The Stolen Queen

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis, 352 pages

Charlotte Cross was an archaeology student in the 1930s when she helped discover a female pharaoh's tomb in Egypt. Fifty years later, she's helping curate the arrival of an exhibit of King Tut's riches at the Met when a necklace from the female pharaoh's tomb — a necklace previously thought lost in a horrific accident — reappears at the Met on loan from an anonymous source. Pair that with the theft of an important Egyptian artifact and Charlotte's own research (both stolen during the Met Gala, no less!), and Charlotte is forced to confront her own past in an attempt to salvage her career and find the missing artifacts.

I'm a sucker for both Egyptology and the Met Gala, and I read this book with high hopes that it would deliver on both fronts. Instead, it was kinda meh, and focused more on the relationships than on the historical elements. (Also, it drove me nuts that, just for fun, the author created a red carpet for the 1978 Met Gala, when it didn't have one at all — and then told us exactly that in the afterword.) There are better historical fiction titles out there.

Shubeik Lubeik

Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed (2022) 528 pages

Regan and Kara previously reviewed this on the blog.

"Your wish is my command." We've all heard a genie say that. If your wish is to be told many stories, this graphic novel is for you. It was originally three volumes in Arabic. I loved the art work and adapted pretty quickly to reading right to left. With multiple flashbacks there are more than just three stories about how three first-class wishes sold at Shokry's kiosk are used. There are two parts to Aziza's story, when she is young and when she is middle aged. Mostly it is about the lack of justice for the poor in the Egyptian justice system. There is one really in depth story about college student Nour's mental health (with a brief tangent about the talking donkey) in part two. Part three is so good! We get a history lesson from the perspective of Abu Shokry, Shokry's father, covering 1954 to 1980, then with Shokry carrying on to 2020. Shokry, the kiosk owner, is a giving person and wants to help others. His father's generation taught him that devout Muslims do not use wishes, so he really agonizes over the last first-class wish that hasn't sold. Hagga Shawqia is a regular at Shokry's kiosk, and we learn much more about her from her friends and family as she nears the end of her life. There is tragedy and triumph. She is such a fascinating character, a "gutsy gal." We check in with Aziza and Nour. The book subverts the traditional end with a darkly hilarious bow on the talking donkey story too. This was such a fun read.
 

Shubeik Lubeik

 Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed, 528 pages.

This Egyptian graphic novel takes place in a version of Earth where wishes are a real resource that can be mined, sold, processed, and regulated. Shokry has three first class wishes, inherited from his father, for sale at his little market stall. First class wishes are the kind of wish that can change the world (and carry less danger than lower class wishes), but Shokry cannot use them himself because of his religious convictions, and no one wants to buy them because a shop like his is not the kind of place where someone expects to get genuine first class wishes. The story follows Aziza, Nour, and ultimately Shokry himself as they are driven by pain and grief to find the right way to use these wishes.

This was a really excellent graphic novel. The characters were complex and engrossing, and I was completely captured by the story (I ended up reading the whole thing in one sitting even when I really should have gone to bed). It also felt like a story that was really strengthened by the medium it was in. I felt that Mohamed's art really helped capture the emotional weight of the story, and the fact that it wasn't all text kept it stark and efficient. I would highly recommend this book, as does Kara!

Shubeik Lubeik

Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed, 528 pages

In the world of Shubeik Lubeik, wishes have real impact, from national crises like drought or epidemic to the frivolous whims of the rich (ever want a dinosaur or flying car? A wish'll do that for you.). As with all resources, however, wishes are regulated, rated, and a bureaucratic nightmare. Third class wishes are the common ones that often go awry (like wishing for a new car and getting a toy version) while first class wishes are rare, expensive, and must be saved for very important needs. Kiosk owner Shokry has three first-class wishes that he needs to sell, and the story follows the wishes as they are purchased and used by a grieving widow, a depressed college student, and finally by Shokry himself, whose desire to use the wish to save a dying friend is in deep conflict with his religious convictions against using wishes.

