41 pages • 1 hour read
Alaa Al AswanyThe Yacoubian Building
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2002A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al Aswany, set in Cairo around the time of the Gulf War, weaves together the lives of diverse residents in the once-luxurious Yacoubian Building: from Zaki Bey, an aging womanizer, to Taha, a poor student influenced by religious extremists; from Busayna, who grapples with poverty and sexual harassment, to Hatim, a homosexual newspaper editor.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
The Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al Aswany is widely praised for its rich portrayal of Egyptian society through the microcosm of a Cairo apartment building. Reviewers laud its engaging characters and compelling narrative. Criticisms include a perceived reliance on stereotypes and an uneven pace. Overall, it offers a vivid and thought-provoking glimpse into contemporary Egyptian life.
Who Should Read The Yacoubian Building?
A reader who enjoys The Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al Aswany is likely captivated by richly detailed, multi-character narratives that delve into the social and political intricacies of a transforming society. Ideal for fans of works like The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsBook Details
Middle Eastern Literature
Modern Classic Fiction
Historical Fiction