola_mobileread's review against another edition
2.0
It is a pity that what struck me most in this book were mostly the aspects which work less well than those that did, and this is probably because this happens mostly in the second half of the novel.
In the first part the characters are drawn quite vividly, for instance by having different voices describing the same episodes from different points of view, or with many little details that help chisel a three-dimensional figure for each of the characters. Most chapters centre arounda single character, and - at least for the first half of the novel - it seemed that the writing style itself was adapted to that character: but then this stops.
There is no further character development, and the last 150 pages are there to finish off any remaining lose ends of the plot, in a relatively plain style. For me, a lost opportunity to find out a bit more about the Sudanese and Egyptian societies at such crucial junctures in their histories. Yes, we have some bare snippets of facts far in the background, yes we are repeatedly told that Egypt was modern and European, but for that we have a token, rather shallow representtive in Nabilah, and that is about it. Yes, we are told that one guy (which we never really meet) loses his job in Egypt when the political scene changes, but that is at the margin.
As a study of a love story, the two central ones (Mahmoud and Nabilah, Nur and Soraya) are both immature in different ways, while the one which is potentially more interesting (between Fatma and the hapless Nassir) remain in the background. As a study of family ties, again the potentially more interesting relationthisp (between the two brothers Idris and Mahmoud) is mostly ignored. As a study of society, we are only presented some facts which could have made for some very interesting developments (on female circumcision: there are the polarised views of Waheeba and Nabila, but what does Fatma think? That would have been interesting to explore). The plot itself becomes increasing predictable, and it is not sustained by a writing that becomes planer and planer.
Having said all this, the novel is enjoyable, and there are some beautiful passages (as in the chapter describing Nur's return to Umduram). Overall, though, for me an OK read.
In the first part the characters are drawn quite vividly, for instance by having different voices describing the same episodes from different points of view, or with many little details that help chisel a three-dimensional figure for each of the characters. Most chapters centre arounda single character, and - at least for the first half of the novel - it seemed that the writing style itself was adapted to that character: but then this stops.
There is no further character development, and the last 150 pages are there to finish off any remaining lose ends of the plot, in a relatively plain style. For me, a lost opportunity to find out a bit more about the Sudanese and Egyptian societies at such crucial junctures in their histories. Yes, we have some bare snippets of facts far in the background, yes we are repeatedly told that Egypt was modern and European, but for that we have a token, rather shallow representtive in Nabilah, and that is about it. Yes, we are told that one guy (which we never really meet) loses his job in Egypt when the political scene changes, but that is at the margin.
As a study of a love story, the two central ones (Mahmoud and Nabilah, Nur and Soraya) are both immature in different ways, while the one which is potentially more interesting (between Fatma and the hapless Nassir) remain in the background. As a study of family ties, again the potentially more interesting relationthisp (between the two brothers Idris and Mahmoud) is mostly ignored. As a study of society, we are only presented some facts which could have made for some very interesting developments (on female circumcision: there are the polarised views of Waheeba and Nabila, but what does Fatma think? That would have been interesting to explore). The plot itself becomes increasing predictable, and it is not sustained by a writing that becomes planer and planer.
Having said all this, the novel is enjoyable, and there are some beautiful passages (as in the chapter describing Nur's return to Umduram). Overall, though, for me an OK read.
rasoa_simiyu's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I found the pace of the book slow hence took me longer to finish but that doesn’t take away from how much I enjoyed reading it
annindo_underthesun's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
vtrumpredd's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
hannahleewhite's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
yvonne_s's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully written.
This is my favourite of Leila Aboulela's novels. Like its title, her prose is always lyrical, and Lyrics Alley has an added confidence in its writing.
The novel is set in the 1950s as Sudan approaches independence from the UK. I knew little about Sudan's history, and this is deftly woven into the novel, without dominating it. Lyrics Alley is based on the true story of Aboulela's uncle, who turned to poetry after an accident.
In Lyrics Alley, Mahmoud Abuzeid is a prosperous businessman who is head of an extended family that includes his two wives, his two sons, his brother and his brother's daughters. Mahmoud's two wives are in stark contrast: the first wife is Sudanese, menopausal and traditional; the second wife is young, Egyptian and modern. Mahmoud's two sons by his first wife are also in contrast. Nassir, the elder, in spite of being married, is irresponsible in work and play. Nur, the younger, is a brilliant scholar expected to go to Cambridge University in Britain. He is also betrothed to Soraya, his cousin, and their affection for each other is sensitively portrayed, as are the repercussions on their relationship of Nur's terrible accident.