Originally published in Arabic in Egypt, the book is read from right to left (and, to our western eyes, from back to front), which can take a few pages to get used to. But any temporary discomfort is well worth pushing through, as the book is a profound meditation on everything from privilege to mental health to religion and regret. And it's also funny! An excellent story with fully realized characters and worldbuilding, beautifully told. I just wish I'd read this before the annual UCPL Best Books of the Year list, as this definitely would've been on it.

Herring on the Nile

 

Herring on the Nile: An Ethelred and Elsie Mystery by L.C. Tyler  240 pp.

In this tribute? spoof? of Agatha Christie author Ethelred Tressider and his agent, Elsie Thirkettle set off on an Egyptian cruise. Ethelred is trying to rejuvenate his mystery writing career by setting his next book in Egypt and plans to do research. However, as soon as their trip embarks threats begin. It seems that a number of the passengers on the boat are not what they seem including a couple of undercover policemen / terrorists. Everything is complicated by an actual murder and then the kidnapping of Ethelred by the police/terrorists. Ethelred is one of the suspects in the murder although he believes he was the intended target with his ex-fiancée the killer. The story is very convoluted and the ending is possibly a non-ending. This mystery series is mediocre at best. 

A Master of Djinn

 A Master of Djinn by P. Djeli Clark (2021) 396 pages

I listened to the audiobook through Hoopla and it was narrated by Suehyla El-Attar Young. Three years ago I read Clark's novella The Haunting of Tram Car 015, which was my introduction to this world and the detective character Fatma. I really looked forward to revisiting this alternate steampunk Cairo of 1912 in a full-length novel. Djinn and magic were released into the world several years before. Clockwork automatons, self-driving vehicles, and other tech are boosted by magic to allow futuristic wonders in the past. The novella introduced a major women's suffrage movement in Cairo in these years before WWI might happen. It also introduced the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities of which Fatma is one of the only women agents. Now Fatma has to work to solve the murder of all the members of a secret brotherhood with a rookie partner, Hadia, another woman agent. Fatma often receives surprise help from her girlfriend Siti as well. All three are kick-ass characters! Colonialism and racism are important themes that connect this magical world to history. Cairo is a cosmopolitan place with Pagans, Muslims, and Christians living side by side. Drawing on the real-life 1919 Egyptian Revolution against British occupation, revolution is stirred up in the streets. The murderer comes forward claiming to be the master of djinn, the being who opened the door between the magical and mundane worlds. Fatma's agency and the police cannot get the murderer in custody because they surround themselves with many magical henchmen and stir up chaos. Fatma is also convinced the murderer is an imposter, not the revered figure they claim to be. Bonus points for some cool librarian, archivist, and bookseller characters providing key clues to unravelling the illusions at play. I enjoyed the mixture of mystery, adventure, and fantasy.

A Master of Djinn

A Master of Djinn by P. Djeli Clark, 392 pages

In a steampunk Cairo, a mysterious man who claims to be a legendary master of djinn has murdered a roomful of influential foreigners. Agent Fatma el-Sha'arawi is assigned to the case, and soon discovers that even if the "master of djinn" is a fraud, he's still stirring up a whole lot of trouble.

For fans of steampunk, this book is a must-read. As someone who doesn't really care for steampunk, I focused on the djinn and mystical parts, and thought it was a good time. As always, Clark created a hopping good story with some amazing worldbuilding.

Murder at the Mena House

Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer, 281 pages

It's 1926, and war widow Jane Wunderly is on holiday with her aunt in Egypt. They're staying within sight of the pyramids at the upscale Mena House resort. In between sweating through her dresses and fending off the various eligible bachelors her aunt is thrusting at her, Jane finds herself accused of murdering a disreputable young socialite. Suddenly, she's working to clear her name, unsure of who to trust, including the mysterious and handsome Redvers.

This was a fun cozy mystery with a great setting, and excellent characters. I'd love to see how this series develops!

The Haunting of Tram Car 015

The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djèlí Clark (2019). 130 pages.

In an alternate history of Cairo, the world of reality and fantasy is blurred, and the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities operates to ensure the proper behavior between the two. A mysterious, violent creature, initially presumed to be a djinn, is found terrorizing a tram car, and it's up to Agent Hamed and Agent Onsi to find out exactly what is happening and how to contain it.

The Haunting of Tram Car 015 was a quick, fun read. I am not usually one for steampunk, but I love Clark's steampunk worlds, which are generally set in less traditional steampunk locales and feature a much more diverse cast of characters. I also enjoyed how the backdrop of women's suffrage informed the story. And will you take a look at that cover? That is worth the price of admission, for sure (cover art by Stephan Martiniere). This novella has gathered some significant accolades with a Nebula nomination last year and a Hugo nomination just a couple days ago, and it's easy to see why.

Death on the Nile

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie (1938) 276 pages

Death on the Nile is a classic whodunnit whose ending I'd forgotten, which made it even better to read again. Linnet Ridgeway, a beautiful rich young woman of twenty, decides on impulse to marry an unmoneyed man, startling the society-page watchers who'd expected her to marry someone more of her class, and also surprising the financial advisers who'd expected to control her estate for several more months until she turned 21. (Control of her money was set to come to her at age 21 or the time of her marriage, if younger.) Linnet's new husband was (until recently) the fiance of Jacqueline, one of Linnet's best friends from childhood. When Linnet and Simon Doyle honeymoon in Egypt, Jacqueline shows up to torment them at every turn, even on board the boat they sneak onto under assumed names on a weeklong cruise on the Nile. One of Linnet's financial advisers is on the cruise too, as are an assortment of others who may have grievances against her (or her dead father, from whom she's inherited her wealth) as well. When Linnet is found murdered, fellow passenger Hercule Poirot and his friend Colonel Race delve into the investigation, rapidly ruling out both Linnet's husband as well as Jacqueline, the most obvious suspects. Poirot just doesn't get it; things haven't happened in the order he would expect. At various points, each passenger looks guilty, as one might expect from a story written by Christie. Read it and find out whodunnit!

Night Train to Memphis

Night Train to Memphis by Elizabeth Peters (1994) 353 pages

Vicky Bliss, a young American historian who works at the National Museum in Munich, is pulled into working as a guest lecturer on an Egyptian luxury cruise tour on the Nile. Intelligence reports indicate that someone on the tour is planning to rob the Cairo Museum. Vicky's job is to see if she recognizes anyone on the cruise who is a likely suspect, since she has had previous adventures escaping from antiquity thieves. Once the tour is underway, she sees John, a former lover who's also a lovable thief, and she suspects he is the probable robber-to-be. Shocked when she learns he has recently married, she tries to avoid him while interacting with the others on the tour.

After the murder of a secret operative who was on board the ship to protect her, it rapidly becomes a challenge to decide who is friend and who is foe. The only one she can really trust is her boss from the museum, Schmidt, who joins the tour late. After more mishaps cancel the rest of the tour, Vicky's life is a series of calamities as she crosses Egypt in an attempt to get back to Cairo before the thief leaves Egypt with a humongous cache of antiquities.

The Haunting of Tram Car 015

The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djèlí Clark, 143 pages

It's Cairo, 1912, and an angry spirit has taken up residence in one of the tram cars that make up the city's complex transit system. Agents Hamed Nasr and Onsi Youssef have arrived on the scene to deal with what they believe is a simple case of an upset djinn haunting the vehicle, though they quickly realize that they have a much rarer and more dangerous spirit on their hands — one that has a penchant for women and babies. Oh, and did I mention this is all happening on the eve of the Egyptian government's vote on women's suffrage, and women from all over the country are pouring into Cairo for the decision? It's quite the pickle.