Lyrics Alley is a multi-viewpoint novel and Aboulela shows us the lives of the characters through their eyes, allowing us to see their thoughts and feelings. Instead of judging the conditions in which the characters find themselves, Aboulela allows the characters to speak for themselves. For instance, we feel the young Soraya's indignation when her father doesn't allow her to have the spectacles she so desperately needs for school, and this incident reveals the plight of women at the time when men were looking forward to liberation! In the same way, Aboulela also weaves the issue of female circumcision into the narrative in a way that leaves no doubt about its impact. At the same time as she sensitively shows the feelings of the traditional wife, Waheeba, who is afraid of what she sees as the terrible consequences that would befall her daughter were she to remain uncircumcised.
One final character I would like to mention is Badr, who tutors Nur after his accident. His position is so lowly that Mahmoud does not remember his name. Badr is a complex character, a devout Muslim who struggles with guilt at not being able to maintain his ideals. One passage that stands out in my mind is when the teacher visits the mosque and feels a strong sense of spiritual connection but then wonders if it was all his imagination; afterwards he goes home feeling sure he's going to cope better now his ailing father and hapless cousin. Instead he flies into a rage and then feels frustrated at himself.
Lyrics Alley is a great blend of history and story, and throughout it all Aboulela writes with a sense of kindness, of understanding.
This is my favourite of Leila Aboulela's novels. Like its title, her prose is always lyrical, and Lyrics Alley has an added confidence in its writing.
The novel is set in the 1950s as Sudan approaches independence from the UK. I knew little about Sudan's history, and this is deftly woven into the novel, without dominating it. Lyrics Alley is based on the true story of Aboulela's uncle, who turned to poetry after an accident.
In Lyrics Alley, Mahmoud Abuzeid is a prosperous businessman who is head of an extended family that includes his two wives, his two sons, his brother and his brother's daughters. Mahmoud's two wives are in stark contrast: the first wife is Sudanese, menopausal and traditional; the second wife is young, Egyptian and modern. Mahmoud's two sons by his first wife are also in contrast. Nassir, the elder, in spite of being married, is irresponsible in work and play. Nur, the younger, is a brilliant scholar expected to go to Cambridge University in Britain. He is also betrothed to Soraya, his cousin, and their affection for each other is sensitively portrayed, as are the repercussions on their relationship of Nur's terrible accident.
Lyrics Alley is a multi-viewpoint novel and Aboulela shows us the lives of the characters through their eyes, allowing us to see their thoughts and feelings. Instead of judging the conditions in which the characters find themselves, Aboulela allows the characters to speak for themselves. For instance, we feel the young Soraya's indignation when her father doesn't allow her to have the spectacles she so desperately needs for school, and this incident reveals the plight of women at the time when men were looking forward to liberation! In the same way, Aboulela also weaves the issue of female circumcision into the narrative in a way that leaves no doubt about its impact. At the same time as she sensitively shows the feelings of the traditional wife, Waheeba, who is afraid of what she sees as the terrible consequences that would befall her daughter were she to remain uncircumcised.
One final character I would like to mention is Badr, who tutors Nur after his accident. His position is so lowly that Mahmoud does not remember his name. Badr is a complex character, a devout Muslim who struggles with guilt at not being able to maintain his ideals. One passage that stands out in my mind is when the teacher visits the mosque and feels a strong sense of spiritual connection but then wonders if it was all his imagination; afterwards he goes home feeling sure he's going to cope better now his ailing father and hapless cousin. Instead he flies into a rage and then feels frustrated at himself.
Lyrics Alley is a great blend of history and story, and throughout it all Aboulela writes with a sense of kindness, of understanding.
inkedmusingshi's review against another edition
5.0
A lyrical and sublime tale of a family set in early 1950s in the days preceding Sudan's independence from Anglo-Egyptian rule. Aboulela's expertise in bringing forth people's hopes and fears, their journey through happy and tragic times is superb.
leavingsealevel's review against another edition
3.0
I did like this book, but I liked all the other Leila Aboulela books I've read better. I think it took me a while to see this as story about Nur rather than a story primarily about Waheeba and Nabilah, and by the time I made that shift it was too late for me to totally engage.