I'm not usually a fan of steampunk, but I really liked Clark's novella. It's fun, rollicking, and full of action. I'll happily read more of his stories in this world.

The Last Watchman of Old Cairo

The Last Watchman of Old Cairo by Michael David Lukas, 270 pages.

The 2018-2019 winner of the Sophie Brody medal for outstanding work of Jewish Literature tells the story of Joseph, a graduate student whose father has recently died. Joseph's mother is Jewish and his father, Ahmed al-Raqb, is a Muslim. Thanks to  a fragment of an old document his father sends him, Joseph discovers that generations of the al-Raqb men have served as watchmen of the Ibn Ezra Synagogue in Cairo. Lukas leads us on a journey through time as we meet the first watchman, Ali ibn al-Marwani, living a thousand years ago, and then encounter members of the family again throughout the years, as they protect the Synagogue and help preserve the history and heritage of the congregation that has reputedly existed since the time of Moses. An interesting novel with a great sense of time and place and characters who illuminate the narrative and move the story along.

The Alchemist

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho  167 pp.

I read this many years ago and this time listened to the audiobook version read by Jeremy Irons. This brief story is about a young Andalusian shepherd named Santiago who sets out on a journey to visit the Pyramids where a recurring dream told him he would find treasure. On the way he gains and loses fortunes, falls in love, faces the dangers of warring tribes, meets a king and an alchemist, and learns his treasure is back where he started from. Santiago's journey is about listening to your heart. Irons does a good job of presenting the story. I found it interesting that in a few parts he sounded quite a bit like Neil Gaiman.

Revolution for dummies

Revolution for dummies: laughing through the Arab Spring / Bassem Youssef, audio read by the author

Bassem Youssef was a heart surgeon who became the host of the biggest TV show in Egypt.  He is known as the Egyptian Jon Stewart because his show it modeled after "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart."  Bassem became famous making fun of the political climate in Egypt during the "Arab Spring."  President Mohammed Morsi was overthrown during the revolution but soon another dictator rose to power.  Soon, Bassem's show was considered dangerous and he was getting death threats.  Eventually he fled Egypt to avoid being arrested.  This book tells his tale and does it well.  The narration by the author is good and I recommend the audio version if that is your thing.

Thirteen Days in September: Carter, Begin and Sadat at Camp David

Thirteen Days in September: Carter, Begin and Sadat at Camp David / Lawrence Wright 345 pgs.

In 1978, the leaders of three nations got together and tried to solve a dispute that was really much bigger than any or all of them.  Jimmy Carter went out on a limb and convinced Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin to come to Camp David and attempt to hash out a solution.  This book covers each of the thirteen days the meetings ended up taking even though there were many times it looked like the talks would break down.  The author gives a lot of background on each group, their history and the results.  This was an amazing event in history and this book is an amazing account. Great work.

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The Butterfly Mosque / G. Willow Wilson 304 p.

The fifth and final reading in this spring's Let's Talk about It: Muslim Journeys book discussion series, this is the highly readable memoir of a young American woman who, adrift after college, takes an English teaching post to Cairo where she converts to Islam, meets and marries a Cairene, and begins a writing career while finding her place in a new world.  As a chronicler of her spiritual journey, Wilson writes wonderfully, with that gift of conveying subtle observations with grace and economy that most of us can only envy.

Her interior study is as lovely as her external reportage is grating, though.  Wilson was a mere 21 when she went to Cairo and not vastly older when she wrote the book, and I hope that accounts for much of what I have to call arrogance.  She repeatedly depicts herself as the only western expat in all of Cairo who has anything figured out.  And her description of the city itself - which she professes to love - is almost entirely negative and gives the reader no mental picture except that of noise and dirt. But as one of our readers pointed out, Butterfly Mosque is no travelogue.  And as an attempt to articulate that poorly-understood space between agnosticism and extremism, it is well worth reading.